How to Fix It When a PS5 Keeps Turning Off (2024)

Sometimes your PS5 console might crash while you’re playing a video game, while at other times it may keep randomly turning off when you’re not even doing anything at all. This page covers all of the best troubleshooting strategies to try when you have a PS5 that keeps crashing so that you can get back to gaming.

How to Fix a PS5 That Keeps Randomly Turning Off

Here are all of the best ways to fix a PS5 that randomly crashes or shuts down. These tips and tricks are listed from easiest and fastest to more complex and time-consuming, so working through them in the order presented is best.

1. Check other PS5 video games. If your PlayStation 5 is only turning off while playing one specific game, it’s likely that the game is the cause of the shutdown issue.

2. Update the problematic PS5 video game. Highlight the game icon, press the Options button, and select Check for Update. The system crash may be a known issue the developer fixed with a new update.

3. Use a dedicated power socket. Your PlayStation 5 console may not be getting enough power if you have too many electronics plugged into the same outlet, power strip, or surge protector.

4. Check cable connections. It’s possible that the power cable could be loose either on the PS5 or wall end.

5. Clean your PS5. If your PS5 keeps randomly turning off, it could be due to dust covering its air vents that may be causing the console to overheat and automatically shut down as a safety precaution.

6. Move the PS5 off of the floor. A PlayStation console will collect a lot more dust when placed on the floor, which can cause overheating and sporadic shutdowns.

7. Clear the space around your PS5. Your PlayStation console needs to be kept cool while turned on to prevent overheating, so make sure the space around it allows for proper air circulation.

8. Open the TV cabinet door. If you have your PS5 in a TV cabinet and you keep the glass or wooden door closed while using it, the console is likely getting too hot to run properly.

9. Shade your TV and PS5 console. Prolonged sun exposure is rarely a good thing for electronics. Close curtains to prevent direct sunlight from hitting the video game console, or place a sheet of cardboard or piece of furniture to provide some shade. If you have a large room, you may even be able to move the PS5 to a different area that doesn’t get direct sunlight.

10. Place the PS5 console next to your TV. If you have the space, try moving your PS5 to the top of your entertainment cabinet next to your TV for optimal airflow and cooling.

11. Delete some PS5 games. A lack of disc space has also been known to cause PS5 crashes.

    You can redownload deleted PlayStation video games in the future.

12. Check for a PlayStation firmware update. Open Settings > System > System Software and select System Software Update and Update System Software.

    See Also

    PS5 randomly shutting off? Here's how to fix it

13. Disable Rest Mode. Rest Mode has been known to trigger automatic PS5 shutdowns. To turn Rest Mode off, open Settings > Power Saving > Rest Mode and select Don’t Put in Rest Mode.

14. Disable HDMI Link. Open Settings > System > HDMI and deselect HDMI Link.

15. Check for cockroaches. Unfortunately, cockroaches nesting within PlayStation and Xbox video game consoles isn't unusual–they're warm and dark, after all–and can often cause both temporary problems and permanent damage

    Unplug the PS5 and give the system a careful shake to see if there's any critters inside. You'll also want to maintain a clean environment around your TV with frequent dusting and vacuuming. Placing one or two cockroach baits next to the PS5 may also be a good idea.

    If you discover a large infestation in your PS5, unplug it, take the console outside, and gently shake and knock it to scare as many roaches as possible out. When ready, place the PS5 in a clear plastic bag along with a couple of cockroach baits and seal it with tape. Leave it for at least a week.

16. Install a PS5 fan add-on. If your PS5 is still turning off randomly and you’re sure overheating is the cause, you may want to try getting a fan add-on. There are a variety of models available, such as this one from Nananimo, but most typically connect to a USB port at the rear of the console, run automatically, and increase the extraction of hot air.

17. Reset your PS5 console. If none of the above tips have worked, it’s possible that the PS5 shutdown issue may be a software or operating system problem. A reset could fix this glitch.

Causes of a PS5 Randomly Turning Off

The main cause of a PlayStation 5 console turning off at random is usually overheating. This issue often happens when dust blocks the air vents and prevents hot air from leaving the console. PS5 overheating can also occur when the console is in direct sunlight, within a shelf or cabinet with poor airflow, or directly next to other electronics and items.

An error within a PlayStation 5 video game can also sometimes cause the console to crash, as can an operating system bug. Other causes of a PS5 that keeps turning off are the HDMI Link and Rest Mode settings and a lack of available disc space.