If you landed here after frustratedly searching for “PS5 randomly shutting off,” the good news is that I was in your position not long ago, and after not finding many satisfying answers, I put together this guide.
On November 12, the PS5 will be five years old. While you may have picked yours up more recently, my PS5 first started randomly shutting off after just a year of ownership. Your PS5 turning off mid-game falls on the catastrophic end of the spectrum for console issues, but don’t worry; I have a few possible solutions that should have your precious PS5 running smoothly again in no time.
We will explore several different scenarios with relevant solutions, including what to do if none of these options work for you.
How to clean your PS5
If your PS5 is shutting down mid-game, mainly when playing more intensive AAA games, it’s likely overheating caused by dust build-up. I encountered this during my review of Dying Light 2 and subsequently experienced it with several other AAA games.
Depending on the placement of your PS5 and the general dust situation in your gaming space, this will be pretty common. Fortunately, you don’t need to completely disassemble the console to clean it out thoroughly, but you will need a couple of tools.
The most important tool will be something to blow the dust out of the console; the best option is a compressed air can, but I use a dust blower I purchased to clean my camera’s sensor. If the dust is really caked on, I also use a nylon bristle brush to get everything off the fan. The other tool you will need is a T8 Torx screwdriver to remove the PS5 fan assembly because to thoroughly clean it, you need to remove the fan. I had to clean my PS5 out twice as I didn’t remove the fan the first time, so I’d recommend just biting the bullet and doing this from the start.
- Remove the PS5 stand if you are using it.
- Remove the PS5 faceplates.
- Remove the plastic intake fin that wraps around the top corner of the PS5 and covers the top of the fan assembly.
- Unscrew the four T8 Torx screws holding the fan cover in place on the same side as the M.2 SSD slot. (Note where each one goes as not all screws are the same length.)
- Remove the cover where the fan cables lead and disconnect the fan.
- Lift the fan assembly out of the PS5.
- Blow into the open interior of the PS5 where the fan assembly was located until you don’t see additional dust coming out.
- Clean fan blades with canned air or a brush or dry cloth if necessary.
- Replace the fan assembly, plug it back in and replace its cover.
- Screw the fan back in place.
- Replace the intake fin.
- Replace the PS5 faceplates.
- Replace the PS5 stand.
Your PS5 should be back up and running as good as new.
PS5 cleaning tools
PS5 is still overheating?
If you go through the cleaning process and either immediately or very shortly find you still have the same problem, it could be that your fans are no longer powerful enough to cool down your console, regardless of their cleanliness.
After a few rounds of cleaning my PS5 approximately every six months, I found myself in this situation. The PS5 overheating fix I turned to was an aftermarket accessory fan. I used the SCRY Artic PS5 cooler, but there are numerous alternatives on the market. While it makes more fan noise, it has my PS5 back up and running at full speed, which is a far more affordable solution than buying a new PS5.
Firmware update
This might seem too easy, but sometimes it's just a matter of a firmware update. This was more commonly an issue immediately after launch, but it’s still a potential solution and just takes a minute.
- Open the PS5 Settings menu
- Select System
- Open System Software
- Select System Software Update
- Now click Update System Software
Turn off Rest Mode
Rest Mode is another potential culprit for random shutdowns on the PS5. While it’s helpful to shift into Rest Mode to keep charging controllers and downloading games without the console fully powered up, it’s not worth random shutdowns. It’s easy to toggle on and off, so if you’ve exhausted your other options, it’s worth a shot.
- Open the PS5 Settings menu
- Navigate to Power Saving
- Select Rest Mode
- Click Don’t Put in Rest Mode
Turn off HDMI Device Link
This is another very convenient feature that you may need to give up if your PS5 is randomly shutting off. HDMI Device Link allows your TV to turn on immediately when you power on your PS5. Unfortunately, sometimes this doesn’t work as intended and can cause the PS5 to power down or shift into Rest Mode.
- Open the PS5 Settings menu
- Navigate to System
- Select HDMI
- Toggle off HDMI Link
Power problems
Another possibility is that your PS5 isn’t getting sufficient power. There are a couple of potential options here.
First, the power cord is damaged or simply not plugged in firmly. The latter is easy enough to check; just make sure both ends are seated properly in the outlet and the power port on the back of the PS5. If the cord doesn’t show any signs of physical damage, that is unlikely to be the issue, but a replacement is the only option if it is damaged.
Reach out to PlayStation
If none of the above works, you need to turn directly to PlayStation support. They may try to guide you through some additional troubleshooting steps, but they will also help you with the repair or replacement options if necessary.
