Your PS5 is overheating when, in the middle of a game, it shows a warning that the console is too hot and then switches off. Often you hear the fan get louder and louder just before. At Blue Apple in Amsterdam we see this complaint more and more, especially on consoles a few years old. This article explains how the PS5's cooling works, what you can do yourself and when the problem is inside.
Blue Apple repairs PlayStation consoles in Amsterdam. If your PS5 shuts down without a warning, read the section at the end too.
How the PS5 cools
A large fan draws cool air in at the front and sides and blows warm air out at the back. The chip's heat goes away through a large heatsink with fins. Between the chip and the heatsink the PS5 uses liquid metal, which conducts heat very well. If the airflow is blocked, the temperature rises quickly.
Step 1: placement
- Leave at least ten centimetres of space all round, and more at the back.
- Do not put the PS5 in a closed cabinet or a compartment with a door.
- Not on carpet or a rug: it then draws in dust and fluff and blocks the underside.
- Not next to a radiator, in the sun or right next to another warm console or amplifier.
- Upright or flat makes little difference to cooling, as long as it is stable and can breathe.
Step 2: dust
Dust is the main cause on consoles a few years old. It builds up in the fan and between the heatsink fins. On the original model you can vacuum some dust from two dust catchers under the side panels. But most dust sits between the fins, and you cannot reach that without opening the console. Read cleaning your PS5.
Step 3: software
- Update the system software; Sony sometimes adjusts the fan control.
- If it only happens in one game, check whether that game has an update.
- Switch the PS5 off completely and let it cool down before you play on.
When is the problem inside?
- The warning appears even when it stands free and the room is not warm.
- The fan does not spin or makes an odd noise. See PS5 making a lot of noise.
- It switches off without a warning, sometimes with a beep.
- It has been opened or dropped before.
After a fall, or if someone opened the console the wrong way, the liquid metal may have shifted. The chip is then no longer cooled properly. That is a job for a workshop.
What not to do
- Do not blow compressed air straight into the fan while it spins freely; that can damage the fan and pushes dust deeper.
- Do not remove the heatsink yourself: the liquid metal can run and cause a short circuit.
- No fan or cooling stand from unknown brands plugged into the USB port that actually works against the airflow.
What we do at Blue Apple in Amsterdam
We open the PS5, remove the dust from the fan and heatsink fins, check the fan and see whether the chip's cooling is still right. Then we run a heavy test to see whether the temperature stays stable. You hear beforehand what is needed. See PS5 cleaning, PS5 Slim cleaning or PlayStation repair in Amsterdam.
Frequently asked questions
Can overheating damage my PS5?
The PS5 protects itself by switching off. But getting hot over and over is bad for the chip and solder joints in the long run.
Does an extra cooling fan help?
Usually not. A free spot and a clean console help much more.
How often should a PS5 be cleaned?
It depends on dust, pets and smoking. Often it makes sense after a few years, sooner if the fan gets loud.
