How to Clean a Standard or Slim PS5 Fan: Complete Guide

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Keep your PlayStation 5 running quietly and smoothly by cleaning its fan
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Do you need to clean your PS5's fan, but you're scared about voiding your warranty? While it might seem like you can't open up your PS5 and do anything without breaking the warranty, thankfully, this isn't the case. In this article, we'll go over how to clean a standard PS5 fan and PS5 Slim fan. We also discuss warranties and why that warranty sticker doesn't really mean anything anymore. Keep reading to learn more.

Cleaning Your PS5 Fan

To clean your PS5 fan, remove the side panels and the fan, then use a brush and a vacuum to dislodge and suck up any dust inside the system. Removing the fan and cleaning it won't break the warranty. Even if you do remove the warranty seal, as long as you don't break anything in the PS5, you won't void your warranty.

Section 1 of 3:

Cleaning a Standard PS5 Fan

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  1. Step 1 Gather your materials.
    You'll need a few specialized materials to thoroughly clean your PS5's fan. Gather your materials before you get started:
    • A soft, clean brush. An old makeup brush works great, just make sure that it's fully clean and dry.
    • A plastic prying tool. This prying tool kit by iFixit is a great option. Avoid metal tools that will scratch or conduct static electricity.
    • A Torx screwdriver. The fan is held in by Torx T8 screws, so you'll need a specific screwdriver to remove them. You can get a Torx T8 screwdriver or a kit with multiple-sized screwdriver heads.
    • A vacuum with an air blower setting. A small, portable vacuum/air blower combo is recommended. If you don't have a vacuum with an air blower, a standard vacuum with the hose attachment will work fine as well.
    • A pair of tweezers. Long, angled metal tweezers work best, but any will do.
    • A soft cloth to rest the PS5 on. This is optional, but recommended.
  2. 2
    Shut down and unplug your PS5. Make sure your PS5 is fully shut down, then unplug any cables in the back (including the power cable, HDMI, and Ethernet).
    • This method is for the standard PS5. We cover the slim PS5 below.
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  3. 3
    Move your PS5 to a flat, well-lit work station. A dining room table or kitchen counter works great. If possible, avoid working on carpeted floors, as static electricity could short out the console's internal components.
    • If you have a soft cloth, place it under the PS5.
  4. 4
    Remove your PS5's base. If your PS5 is situated vertically, use the plastic prying tool to unscrew the large screw at the bottom of the base. Then, remove the plastic base from the PS5. If your PS5 is situated horizontally, simply remove the base.
  5. 5
    Remove the side panels of your PS5. The PS5 side panels pop off easily. Here's how to do it:
    • Place the PS5, logo-side up, with the power button facing away from you.
    • Grip the bottom left corner (where the logo is) and gently pull up and to the right. Remove this panel and set it aside.
    • Turn the PS5 over so the power button is facing you.
    • Grip the top left corner and gently pull up and to the right. Remove the panel and set it aside.[1]
  6. 6
    Remove the decorative ventilation grille. On both sides of the PS5, you'll see a ventilation grille that sticks up like a ridge. These grilles can be removed by gently pulling them off the console body.
  7. 7
    Clean the decorative ventilation grilles. If the grilles are extremely dirty, wash them in the sink to remove the dust. Otherwise, brush most of the dust away, then vacuum up the rest.
    • Clean the grilles away from your PS5 to keep more dust from getting inside the console.
  8. 8
    Place the PS5 so the fan is on the left-hand side of the console. You should see the disc drive (if your PS5 has one) on this side, along with a rectangular black panel. The cable from the fan will be going into this black panel.
  9. 9
    Remove the screws holding the fan grille on. Set them aside. Note that the screws are of different lengths. Place them in the same orientation that you removed them to make things a bit easier later on.
  10. 10
    Vacuum the console to remove any dust. Before removing the fan, use your vacuum to suck up any dust that's on this side of the console.
  11. 11
