How to Clean a PS4 Inside and Out (2024)

Gaming >

20

20 people found this article helpful

Open up the console and clean the PS4 fan too

ByRobert Earl Wells III

Updated on April 14, 2021

Reviewed by

Kayla Dube

How to Clean a PS4 Inside and Out (1)

Reviewed byKayla Dube

  • J. Everette Light Career Center

Kayla Dube has 4+ years' experience in videography and filmmaking. She frequently works in production with indie film companies.

lifewire's editorial guidelines

Trending Videos

What to Know

  • Unplug the PS4. Use compressed air to clean out USB ports and side vents. Remove the outer casing, cleaning off any dust with a cloth.
  • Place your finger on the fan to hold it in place and apply compressed air.
  • Remove the black plastic cover. Unscrew the metal plate and clean the fan with air and a toothbrush. Wait for a half-hour. Reassemble.

This article explains how to clean a PS4. It includes information on when to clean the console, what you need in a PS4 cleaning kit, and how to clean a PS4 controller. These instructions apply to the original PlayStation 4, PS4 Pro, and PS4 Slim models.

How to Clean a PS4, PS4 Pro, or PS4 Slim

Knowing how to clean a PS4 can come in handy if it stops working properly or if the fan is too loud. It's good practice to clean your console before selling your PS4 or giving it away.

The images below are of the PS4 Slim model, but you can follow these instructions to clean any PlayStation 4 console:

  1. Make sure your PS4 is turned off and everything is unplugged.

  2. Use the compressed air to clean out the USB ports on the front of the console, the ports on the back, and the vents along the device's side. Gently use a toothbrush or cotton swabs to remove any remaining debris.

    Hold the can of compressed air upright and six inches away from the console to prevent moisture from getting into the internal components of your PS4.

    How to Clean a PS4 Inside and Out (2)

  3. To remove the outer casing, gently lift under the top cover of the PS4 from the console's front. Clean off any dust inside the casing with a cloth.

    Opening your PS4 will void the warranty. If you purchased your PS4 within the last year, contact Sony PlayStation customer support to report problems with your console.

    To open an original PS4 model, you must remove the warranty stickers on the back of the console and use a T8 or T9 Torx screwdriver to remove the screws.

    How to Clean a PS4 Inside and Out (3)

  4. Put your finger on the center of the fan to hold it in place, then apply compressed air in short spurts to blow dust out of the fan.

    Do not let the fan spin while blowing air on it. A rotating fan can cause an electrical short.

    How to Clean a PS4 Inside and Out (4)

  5. Use the Phillips screwdriver to remove the black plastic covering near the back end of the console.

    The screws are in different places on the original PS4 model. Use the T8 or T9 Torx screwdriver along with your Phillips screwdriver to remove them all.

    How to Clean a PS4 Inside and Out (5)

  6. Use the T8 or T9 Torx screwdriver to remove the screws that hold the metal plate under the plastic covering in place.

    How to Clean a PS4 Inside and Out (6)

  7. Unscrew the rest of the screws, then lift the plate that covers the fan so that you can clean out the PS4 interior with compressed air and the toothbrush. Insert a cotton swab between the fan's blades to hold it in place so that it doesn't spin while you clean the other components.

    On the original PS4 model, you must remove the power supply. Gently lift it up and place it aside. Be careful not to disconnect the cable.

    How to Clean a PS4 Inside and Out (7)

  8. Let the interior of the console air-dry for half an hour, then reassemble your PS4.

How to Clean a PS4 Controller

If your controller is behaving finicky, make sure it is properly synced with the PS4. If you're still having problems, try cleaning it.

Disconnect any cables and blow compressed air over the controller. Be sure to get the crevices around the buttons, analog sticks, and ports, then wipe down the controller's face with a dry microfiber cloth. Use a damp cloth if necessary, but be careful to avoid the charger ports or headphone jack. Allow the controller to dry before plugging anything into the ports.

If cleaning the controller doesn't fix your problems, try resetting your PS4 controller.

When to Clean Your PS4

Although the PlayStation 4 is sturdily built, dust can build up inside the console over time. Cleaning your PS4 can help prevent hardware failure due to overheating. If you can hear the PS4 fan running, that's a good sign that it needs to be cleaned. A good cleaning might also help if your PS4 won't connect to Wi-Fi.

You won't need to clean the interior of your PS4 unless you notice performance problems, such as the console running hot or suddenly shutting down. Frequent overheating can cause permanent damage to the PS4 hardware, so you should open up your PS4 and clean the fan as soon as possible.

