This guide will explain common PS4 problems and fixes for these issues that will help you get back to playing your PlayStation 4 or PS4 Pro faster without the need to call Sony or look for a replacement.
We’ve seen a number of new PS4 problems throughout the year, and PSN problems are appearing with more frequency. With many PS4 software updates adding new features and options, there are also some issues you might run into that weren’t there before the fix.
You can use this list of common PlayStation 4 problems and fixes to get back to gaming faster. It is still a good idea to alert Sony to any potential PS4 bugs and issues, and you can use the comments section to share your fixes with other users.
Read: PS4 Tips and Tricks
PS4 problems include disc errors, the PS4 turning off without warning and problems connecting to PSN to play games with friends or to download games. Sometimes the PS4 connection problems are due to hacker groups taking the PSN network offline during the holidays and other times you need to take action to fix your home network. Click on this table of contents to jump directly
Here are common PS4 problems and how to fix them on your own so you can get back to playing faster.
The most common PS4 problem we see is that the PS4 turns off randomly while gamers are using the console. This may also appear alongside the console not turning on when the owner pushes the power button.
A common PS4 problem is the console randomly turning off.
If this PS4 problem is taking place users will see a blinking blue light or blinking red light on the console instead of a white light. This issue first appeared in November 2013, and Sony soon offered a collection of fixes for this PS4 problem, including an option to get a replacement if none of them work. From what we can tell this issue is mostly past, but if you have this problem you should.
Sony offers a troubleshooting guide for this problem. If all else fails, contact Sony for a replacement PS4.
If you are experiencing PS4 WiFi problems you should unplug your router, wait a minute and then plug it back in. Then on your PS4 delete the WiFi connection and then reconnect to your WiFi network. This may solve simple problems. You should check your router location and if possible move it to a higher location that is not obstructed.
Users who see the NW-31297-2 PS4 error code after installing the PS4 4.5 update can try to reconnect to WiFi by entering their password again, but for many users, this will not fix it. There are a lot of complaints on the PlayStation Forums from users who cannot fix this PS4 WiFi problem. With the PS4 5.0 update and higher this shouldn’t be an issue any more.
You may still run into PS4 WiFi problems due to where your console is located and interference in your house. Ultimately I ran an ethernet cable to my PS4 through the walls so i could play games without lag.
Ultimately you may need to buy a WiFi Extender with an ethernet port, a power over ethernet adapter or run Ethernet cable to your PS4 to play online reliably until Sony fixes this.
This shouldn’t be as much of an issue now that Sony delivered an update, but if you put a disc in and the PS4 won’t read it you can still follow the same advice.
Make sure the disc is ejected (if it will eject) and then turn the PS4 completely off. You need to make sure that it is not simply sleeping. After you turn it off wait one minute and turn it back on. If this doesn’t solve the problem you can shut it down and unplug it for a minute.
If both of those solutions fail you will need to contact Sony for a repair.
If you have no disc inserted but the PS4 constantly tried to eject a disc, there is a simple fix. We ran into this problem while trying to play Assassin’s Creed, and we are not alone. Here’s how to fix a PS4 that keeps trying to eject a game.
It seems like an odd thing to do, but this fixed the issue in under a minute when other sources told us the PS4 would need to be repaired.
Another common PS4 problem relates to audio and video. The report outlines complaints of PS4 audio missing, video missing or both missing. The PS4 connects with an HDMI cable that carries audio and video and an optical cable that carries audio only. If users are not seeing or hearing the PS4, it is likely that a connection is set up wrong.
Check your cables and the HDMI port to fix this PS4 problem.
If you are experiencing this PS4 problem, here are the steps you should take.
If the system works on a new HDTV you should go to the Settings -> Sound and Screen -> manually set the video output to the TV you want to use. Turn the console off and move it back to the other HDTV and start playing.
If there is a small piece of metal preventing the HDMI cable from plugging in all the way, bend it down slightly for a tighter fit or contact Sony to discuss an exchange.
If you have trouble connecting to PSN to play games, buy games and connect with friends you may need to perform some maintenance to your home network.
We recommend using a wired connection if possible, but if that is not feasible, you can try resetting your router and modem to fix many issues.
You may need to place your PS4 in a DMZ or enable Quality of Service on your Router to make sure that the PS4 gets priority over other items like Netflix. Search your router model number and QoS or DMZ for more info, or look up your router model and PS4 settings for tips from users with your same setup.
Also, be sure to check out the fixes for common PSN problems that can also help you play games offline and get around other issues.
If you have Dualshock 4 problems, you can often fix them buy charging the controller or pairing it to the PS4 again.
The simplest way to fix a variety of issues, including no vibration, is to reset the controller. Use a paper clip or similar item to push the recessed button on the back of the PS4 controller near the L2 trigger. Hold the button in for a few seconds to reset it. When done, plug the PS4 controller back in with the USB cable and pair it to the console again.
How to fix common PS4 controller problems.
