When your PlayStation 3 freezes during gameplay, it can be extremely frustrating. You may have to stop playing the game you are on and reboot the entire system which may lead to corrupt game files. 

There are a few things you can do, however, to prevent this issue so you can enjoy uninterrupted gaming. In this article I will explain the reasons that causes your PS3 to freeze during gameplay. Here are the things that may cause your PS3 to freeze during gameplay;

  • Software Issue.
  • Hard drive failing
  • Game disk has Finger prints or Scratched.
  • PS3 is overheating/dust accumulated.
  • PS3 power supply unit is failing.
  • GPU/CPU is failing.

Software Issue

The PS3 can be freezing because of a software issue. If it's software related then this may be due to a corrupted game file or it could have to do with the PS3 Operating system. If it is the operating system follow the guide on how to update your PS3.

If it is a corrupted game file you will have to Rebuild the database/Restore file system of the PS3. Here is how you Rebuild the ps3 database/Restore file system.
  • Put your PS3 to standby mode (this shows the red light on the PS3).
  • With the system in standby mode. Press and hold the power button down you will hear one beep, continue holding the power button until the system turns off. Release the power button. 
  • Now turn it on again by Pressing holding the power button and you will hear one Beep and another one Beep, then two quick Beeps at this point release the power button.
  • You should be prompted to connect your wireless controller using a USB cable. 
    Note: Wireless doesn't work on controllers in recovery mode. 
    Now you should be able to see this screen below;
  • Now you can Restore File System/ Rebuild Database.

PS3 Safe Mode Options

  1. Restart System
    This will Restart the PS3 system with the option to reconfigure Video system output and Audio output.

  2. Restore Default Settings
    This will Restore the default system software settings on the PS3.
    Note: This won't delete any files on the PS3.

  3. Restore File System
    This option will restore the PS3 operating file system, it will re install the file system without deleting anything and leaving all your system settings as they are. This will fix most of corrupted files on the PS3 especially if you are having trouble booting.

  4. Rebuild Database
    This will rescan the Game titles on your PS3 and restore any missing files you did not delete. E.g.,  If your digital game(s) got corrupted or stopped showing in XMB this should restore them.

  5. Restore PS3 System
    This will Erase every data on the Hard drive of the PS3 and Restores the default system software

  6. System update
    This will help you update the PS3 to the latest or current update. This will solve most issues especially if your console can't boot anymore.


Hard drive failing

The PlayStation 3 console runs a hard drive that can store data and games, as well as ensure smooth running of the game by ensuring that saved data is present for the game to access. 

If the hard drive fails, then it means that it will not be able to run your games smoothly, and may cause problems such as freezing. If that's the case, then you should consider upgrading your PS3's hard drive, or replacing it with a new one if it has failed.

See also: PS3 Hard drive making a clicking sound

Game Disk Has Finger Prints/Scratched

It could be that your game disk is scratched or has fingerprints on it. Sometimes the laser lens is dirty and needs to be cleaned with a cleaning disc that is sold in most stores. If your disk has finger prints on it, clean it with a cloth to clear out the prints.


PS3 is Overheating 

Your PS3 has a cooling fan that can get clogged with dust and stop working properly. You will have to dust it or use an air compressor to unclog the dust. 

It could also be that the thermal paste under the heat sink had dried off and the heat is failing to transfer from CPU/GPU to the heat sink for cooling. If this is the case you will have to replace the thermal paste

PS3 Power Supply Unit is Failing

Another possible reason why your PS3 may freeze during gameplay is if its power supply unit is failing. 

The power supply unit within the console supplies all of the power needed to run the system. This includes powering all of its components, the consumption of power been drawn from the PSU depends on how the CPU/GPU is working. 

If this unit fails, then it can cause many issues with the console itself; including causing your games to freeze during gameplay. 

If you notice that your PS3 has been freezing while playing games then you should try to replace your power supply with a new one. 


If you don't have a power supply unit to test with you can use an ATX Power Supply from your Desktop. See this article on how to connect an ATX power Supply to your PS3

CPU/GPU is failing

If your PS3 continues freezing after you have tried everything discussed in this article, it could be that either your CPU/GPU is failing. Your CPU/GPU can fail due to many reasons, These listed below are the common reasons why your CPU/GPU can fail;

  • Continuous overheating
  • Voltage surges
  • Bad connection to the board
If it's any of the reasons above, you will have to take it to the nearest Repair shop to have either the CPU/GPU replaced by a specialized technician or to have them reballed if it's a bad connection to the board.