Are you playing peacefully on your PlayStation 5 when it suddenly shuts down ? There are several reasons why your PS5 might not be working properly. If this problem with your console starts happening more often than usual, we'll show you the most common causes. So stick around and take notes.
Problem with turning on the PS5
Consoles are always perfect while they're in the hands of the designers, but there comes a moment when all that falls apart when they hit the market and users start using them . Then a huge number of circumstances (many of them different), uses, and experiments occur that test the durability of each component, the results of which the engineers involved in the manufacturing process never imagined. It's what the famous saying "Paper can withstand anything" usually refers to.
And PS5, despite the fact that it is not a console that has been characterized by having serious hardware problems in its first months of life, it has seen how one incident prevailed over all the others: and it is a sudden shutdown whose origin is on the HDMI connector and all the torrent of technology that allows us to enjoy games in glorious 4K at 60 fps with HDR.
One of the reasons your PlayStation 5 might be shutting down unexpectedly and malfunctioning is due to HDMI Device Link . The PS5 supports HDMI CEC, which means that turning on the console also turns on the TV. This interoperability between devices is behind some of the sudden shutdowns reported by many users recently.
HDMI Device Link synchronizes the power state of your PlayStation 5 with that of your TV. When you turn on your TV, the PS5 also turns on. If HDMI Device Link is enabled, it can cause your PS5 to turn off unexpectedly. Why does this happen? One reason is that some Smart TV brands support the CEC specification , but don't ensure all functions are compatible, leading to issues.
To fix this, we simply need to disable this feature and check if the problem is resolved. To do this, we will follow these steps:
- In the main menu of PlayStation 5 we are going to Settings > System > HDMI.
- We go to the option 'activate link of the HDMI device'.
- We press the button 'X' of the DualSense to disable this option.
- Now, we will check if the problem has been fixed.
Curiously, these settings did not appear so detailed in the first version of the PS5 firmware, and it was with a first major update that the manufacturer introduced settings that allowed better shaping the operation of HDMI Link. In any case, this is something that does not continue to work correctly for some users, so the best option is to disable this option to avoid problems.
The available options are as follows:
- Enable HDMI device link: This activates the HDMI Link and allows the console to be turned on when your TV is turned on.
- Activate game with a touch: The console is in charge of turning on the TV at the moment you start playing.
- Turn off paired devices: The console turns off the TV when you finish playing the game.
Firmware issues
Sometimes the PS5 system software can cause the console to shut down. A good way to avoid these problems is to keep your console updated to the latest version . To do this, follow these steps:
- Connect your PS5 to the Internet.
- Go to Settings > System > System Software > System software update.
- Choose 'Update system software'.
- Now, check the option 'Update over the Internet'.
- Confirm the following screens and wait for the firmware to download and update your console.
If you can't connect your console to the Internet, you can download the latest firmware from the official Sony website and update your PS5 using a USB drive.
Issue caused by console rest mode
Another fairly common problem is related to the console's rest mode. If your console turns off after entering rest mode, the best thing you can do is disable it to prevent the problem from occurring.
To turn off Sleep Mode , do the following:
- Select Settings > System > Energy saving.
- Select option 'Time until PS5 enters rest mode'.
- Turn on the option to not put the console to sleep while a game is running on the console.
With this, your console can only enter sleep mode if you activate it manually.
How to turn off the PS5
If your problem is that you don't know exactly how to turn off the PS5, don't worry, you're not alone. The process may be a bit confusing since the menu is not entirely intuitive, and on the other hand we have the issue of the lights on the console itself. To turn off the PS5 all you have to do is:
- Press the PlayStation button once of your DualSense controller. The shortcut bar will appear.
- Press down to position yourself on the lower icons and scroll to the last icon of «Food«.
- Select it and choose the option Shut down PS5.
You should know that if the console light is orange, it means it's in Rest mode . If, on the other hand, there's no light, it means it's completely turned off.
feeding problem
If your console's power system fails, the PS5 may turn off sporadically. On occasion this can occur during a power spike.
The first thing you'll need to check is the cable. The console uses an IEC C7 power cable . This is a very common cable that was also used with the PS3 and PS4, so you can try replacing it with an equivalent one you have at home.
If that doesn't work, you might have a problem with the console's power supply . In that case, you'll need to claim under warranty or replace it yourself if the warranty has expired.
overheating problems
The PlayStation 5 is a huge console because it needs a fairly large heatsink to dissipate all the heat generated by its processor. If you're playing and your console shuts down unexpectedly, it might simply be overheating . After all, all computers and electronic devices automatically shut down for safety when they exceed their maximum temperature tolerance. Once a certain temperature is reached, all electronic devices will shut down without warning to prevent damage to their internal components.
Detecting what may be causing your PS5 to overheat can be a bit tricky. However, we are going to talk about the two most possible scenarios: poor ventilation and malfunction of the dissipation systems.
Try to locate the console in another place
The PlayStation 5 needs a constant airflow to cool properly. It's possible that the console is stored in a living room cabinet, almost boxed in, and is suffocating from drawing in the same hot air that comes out of its ventilation ducts.
If your console has not had this problem until the summer has arrived, begin to suspect that the failure could come from here. As a first solution, do the following:
- Turn off your console and remove the power cords.
- Let the console cool down for at least one hour.
- After time, take your PS5 to a place that is well ventilated, and where you can get clean, fresh air.
- Try now to see if the console works correctly.
If your problem has been solved, you will have to find another place to put it. If the problem persists, but you think it is still an overheating problem, try what we will explain below.
Clean the ventilation system
Over time, your PS5 can become dusty . As the vents become clogged, the console's ventilation becomes less than optimal. This causes the console's internal temperature to rise, and it may even shut down unexpectedly. Any electronic device with a fan works like a vacuum cleaner. If you have pets at home , your PS5 will almost certainly have a lot of hair in its fans.
Luckily, Sony designed the PS5 with a lot of care, and we will be able to clean its ventilation system without having to disassemble the internal components of the console. It will take less than 10 minutes:
- Remove the console base by removing the screw.
- Lift the corner of the faceplate with the PlayStation logo to separate it from the housing.
- As you lift the corner, slide faceplate toward the bottom of the console.
- Remove the left faceplate.
- Use a Vacuum cleaner with a tube attachment to vacuum dust from the ventilation ducts of the PS5. The console has a total of two holes in it for this purpose. You will need to set the vacuum to maximum power to be able to do the process correctly.
- Repeat the steps in reverse order to put the cover back in place and reinstall the console base.