For those who’ve had a PlayStation 4 for some time, chances are high that it runs lots louder than it did whenever you purchased it. Like with most gadgets, mud tends to construct up over time contained in the system.
To maintain your PS4 operating at its finest, it is smart to open and clear your system each on occasion. To quiet it down and take away all that nasty mud buildup, observe our information to cleansing your PlayStation 4. We’ll take you thru every part it is advisable know, together with what screwdriver it is advisable open the PS4 and easy methods to clear the PS4’s fan.
Warning: Take Care When Cleansing Your PS4
Whereas this can be a comparatively easy course of, you must nonetheless take care when taking aside and cleansing your PS4. The cleansing process does not require you to tear the system down a lot, fortunately.
We can’t be held liable for any injury chances are you’ll do to your system. It is a good suggestion to ensure you’ve backed up your saved knowledge earlier than continuing, simply in case. With that out of the way in which, let’s take a look at easy methods to clear your PS4.
Step 0: What You may Want for Cleansing a PS4
PS4 cleansing is a comparatively merely job, however does require a number of supplies:
- A TR9 Torx safety bit screwdriver. The PS4 makes use of TR9 safety screws. A TR8 screwdriver may match, however you must use a TR9 for finest outcomes. Be sure to get a screwdriver with a safety bit, which has a tiny gap within the heart.
- If you do not have this already, contemplate the TECKMAN PS4 cleaning repair toolkit, which has the appropriate screwdriver plus a number of extra helpful instruments. If you have already got a Torx set or laptop opening toolkit, it doubtless has the bit you want.
- A typical Phillips-head screwdriver. There are a number of screws contained in the PS4 that require this screwdriver to take away. A smaller screwdriver will work finest right here.
- A knife or different sharp object. You may want this to peel off the stickers protecting the PS4’s rear screws.
- A can of compressed air. You may want this to blow out the mud. You should purchase canned air online at Amazon, or in shops like Walmart.
For a extra environment friendly cleansing, you may additionally wish to use these optionally available supplies:
- Cotton swabs and/or cotton balls. If you would like, you should use these that can assist you take away some mud. A cotton swab additionally helps you retain the fan from spinning whenever you blow air at it. If you wish to go above and past, attempt making some cleansing putty and utilizing that as an alternative.
- A flashlight. It may be powerful to see the place the mud hides; a flashlight makes it simpler to identify.
- A paper towel or piece of tape to carry the screws. You don’t need your PS4’s tiny screws to go lacking, so it is a good suggestion to have someplace to maintain them. When eradicating the screws, chances are you’ll wish to place them in the identical sample you eliminated them, so you understand which works the place.
- A cleansing brush or previous toothbrush. Mud caked onto the PS4’s fan is tough to take away, for the reason that blade gaps are so small. A brush can scrape off regardless of the canned air cannot filter.
Be aware that when you’ve got an authentic mannequin PS4, opening your console and cleansing it would void your guarantee (which is legitimate for one yr after buy). Nonetheless, you may take away the quilt from the PS4 Slim and PS4 Professional fashions with out voiding the guarantee. Likelihood is that in case you’ve had your PS4 for lengthy sufficient that mud buildup is a matter, your guarantee has in all probability expired anyway.
We’ll present steps for cleansing the unique PS4 on this information (since it is the one I’ve, and probably the most difficult). On the finish, we’ll point out the variations for the opposite fashions.
Step 1: Shut Down Your PS4 and Unplug The whole lot
Earlier than you begin cleansing your PS4, be certain that the console is turned off. It shouldn’t have any lights on the highest; in case you see an orange mild, then it is in Relaxation Mode (a low-power state) and you may have to shut it down totally.
To totally shut down, flip your PS4 on, then press and maintain the PlayStation button in your controller to open the Fast Menu. Head to Energy > Flip Off PS4. Wait till all lights in your PS4 flip off, then unplug the facility cable, HDMI wire, and anything related to it (like USB gadgets).
Deliver your PS4 to a spot the place you’ve some room to work. Since you may be eradicating small screws, you must have a secure place to set them.
Like when constructing a PC, you must take care to not construct up static electrical energy. Do not work on a static-prone floor, reminiscent of a shaggy carpet, and attempt to solely contact the plastic parts when cleansing.
Step 2: Take away the Again Stickers and Screws
Now that you have your PS4 able to work, flip it round so the again is dealing with you, then flip it upside-down. You may see three stickers alongside the “prime” (which is basically the underside of the system, according to the facility port) that you will need to take away.
Be aware that when you’ve got the marginally revised mannequin of the unique PS4, you may solely see one sticker and screw right here within the center.
The center one has a particular guarantee sticker that damages itself whenever you take away it. The opposite two are a bit thicker and would possibly require a bit of additional work to peel off. Use your knife or one other pointed instrument to peel again a nook of the stickers, then they need to come off simply. Watch out to not scratch your system when you take away them.
