How to Not Brick Your PS3

The PlayStation 3 (PS3) is a very expensive device that possibly has stored many of your precious save files and other user-created content that took a long time to get. All of that work can be lost forever if your PS3 becomes permanently damaged and, essentially, a brick. Bricking refers to the process of corrupting the PS3 beyond repair, usually at the fault of damaged internal hardware or firmware. Although any number of things out of your control can brick the PS3, there are some preventive measures you can take to not actively brick your PS3.

Instructions

1. Keep your PS3 firmware up-to-date and only use official firmware. To see if your current firmware is the most recent, select the "Settings" icon on the PS3 menu. Select "System Settings." Select "System Information." If a new firmware is available, you will be prompted to update.

2. Keep the PS3 well-ventilated. Check to see if the air vents along the side and back of the PS3 are clear of obstacles and dust. To clean the vents, use a lint-free cloth and brush along the edges of the vents. If you have a compressed can of air, those can also be used to rid the vents of dust and are generally more effective at removing difficult-to-reach dust further in the system.

3. Don't install any unauthorized applications or files that are not downloading from the official PlayStation Store.

4. Leave the hard drive or USB flash drive installed while performing a system update or patching, and do not unplug the PS3 during these processes.