Is your PS4 fan loud? You may be wondering why, and how to fix it.

There are several possible reasons why your PS4 fan is louder than it should be, including; dust build-up, a fault, or the location of the console.

In this article, we’ve considered all the reasons your PS4 fan is making a lot of noise. We’ll explain which are the most likely, before listing 11 ways that you can fix the problem.

Not interested in why your PS4 fan is loud and just want to fix it? Jump straight to our 11 ways to fix your loud PS4 fan

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• Why is my PS4 fan loud?
• 11 ways to fix a loud PS4 fan
• Loud PS4 fan FAQs

Why is my PS4 fan loud?

Let’s dive into some of the reasons why your PS4 fan is loud. It may be one of these reasons or a combination of factors:

Size

In the grand scheme of things, the fan inside a PS4 is pretty small – and it has a big job to do. All PS4 cooling fans will make a degree of noise.

A PS4 fan has a diameter of 85 millimeters. That’s not a massive size when you think of the air a fan has to circulate to keep the console cool, especially when you consider how hot a PS4 can become after hours of gaming!

Because of this small size, a PS4 fan must spin really fast in order to do its job of cooling components. When the fan spins faster, it can become loud.

Nothing to see here?… Before we come onto concerning issues that may make your PS4 fan loud, let’s remember that if your PS4 fan seems loud, it might just be the speed the fan is operating at.

Dust and debris

Dust is a really common reason why a PS4 fan becomes loud. The accumulation of dust and debris prevents the fan from circulating air effectively, forcing it to work harder and leading to it becoming louder.

Where does the dust and debris come from? It can be the same dust that you’d see build up on a shelf or sideboard that hasn’t been cleaned in a while. Hair, from pets or humans, can also contribute.

Even though your PS4 is clean on the outside, it may be dusty inside; especially the fan.

We have suggested several options for cleaning your PS4 fan further on in this article. Want to address the issue now? You can skip straight to them here:

• Clean using a compressed air can
• Clean using a vacuum cleaner
• Clean using a soft brush

Hardware design

PS4 gamers have noticed that the fan can get loud when playing games that are graphically intensive.

As games have developed over the years and become more advanced, the hardware in the PS4 comes under more strain – this causes the fan to work harder in order to cool down the console.

Hard drive

Are you sure that the noise isn’t your hard drive?

There is a clear difference between the noise of a fan and a hard drive, and you should make sure that you recognize this. A fan, as you probably know, makes a constant whirring sound, while a hard drive is more like a low hum (which can be a clicking or grinding noise if your hard drive has problems).

If it turns out the hard drive is making the noise, your PS4 is still in need of attention. If your hard drive is very loud, there may be a problem with your PS4. Although a degree of noise (usually a hum) is normal, a hard drive should not be making very loud noises.

Are you sure that the noise is your hard drive and not your fan? If so, you should send your PS4 for a check up. You can do this at your local tech repair specialist, or if your PS4 is still under warranty, go here to Sony’s official PlayStation Support page

Location

Where you put your PS4 can play a big part in the noise the fan makes. That’s because if nearby objects are restricting airflow, the fan can be forced to work harder, leading to more noise.

The objects we refer to can be in confined spaces, such as next to a wall, the sides of a TV cabinet, or another electronic device such as a TV or DVD player.

Also, poor ventilation due to a confined location can also result in more dust build-up, which could make your fan louder.

Skip to the best place to locate your PS4

Do you have a PS4 Pro?

If the answer is yes, you should note that the PS4 Pro is known for having a very loud fan, and has even been compared to a jet engine!

The new CUH-7200 model of the PS4 Pro – which was released in 2018 – has quietened a fair bit. But if you have one of the old models, bear in mind that this is a very loud console.

Even if you have a PS4 Pro, which is just louder in general, it might not hurt to clean out dust and take other precautions to ensure that your fan is in the best possible working condition.

Faulty fan unit

It might just be that your fan is broken.

A fan can become defective sometimes. You might reach this conclusion if you have investigated all the reasons above, and can find nothing wrong with your PS4.

The fan might have weakened or become loose over time. This is a common reason for it making more noise.

In this case, it’s time to get your fan replaced or repaired. You can do this at your local gaming shop or tech repair specialist, or through the official PlayStation Support page if this device is still under warranty.

11 ways to fix a loud PS4 fan

Why is your PS4 fan loud? We’ve listed some possible reasons above.

If you know the reason why it’s louder than normal, there are some clear solutions in the 11 steps below. And even if you don’t, you may want to try some of these fixes to see if they work.