Set them apart if you wish to re-apply the stickers later, or throw them out in case you do not care. As soon as you have eliminated the stickers, use your TR9 screwdriver to take away the screws beneath. They’re brief, so that they should not require a lot effort. Take care to not strip them, and set them apart in a secure place.
Step 3: Take away the PS4’s Cowl
Now that you’ve got eliminated the screws(s) holding the quilt in place, you may pop it off. Begin on the again (the half with the screws, dealing with you) and calmly pull up on the sides. Do not use a ton of power; as you’re employed your approach across the PS4, the quilt ought to come free. Tug it up and take away it.
At this level, you may have a look at the quilt you simply eliminated and clear any mud inside. Your compressed air will make brief work of it; that is additionally a superb place to make use of a cotton ball to dab any remaining particles out. After cleansing the quilt, set it apart for now.
Again on the system, now you can see the PS4’s fan, which acts as a superb indicator of how dusty your system is general. Nonetheless, there’s yet one more element to take away first.
Step 4: Take away the Energy Provide
You are almost there! Now you simply have to take away the facility provide unit (PSU) so you may acquire entry to the warmth sink and carry out probably the most thorough cleansing. There are 5 screws holding the PSU in place. Three of them use the identical TR9 safety screws because the again cowl, and the opposite two are commonplace Phillips head screws.
With the PSU on the aspect closest to you and the fan within the upper-right nook, the 2 Phillips head screws are on the corners of the system, to the far left and much proper of the PSU. Use your TR9 screwdriver to take away the opposite three screws.
Be aware that in case you’re utilizing the marginally revamped mannequin of the unique PS4, you may see one screw in a special location right here. The TR9 screw within the upper-left of the beneath photograph might be a number of inches above the TR9 screw on the backside as an alternative.
The Phillips screws are longer than the others and are a bit more durable to take away, so chances are you’ll want to slip your knife or one other skinny object beneath the clips to tug them up. Take care to not bend the clips when doing this.
Now you may take away the PSU. There is a cable connecting it to the motherboard beneath, which you needn’t take away and do not wish to by accident unplug. Fastidiously seize the PSU by either side and carry it up evenly. It might take a little bit of wiggling to come back free.
As soon as you have received it lifted up, gently “flip” it over the left aspect so it rests fastidiously, whereas staying plugged in.
Step 5: Blow the Mud Out of Your PS4
Lastly, you’ve entry to the PS4’s warmth sink and fan. Now we will clarify easy methods to clear your PS4’s fan and take away mud that is deep within the system.
Take your can of compressed air and, if it has one, insert the straw for extra targeted cleansing. Spray a number of blasts of air away out of your PS4 first, in case there’s any liquid within the tip.
Now, use your canned air to blow brief bursts of air throughout your PS4, eliminating the mud. Be sure to examine the corners for hidden mud (your flashlight may also help right here), and take care to blow it out of the system as an alternative of additional in. You can too use your cotton swabs or cotton balls that can assist you take away any mud the air will not attain.
Focus particularly on the fan, warmth sink, and out of doors edges of your PS4 when searching for built-up mud, as these are frequent areas for it. For those who’re not acquainted, the warmth sink is the metallic set of “bars” that the straw is pointing at within the above image.
Be aware a number of necessary warnings when utilizing canned air:
- By no means maintain the can upside-down. It will power the liquid contained in the can out and will injury your PS4.
- Don’t spray compressed air straight into the fan. Spinning the PS4’s fan at an excessive pace may injury the circuitry. Earlier than you blow air close to the fan, ensure you’re both holding it with a finger or have jammed it with a cotton swab.
- Use compressed air in ventilated areas solely. Canned air will trouble your pores and skin and different physique elements, and it is harmful to breathe it in for an prolonged time. For those who really feel lightheaded, cease utilizing it and transfer to contemporary air.
- Spray in bursts. Holding a gentle spray of air will shortly cool the can, making it tough so that you can deal with.
Step 6: Reassemble Your PS4
When you’re glad along with your work cleansing out your PS4, it is time to put every part again collectively in reverse order.
First, fastidiously “flip” the facility provide over and put it again in its spot. You may discover two prongs within the bottom-left nook; be certain that these line up with the hole within the PSU.
Substitute the 5 screws holding the PSU in place. Do not forget that the 2 on the bottom-left and bottom-right corners are the longer Phillips head screws with clips. The opposite three are TR9 safety screws.
Subsequent, snap the quilt again into place. Begin from the entrance of the system (ensure you have do not have the quilt backward). Calmly press down throughout the sides of the system to verify it is safe. When achieved, it should not wiggle.
