PlayStation 3

Blu-ray drive

The Blu-ray laser is delicate and can be damaged by static or by touching its lens. Some drives are paired to the console's board, so do not casually swap a whole drive between consoles. Unplug the system before servicing.

When the drive needs attention

A PS3 that no longer reads discs, struggles to spin them up, or makes grinding noises usually has a tired Blu-ray drive. The common culprits are a dusty or hazy laser lens, a worn drive gear, or a failing optical pickup. Servicing the drive is often cheaper and greener than replacing the whole console, and many faults respond to a simple cleaning.

Common faults

Won't read discs: a dirty or aging laser lens.
Disc won't eject: a stripped or worn drive gear.
Loud spin-up: debris or a struggling motor.

Access the drive
Open the console and lift out the Blu-ray drive assembly.
Clean the lens
Gently clean the laser lens with a cotton swab lightly dampened with isopropyl alcohol.
Inspect the mechanics
Check the gears and worm drive for wear; replace a stripped gear if ejection is failing.
Test before closing
Reconnect the drive, try several discs, and confirm reliable reading and ejecting.

Pairing note

If you must replace the optical pickup or controller board, keep the original parts that are matched to your console wherever possible to avoid pairing problems.

blu-ray optical-drive