PS5 Turns Off By Itself And Won’t Turn On? (Fix It Fast!)
If your PS5 turns off by itself and won’t turn on immediately after, here at ZontSound, we can straightforwardly tell you that this is due to overheating.
That’s why we’ve designed this guide to help you prevent overheating, and of course, share with you some other methods that could also help you out.
Let’s get started with the most important first…
What to Do When PS5 Turns Off By Itself And Won’t Turn On?
Note: Have you tried power cycling the console by unplugging it from the wall for ~60 seconds?
1. Check & Resolve Overheating
Well, if your PS5 turns off by itself while playing games, it’s almost certain that the problem is due to overheating.
The reason why your PS5 turns off and won’t turn on immediately after is due to the safety system that shuts down the console when the thermal margin is exceeded.
In short, this is the maximum operational temperature that your PS5 can work under, and when it’s over the top, the console shuts down to protect its hardware.
Overheating mainly occurs when there is a combination of factors such as demanding games, warm room air, clogged internal fan, etc…
Quick Fact: The PS5 heat limit is around ~95°C🔥 and ~203°F🔥
How to Identify Overheating:
PlayStation 5 overheating is quite easy to identify. If your console turns off mostly while you’re playing games, and it’s hot when you touch it, it’s overheating.
You can, of course, try some easy ways to prevent overheating:
However, most of these methods will prove ineffective when the internal cooling fan of your PS5 is clogged with dust, so there is only one way: disassembling the PS5.
How to Clean PS5 Cooling Fan:
The absolute best way to prevent overheating is to disassemble your PS5 and clean the fan that is cooling down the hardware components.
At least this is what technicians will do if you bring the PlayStation 5 for cleaning service, which would cost you the ungodly ~$90–$100.
⚠️Warning: Disassembling your PlayStation 5, even for cleaning purposes, instantly voids your warranty!
Here’s how to disassemble and clean your PlayStation 5 cooling fan:
If you managed to clean the internal cooling fan of your PS5, overheating will stop, unless there is another factor influencing the heat.
Also, you should listen closely to verify that the internal cooling fan is working, since if not, this leads to a hardware problem.
2. Adjust the Rest Mode Settings
So, if the console is not overheating, but your PS5 turns off randomly, it’s probably because of the “Rest Mode” settings.
The PlayStation 5 allows you to choose a specific time of inactivity, after which your console will go in “Rest Mode”.
The best way to do here is to disable the automatic “Rest Mode” to justify that your PS5 is not turning off automatically because of a setting.
- First, navigate to the PS5 “Settings” menu.
- From the menu, enter the “System” tab.
- Then go to the “Power Saving” section.
- Select “Set Time Until PS5 Enters Rest Mode”.
In there, you’ll discover two options:
We recommend setting both to “Don’t Put in Rest Mode”.
When you’re ready, test whether the PS5 will randomly turn off regardless of whether the issue appears during playback or gaming.
3. Resolve Power Inconsistencies
So, if your console is not overheating or entering Rest Mode, I would also wonder why my PS5 turns off by itself, when seemingly there is nothing wrong.
Well, don’t wonder and let me tell you–the power supply is another key factor that is directly responsible for the operational state of your PS5.
When the power is fluctuating, weak, or not stable (which happens due to a variety of reasons), the PlayStation 5 will power off at random.
There are, however, several things that might work for you:
Well, if your PS5 keeps turning off, no matter what you’re trying, maybe the electrical installation of your home is overloaded.
Try to disconnect other devices near your PS5 (same outlet) to see whether this will help, and if not, you’re potentially facing a software issue, not a power problem.
4. Rebuild PlayStation 5 Database
If your PlayStation 5 continues to turn off at random, whether you’re playing games or not, it’s not excluded that the issue comes from the storage.
When there is a faulty piece of information, the entire system of your PS5 may collapse whenever this defective piece of data is accessed.
The best way to tackle such a problem is to rebuild the database of your PS5. This process is only possible through the Safe Mode of your PS5.
What is PS5 Safe Mode?
PS5 Safe Mode is an operational state of the system that only uses essential services to work and disables everything else.
It’s a good way to identify whether a problem is service-related.
How to Enter Safe Mode?
To enter Safe Mode on PS5, you must turn off the console completely and then hold the power button until you hear 2 beeps.
Then you should release and connect your controller over USB, since Safe Mode also disables the wireless connectivity.
How to Rebuild the Database?
When you enter “Safe Mode”, you’ll see a couple of options, one of which is “Clear Cache and Rebuild Database”, revealing the two options:
- Clear System Software Cache
- Rebuild Database
We recommend first going with “Clear System Software Cache” and then entering Safe Mode again to select “Rebuild Database”.
Note: After both operations are complete, you’ll be signed out from your accounts on ALL games/apps!
5. Factory Reset the PlayStation 5
If you’ve tried everything but your PS5 turns off by itself and won’t turn on, it’s time to give it one last shot and perform the good old factory reset.
This method will wipe clean everything on your PlayStation 5, including user data, settings, and games.
Here’s how to reset your PlayStation 5 to defaults:
- From the Menu, go to the “System” tab.
- Then navigate to the “System Software”.
- Move down and select “Reset Options”.
- Next, choose the “Reset Your Console”.
- Confirm by selecting “Yes” on the prompt.
If your PlayStation 5 won’t stay on for long enough to perform the factory reset, you can also reset the console through the “Safe Mode” → “Reset PS5”.
Note: If you’re concerned that something might be wrong with your PS5 hardware, check your warranty or get in touch with PlayStation®5 Support.
Finn Wheatley, a Master’s graduate in Computer Science from UCL, London, honed his skills at small data science consultancies. There, he helped large corporations enhance their data capabilities by deploying cutting-edge machine learning analytics and resolving technical hurdles.
