Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

32

Time Required

                          1 - 2 hours

Sections

7

  • Hard Drive Removal
  • 3 steps
  • Case Opening Procedure
  • 6 steps
  • Power Supply
  • 2 steps
  • WiFi Antenna
  • 5 steps
  • Optical Drive Removal
  • 6 steps
  • Motherboard
  • 9 steps
  • Thermal Paste
  • 1 step

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Introduction

In the PS4, the thermal paste board is right under the heat sink, and the heat sink is where most of the dust builds up. Cleaning the heat sink and replacing the thermal paste will help a PS4 run as if it was brand new. My PS4 is about six years old, and after completing this whole procedure, it quit overheating and is as quiet as a mouse. The only skills required for this task is to be able to screw and unscrew screws. It is very easy, but it is a tedious process, so pick a day when you are free if you are going to do this.

What you need

Video Overview

Step 1

              Remove the hard drive cover
  • Grip the PS4 with both hands along the gap in the top cover.
  • Push the glossy side of the top cover with your thumbs until it pops to the side.
  • Lift the glossy top cover up and back to remove it from the PS4.

Grip the PS4 with both hands along the gap in the top cover.

Push the glossy side of the top cover with your thumbs until it pops to the side.

Lift the glossy top cover up and back to remove it from the PS4.

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Step 2

              Remove the hard drive bracket screw
  • Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the 6.5 mm screw securing the hard drive bracket to the enclosure.

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the 6.5 mm screw securing the hard drive bracket to the enclosure.

Step 3

              Remove the hard drive bracket
  • Pull the hard drive bracket out of the enclosure.
  • Be careful not to drop the hard drive. The internal components are fragile and are susceptible to damage by sudden shock.

Pull the hard drive bracket out of the enclosure.

Be careful not to drop the hard drive. The internal components are fragile and are susceptible to damage by sudden shock.

Step 4

              Flip over the PS4
  • Flip the PS4 upside-down with the back side facing towards you.

Flip the PS4 upside-down with the back side facing towards you.

Step 5

              Remove the warranty stickers
  • Use tweezers to remove the two stickers in the center of the back of the PS4 exposing two case screws.

Use tweezers to remove the two stickers in the center of the back of the PS4 exposing two case screws.

Step 6

              Remove the plastic screw covers
  • Use tweezers to carefully remove the plastic screw covers in each corner, exposing two more case screws.

Use tweezers to carefully remove the plastic screw covers in each corner, exposing two more case screws.

Step 7

              Remove the rear case screws
  • Remove the four 7.2 mm Torx security screws on the back of the PS4.

Remove the four 7.2 mm Torx security screws on the back of the PS4.

Step 8

              Remove the lower case
  • Use your thumbs to lift the lower case up and off the PS4.
  • The lower case is held into place by plastic clips. You may need to use significant force to release the lower case.

Use your thumbs to lift the lower case up and off the PS4.

The lower case is held into place by plastic clips. You may need to use significant force to release the lower case.

Step 9

  • Use a pair of tweezers to pull the power supply cable straight out and disconnect the power supply unit from the motherboard.
  • If your connector feels stuck, use a spudger to gently pry the connector out.

Use a pair of tweezers to pull the power supply cable straight out and disconnect the power supply unit from the motherboard.

If your connector feels stuck, use a spudger to gently pry the connector out.

Step 10

              Remove the power supply unit
  • Remove three 9.7 mm Torx security screws.
  • Remove two 41 mm Phillips screws and brackets.

Remove three 9.7 mm Torx security screws.

Remove two 41 mm Phillips screws and brackets.

Step 11

  • Lift the power supply straight up and out of the PS4.
  • The power supply is held firmly in place by prongs on the left side. It may take multiple attempts to remove it.
  • During reassembly, ensure the prongs are aligned, then press the power supply into place.

Lift the power supply straight up and out of the PS4.

The power supply is held firmly in place by prongs on the left side. It may take multiple attempts to remove it.

During reassembly, ensure the prongs are aligned, then press the power supply into place.

Step 12

              Remove the Wi-Fi antenna
  • Use the tip of a spudger to disconnect the antenna cable from the motherboard.

Use the tip of a spudger to disconnect the antenna cable from the motherboard.

Step 13

  • Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to grab the antenna cable and move it out from the cable guides.

Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to grab the antenna cable and move it out from the cable guides.

Step 14

  • Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to thread the antenna cable out from underneath the optical drive cable.

Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to thread the antenna cable out from underneath the optical drive cable.

Step 15

  • Remove the 9.7 mm Torx security screw securing the antenna.

Remove the 9.7 mm Torx security screw securing the antenna.

Step 16

  • Remove the Wi-Fi antenna.

Remove the Wi-Fi antenna.

Step 17

              Disconnect the optical drive
  • Use your fingernail to press down on the metal release lever of the ribbon cable on top of the optical drive.
  • Use your fingers or a pair of tweezers to disconnect the ribbon cable by pulling on the black tab.
  • You do not need to press the metal lever when inserting the ribbon cable back in. You will hear a click once it is fully inserted.

Use your fingernail to press down on the metal release lever of the ribbon cable on top of the optical drive.

Use your fingers or a pair of tweezers to disconnect the ribbon cable by pulling on the black tab.

You do not need to press the metal lever when inserting the ribbon cable back in. You will hear a click once it is fully inserted.

Step 18

  • Use your fingernail to press down the metal release lever for the ribbon cable connected to the motherboard.
  • Use your fingers or a pair of tweezers to disconnect the ribbon cable by pulling on the black tab.
  • Set the ribbon cable aside for reassembly.
  • You do not need to press the metal lever when inserting the ribbon cable back in. You will hear a click once it is fully inserted.