    Use the plastic prying tool to remove the black rectangular panel. This panel is actually flexible and is held down with some adhesive. Gently work the plastic prying tool under the panel and pull it up. You can fully remove this panel and set it aside. Make sure to place it somewhere that the adhesive won't pick up any dust.
  12. 12
    Unplug the fan. Use your tweezers to gently nudge the fan cable out of its connector, then remove both the fan grille and the fan itself. Set them aside for now.
  13. 13
    Vacuum inside and outside the console body. After removing the fan, use your vacuum to suck up the dust inside the fan cavity. You should also vacuum the rest of the console's exterior, focusing on the rear grille and any other particularly dusty spots.
    • If you're using a regular vacuum, use an attachment that lets you get into small spaces.
    • A brush attachment is a good choice because the bristles will help dislodge any dust that could be stuck on the console.
  14. 14
    Use a brush to clean the fan cavity. Even after using the vacuum, there may still be dust in the crevices that the vacuum couldn't reach. Gently brush out the inside of the fan cavity, then use the vacuum to suck up any dust that you manage to dislodge.
  15. 15
    Use the brush to clean the fan. Set the console body to the side to avoid getting more dust inside the fan cavity. With your brush, gently dislodge all the dust clumps stuck between the fan blades. Make sure to clean both sides of the fan, and hold the fan blades still while cleaning.
    • After cleaning the fan, vacuum up the dust clumps that you dislodged.
  16. 16
    Blow any remaining dust out of the PS5 (optional). If your vacuum has an air blower attachment, you can use this to blow dust out of your PS5. Here's how to do it:
    • Flip the PS5 over and locate two large holes. One is in the middle on the opposite side from the fan, and the other is near the front edge of the console.
    • Place the air blower attachment on your vacuum.
    • Place the nozzle in each hole and gently blow out any dust that's stuck inside the console body.
    • Use the vacuum attachment to suck up any dust that was dislodged.
      • If you don't have an air blower attachment for your vacuum, you can skip this step. Avoid blowing into your PS5 with canned air or your mouth, as the moisture could cause damage to the internal components of the console.
  17. 17
    Use the air blower attachment on the fan (optional). If you have an air blower attachment on your vacuum, you can also blow out any remaining dust stuck in the fan blades. Here's how to do it:
    • Place the air blower attachment on your vacuum.
    • Gently blow air into the fan blades.
      • Note: Always hold the fan blades still when blowing air on them. If you cause the fan to rotate, it could damage the fan or cause static electricity that could damage the components.
    • Use the vacuum attachment to suck up any leftover dust that was dislodged.
  18. 18
    Place the fan back in the PS5. Turn the PS5 body over so the fan cavity is on the left. Place the fan inside the cavity, then plug the fan back in. The plug can only go one way, so make sure it's aligned correctly before attempting to plug it in.
  19. 19
    Put the black rectangular panel back on. Take the black rectangular panel that covers the fan connection and set it back in place. Rub your hands over the panel to get the adhesive to stick again.
  20. 20
    Screw the fan grille back on. Place the silver grille back on the fan, then screw it back into place. The two screws of the same length go on the right side, while the longer screw goes in the top-left corner, and the shorter screw goes in the bottom-left corner.
    • Make sure the screws are tightly attached, but don't over-tighten them.
  21. 21
    Clip the black plastic grilles back into place. If you washed these grilles, make sure they are 100% dry before putting them back into your PS5. If there's any moisture left on these grilles, it can damage your PS5.
  22. 22
    Place the side panels back on. Take each side panel and gently slide it back into place. The logo panel goes on the side that doesn't have the disc drive (if you have a disc PS5).
  23. 23
    Reattach the base. If you keep your PS5 vertical, screw the base back into the bottom of the console. If you keep your PS5 horizontal, simply set the PS5 back on the stand.
  24. 24
    Plug it back in. Place your PS5 back in its spot and plug it back in to all the cables (power, HDMI, and Ethernet).[2]
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Section 2 of 3:

