PS5 overheating or shutting off on its own?
It's the most common repair we do. If your PS5 turns itself off during demanding games, runs its fans loud, or throws an overheating error message on screen — it's almost always dust and old liquid metal. Here's exactly what's going on inside, and how we fix it. Full deep clean and repaste, £50, same day before 2pm.
The symptoms we hear every week
These are the exact things people describe when they ring or email about an overheating PS5. If any of them sound like yours, read on — the cause is almost always the same three things.
Turns off on its own
Playing along fine, then the console shuts itself down with no warning — usually on the more demanding games that push it hardest.
Loud, roaring fans
The fan spins up hard and stays loud. The console is working overtime trying to cool itself down and losing the fight.
Overheating error message
An on-screen warning that the PS5 is too hot and needs to shut down. The console is protecting itself from heat damage.
Preventative maintenance
Nothing wrong yet, but your PS5 has never been opened and you want to keep it that way. A clean now saves a bigger problem later.
Why your PS5 is overheating
Nine times out of ten, an overheating PS5 comes down to a combination of three things that get worse over time. None of them mean your console is beyond saving — they're all sorted in one full service. Here's each one, with real photos from recent jobs on our bench.
1 · The fan, clogged solid with dust
Your PS5 pulls air through itself to stay cool, and over the years that air brings dust in with it. The fan and the surrounding airways slowly pack up with dust and fluff until they can barely move air at all. If your console has never been opened, this is almost always where it starts.
2 · A heatsink caked in dust
The heatsink is the big block of metal fins that carries heat away from the main chip. When those fins clog up with dust, heat has nowhere to go — it stays trapped inside the console and temperatures climb. A blocked heatsink is one of the biggest single causes of shutdowns.
3 · Blocked power supply vents
The power supply unit has its own row of small air vents to keep it cool. These clog up over time exactly like the heatsink does — dust and dirt build across the vents until airflow through the PSU is choked off. A hot power supply adds to the overall temperature inside the console and makes everything worse.
4 · Liquid metal that's moved out of place
Instead of normal thermal paste, the PS5 uses liquid metal between the main chip (the APU) and the heatsink to transfer heat. It works brilliantly when it's where it should be — but over time it slowly seeps out to the edges and leaves bald patches in the middle of the chip. Those bald spots stop transferring heat properly, and that's when you get sudden temperature spikes and shutdowns, especially on demanding games. PS5s left standing vertical for years are the worst for it.
What a full PS5 deep clean involves
All three problems are sorted in one service. The console is fully stripped down on the bench, every part cleaned properly, and fresh liquid metal applied — bringing temperatures right back down to where they should be.
Full strip-down
The console is completely disassembled so every part can be reached and cleaned properly — no shortcuts, no surface-level blow-out.
Deep clean
Fan, heatsink and PSU vents all cleared of dust and dirt, so air can flow through the console the way it's meant to.
Fresh liquid metal
The old, migrated liquid metal is cleaned off and fresh liquid metal applied correctly across the APU, so heat transfers properly again.
Tested & reassembled
Rebuilt, tested under load to confirm temperatures are back to normal, and handed back running cool and quiet — good as new.
We highly recommend this service once a year
Dust never stops building up, and liquid metal keeps migrating over time. Getting your PS5 deep cleaned and repasted once a year keeps it running cool and prevents lasting heat damage to the console before it ever becomes a problem. It's the single best thing you can do to keep your PS5 healthy for years — far cheaper than a new console, or board-level repair once heat has already done its damage.
PS5 deep clean & repaste
Full deep clean + liquid metal
Full strip, dust clean of fan, heatsink and PSU, and fresh liquid metal on the APU. Same-day if dropped off before 2pm. 6-month warranty.
Having the HDMI done too?
If your PS5 needs an HDMI port as well, we'll do the full deep clean at the same time for less — since the console's already open. HDMI (£60) + deep clean together for £80 instead of £110.
PS5 overheating — your questions answered
Why does my PS5 keep turning off on its own?
Almost always overheating. The three usual causes are a dust-clogged fan and heatsink, blocked power supply vents, and old liquid metal that's migrated off the main chip. Any of these traps heat inside the console, and the PS5 shuts itself down to protect the hardware — usually on demanding games that push it hardest. A full deep clean and repaste sorts all three.
How much is a PS5 deep clean in Southport?
£50 fixed for a full deep clean and liquid metal repaste — fan, heatsink and PSU cleaned, and fresh liquid metal on the APU. Same day if dropped off before 2pm, with a 6-month warranty. If you need an HDMI port doing as well, we do both together for £80 instead of £110.
How often should I get my PS5 cleaned?
We highly recommend a full deep clean and repaste once a year. Dust never stops building up and liquid metal keeps migrating over time, so an annual service keeps your PS5 running cool and prevents lasting heat damage before it becomes a problem. It's the single best thing you can do to keep your console healthy for years.
My PS5 fans are really loud. Is that the same problem?
Usually yes. Loud fans are the console working overtime to cool itself because airflow is blocked with dust or the liquid metal has stopped transferring heat properly. Once it's cleaned and repasted, temperatures drop and the fans quieten right back down.
Can you fix it the same day?
Yes — a deep clean is a same-day job if the console is with us before 2pm. Many people wait while it's done, or drop off in the morning and collect the same afternoon, running cool and quiet again.
Is it worth cleaning my PS5 or should I buy a new one?
Well worth it. A £50 deep clean brings back a console that would cost £400+ to replace, and done once a year it keeps your PS5 healthy for years. The only time it's not worth it is if there's separate board-level damage — and we'll always tell you straight before doing any work.