If you have DualShock 4 analog stick problems with the rubber part wearing off you can contact Sony for a replacement. Users report that Sony takes about a month to replace with a new controller and you need to pay to ship to Sony.
Some users report the PS4 freezes while playing games. This can lead to lost progress and plenty of frustration for gamers. This is a common problem but does not appear to be widespread. There are two main things users should do if this happens.
The first thing to do is look for any PS4 updates. Sony periodically releases new software for the PS4 that fixes bugs and performance issues. This could fix PS4 freezing for many users that may have skipped an update.
If the PS4 freezes after playing it for extended periods make sure it is not overheating. If it is in an enclosed entertainment center or it is not on a smooth surface it may be overheating. If this is the case moving the PS4 to a more open area could prevent freezing during long gameplay sessions.
If you still have PS4 problems contacting support is the best option, but hopefully these solutions save you time.
For users who cannot fix these or other PS4 Problems, Sony Support is the next stop. The PS4 is only months old, so any issues not caused by abuse or accidents should be covered under the included warranty. Users can talk to support on chat or by phone with an average wait of 15 minutes on the phone or no wait on chat at this time.
While playing on our PS4, we constantly get black screen flickers. This happened after we switched TVs last year and after a lot of searching, we are finding a fix for some users. Warning, this will not fix the PS4 black screen flicker for everyone, but it’s an important first step.
Replace the HDMI cable that you use to connect to your HDTV, and if possible try a different HDMI connection.
We’ve also heard a lot of success from people who set the PS4 video output to 720P, but that is not optimal. A new HDMi cable did not fix our problem, but it may help you.
The PS4 supports HDR gaming and the PS4 Pro supports 4K and HDR in games, but you can easily run into problems trying to set this up. First off, you need a 4K TV and one that supports HDR to get these benefits. Not all 4K TVs support HDR, so you’ll want to look up your TV model before you do much troubleshooting.
The next thing to do is make sure you are plugged into the right HDMI port. Most TVs have a single Best HDMI port that offers the best speeds for 4K and HDR. Plug into that port to make sure you get 4K HDR. if you use a soundbar or receiver, make sure if supports 4K passthrough, or you will lose out on the benefits. If you can’t get 4K or HDR, plug directly into the TV once and see if you get 4K HDR content. You may need to get a new soundbar or plug into your TV first and send the sound to your soundbar. On some TVs, you may also need to update your TV and turn on HDR on the TV.
Next, you will want to make sure you have HDR turned on in your PS4 settings. Go to Settings, Sound and Screen, Video Output settings, Set HDR and Deep Color to Automatic. Here’s more on HDR setup. You can use this guide from Sony to make sure you turn on 4K for the PS4 Pro.
If you have a PS4 problem that you cannot fix using the steps above, you can try the following options.
Turn your PS4 completely off for a minute, unplug it and then restart it.
If that doesn’t fix it, you can try to update your PS4 software. This may include fixes for your problem.
Try booting your PS4 into safe mode to troubleshoot. Turn the PS4 off completely. Hold the power button for about eight seconds until the PS4 beeps twice. Connect a controller with the Micro USB cable and then press the PlayStation button on the controller.
In Safe mode, you can try changing the resolution, installing an update, restore to default settings without erasing your data and rebuilding the database. A DB rebuild can solve some problems.
A final option to try is to factory reset your PS4. You can do this in safe mode or in the normal mode in Settings -> Initialization – Restore Default Settings. This will wipe all data and you cannot undo this.
Had my PS4 since launch, not had one single issue with it, in fact absolutely loving it’s super slick experience and all the great games, and the great free games on PlayStation Plus.
I love the way one can use the PS4 to dry their hair, if a hair dryer is unavailable, lol.
With the way ps4 speed past Xbox u could dry your car in the rain B)
my ps4 is saying there is an error in the system software. it saying conneect the dualshock4 using the usb cable, and then press the ps button. can anyone help me with this problem please
Mines doing kinda the same thing if you find anything could you please email me at [email protected] ? If I find anything I will try and leave another reply for you as well
how did you resolve problem? same thing happening to me
i hate the ps4 nothing but problems
Same here. Freezing, shutdowns, etc…have tried everything to repair
my son has a ps4 it has been fine until today it just wont turn on the blue light flashers then goes off can any1 help me please
No sorry can’t help suck a cucumber
I got my ps4 the 1st day it came out and it is great but when I want to watch a game trailer or a preview Of any movie or game the video has always skiped or pause For like 30sec – over a min and play again for like 10 sec and pause again for 30sec – over a min and play for 10 -30sec then pause again . It does it for the hole preview or trailer im wanting to watch. Every time.but I can watch Netflix or rent a movie from the PlayStation store with no problems .but if I want to watch the preview of movie before I rent it , it will pause off and on the hole time. Help me please
it called buffering dumb ass bitch
not everyone knows that, that prick.
