How To Take Apart Your Ps4 To Clean It

The PlayStation four is a remarkable device, notable for its sharp edges, rhombus-similar contour and minuscule size. Just with that super-small footprint comes one serious drawback. The ducted fan tends to trap dust, and subsequently a while, it will have to spin ridiculously fast to keep your system cool.

A fast fan is a loud fan, and the fan inside the PS4 — specially the original model released in 2022 — is about equally loud every bit they come. Fixing the problem is surprisingly unproblematic, peculiarly if you accept a newer PS4 Slim or PS4 Pro.

(Note: Sony explicitly states, in no uncertain terms, that disassembling your PS4 volition void its warranty. Every bit someone who has had their original PS4 repaired under warranty, I value that service. Proceed at your ain risk.)

The warning against keen open your PS4 is the aforementioned for the original model equally information technology is for the PS4 Pro.

If your PS4 is already out of warranty, you lot don't have a whole lot to lose. Also, the PS4 Slim and the PS4 Pro both characteristic easy-to-remove plastic cowlings, so you might be able to take care of that dusty fan without actually "disassembling" anything.

But we'll become to that.

Original PS4

Cleaning the fan on the original PS4 is the most troublesome of the bunch. First, you'll need to get a special screwdriver.

It's called a T8 Torx bit, and you'll demand the security version with a little dimple carved into concern end of it. The Torx nuts on the back of your PS4 have a small protrusion in the center, and without the dimple on a security bit you're just non getting them out. These $.25 are almost certainly available at your friendly local hardware store, or for a pittance on Amazon.

Once y'all have the right scrap, go ahead and unplug all the cables from your console. Identify it on a clean, flat, shine surface that'southward unlikely to ding or gouge the terminate and turn it around. On the dorsum, along the bottom of the panel, you'll need to remove three screws. They're the just screws on the back of the PS4 that are located on the bottom half of the device, and they will likely exist obscured by large black stickers.

A rear view of my original PlayStation 4. The first of 3 Torx screws are located in the lower left corner, behind a rectangular blackness sticker. And yep, those are real woods veneers. How dainty of you to find.

Note that in one case you take those stickers off, y'all've basically voided your warranty. In my case, I'1000 already about 4 years out of warranty so I'm not terribly concerned.

Back those screws out and put them in a safe place. Then, flip your PS4 upside downwards and remove the lesser plastic cowling. You lot'll be able to easily tip information technology upwards from the back, sliding information technology forward slightly to get clear of some sharp edges and wires on the front end.

You're basically washed at this point. The fan is exposed, so hitting information technology from every bending with some canned air. Have special care to besides make clean out the grills along the left and right side of the console as well.

When putting things dorsum together, be aware that the screws go in perpendicular to the angled behind of the PS4. Replace them gingerly, or you'll likely strip the threads. Once you've buttoned everything back up, you're skillful to go.

PS4 Slim and PS4 Pro

The latest iterations of the PS4 do not require tools to clean the fan. It's all based on animal force.

Again, unplug your PS4 and place information technology on a clean, flat, smooth surface. Confront the console away from you, grasp the bottom front of the console'due south top plastic cowling with your fingertips and gently pull it upward and towards you. You lot may demand to start at one corner, so the other, to pause it complimentary. You will likewise need to dorsum information technology out, as in a higher place, to become around the sharp angles forth the opposite (back) border of the device.

Breaking that initial seal volition sound horrible, and yous may need to flex the plastic a piffling bit to get around the tabs that hold information technology down, but it's been designed to allow you to exercise this.

With the top cowling off, the fan is exposed. Every bit in a higher place, use canned air to clean it out, and take special intendance to dust out whatever other intakes where dust could become trapped. Pop the cowling back on, and you're washed.

If you lot're interested in other tips for the care and feeding of your PS4, check out our guide on changing out your thumbsticks on the DualShock 4.