You just unboxed it. That massive, white, curved slab of plastic and silicon is finally in your living room, and honestly, it’s a bit of a monster. Sony designed the PlayStation 5 to look like a futuristic skyscraper, but let’s be real—not everyone has a TV stand with two feet of vertical clearance. So, you’ve decided to place ps5 horizontally because it actually fits in your media console that way.
Most people just shove it in there and hope for the best. Big mistake.
If you just lay it down flat without the included base, it’ll wobble like a cheap table at a dive bar. Worse, you’re potentially choking the airflow. The PS5 is basically a high-end PC disguised as a console, and it generates a staggering amount of heat. If you don't use that plastic puck—the stand—correctly, you’re asking for fan noise that sounds like a jet engine or, eventually, the dreaded "Your PS5 is too hot" warning message. It’s not just about aesthetics; it’s about making sure your $500 investment doesn't melt into a puddle of sadness during a 4-hour Elden Ring session.
Why the PS5 Horizontally Setup Is Actually Better for Your Desk
There’s been a lot of internet drama over the years about liquid metal leaking. You might have seen the headlines or the panicked tweets from 2023. Expert repair techs like TheCod3r originally raised concerns that if you leave a PS5 vertical, the liquid metal thermal paste could succumb to gravity and spill off the APU.
Sony, of course, says it's fine.
But even if the "leakage" issue was mostly overblown—usually only happening on consoles that had already been opened or poorly repaired—placing the PS5 horizontally is the safest bet for peace of mind. Gravity is a constant. By laying it flat, that liquid metal sits level on the processor. Plus, if you have cats or a clumsy roommate, a horizontal PS5 is much harder to knock over. A vertical PS5 is a giant white sail waiting for a light breeze to tip it over.
Finding the Right "Teeth" on the Stand
Let’s get into the weeds. If you have the original "Fat" PS5 (the one with the detachable side plates), the stand is a transformer. It’s a circular base with a rotating middle section. To place ps5 horizontally, you have to rotate the base so the "hooks" or "teeth" are visible.
Don't lose the screw. If you were using it vertically, there’s a small silver screw holding the base to the bottom. When you go horizontal, you don't need that screw. Sony actually built a tiny "secret" compartment inside the base to store the screw so you don't lose it in a junk drawer. Smart.
Once the base is rotated, you look at the back of the console. You’ll see a row of PlayStation face symbols (Square, Triangle, Circle, Cross) embossed into the plastic on the inside of the shell. You line up the hooks of the stand with those symbols. Specifically, you’re aiming for the area where the "O" symbols are. Clip it on, lay it down, and it should feel stable. If it’s rocking when you touch the disc drive, you haven't clipped it into the right spot.
The PS5 Slim and Pro Are Different Animals
If you bought your console recently, you probably have the Slim or the new PS5 Pro. Sony changed the game here, and not necessarily for the better. The original PS5 came with a stand that did both jobs. The Slim and Pro? They come with two tiny plastic "feet" that look like transparent tweezers.
It feels cheap. It looks cheap. But it works.
To place ps5 horizontally on the newer models, you find the long slit between the two plates on the bottom (when held horizontally). You slide those two clear plastic clips into the gap. There’s no clicking sound. No screw. They just sort of... wedge in there. It feels like it shouldn't work, but once the weight of the console is on it, the thing stays put.
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A lot of people hate these "kickstand" feet. There are already dozens of third-party metal stands on Amazon because the official plastic ones feel like they could snap if you look at them too hard. But for basic home use, they keep the console level and allow air to circulate under the belly of the machine.
Airflow: The Silent Killer of Consoles
The PS5 pulls air in through those giant gaps at the top (or front, depending on orientation) and blasts it out the back. If you tuck your console into a tight wooden cabinet, you're creating an oven.
Heat is the enemy of performance.
When you place ps5 horizontally, ensure there is at least four to six inches of space behind the console. If the hot air hitting the back of the cabinet has nowhere to go, it’ll just swirl back around and get sucked back in. This leads to "thermal throttling," where the PS5 slows down its clock speeds to keep from dying, resulting in frame rate drops and stuttering.
If you’re a serious gamer, consider an open-back media console. Honestly, if you can feel heat coming off the front of your TV stand, it's too cramped.
Real Talk on the Disc Drive Orientation
One of the most common "I'm an idiot" moments for new owners involves the disc drive. When the PS5 is vertical, the disc drive is at the bottom. When you place ps5 horizontally, the disc drive should be on the bottom left.
This means the "hump" of the console is on the bottom.
I’ve seen so many people try to flip it so the disc drive is on the top. If you do that, the console is literally upside down. The disc won't read, the fans will struggle, and you’ll be staring at a lopsided white plastic mess. Always remember: Disc drive on the bottom. The "PS" logo on the top shell should be facing up and readable.
The Maintenance Factor
Dust loves horizontal surfaces. It’s a law of physics.
A horizontal PS5 has a massive top surface area that acts as a dust magnet. Every few months, you should take a microfiber cloth to it. More importantly, pop the plates off. Sony designed these plates to be user-removable. Underneath, you’ll find "dust catchers"—basically little holes where dust accumulates. You can literally stick a vacuum hose up against these holes to suck out the gunk without opening the actual internal casing.
Keeping it clean is the difference between a PS5 that lasts ten years and one that dies right when GTA VI finally drops.
Steps for a Perfect Horizontal Setup
- Clear the Landing Zone: Ensure the surface is hard and flat. Carpet is a death sentence for electronics because it traps heat and generates static.
- Prep the Base: For the OG model, rotate the base until the hooks are out. For Slim/Pro, grab your two clear clips.
- Align the Symbols: Look for the Square and Circle icons on the back of the shell. That's your "hook here" map.
- The "Wobble Test": Once it’s down, give the corner a gentle tap. If it tilts, the stand isn't centered on the icons.
- Cables Matter: Don't let your HDMI and Power cables pull the console backward. Use a bit of slack so the weight of the cables doesn't pop the stand off the clips.
The horizontal orientation might not look as "prestige" as the vertical monolith, but it’s practical. It fits in furniture. It’s safer for the internal components. It won't fall over if you breathe on it too hard. Just use the stand, keep it clean, and give it room to breathe. Your hardware will thank you by not sounding like a hair dryer when you're trying to enjoy a quiet cinematic moment in The Last of Us.
Ensure the back of the console has at least 10cm of clearance from any wall or cabinet back. Check the vents every 30 days for visible grey buildup. If you see dust "carpeting" the intake vents, it's time for a vacuum session. Avoid using compressed air cans directly into the fans, as this can spin them faster than they are rated for and potentially damage the bearings; instead, use a low-powered vacuum or a manual brush.