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How to clean a PS4 without breaking it

By Katie Mortram published 29 September 2022 Here's how to clean a PS4 and get it back up to speed (Image credit: Future) Learning how to clean a PS4 may sound intimidating - after all, these are expensive consoles - but, rest assured, it's entirely possible. Because of the PS5 restock issues, many of us are still relying on the PS4 for quality gaming with some of the best PS4 games. However, the PS4 has been around for a while now, and if your console is more than a year old, it will inevitably have gathered some dust, both inside and out. This can lead to overheating, which is less than ideal when you're immersed in one of your favorite games. So the dust needs to be dealt with. The trouble is, to thoroughly clean a PS4, you need to take it apart, and therein lies the concerns. If you damage the internals or fail to reassemble it correctly, you could break your PS4. But, you shouldn't have to endure a patchy performance from your PS4 for the sake of some dust. To help you out, we've compiled a guide which takes you through what to do step-by-step, so your PS4 can be dust-free and running at 100% again. Here's how to clean a PS4.

How to clean a PS4 

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)What you'll need Microfiber cloth Compressed air T8 or T9 screwdriver Phillips screwdriver A cotton swab Before we take you through the steps, it's worth flagging that as soon as you start dismantling your PS4 to clean the interior, you will void the warranty. So, if your PS4 is overheating within the warranty period (usually a year), contact customer service rather than cleaning it yourself. You also need to be aware that the steps are different depending on whether you have an original PS4, a PS4 Slim or a PS4 Pro. And to further complicate matters, there's a second version of the original PS4 that was made after September 2015 and which is slightly different again. The photos here are for the first original model, but we've indicated where the steps differ for the others. 1. First, make sure that your PS4 is switched off and all cables are disconnected from the console's body. 2. 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. If you don't own a can of compressed air, we recommend Falcon Dust, Off Compressed Gas ($7.97, Amazon (opens in new tab)). (Image credit: Tom's Guide) 3. Next, run a dry microfiber cloth along the surfaces of your PS4 to get rid of obvious dust. While you have this cloth to hand, wipe the surface and around the area where your PS4 sits as well. This clears away any potential dust your PS4 may collect once back in place. 4. Now comes the tricky part: cleaning the internals. First make sure you've cleared some space and have a good source of light to see what you're doing. 5. If this is your first time cleaning your PS4, and you have an original PS4, you're going to need to remove the warranty stickers from the rear, not least because you'll also need to remove the screws beneath them. Remember, if it's still under warranty, contact customer services rather than cleaning the internals yourself. If it's still under warranty, it shouldn't need cleaning. 6. If you have an original PS4 as pictured here, you should notice four screws on the rear of the console, beneath the warranty stickers. These hold the outer case in place, so unscrew these using a T8 or T9 Torx screwdriver - we recommend Teckman ($6.59, Amazon (opens in new tab)). Then safely keep them together and set them aside. If you have a later original PS4, there's just one sticker and one screw. If you have a PS4 Slim or PS4 Pro, there are no screws. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) 7. If you have either of the original PS4s, you'll need to turn the PS4 upside down so it's resting on its top. You should now be able to remove the base of the console by pulling the corners and edges away; this might take a little work, but don't force it. For PS4 Slim and PS4 Slim, keep the console the right way up and gently slide off the outer casing from the front of the console. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) 8. Before setting the case aside, carefully wipe any dust away from its inside using your microfiber cloth. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) 9. If you own a later version of the PS4, you should now be looking at a large metal plate from the top. If you own an original console, you'll be looking at the base and will see a combination of plastic casing and the power supply, with the fan visible. 10. Gently place your finger on the center of the fan to keep it in place, then spray a couple of short bursts from the compressed air into the fan to dislodge dust. It's important that you keep the fan in place during this process, as forcing it to spin can damage the hardware. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) 11. For the PS4 Slim and Pro, you'll need to use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the plastic case covering the metal plate at the back of the console. This should expose the smaller metal plate. Remove this too using your T8 or T9 screwdriver. 12. Now you should be looking at the full metal plate covering the majority of the surface. Remove the screws holding this in place and carefully lift away. 13. If you own an original PS4 console, you're going to have to remove the power supply to fully access the internals. Simply remove the five screws as pictured (they're in slightly different place on the later version), gently lift it out and set it safely aside, being sure not to disconnect the power cable. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) (Image credit: Tom's Guide) 14. Whichever console you have, you should now be able to see the inside of your fan and the full internals. Use compressed air to carefully and gently spritz dust away in short bursts from the components, although be sure to temporarily lodge something in the fan, such as a cotton swab, to prevent it from turning. Try to aim the air so as to blow dust up and out of the fan and components. Aiming into the heatsink is also a good idea (the grille you can see exposed in the below photo). (Image credit: Tom's Guide) 15. Leave the console to air-dry for about an hour before reassembling. And there you have it, your PS4 should run much more smoothly and quietly. Don't forget to clean the area it sits in regularly to stop dust from building up as quickly.