Here are 11 things you can do to overcome the issue of a loud PS4 fan:

1. Clean using a compressed air can

Using a can of compressed air can be a first-line solution if you suspect that your PS4 fan may have gathered dust.

There is a specific type of compressed air can that is designed for electronics – make sure you use this type:

Check compressed air can price on Amazon

Ensure that you unplug the console first, and then unscrew the cover before using the compressed air can to clean away the dust.

We found this guide on how to clean dust from a PS4 with a compressed air can really clear and useful. 

You can also clean the air vents while you are at it.

2. Clean using a vacuum cleaner

This is another sensible cleaning method, but one which seems to have split opinion.

The consensus among experienced gamers and IT professionals seems to be that you can clean your PS4 with a vacuum cleaner. In fact, some see it as the best method.

However, you need to be extra careful. Your console must be unplugged before you take off the cover to expose the rear vents. Then you can vacuum away the dust – but be cautious. You must not touch the console with the vacuum cleaner under any circumstances. Keep your distance, especially if it is a powerful vacuum cleaner, as you might risk damaging some components.

Use the vacuum cleaner to remove dust and dirt from the fan and don’t forget the air vents – the vents are important to cooling the console and taking the strain off the fan as much as possible.

3. Clean using a soft brush

OK, we admit, this might not be as effective as the two methods for cleaning a PS4 fan already outlined. But it is a method.

Assuming you have the right-shaped brush, you don’t necessarily need to open up the PS4. Whether you take off the cover or not, use the soft brush with great care when you are removing dust from the fan and the vents. If there is a thick build up of dust, you can remove it with tweezers first before brushing (see video above).

The brush could be swapped for a soft cloth. Also, you might like to combine the brush or cloth with the can of compressed air for more efficient cleaning.

4. Move PS4 into a better-ventilated area

This is one of the easiest steps you can take in the same of your PS4 fan – it might only take a matter of seconds!

Just make sure that your PS4 is in a well ventilated area. Simple; do not place it in close proximity to walls or stacked against other devices.

Give your PS4 some space and your PS4 fan will appreciate it. By moving it away from an area with a restricted airflow, you are essentially reducing your fan’s workload and reducing its noise level in the process. The console should have a clear, substantial passage of airflow all the way around the back and sides.

While we’re at it – avoid leaving your console in a place where it will receive direct sunlight. This is the same principle as ventilation – a hotter console will make the fan work harder and increase noise.

5. Use a cooling stand

Struggling to position your PS4 in a position where it has sufficient ventilation? Even if your ventilation appears to be fine, you could use a cooling stand as a safeguard against the console overheating.

Remember, the more your PS4 overheats, the harder the PS4 fan has to work, and the more noise it will make.

A cooling stand works by elevating your console above whichever surface it is sitting on. This allows more airflow and cools the device more effectively.

You could also raise the console in this way using a cooling pad or even a small book, exposing more of the surface area to airflow.

Check PS4 cooling pad price on Amazon

6. Rotate your PS4

If you are thinking along the lines of the cooling stand concept explained above, you might be considering this as another way to expose your PS4 to more airflow.

Let’s address a long-running debate among PS4 owners – should a PlayStation be placed horizontally or vertically?

Sony designed it to be placed horizontally, but there is no reason why you can’t place it vertically. In terms of what will keep it cooler, you may think that placing it vertically is best. However, this is subject to debate. While positioning your PS4 vertically may expose a larger surface area of the console to airflow, you are actually covering up some vents. This could make the console hotter and force the fan to work harder, increasing its volume.

If you want to fix a loud fan, or at least ensure that your console doesn’t overheat, our recommendation is to stick to the standard horizontal position, so as not to cover any air vents.

7. Use anti-vibration pads

Have you ever considered that the fan, the hard drive, and any kind of noise from your PS4 creates vibrations?

The noise of your PS4 fan is accentuated by the vibrations it makes through the surface of your TV cabinet, floor, or wherever the console is positioned. One way to eliminate this contributor to noise is anti-vibration pads. They are an accessory that does a neat job of absorbing all that vibration.

PS4 anti-vibration pads are basically little ‘feet’ that give your console a platform, and soak up a lot of vibrations and resonance, reducing noise.

Anti-vibration pads have the added advantage of exposing your PS4 to more airflow by raising it above the surface on which it rests. This can help to cool the machine and take some strain off your fan.

