PS4 (Original) Blu Ray Laser Replacement
PS4 Blu Ray Laser Eye Replacement Guide - Without Deck
Difficulty Level - Hard
If you have disc reading problems with your PS4, we recommend starting with our PS4 Mechanical Problems troubleshooting first.
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If you have tried that, and you still can't get your games to play, it's time to start looking at the laser.
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The first thing to do is try cleaning your laser "eye". If that doesn't work, you most likely have a faulty laser. I would recommend replacing the complete laser deck - that is the laser and its mechanism, rather than just the laser itself, but its up to you. It will save you time, and if you're a novice, it'll be easier for you.
If you want to replace the complete deck, see our PS4 Laser Deck Replacement Page. If you want to just replace the laser, then read on.
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Continue to the steps and videos below.
Estimated repair time 50 mins
Estimated cost £20 ($30)
Faulty Laser Symptoms
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- PS4 Not playing games
- PS4 Disc Not Spinning
- Game freezes
- Error code when disc starts up
- Game stops playing during play
Tools Needed
Before we get started, I just want to make a distinction between a laser eye replacement, and a laser deck replacement.
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Both have the same goal in mind, which is to replace the faulty disc reader. The laser with deck is the laser INCLUDING its housing chassis like this. It's the laser including the mechanics :
Whereas a laser unit without a deck looks like this:
Now, which one you want to choose is up to you. You could use the old decking inside your console that your faulty laser is attached to. BUT HERE'S MY ADVICE - CHOOSE TO BUY THE LASER WITH DECKING.
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It is MUCH easier to replace. The only drawback is that it usually costs a couple more quid to buy the laser with decking, but from an amateurs point of view, the extra money spent with be worth it. It's quicker and easier to replace..
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If you do decide to buy the laser without the decking, then this video and guide on this page is for you.
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See the PS4 Laser Deck Replacement Guide if you take my advice and want to replace with the decking included.
2 Different Laser Types
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Just to add to the confusion, there are also 2 different types of laser for the PS4 Original model (any console with a CUH-1*** model number on the back), or any console that is NOT Slim or Pro.
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There is a Single Eye Laser, and a Twin Eye Laser. You can see these pictured at the top and bottom of this page. Most Original PS4's have the single laser, but there are a few with the twin.
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You will need to make sure that you buy the right one, so check your console, take it apart (guide below) and check first.
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Faulty Laser Unit Symptoms
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If your PS4 doesn't read your games, freezes during game play, stops playing during play, or sounds like its struggling to spin, then you most likely have a faulty laser. Normally, the drive will accept your disc, and will eject normally. If it doesn't, then you most likely have a mechanical issue. See my PS4 Blu Ray Mechanical Guide if that's the case, and start there first.
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Sometimes we can get away with just cleaning the laser "eye", and it will cost you nothing. However, if the disc isn't spinning at all (and you can normally hear it spinning if you put your ear to the console), it's most likely because the laser is faulty. If the laser isn't working, the disc drive will not spin the disc, or will struggle to spin properly.
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At this point it will need replacing.
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If the laser IS faulty, usually you will be able to put the disc into the drive and eject ok, but it won't play your game. See my video below to repair.
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PS4 Laser Replacement (Without Decking)
Step By Step
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You will need screwdrivers for this repair, and if your blu ray drive is dirty, cleaning fluid and a cleaning brush may be needed.
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If you have to replace your laser, you will need either a single eye laser or a twin eye laser.
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1. Turn the console to the back, and locate the 3 seals on the bottom half of the black cover.
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2. Remove the 3 seals with a flat driver, covering the 3 torx T8 screws, from the back of the console.
Remove 3 screws across the bottom (or 1 in the middle with newer original models)
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3. Remove the bottom cover by pulling away from the chassis at the left hand edge, and the right hand edge. pull down to remove, and put aside.
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4. Remove the screws from the Power Supply (PSU). 3 torx T8 screws, and 2 cross head screws.
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5. Remove the PSU by pulling up from the right hand side, and rock back and forth until it pops out of position.
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6. Pull up, but be aware the PSU is still connected underneath, on the left hand side.
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7. Locate the PSU connector cable, and pull the plug out of the motherboard, by pulling it upwards.
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8. Now remove the 2 Blu Ray connectors. MAKE SURE YOU DO THIS IN THE RIGHT ORDER:
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Firstly, locate the flat connector on the right. Press the connector clip down on top of the blu ray drive, and pull out the connector.
