Hard to believe the PS5 has been in our lives for so long already. Well, maybe not physically in a lot of our lives considering how difficult the consoles were to come by the first couple of years. Those of you who are lucky enough to own one (and I'm assuming that's all of you otherwise why would you be reading this?) will know they're pretty darn big. That's largely down to the massive fan inside that keeps the console cool. Well, as cool as possible.
If you have owned a PS4 and a PS5, you'll know how loud the former's fan was and that its successor needed an upgrade. The only problem is that big old fans tend to gather dust. I'm one of the many who has fallen foul of that gathered dust causing my PS5 to cut out, only turning back on when the power cord has been disconnected and then plugged back in. The good news is if you have suffered that problem, cleaning the console seems to fix it. It's also worth taking your PS5 apart to give it a clean every three to six months, and this is how to do it.
Removing Your PS5 Plates
Unlike every other PlayStation to have come before it, the PS5's outer shell can be removed with relative ease. Not only does that let you replace your boring white cover with a snazzy new one, but it also means the console's interior is easily accessible.
I wouldn't recommend trying to remove the plates before you read the steps below, though. While it's easy to do when you know how, trying to force the issue can result in permanent damage to your console.
You'll want to start with the top cover. That's the one with the PS logo on it. Make sure the console is turned off (I really shouldn't need to say that) and all of the cables have been removed before you begin.
Place the console down flat, on a cloth or a soft surface if you can, with the disc tray (or where the disc tray would be if you have the digital edition) facing away from you.
Grab the bottom left corner of the top cover and lift it up and to the right, exerting a little force so the plate should (hopefully) slide right off.
You'll then need to do something similar with the bottom cover. Carefully flip your PS5 over so the disc tray and power button are now facing you. This time, grab the top left corner of the plate and again, lift it up and to the right, at which point the plate should then slide off.
Cleaning Your PS5
Now that the insides of your PS5 are exposed, you can give them a clean. If you live in a house as dusty as mine, and this is the first time you've opened up your console, it's probably looking pretty grubby in there.
The one tool you will definitely need is a microfiber cloth. Guaranteed to pick up all that dust if you're thorough enough, and minimal risk of damaging anything the side plates are designed to protect while you're in there.
You'll want to start with the outlets for the fans which are on either side of the console. That's probably where the dust will have built up the most, and getting it all out can be a little tricky. Take your time and make sure as much of the dust as you can get to is gone, especially if you have been suffering the cutout issue I mentioned above.
It's also worth using your cloth on the other smooth surfaces in your console just to make sure it's as dirt and dust-free as possible when you close it back up.
Now is the perfect opportunity to get all of the dust out of the vents that run up and down the back and front of your PS5. Those slots attract dust like nothing else you own, or at least that's how it feels. This will be the most time-consuming part of the job, but again, it's worth doing, especially while you have the case off. Getting in there and cleaning them properly is a nightmare when the plates are on.
Replacing Your PS5 Plates
Once your PS5 is dirt and dust free, you can put the plates back on. This part should be pretty easy. Start with the top plate and place the console in the same way you did to remove it. On its side, disc tray facing away from you.
Slide the plate from right to left until you hear a click. That's how you know the plate has been reattached. Flip the console so the disc tray is facing you and do the same with the bottom cover, again sliding it from right to left until you hear a click so you know it's secure.
FAQ
Can You Clean Your PS5 Without Taking It Apart?
You can give the vents and the shell of your PS5 a quick clean without removing the plates, but if you want to thoroughly clean the console and get all of the dust out of its fan, you will need to remove its cover.
How Do I Clean My PS5 Without Scratching It?
The best way to avoid scratching your PS5 when cleaning it is to use a microfiber cloth to remove any dirt, dust, marks, and smudges. If you don't have one, or you'd prefer not to use a cloth, a can of compressed air can be used with caution to remove most of the dust, especially any trapped in the console's vents.
Is It Safe To Clean My PS5 With A Vacuum Cleaner?
While the consensus appears to be that the use of a low-power vacuum cleaner to tidy up your PS5 is okay, I personally wouldn't recommend it. Determining what qualifies as low-power is very much up to the user, and it's far safer to just stick to cleaning it by hand.