Cleaning a Slim PS5 Fan

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  1. 1
    Gather your materials. You'll need a few specialized materials to thoroughly clean your PS5 Slim's fan. Gather your materials before you get started:
    • A soft, clean brush. An old makeup brush works great, just make sure that it's fully clean and dry.
    • A plastic prying tool. This prying tool kit by iFixit is a great option. Avoid metal tools that will scratch or conduct static electricity.
    • A Torx screwdriver. The fan is held in by Torx T8 screws, so you'll need a specific screwdriver to remove them. You can get a Torx T8 screwdriver or a kit with multiple-sized screwdriver heads.
    • A vacuum with an air blower setting. A small, portable vacuum/air blower combo is recommended. If you don't have a vacuum with an air blower, a standard vacuum with the hose attachment will work fine as well.
    • A pair of tweezers. Long, angled metal tweezers work best, but any will do.
    • A soft cloth to rest the PS5 on. This is optional, but recommended.
  2. 2
    Shut down and unplug your PS5 Slim. Make sure your PS5 Slim is fully shut down, then unplug any cables in the back (including the power cable, HDMI, and Ethernet).
    • This method is for the PS5 Slim. We cover the standard PS5 above.
  3. 3
    Move your PS5 Slim to a flat, well-lit work station. A dining room table or kitchen counter works great. If possible, avoid working on carpeted floors, as static electricity could short out the console's internal components.
    • If you have a soft cloth, place it under the PS5.
  4. 4
    Place your PS5 Slim with the front of the console facing you. If you have the PS5 Slim with a disc drive, the PS5 will be oriented with the drive on top.
  5. 5
    Remove the left-most side panel. The PS5 Slim's side panels are split into four parts. You'll want to remove the skinnier left-most side panel to reveal the fan.[3]
    • To remove the panel, grip the bottom-left corner and gently pull it up. Set the panel aside for now.
  6. 6
    Remove the screws holding the fan in. Set them aside. Note that the screws are of different lengths. Place them in the same orientation that you removed them to make things a bit easier later on.
  7. 7
    Use the plastic prying tool to remove the small black panel. You'll see a cable running from the fan to this small black panel. Gently work the plastic prying tool under the panel and pull it up. You can fully remove this panel and set it aside. Make sure to place it somewhere that the adhesive won't pick up any dust.
  8. 8
    Unplug the fan. Use your tweezers to gently nudge the fan cable out of its connector, then remove both the fan grille and the fan itself. Set them aside for now.
  9. 9
    Vacuum inside the console body. After removing the fan, use your vacuum to suck up the dust inside the fan cavity.
    • If you're using a regular vacuum, use an attachment that lets you get into small spaces.
    • A brush attachment is a good choice because the bristles will help dislodge any dust that could be stuck on the console.
    • If you removed all of the panels, give the console body a good vacuum. However, this isn't necessary for most cleaning jobs. If anything, run the vacuum over the rear grille to pull out as much dust as possible.
  10. 10
    Use a brush to clean the fan cavity. Even after using the vacuum, dust may still be in crevices the vacuum couldn't reach. Gently brush out the inside of the fan cavity, then use the vacuum to suck up any dust you dislodge.
  11. 11
    Use the brush to clean the fan. Set the console body to the side to prevent more dust from entering the fan cavity. With your brush, gently dislodge all the dust clumps stuck between the fan blades. Make sure to clean both sides of the fan, and hold the fan blades still while cleaning.
    • After cleaning the fan, vacuum up the dust clumps that you dislodged.
  12. 12
    Use the air blower attachment on the fan (optional). If you have an air blower attachment on your vacuum, you can also blow out any remaining dust stuck in the fan blades. Here's how to do it:
    • Place the air blower attachment on your vacuum.
    • Gently blow air into the fan blades.
      • Note: Always hold the fan blades still when blowing air on them. If you cause the fan to rotate, it could damage the fan or cause static electricity that could damage the components.
    • Use the vacuum attachment to suck up any leftover dust that was dislodged.
  13. 13
    Place the fan back in the PS5 Slim. Gently set the fan back inside your PS5 Slim. Make sure to plug the fan back in, paying attention to which direction it's supposed to be inserted. If you're having trouble, you can use your tweezers to nudge the plug back into place.
  14. 14
    Put the black panel back on. Take the black panel that covers the fan connection and reinstall it. Press on the panel to get the adhesive to stick.
  15. 15
    Screw the fan back in. The two screws of the same length go on the right side, while the longer screw goes in the top-left corner, and the shorter screw goes in the bottom-left corner.
    • Make sure the screws are tightly attached, but don't over-tighten them.
  16. 16
    Place the side panel back on. Line the outer hinges up with the three matching holes in the console body, then press the panel back into place.
  17. 17
    Plug it back in. Place your PS5 back in its spot and plug it back in to all the cables (power, HDMI, and Ethernet).[4]
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Section 3 of 3:

Warranty Considerations

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  1. Will taking my PS5 apart void the warranty?
    No, taking your PS5 apart and even removing the warranty sticker won't void your warranty. However, if you damage anything inside your PS5 during disassembly, your warranty will be voided.
    • In 2018, the FTC cracked down on Sony (as well as Nintendo and Microsoft, among others) for including a caveat in their warranty stating that it was void if the seal was broken.[5] Sony has updated their warranties, but PS5s still shipped with warranty seals.[6]
    • If you see a warranty seal on your PS5, don't worry about breaking or removing it. As long as you did not cause any damage to your PS5 and it is still under warranty, Sony must honor it.
      • However, just because Sony is supposed to honor that warranty doesn't mean it won't be an uphill battle if something on your console is damaged and you try to fix it. If something is wrong with your console, it's best not to tamper with the warranty seal and contact Sony for repair.
      • This ruling also only applies to users in the United States. Other countries may have their own laws about warranty seals, so check your local legislation for more details.[7]
      • Your Sony warranty lasts only 1 year from the date of purchase. If it's been over a year, the console isn't under warranty anymore.

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References

  1. ↑ https://www.playstation.com/en-us/support/hardware/replace-ps5-console-cover/
  2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKRGW4kjwmw
  3. ↑ https://www.playstation.com/en-us/support/hardware/replace-ps5-console-cover/
  4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJpV-upIZsc
  5. ↑ https://www.gamesindustry.biz/sony-updates-warranty-policy-in-response-to-ftc-warning
  6. ↑ https://de.ifixit.com/News/15464/warranty-voiding-stickers-are-illegal-but-these-companies-are-still-using-them
  7. ↑ https://www.cpr.org/2018/04/11/warranty-void-if-removed-as-it-turns-out-feds-say-those-warnings-are-illegal/

About This Article

Hannah Dillon
Written by:
Hannah Dillon
wikiHow Technology Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Dillon. Hannah Dillon is a Technology Writer and Editor at wikiHow. She graduated with a B.A. in Journalism from North Dakota State University in 2013 and has since worked in the video game industry as well as a few newspapers. From a young age Hannah has cultivated a love for writing and technology, and hopes to use these passions in tandem to help others in the articles she writes for wikiHow.
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Co-authors: 3
Updated: March 23, 2026
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Categories: PlayStation Video Game Consoles
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