Again – this might not be a one-thing-fixes-all solution for your loud PS4 fan. But using anti-vibration pads is certainly a good way to reduce the noise emanating from your console.

8. Replace thermal paste

Thermal paste is for heat transfer within your PS4.

Situated next to the heat sink – a component that dissipates the heat the console generates – thermal paste plays a key role in the heat transfer from the PS4’s APU to the heat sink.

Without getting lost in IT terminology, we can say that like the fan, the thermal paste and heat sink are important components for keeping your PS4 cool.

If you have had your PS4 for a few years, changing the thermal paste might be a good idea.

We’ll be honest, we like to do things ourselves – it makes sense from a money point of view and gives you that warm satisfaction of doing something with your own hands. But as it involves taking the motherboard out of your console, we recommend getting professionals to replace the thermal paste in your PS4. However, for those that want to have a go…

If you take your console to an authorized repair centre, it could cost from around $40 to $100 to get the thermal paste replaced. DIYers who are determined to save a few bucks can pick up new thermal paste from under $10

Check PS4 thermal paste price on Amazon

9. Run updates

It could be your phone, your laptop, or just about any electronic device – running updates is never a bad idea.

But you might be wondering why running some simple updates from Sony can make a difference to your hardware – namely, make your fan quieter.

The reason is, that updates can make your PS4 run more efficiently in general. This can ease the workload on your PS4 fan, making it run slower and quieter.

Glitches that can be addressed by a software update may cause your PS4 to be inefficient, and put strain on your PS4 system, and consequently the fan. Again, we don’t want to get into computer geek territory, but things like the utilization of code or graphics can lead to a badly performing game that puts more pressure on the system.

Another reason for your PS4 overheating could be corrupted files. These can be checked for and deleted via the PS4 menu. A corrupted database can make the hard drive noisy as the readers struggle to cope. Think about this possibility if both your hard drive and fan (or just your hard drive) are making a racket.

Updating your PS4 console is easy. Simply go to your PS4 settings in the main menu and select System Software Update.

Here are the official Sony instructions for a System Software Update

10. Limit gaming time and rest when not using

Some electronic devices are like humans – they can be overworked!

Playing your PS4 for hours on end can be fun, especially with one of those moreish games such as FIFA, GTA, need we go on…? The fan-related issue could be – especially with games that are demanding on the system – that your system becomes overworked when functioning for long hours.

You can ease the strain on your PS4, and your fan, by limiting your game time each day. You may notice that your fan is less noisy due to the reduced workload.

And when you are not using your PS4 – turn it off or put it in rest mode! It might be tempting to just leave your PS4 running until the next time you use it, especially if you are a regular gamer. But this is a bad habit that can add to the strain on your console (including the fan). Get into the routine of saving your game, exiting, and then putting the PS4 in rest mode or turning it off completely.

And forget the noisy PS4 fan for a second – what about your health? Although gaming can help you wind down and reduce stress, research shows that gaming can harmful when it becomes an addiction. This study into internet gaming disorder highlights potential bi-products of gaming addiction as loss of interest in other activities, loss of relationships, and missing out on career opportunities.

11. Replace your PS4 fan

Your fan may be loud because it is defective.

If you’ve tried all, or most, or the methods above, and have a PS4 fan which is considered louder than it should be (remember, it is normal for them to make some degree of noise), you may need to replace your cooling fan.

As we’ve highlighted earlier in this guide, cleaning dust from your PS4 should be your first priority in addressing a loud PS4 fan. If you have reached the stage where you think your PS4 fan needs to be replaced, this should be because you have cleaned it, tried other methods of reducing strain on the fan, and come to the conclusion that it is malfunctioning.

You’re next step should be to take your console to your local authorised repair centre. If the console is still under warranty it may be covered. In which case you should head to Sony’s official Playstation Support page.

Can you replace a PS4 cooling fan yourself? Yes, you can, but it can be a tricky task for the uninitiated. The replacement fan itself shouldn’t cost too much. You can find them for under $20 and many of the replacement cooling fans come with tools you need for the task.

Check replacement PS4 cooling fan price on Amazon

If you do decide to go it along, you should know that replacing the fan on your PS4 involves opening it up, carefully unscrewing and disconnecting certain components, replacing the thermal paste, replacing the fan… and then reassembling everything you’ve just disassembled. *BOX*

Has that description of a fiddly and potentially painstaking task put you off yet? If the answer is no, watch the video below for full instructions on how to replace your PS4 cooling fan.

Loud PS4 fan FAQs