PS4 Cleaning Kit

You need the following items to clean your PS4 inside and out thoroughly:

  • A T8 or T9 Torx screwdriver
  • A small Phillips screwdriver
  • Dry microfiber cloth
  • Cotton swabs
  • A soft bristle toothbrush
  • A can of compressed air

When cleaning the exterior of your PS4, use microfiber cloths to avoid damaging the console. To remove grime, you can use cloth and a mixture of water and isopropyl alcohol.

Make sure the area where you keep your PS4 remains clean so that the console doesn't collect dust.

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for letting us know!

Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day

Subscribe

Tell us why!

How to Clean a PS4 Inside and Out (2024)

FAQs

How do I get all the dust out of my PS4? ›

Take a can of compressed air and aim a short burst around the console, on the front-facing USB ports, and the ports on the sides and back. Shoot a continuous burst of compressed air across the top of your PS4 to remove any buildup.

How to clean dust out of PS4 without compressed air? ›

The only time you should clean a console out is if you notice the consoles vents are dusty, most of it can be cleaned with a tooth brush or dust brush and using a miniature vacuum. Never use canned air for a console, it can push the dust deeper into the consoles internals.

How do I clean my PS4 skin? ›

Next, you want to clean the outside of your PS4. To do this, take your can of compressed air and spay bursts of air into each of the ports, front and back, as well as the vents. Make sure you keep the can upright as you spray and keep your distance so you don't spray moisture into the PS4.

How do you clean the inside of a console? ›

Do NOT soak any plastic that has electrical mechanisms. When you're down to the board level, lightly spray a can of compressed air to loosen the dust build up within the console. NOTE: Be cautious of the fan. Using a Q-tip, lightly go over the fan to remove any dust.

Does dust make PS4 louder? ›

The fans pull air and dust from the room via the vents and use them to keep the PS4 cold. Regretfully, the fan might become dirty, loose, or fragile over time, resulting in unwanted noise and gaming machine annoyance. My PS4 Slim fan suddenly goes loud.

Can I vacuum my PS4? ›

It will push a massive amount of dust out of the system without doing any harm to it. Always used a regular vacuum cleaner for electronics, you can always turn down the power of it. Just open it and blow it out with compressed air.

Why is the PS4 fan so loud? ›

Proper Placement: Make sure your PS4 is placed in a well-ventilated area. Poor ventilation can contribute to overheating and, subsequently, a loud fan. Close Background Applications: Sometimes, running too many applications can overwork the fan. Make sure to close any unnecessary background apps.

Can dust stop PS4 from turning on? ›

Over time, dust can build up in your PS4 and cause it not to start. To fix this, try cleaning your console with compressed air in and around the power port. Make sure to blow the dust out of your machine's vent holes and slats as well.

Does GameStop clean PS4? ›

Yup, GameStop offers a cleaning service for your PS4, but it's usually part of a broader refurbishment package.

Can you clean PS4 fan with water? ›

Water and moisture can damage your PS4's electronics. Avoid placing your PS4 on wet surfaces, and always use dry cloths to wipe down the console.

How to remove dust from console? ›

What to use to clean your Xbox
  1. A can of compressed air.
  2. A soft-bristled brush, like a toothbrush, paintbrush, or dusting brush.
  3. A soft microfiber cloth.
  4. A vacuum with a handheld attachment or hose.
  5. Rubbing alcohol or mild soap and water.
Jun 1, 2023

How do I clean the inside of my PS4 disc drive? ›

Using canned air or a blower, clean the dust from your PS4 drive. You may need to remove the top cover to remove all the dust. If too much dust has accumulated in the drive, or the rollers are dirty, it may refuse to take in new discs or read any disc currently in the system. Inspect your PS4 disc drive for damage.

How to stop PS4 from overheating without taking it apart? ›

If you're experiencing problems where your PS4 is overheating, follow this troubleshooting procedure to cool things off.
  1. Shut down your PS4 and wait. ...
  2. Ensure proper placement for air flow. ...
  3. Check the temperature in your room. ...
  4. Clean dust from the PS4 vents. ...
  5. Manually update your PS4. ...
  6. Update your game software.
Aug 7, 2023

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Rev. Porsche Oberbrunner

Last Updated:

Views: 6040

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (53 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Rev. Porsche Oberbrunner

Birthday: 1994-06-25

Address: Suite 153 582 Lubowitz Walks, Port Alfredoborough, IN 72879-2838

Phone: +128413562823324

Job: IT Strategist

Hobby: Video gaming, Basketball, Web surfing, Book restoration, Jogging, Shooting, Fishing

Introduction: My name is Rev. Porsche Oberbrunner, I am a zany, graceful, talented, witty, determined, shiny, enchanting person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.