PlayStation Repair Guide, PS4, PS5 and DualSense
A practical index to every PlayStation repair guide on Hark Tech, what the fault means, what fixes it, and when to post it in for us to look at.
Most PlayStation faults we see fall into the same six or seven categories. This page groups every PS4 / PS5 guide on the site so you can jump straight to the one that matches what your console is doing. Each linked article has a symptom description, the root cause (as we see it on the bench), and the fix, either a DIY path or a mail-in repair if it needs soldering.
HDMI faults, no picture, distorted picture, or flashing
The HDMI port on a PS5 is fragile. A cable caught on the edge of a desk is the most common cause of failure we see, the port cracks off the board. The similar-looking "HDMI IC" fault is a different repair entirely (chip-level, not port-level).
- PS5 HDMI port, no signal repair, the port itself is damaged; replacement fixes it.
- PS5 HDMI port vs HDMI IC fault, how to tell them apart, same symptom, very different repair. Read this before paying for either.
- Is a PS5 HDMI repair worth it vs a Sony-authorised swap?, the economics, including keeping your storage and saves.
Power, white-light, and blue-light faults
- PS5 white light, no signal, the console boots but nothing comes out of HDMI. Usually an HDMI fault in disguise.
- PS4 / PS5 blue-light of death, won't power on, what the blinking pattern means and whether it's a board fault or a power-supply fault.
DualSense stick drift
A problem so common Sony have been sued over it. The fix is straightforward if you're confident with small electronics; otherwise send it in.
- PS5 DualSense stick drift, the repair, step by step, including when to replace the whole stick module vs clean it.
- Hall-effect vs TMR vs standard sticks, your upgrade options so drift doesn't come back in twelve months.
Other common PlayStation faults
- PS5 disc drive grinding, won't read discs, usually the worm-gear.
- PS4 overheating, loud fan, shutdown, repaste + fan clean, most of the time.
Before you send a console in
- How to pack a console for mail-in repair, how we'd ship it ourselves. Worth five minutes to read; prevents transit damage.
If you've read the relevant article and you're not sure, email us and describe what the console is doing, we'll tell you whether it's a DIY fix or needs the bench, for free.