How To Repair PS4 Overheating

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How To Repair PS4 Overheating
Device	Playstation 4, Playstation 4 Pro, Playstation 4 Slim
Affects part(s)	Cooling Fan
Needs equipment	Screwdrivers, Prying Tools
Difficulty	◉◉◌◌ Medium
Type	Part Replacement"Part Replacement" is not in the list (Soldering, Teardown, Part replacement, Cleaning, Software, BGA, General) of allowed values for the "Repair Guide type" property.

Problem description

PS4 (all variants – Fat / Slim / Pro) overheats, becomes extremely loud, or shuts down with the message:

“The PS4 is too hot. Turn off the system and wait until it cools down.”

Most common causes:

• Dust-clogged heatsink & vents
• Fan not spinning (failed fan or power rail issue)
• Dry or worn-out thermal paste
• Obstructed airflow due to pet hair, smoke residues, or environmental buildup
• Incorrect reassembly after previous repair

Example image (Figure 1) -- No image yet. Help expand this page by uploading it!

Symptoms

• Loud jet-engine noise before shutdown
• Immediate shutdown after launching a game
• Overheating warning
• No fan spin on boot
• Random frame drops or lag (thermal throttling)
• Hot bottom shell or rear grill
• Fan oscillates or starts/ stops suddenly

Solution

Diagnostic Steps

1. External Inspection

• Check air vents for dust buildup
• Confirm console placement (not inside a closed cabinet)
• Check for pet hair, cigarette tar, debris

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2. Boot Test

• Power on the PS4 while watching the fan:
  • Spins at boot = Fan OK
  • No spin = Electrical or mechanical fan fault
  • Clicks or hesitates = Blocked or worn bearings

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3. Fan Connector & Rails

Using a multimeter, check FAN connector on the motherboard (varies by model):

• +12V present?
  • Yes → Fan likely bad
  • No → PSU rail issue, MOSFET, or PWM driver fault
• Resistance test fan pins → infinite or open = failed fan

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4. Thermal Paste Check

If PS4 has never been serviced:

• Thermal paste is usually dry
• Dust likely packed inside heatsink fins

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5. Heatsink Airflow Check

Common issue: packed dust wall between fan and heatsink.

Repair Steps

1. Disassembly

(Varies by PS4 model)

• Remove top cover
• Remove power supply (PS4 Fat)
• Disconnect fan connector
• Remove motherboard
• Extract entire cooling assembly

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2. Cleaning (Critical Step)

Fan Cleaning

• Use compressed air + soft brush
• Spin fan manually to verify smooth rotation
• If grinding noise → Replace fan

Vents & Shell

• Clean rear vents and side inlets thoroughly
• Remove dust mats (large clumps)

Heatsink Cleaning

• Remove old dust “blanket” from heatsink fins
• Flush with air from both directions

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3. Thermal Paste Replacement

• Remove old paste from APU and heatsink using isopropyl alcohol
• Apply high-quality thermal paste (Arctic MX-4 / Arctic Silver / Noctua NT-H1)
• Ensure full flat contact with even pressure

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4. Reassemble the Cooling System

• Reinstall heatsink securely
• Ensure all screws (especially pressure screws) are tightened in X pattern
• Reconnect fan carefully
• Reassemble the rest of the console

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5. Replace Fan (If Dead)

When to replace:

• No spin at boot
• Weak or intermittent spin
• Noise from bearings
• Burnt smell or discoloration

Part requirements:

• Model-specific fan (PS4 Fat, Slim, Pro each use different connectors & blade shapes)

Replace fan → test again.

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6. MOSFET / PWM Driver Check (Advanced)

If the fan STILL doesn’t spin after replacement:

Check:

• FAN MOSFET
• PWM controller
• Nearby SMD fuses
• 12V rail from PSU

Replace faulty components as needed.

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Verification

After reassembly:

• Boot console → fan should spin immediately
• Run a game for 20–30 minutes
• No overheating message
• Fan ramps gradually, not instantly
• Rear exhaust warm (normal)
• System stable under stress