Now, substitute the TR9 screws on the again of the PS4. Take care to not injury them when screwing them again in. For those who determined to maintain the sticker(s) that cowl the again screws, substitute them now. The guarantee sticker will seem scratched; that is by design.
Now your PS4 is all cleaned out and put again collectively, however there’s an extra spot you would possibly wish to shortly examine.
Step 7: Clear Your PS4’s HDD Bay (Elective)
The PS4 has a separate compartment for the arduous drive which will or could not have constructed up mud. It is not important to examine, nevertheless it’s price taking a second when you have your system out.
To entry it, calmly press and slide the shiny a part of your PS4 cowl (on the left when taking a look at it from the entrance) straight out to the left. It will take away the quilt, permitting you to entry the HDD bay.
A single Phillips head screw adorned with the PlayStation button icons holds it in place. Take away this, then pull the HDD to make room to scrub out any mud on this space. If you’re achieved, slide the HDD again in, substitute the screw, and slide the quilt on.
Step 8: Carry out a PS4 Database Rebuild (Elective)
Now you may put your PS4 again in its regular spot and plug all of the cables again in.
One final step is not strictly mandatory, however since you have simply cleaned out your PS4’s {hardware}, it is a good time to optimize its software program efficiency too.
The PS4 features a utility known as Rebuild Database that optimizes all the info in your drive, much like defragmenting your laptop. For those who’ve had your PS4 lengthy sufficient to construct up vital mud, chances are high it may gain advantage from this operation too.
To entry it, shut down your PS4 (totally, so it isn’t in Relaxation Mode). As soon as it is off, press and maintain the Energy button on the entrance of the console (the highest button). You may hear one beep instantly; proceed holding it till you hear a second beep. This boots the PS4 into Protected Mode.
Join your controller to the PS4 with a micro-USB cable, then press the PlayStation button to sync it. Choose the Rebuild Database possibility and make sure the operation. Your PS4 will then carry out the method.
The system says this might take a while relying on how a lot knowledge you’ve. Nonetheless, in our case, it did not take greater than quarter-hour or so with almost 2TB of information on the arduous drive. As soon as it completes, you may be again at your private home display.
This course of does not delete any of your knowledge, nevertheless it does have a number of minor penalties. The PS4 will present you Uncover notifications once more for fundamental suggestions you have in all probability already seen. Your Dwelling display will not present your not too long ago performed video games, so you may have to trace them down manually as soon as. And your PS4 will even examine for and set up updates for video games you have not performed shortly.
As soon as you have achieved this, you must hopefully discover your PS4 runs a bit smoother within the menus. It is not a nasty concept to carry out this operation often to maintain your PS4 efficiency optimum.
How one can Clear the PS4 Slim and PS4 Professional
To wash the fan on the PS4 Slim, you needn’t take away the guarantee sticker. It is a lot simpler to take away the quilt, too. All you need to do is pull up on the left and proper corners on the entrance of your system. Pull on the center, then slide the quilt again and it’ll come proper off.
From right here, you’ll see the fan though it is obstructed by a canopy. In case your fan does not look too soiled (a flashlight will assist with this), you may spray some canned air into it and doubtless name it a day. Keep in mind to make use of a cotton swab to forestall the fan from spinning.
For full cleansing, you may have to take away a number of screws from the quilt and the facility provide plate. Since we targeted on the unique PS4 right here, please see the video beneath for PS4 Slim-specific directions.
The PS4 Professional is analogous, nevertheless it’s even easier. Merely pull up on the entrance left and proper corners to loosen the quilt, then slide it again. You may see the fan as quickly as you take away this, making fundamental cleansing fairly simple.
Sadly, the warmth sink is buried deep within the PS4 Professional, and accessing it requires disassembling virtually your complete console. Thus, you must stick to simply cleansing the fan when you’ve got a PS4 Professional. Test the beneath video for extra particulars.
Now Your PS4 Is All Clear
After strolling by means of the above, you have opened and cleaned your PS4 totally. You need to discover it operating rather more quietly than it was earlier than, particularly in case you’ve had the system for years. Whilst you may clear even deeper into the system, doing so would require some probably dangerous operations. It is higher to keep away from damaging your system and stick with this fundamental cleansing.
For future upkeep, take a brush, some compressed air, or a cotton swab alongside the skin edges of your system to take away the mud on occasion. This could assist forestall mud from increase inside, so you do not have to undergo this course of as usually.
Some individuals have advisable inserting plastic bottle caps or related small objects beneath the 4 corners of your console. This lifts it off the beneath floor and will assist with airflow. Apart from this, be certain that your PS4 has room to breathe (preserve it out of enclosed areas). Paired with the above cleansing course of when wanted, your PS4 ought to keep cool and quiet.
In the meantime, you may look ahead to having fun with PS4 video games on PS5 whenever you get the newer console, because of its backward compatibility.
Learn Subsequent
About The Creator
