Unlike many games consoles, the PS5 has its power supply built in. There's no power brick on the cable: the figure-8 lead goes straight into a large internal unit that turns mains electricity into the power the console runs on. When that unit fails, the console is usually completely dead.
It's the most common reason a PS5 won't turn on. Here's how to recognise it, what causes it, and what to know before replacing one.
What the power supply does
The power supply takes the mains electricity from your wall socket and converts it into the steady, low-voltage power the console's board needs. It's a substantial part of the console: a metal-shielded unit with its own components, sitting inside the case.
Because everything depends on it, a failed power supply usually means nothing happens at all when you press the power button.
Signs the power supply has failed
- Completely dead: no light, no beep, no fan, with a known-good cable and wall socket
- It died suddenly, often after a power cut, a surge or a storm
- It beeps once, then switches off. A weak power supply can manage the first moment of start-up, then fail. See PS5 beeps then turns off.
- It became unreliable before failing, for example switching off at random while in use
- A burning smell or a pop before it died. If you notice either, unplug the console straight away and don't try it again.
None of these prove it's the power supply on their own. A short on the board can look exactly the same, which is why it's worth measuring before buying a part. PS5 won't turn on covers the free checks to try first.
What makes a power supply fail
- Power cuts and surges. A spike in the mains can damage components in the power supply. See PS5 dead after a power cut.
- Age and heat. Like any power supply, its components age, and heat speeds that up. A console that has run hot for years, with dust built up inside, works its power supply harder.
- A fault elsewhere. A short on the board can take the power supply with it, or fail in a way that looks like a power supply fault.
Which power supply fits which PS5
The power supplies aren't all the same:
- Original PS5 (model numbers CFI-1000, CFI-1100 and CFI-1200): different revisions of the same basic unit, including the ADP-400DR, ADP-400ER and ADP-400FR.
- PS5 Slim (CFI-2000): a different, smaller unit, the ADP-400GR.
- PS5 Pro (CFI-7000): a different unit again.
Your model number is on the label on the back or underside of the console, starting CFI-.
Genuine or copy?
Replacement power supplies are sold as genuine Sony units, new or refurbished, and as non-genuine copies. A power supply handles mains voltage, and a poorly made one can fail again quickly, or damage the console. I only fit genuine Sony power supplies.
Should you replace it yourself?
It's possible, but it's not a job for everyone:
- It handles mains electricity. Power supplies contain capacitors that can hold a charge after the console is unplugged. It needs to be handled with care.
- You have to take the console apart, including the covers, the shielding and the cables to the power supply.
- You need to be sure it's the power supply. If the fault is on the board, a new power supply won't fix it, and in some cases a board short can damage the new one.
- Warranty. If your console is still under Sony's warranty, contact Sony first.
What the repair involves
A PS5 no power repair with me is £119 all-in for the original PS5 or the PS5 Slim, including parts and tracked return postage. I test whether it's the power supply or the board before replacing anything. If it's the power supply, I fit a genuine Sony unit, new or refurbished depending on supply. If it's the board's power circuit, such as a blown fuse or a shorted component, that's covered by the same price.
Once it's working, I test it for an hour running a demanding game before it's posted back. The work is covered by a 12-month warranty. If the processor or one of the board's main chips has failed, I can't repair it yet, so it's no fix, no fee: I refund what you paid, less return postage. I don't repair PS5 Pro power faults yet.
My recommendation
If your PS5 is completely dead with a known-good cable and socket, the power supply is the most likely cause, but not the only one. Measure before you buy, or have it diagnosed, so you don't pay for a power supply the console didn't need. If you do replace it, buy genuine, match it to your model, and treat it with the respect mains electricity deserves. For how the costs compare, see PS5 no power repair cost in the UK.
The Repair Works is an independent UK repair service, run by me, Paul — 25 years of hands-on repair experience, working by post for customers across the whole country. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Sony.
