We are experts and we can fix most faults that a game console might have, so even if you don’t see your issue listed on this page, reach out via the button below as we can almost certainly help.
How can we help?
You can think of game consoles a bit like kettles: they’re appliances designed to do one thing pretty well and really conveniently. You could use your Xbox to renew the car insurance, just like you could make custard in your kettle, but they are much better at doing their primary function: making tea gaming! So whether you’re team Xbox, Playstation, Switch or any other gaming machine (we see you in the back with the Wii U đ§), if your game box isn’t gaming we won’t judge and we are here to help!
We’ve collected the most common types of fault in the links below along with some common causes and tips but if you don’t see your specific issue - fear not - drop us an email and we’ll book you in for a service and get you back in game đŽ.
đ¤Ŧ It shuts off / crashes mid-game!
đĢ It sounds like a jet!
đĩ There’s no picture!
đĒĢ It won’t charge!
It shuts off / crashes mid-game!
Mid-game crashes (that just absolutely could not wait for that next autosave spot or match to end đ) are not only infuriating but they reek of power or heat issues. Modern games consoles (especially those designed to be permanently plugged into the wall) can draw a lot of power and this puts a lot of stress both on the components delivering and receiving that power but also on the cooling system of your console.
đĄ If your console’s fans are going like something out of Top Gun, check out the section below (quickly before Tom Cruise bursts through your window doing another one of his own stunts)
Power supply units (PSUs) are in charge of taking the power from the wall and converting it to the various voltages that your games console needs to run. PSUs are pretty resilient and are unlikely to be the cause of a console switching off while in use so it’s more likely that insufficient power is being provided.
Make sure your console isn’t plugged into an overloaded extension lead or plugged into an adapter with any other high power electronics; or even better, plug it straight into the wall (at least to rule this out as an issue) and if that doesn’t work contact us and we'll crack this case wide open.
It sounds like a jet!
Game consoles often live in TV stands or on shelves and let’s face it, the reason we buy them in the first place is to avoid doing chores so while they might occasionally get dusted around, chances are they aren’t getting cleaned out ever.
Other than random shutdowns in use, the most telltale sign that a console is overheating is a screaming cooling fan. Dust blocking intakes or clogging cooling fins results in less airflow and therefore less heat transfer away from the hot bits which leads to the combination protest and self-preservation of an abrupt shutdown with a stout refusal to start up again until demands (mainly cooling down) are met.
Dusting out a console can be pretty disgusting easy with some compressed air and a toothbrush without the need to do too much disassembly so why not give it a try before reaching out if you need any more support.
There’s no picture!
Most games are a lot more challenging if you can’t see what’s going on and while modern strives towards accessibility are great, your console shouldn’t be the one deciding.
đĄ One reason there might be no picture is that despite being plugged in, your console isn’t actually taking power. If you can’t hear any noise or see any lights coming from your console then cruise on up to the section above about power issues
Finicky cables are the number one suspect when it comes to display issues:
| Potential Cause | What to Check |
|---|---|
| The cable itself is dodgy | Try another cable (preferably one that you know works!). |
| The cable isn’t plugged in properly | Unplug the cable and reconnect it. You should be able to feel when the cable is fully seated: it should be a snug fit, not loose but not require excessive force to connect. |
| The cable is plugged in but to the wrong input on the display (we’ve all done it đ¤Ļ) | Modern displays like TVs have multiple inputs so make sure you use the remote to set the display to show the same source as marked on the input where you plugged in the cable. If you plugged into HDMI 1, make sure the display source is set to HDMI 1 even if your console is the only thing plugged in |
Fortunately these are all relatively easy to check and sort out, but if the issue persists (assuming the display cable is fine), there might be an issue with the output port on the console itself. If cables fall out easily or can be wiggled around when plugged in that suggests the connector has loosened or failed completely and some disassembly will likely be required to fix it.
Don’t worry though - if you don’t know your HDMI bone from your other more-different-HDMI bone - we're here to help!
It won’t charge!
Presumably you have landed on this section because you have a handheld game console otherwise even we probably won’t be able to help you… đ
Didn’t see your issue mentioned? đ
We are experts and we can fix most faults that a game console might have, so even if you didn’t see your issue listed on this page, reach out via the button below as we can almost certainly help turn that frown upside down!
Glossary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| HDMI | High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) the |
| PSU | Power Supply Unit (PSU) takes the power from the wall and dishes it out in the right amounts to all the components in your console (think Oliver Twist but for electrons, not Victorian gruel) |
The information on this page is provided for reference only.