9. Then locate the other end of the connector on the motherboard, press the clip, and pull the other end out. DO THIS CAREFULLY.
10. Now, pull the plug out of the board on the left.
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(NOTE - If this isn't done correctly, it is possible to blow the fuses on the blu ray circuit board. If this happens, you could end up with a dead blu ray drive. it is possible to repair the fuses on the board, but its very tricky for the amateur repairist. See our Blu Ray videos to see how.)
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11. Remove the torx T8 screw from the bluetooth connector, which is holding the drive down in the top left hand corner.
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12. Remove the other Torx T8 screws around the blu ray drive, not forgetting the screw which is hidden underneath the black wire of the drive plug.
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13. Remove the little cross head screw along the top edge of the drive.
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14. Pull the drive out of its position, and set aside the console chassis until later.
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15. Turn the blu ray drive over, so that you've got the metal plate with the circuit board facing you.
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16. Remove the cross head screws that are holding the aluminium shield in place.
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17. Pull out the 3 connectors. Make sure you flip the black plastic connector upwards first, on the central cable connector.
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18. Remove all remaining cross head screws holding down the black laser cover.
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19. In order to make access easier, you may want to remove the circuit board altogether temporarily, by removing the remaining screws holding it down.
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20. Gently remove the black plastic laser cover.
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21. Once open, put your finger inside and gently pull the laser deck up and out of the drive chassis. It will still be attached to the black cover with a cable.
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22. Once the laser deck is removed, get your WD40 spray to hand. Spray some on to a piece of cloth or kitchen paper towel, and then clean the laser eye on the laser mechanism. Be fairly robust with it, but be careful not to scratch the laser. Very often this cleaning process is all that is necessary to get your console Blu Ray drive back up and running again.
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23. At this point, put the console back together and test the laser (steps below for putting the console back together)
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24. If cleaning the laser didn't work, you will need to replace the laser unit.
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25. To remove and replace the laser, locate the white connector cable going in to the laser, and flip up the black connector clip.
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26. Pull the cable out. This will remove the laser deck.
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27. You now need to remove the laser from the laser deck.
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28. Locate the white plastic laser grip, which is attached to the laser and the spindle. Remove the little black screw.
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29. Remove the white plastic grip.
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30. The spindle now need to come out of its position. This step is a bit tricky. From the top end of the spindle (furthest away from the black turntable), pull the spindle out of its secure position, by pulling it out laterally. It is held into place with a little metal clip. Feel free to remove this clip with a flat screwdriver, and it can be put back into place later.
Once the spindle is unclipped and out of position, you can thread the spindle out, by pulling it away from the decking.
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The laser is now easy to remove from the decking.
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31. Get your new laser, and thread it on to the loose spindle.
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32. Thread the spindle back into position. Make sure that it is inserted ALL THE WAY into the decking. This can require a little cajoling at the turntable end. Make sure the little metal clips at either end of the spindle are secure in place.
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33. Put the white plastic laser grip back on to the laser and spindle, and put the screw in.
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34. Check that the laser is properly secure, and slides up and down both spindles freely.
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35. The decking is now complete, and ready to put back in to the drive.
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36. Put the white cable back into the laser connector, and push the black connector clip back down securely. Make sure the cable is fully inserted.
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37. Position the laser deck and cover back over the blu ray drive chassis, locate the 4 pins inside, and position the deck over the 4 pins, and push into the chassis gently, but firmly.
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38. Cover with the black cover, and put back into place carefully.
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39. Put the screws back into the drive cover.
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40. Put the circuit board back into position, put the 3 connectors back in place carefully but securely, and put the screws in.
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41. Put the aluminium shield back into place, and screw down, or alternatively, this can wait until after you've tested your console
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42. Position the drive back into the console chassis, and put the torx T8 screws back in around the drive.
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43. Put the Bluetooth Torx T8 screw back into the top left corner.
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44. Push the drive plug on the left into the motherboard socket FIRST.
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45. Then push the left hand end of the flat connector into its socket. Follow with the right hand end into the socket above the blu ray drive.
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46. Put the PSU back into place, making sure you have pushed the plug into the board first, and secure the PSU into place with the remaining torx T8 screws, and the 2 cross head screws.
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47. Lastly, put the bottom half of the console shell back on, and secure with the last 3 torx T8 screws.
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48. Test your console
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JOB DONE