Use your fingernail to press down the metal release lever for the ribbon cable connected to the motherboard.

Set the ribbon cable aside for reassembly.

Step 19

  • Use your fingers or a pair of tweezers to disconnect the optical drive cable from the motherboard.

Use your fingers or a pair of tweezers to disconnect the optical drive cable from the motherboard.

Step 20

  • Use your fingers or a pair of tweezers to remove the optical drive cable from the cable guides that hold it in place.

Use your fingers or a pair of tweezers to remove the optical drive cable from the cable guides that hold it in place.

Step 21

              Remove the optical drive
  • Remove the four screws securing the optical drive.
  • Three 9.7 mm Torx screws
  • One 6.2 mm Phillips screw

Remove the four screws securing the optical drive.

Three 9.7 mm Torx screws

One 6.2 mm Phillips screw

Step 22

  • Lift the optical drive straight up and out of the PS4.

Lift the optical drive straight up and out of the PS4.

Step 23

              Remove the upper case
  • Remove the two 9.7 mm Torx screws securing the upper case.

Remove the two 9.7 mm Torx screws securing the upper case.

Step 24

  • Lift the upper case up and back to remove it from the PS4.
  • The upper case in held in place by plastic tabs on the front side. It will take significant force to separate them.

Lift the upper case up and back to remove it from the PS4.

The upper case in held in place by plastic tabs on the front side. It will take significant force to separate them.

Step 25

              Remove the upper EMI shield
  • Remove the twelve 9.7 mm Torx screws securing the upper EMI shield.

Remove the twelve 9.7 mm Torx screws securing the upper EMI shield.

Step 26

  • This step shows you how to properly unscrew the pressure plate.
  • Remove the two 15.6 mm Phillips screws.
  • Gradually unscrew the pressure plate by turning each screw one half turn at a time.
  • Alternate between the two screws to maintain even pressure on the pressure plate.
  • Do not unscrew one side completely before unscrewing the other side or you may damage the processor.

This step shows you how to properly unscrew the pressure plate.

Remove the two 15.6 mm Phillips screws.

Gradually unscrew the pressure plate by turning each screw one half turn at a time.

Alternate between the two screws to maintain even pressure on the pressure plate.

Do not unscrew one side completely before unscrewing the other side or you may damage the processor.

Step 27

  • Remove the pressure plate.

Remove the pressure plate.

Step 28

  • Remove the upper EMI shield.

Remove the upper EMI shield.

Step 29

              Remove the motherboard
  • Insert the flat end of a spudger in between the fan cable and the motherboard.
  • Twist the spudger to lift the connector straight up and disconnect it from the motherboard.

Insert the flat end of a spudger in between the fan cable and the motherboard.

Twist the spudger to lift the connector straight up and disconnect it from the motherboard.

Step 30

  • Grab the edge of the motherboard on the front of the PS4.
  • Lift the motherboard until the USB ports clear the PS4 case.

Grab the edge of the motherboard on the front of the PS4.

Lift the motherboard until the USB ports clear the PS4 case.

Step 31

  • Lift the motherboard out from the PS4.
  • Apply a new layer of thermal paste to the processor before installing a motherboard using this guide.
  • Failure to properly install new thermal paste will cause your PS4 to overheat.
  • Insert the I/O side of the Motherboard in first, then lower the other side in.

Lift the motherboard out from the PS4.

Apply a new layer of thermal paste to the processor before installing a motherboard using this guide.

Failure to properly install new thermal paste will cause your PS4 to overheat.

Insert the I/O side of the Motherboard in first, then lower the other side in.

Step 32

              Thermal Paste
  • Using tissue paper, wipe off the existing thermal paste. Take the new thermal paste and apply a small amount to the middle of the component.
  • Make sure to clean the thermal paste from both ends.

Using tissue paper, wipe off the existing thermal paste. Take the new thermal paste and apply a small amount to the middle of the component.

Make sure to clean the thermal paste from both ends.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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                    Alyasin Hossain

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                                            8 Guides authored

Luis Garcia - Jan 25, 2021

Reply

Se me hizo muy buena la guia, sobre todo para no cometer algun error al trabajar en la reparacion, mi PS4 dejo de zumbar el abanico con el cambio de pasta termica y una limpieza general de polvo y pelusa.

Billy P - Oct 22, 2021

Reply

I followed this guide step by step, including reversing the order to reassemble my unit.

My PS4 is still loud but not as loud as before, so everything worked well. Thanks for the writeup!

Beau - Apr 8, 2022

i might be a little late to reply, but i followed this guide aswell BUT after step 31 i took off the extra metal/aluminum plating and saw thats that where the bulk of the dust will be built up, this plate has the vents that go to the cooling fan on the opposite side of it after unscrewing. i bought an original ps4, it sounded like a jet engine taking off. The vents on my ps4 were just about covered in dust almost no airflow was able to get through, after taking the extra step and taking off the 1 extra panel (the one under the motherboard in step 31) and of course after replacing the thermal paste made my ps4 run and sound like new again,

Cary B - May 10, 2022

Reply

I also went the extra step of taking that metal shroud that sits below the motherboard (step 31).

I completely recommend this step. It is then you can get access to the heat sink fins to remove dust. There are 3 screws that hold this metal shroud in place. Easy to get out.

Then you can also now remove the fan - 2 screws for this.

You can then clean out the accumulated dust from the fan and in the plastic shroud, that the fan sits in.

Holy cow, dust factory. :)

Sébastien Morin - Jun 5, 2022

Reply

Great guide! Just did it and now the console is dead silent during gameplay of super demanding games <3 I just went a step further after Step 31 and removed the plate there so that I could properly take care of the heat sink underneath that had lots of dust on it.