PS5, Xbox or PS4 overheating? Why a clean and re-paste fixes it

A console that sounds like it's about to take off, runs hot to the touch, or suddenly shuts itself down mid-game is one of the most common jobs I see — and the good news is it's usually a simple, affordable fix rather than a dead machine.

What's actually happening

Two things build up over the years. First, dust — pulled in by the cooling fan, it clogs the heatsink and vents until air can barely get through. Second, the thermal paste between the main chip (the APU) and the heatsink dries out and stops transferring heat properly. The console fights to stay cool by spinning its fan flat out (the noise), and when that isn't enough it throttles or shuts down to protect itself.

The fix: a full strip-down, clean and re-paste

I take the console right down, clear every bit of dust from the fan, heatsink and vents, clean off the old dried compound and apply fresh thermal paste — or, if you want the best possible temperatures, premium liquid metal. Reassembled and tested, it runs cooler, much quieter, and stops shutting down.

Does it work on every console?

Yes — PS4, PS4 Pro, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series all benefit, and I do it locally in Newtownards for a flat £50, no posting your console away. See the PlayStation & Xbox repair page for details.

Don't leave it too long

Running hot for months puts real strain on the hardware, so it's worth sorting before it turns into something bigger. Book a repair or get in touch and I'll get it cool and quiet again.