How to clean a PS4 controller

(Image credit: Tom's Guide) Thankfully, cleaning a PS4 controller is much more simple. First, disconnect any cables, then blow compressed air all over the controller to remove any immediate dust. Be sure to reach into awkward areas such as the ports and around the analogue sticks. Then wipe it over using a dry microfiber cloth. If it's particularly sticky or stained, you can dampen the cloth, but make sure to avoid the ports so moisture doesn't get into the internals. Leave it to fully dry before reusing.

When should I clean my PS4  

You should clean your PS4 when it's out of warranty and is showing signs that it's full of dust. This includes noise from the fan, overheating and eventual hardware failure. That's why it's important that you take time to give your PS4 some TLC every so often. There's no specific guidance on how often to clean it, just as and when necessary. Although one clean should last at least a year.

Can I clean a PS4 myself

You absolutely can, but be aware that if your PS4 is still under warranty, you will void it by cleaning the internals. A PS4 shouldn't have gathered enough dust to require cleaning while it's still under warranty, so contact customer service instead to get it looked at. If you're too nervous to clean your PS4 yourself, you can try asking local repair shops if they're willing to do it for you.

Can you clean a PS4 without taking it apart

You can clean immediate dust from the surface and ports of your PS4 as well as your controllers. However, if dust has built-up inside the console, and is causing it to overheat, it needs taking apart to clear it out. If you have keyboards that need deep cleaning, you can look at our guide how to clean a mechanical keyboard next.Today's best playstation 4 deals935 Amazon customer reviews (opens in new tab)☆☆☆☆☆ (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$25.64 (opens in new tab)View Deal (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$269.83 (opens in new tab)View Deal (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$458.98 (opens in new tab)View Deal (opens in new tab)Show More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices

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Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Katie MortramHomes EditorKatie looks after everything homes-related, from kitchen appliances to gardening tools. She also covers smart home products too, so is the best point of contact for any household advice! She has tested and reviewed kitchen appliances for over 6 years, so she knows what to look for when finding the best. Her favorite thing to test has to be stand mixers as she loves to bake in her spare time. More about gaming PS5 restock update: Track on Twitter, GameStop, Target and more Today's Heardle answer - Tuesday, October 25, #243Latest Best Wordle start words to help you keep your streakSee more latest ► Topics Gaming See all comments (0) No comments yet Comment from the forums MOST READMOST SHARED1Best Wordle start words to help you keep your streak2Samsung's massive 75-inch 4K TV just crashed to $579 ahead of Black Friday3iOS 16.1 could be saving the world one charge at a time - here's how4This could be the 200MP camera for the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra 5Best Buy Black Friday deals are live - big sales on 4K TVs, MacBooks and more1Samsung's massive 75-inch 4K TV just crashed to $579 ahead of Black Friday2iOS 16.1 could be saving the world one charge at a time - here's how3This could be the 200MP camera for the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra 4Best Buy Black Friday deals are live - big sales on 4K TVs, MacBooks and more5iPhone 15 with USB-C is almost certainly coming - here's why