Topic: How long can a PS4 be played before it's heating problems?

So as the title says how long can a PS4 be played before problems start? Lately for the last week I've been playing it around 10-12 hours. I've also noticed the fan to start to speed up the longer it's left on think that's correct? no tech expert so ye just curious am I fine playing the PS4 10-12 hours at a time or will it lead to overheating problems?

You shouldn’t ever need to turn it off really, of course mechanical parts will wear out and the more dust you get in it the hotter it might get but you’d be hard pressed to damage it through overheating whether you are running it for 1 hour or 100. It won’t just keep getting hotter until it blows up.

But ambient temperatures have warmed up a bit in the past week or two (in the UK) so it might have to work harder to stay cooler...

6 years ago I bought a pre-owned console and it still works fine even if during summer it gets very hot. Maybe I have been just lucky, but the following tips may have helped me:

• the console stands on 4 plastic caps, this becuase I noticed the table became hot. More free space is always a good thing
• I put it on rest mode only if strictly necessary, otherwise I turn off the power strip
• I never play and download at the same time since it always makes the fans go crazy

Ummm, no you should always turn off your console if you will not be using it for a prolonged period. For one offs like downloading a game overnight in rest mode it is ok. It is a console not a mobile device. If only to keep It from becoming damaged if there is a power cut or something.

Ah, I didn't know this for about a year now I've been putting my PS4 in rest mode? I guess that's very very stupid? so what u guys recommend is when I've closed a game is to press the button on the front of the PS4 until it bleeps and then it completely turns it off? Also is it possible I've done damage to the PS4 by using rest mode for around 16 months? Because now I am worried I've reduced its life span by putting it into rest mode for 16 months rather than turning it off cus I assumed rest mode was fine.

@Davehunt If it's working fine now then there is no reason to believe you have done any damage. Like @JohnnyShoulder say you just increase the odds of doing harm if you have a powercut/surge. Just turn it off completely with the controller, the option is right under the rest mode option.

I tend to just use rest mode if I'm stopping for meal or something, or leaving a large download going. It's not like the console takes long to power/boot up.

@JohnnyShoulder eh aside from power useage I don’t see any reason a PS4 needs to be turned off. It’s either ventilating properly or it isn’t. The only other thing that will eventually go will be mechanical parts like fans or the hard drive, but they should work for years and years.

There might be other benefits like clearing the RAM and protecting the the system during a power cut but in principal it’s not necessary. Like you wouldn’t play for 12 hours and say “okay, I better give the PS4 some rest now!”

@andreoni79 Yeah since last summer when it was really hot I've put four coasters under the corners of my PS4 to allow extra airflow. I even sat a little hand fan next to it. I've never had any problems but If I can keep it cooler I will.

@kyleforrester87 It's just common sense, isn't it? I mean, I wouldn't play for that long any way as you should be having breaks every now and again. Rest mode is there to be used for like instances like @BearsEatBeets stated and downloading stuff. It shouldn't become the norm as you'll eventually do more harm than good over the long run.

@JohnnyShoulder sure, but the poster is asking if he should turn it off after 10-12 hours due to the heat. As if it starts cool and just gets hotter and hotter until it explodes.

@kyleforrester87 But them you've replied to the OP saying you should never have to turn it off? You maybe ok doing that, but that is your choice buddy.

@Davehunt You can turn off the console by holding down the Playstation button on the controller, select Power and then turn off. That quick menu by the way you can customise the order this list appears in and what options come up.

In regards to ventilation, just make sure that there is space all around it and you don't have it in an enclosed area like a draw or something. It is quite normal for the fan to get a bit noisy from time to time depending on what model you. Some earlier models of OG PS4 do and ditto the Pro. Later models have a different chassis so are less prone to it, so to the Slim version.

My PS4 is on the top of my PC Tower which is on top of my PC Desk and Thanks for telling me how to turn it off properly feel like a noob not knowing

@JohnnyShoulder it is true though lol. You shouldn’t worry about it wearing out, is my point. If you are using it between you and others 24 hours a day, go for it!

My console sits on the carpet and I never switch it off. I would absolutely never recommend that to anyone but I haven’t had any problems. Just depends on your luck I guess.

Crazy Saturday night in, but I read the manual out of interest and apparently an overheat message comes up if things get dangerous, which is pretty cool to know.

“If the system’s internal temperature becomes elevated, a message will be displayed. In this case, turn off the system and leave it unused for a while. After the system cools down, move it to a location with good ventilation, and then resume use.”

I turn off my PS4 every time also because I have a 3TB external hard disk and power losses could damage it. It wouldn't be nice to download everything again...
I live for most of the year in a mountain zone; wind, snow and fallen trees can cause 2/3 power interruptions per months.

@kyleforrester87 Yeah like I said just use a bit of common sense innit.

You probably shouldn't let it get to that stage in the first place.