Most people don't clean their PS4 fans for several reasons. For example, many people don't think it is necessary. Or, they aren't aware that cleaning PS4 fans regularly can help prevent heat-related issues.
Keeping your PS4 clean will help with keeping it in excellent condition. By cleaning your PS4 regularly, you get to ensure it lasts longer than if you don't clean it often. This post will give tips on cleaning your PS4 fans to keep them in top condition and running at their optimum performance. Read on!
What is Inside Your PS4?
The PS4 has many moving parts, so it's important to keep them clean. As you know, dust can cause overheating in computers, and that's not something any gamer wants to deal with.
You probably know that the PlayStation 4 has a Blu-ray disc drive, but many other vital parts make up the console. The PlayStation 4 comprises three main parts: the power supply unit (PSU), the motherboard, and the hard drive bay.
The PSU converts AC from your wall socket into DC for use by the motherboard and a hard drive bay. It also has a cooling fan that helps reduce heat generated by components inside the console.
The motherboard contains many chips, including CPU, GPU, and memory modules. You can see these chips on the surface of your console in between vents on either side of its top panel; they're usually covered by rectangular shields with small holes on them.
Your console's hard drive bay sits underneath its disc tray and houses your 500GB or 1TB hard drive (or solid-state drive if you have a Pro model).
What Causes the Loud Noises?
Your PS4 might make loud noises because of:
- Dust buildup and dust clogging up the vents on your console. Dust buildup inside your console can cause overheating issues, such as your PS4 shutting down unexpectedly or turning itself off while playing games or watching movies. This overheating problem usually results in increased fan speed and louder fan noise coming from your console.
- Faulty fan blades and bearings. The most common noise source is faulty fans because they're worn out and need replacing or because the bearings inside them have failed. Fans spin at high speeds and generate a lot of heat, so they need to withstand this while still moving air around effectively. If they're poorly designed or cheaply made, they can start making noise after just a few months' use.
- The fan blades on your PS4 may have been damaged by dust or other particles.
- The fan blades might have lost their balance and are wobbling as they spin around in the PS4 console. The fan blades might be loose on their bearings and vibrate against each other as they spin around the PS4 console.
How to Clean Your ps4 Fan?
It would help if you cleaned your PS4's fans at least once a month. Here's how:
Step 1: Turn off the console. Unplug all connectors from the back of the console using an anti-static wrist strap or another suitable grounding device. Open the disc tray, remove any discs in the drive, and close it again.
Step 2: Unscrew two Phillips screws on each fan cover with a screwdriver or nut driver. Don't lose these screws as they are different lengths for each one and not interchangeable; you'll need them later on when reassembling everything!
Step 3: Lift each fan cover gently by pulling on its tabs until it pops free from its clips; there are three tabs total for each fan cover, so six total for both fans combined (three per side). Set these aside carefully so that they don't get damaged during cleaning (they are fragile plastic pieces).
Step 4: Once you've removed both covers, look at the back of each fan — there should be a rectangular opening in the middle where air flows out from the inside of the console.
Step 5: Use a soft brush or cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to clean off any dust gathered around the bottom vents on each side of your console's main body (where air intakes for cooling are located).
Step 6: Use another soft brush dipped in rubbing alcohol to clean off any dust gathered around each end of each fan (where air exits from inside your console).
If you want to get inside the fans without taking them apart, you can use a vacuum cleaner. Please turn off your PS4 and unplug it from the outlet. Remove any discs and accessories from the console.
Unscrew the screw on each side of the fan panel and remove them carefully. Hold the fan panel with one hand and use a vacuum cleaner to suck out any dust inside the fan compartment. Put back the screws and reattach the fans in their original positions.
Tips & Tricks
- Cleaning the fan regularly will ensure that your PS4 doesn't overheat or shut down randomly. You can use a can of compressed air to blow the dust off the fan. Just make sure you're careful not to spray too much-compressed air into the fan, damaging it.
- You can also use a lint-free cloth to clean off any dust or dirt from the fan blades. Be sure only to clean the outside surface of the fan blades — don't reach inside the PS4 because there are moving parts inside that could cause injury if you touch them!
- If you have an older PS4 model with a disc drive instead of an external hard drive, you might notice some dust. You can remove this easily by taking out one screw and lifting the top cover of your console (where your disc goes). Then use a soft rag and some warm water to wipe away any dirt or grime accumulated on top of your PS4 over time!
- Put your console in a room with adequate ventilation, surrounded by open space. With adequate ventilation, it will not overheat.
Bottom Line
The overall cleaning of your PS4 fans is relatively simple to do and doesn't require you to spend a ton of money on specific cleaning products. Many basic cleaning supplies can be found around your house, most of which you already know how to use! The easier it is to clean and maintain your PS4, the longer it will last, and the more games you'll be able to play on it.
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