It’s been a while since your post, but I just got a PS4 and had the same problem (until I totally resolved it by upgrading my internet, since we were only seeing ~3mbs on speedtests before we upgraded and are seeing at least 15 now).
Watching 10 seconds of video at a time was beyond frustrating, and starting the video, then pausing to wait and let it buffer for a while only let the video play ~30 seconds before pausing wasn’t much better, and was just boring…
Finally, I figured out that if I let it start to play the video, then scroll down (no pausing needed), I could read the description and look through the add-ons or whatever (things I always do for every game anyways), and by the time I finished that, I could scroll back up to the video and it would play perfectly through to the end.
hi, my name is abdalla-fawzi, from sudan, my problem is that i have an old tv (panasonic) and its not compatipl with ps4 and i cant connect it to the tv , is there any cables that i can buy it to fix the problem
They make a HDMI adaptor cable. I had the same problem. But make sure you get one that is for audio and visual…my first one bought was just for video and i got no sound.
Your “fix” for the power off issue is completely inaccurate. Mine didn’t today and will not power on again. I looked at the Sony website and the forums and there are tens of thousands of people having the same problem. I spoke to a Sony rep on chat and I have to send it in. My feeling as having experience in this area is it is a faulty power supply. You may want to do more research on issues and fixes before writing an article with such misinformation.
Scott….You are absolutely correct. This is a promo – fluff piece article
My ps4 freezes when im at da game screen right after I choose wat game I wanna play
Thank you !! Same issue .. This was after my system unsuccessfully went into “rest mode,” for 18+ hrs .. Just flashing white ! Wtf ?!
I just got a used ps4 for my son. The problem is, when i turn it on it goes to dualshock 4 wireless controller connected. Who is using the controller? Then under that is two options, new player and the other player, who this used to belong to! When i click on either one, the only other thing that comes up is, press the ps button to use the controller! I can’t get it to do anything but those two things. I can’t get it to do a factory reset because it won’t allow me to get out of the first part of safe mode! I’ve shut it down properly, unplugged and plugged in, everything i can possibly think of! I ordered a new controller and it’s arriving Tues morning, if that’s not the problem.. I have geek squad coming Tues afternoon! If they can’t fix the problem, they don’t charge, which is great and fair! It’s still $100.00 though, if they fix it! If anyone out there can help me and knows what it might be and can explain what to do..my son and i, would be soooo grateful??? Plesas help us??
Hi im having a problem with the hdmi port can someone contact me ?
The only problem I had was not coming on cause the lights went out came on son turned back on then the lights went out again turn it on again then froze on the playstation screen I reboot it I had to erase everything to factory setting now I have to start all over on warrior orochi 3 ultimate this sucks I hope it does not happen again
Ps4 won’t take a game it’s sound like its trying to eject all the time when it’s empty
Wow mine did that the cogs fell of the roller and the little candle stick
Gareth how did you fix that mine just started doing that it ejected while I was playing now it’s making that eject noise every few seconds
Mine is doing the same thing. It would not take any games and it’s always trying to eject.
My ps4 gose off at random plz wat do I do. Am begging this is killing me.
If Sony is so bad then why did xbox 360 have a 16 percent failure rate while Sony and Nintendo only 3 percent.
My ps4 turn on put freezes to where you choose your profile then after 30 sec it shuts down
Mines doing this!! How do I fix it??
I bought a ps4 for my son this Christmas 2014. I’m really [email protected]!ed every time I load a game it freezes just after selecting what u want to play. After 5 minutes it may or may not load what you wanted to play. Seems as this product came out some time ago I think it is bloody disgusting to have these issues. And yes all files are updated bla bla bla. Sony your product is crap
I bought 2 ps4’s for my husband and son for christmas and they both have the same problem. On both the screen goes blank no picture or sound. I am trying to get ahold of sony to help me with this issue. I paid over a thousand bucks I want 2 working ps4’s.
“Tom R.” I had my PS4 since launch date too. I don’t play much but now that i hit vacations I play alot. I use wireless wifi and only play for 4-6 hours straight and my PS4 turn off twice today. I am starting to think due to the hacking it’s affecting the ps4 systems itself. At least that’s my theory. I hope it’s the software and not my system because that would be so sad and i would be disappointed at Sony for making a bad product. Also if it’s the product I think I would stop been a fan of PS systems all together and stick to better trust worthy brand game consoles.
Mine turns off randomly and I hate it….why would PS do a shit like this..fix it
My ps4 will turn on then in the middle of a game the screen will blink then it will turn of. I’m getting tired of this nonsense I’m ready to move on to an xbox one forget sony
If you think xbox is going to be better then have fun lol that’s all I have to say.
My disc drive is grinding whenever I put a disc in. Guess who’s going all digital now
My cousins and my ps4s freeze while it’s going into rest mode and the white light just blinks and takes like 30 minutes to be playable again. And also, half the time I put in a disc and click the panel to play the game it says “wrong disc inserted”
I have had zero problems with my PS4 till recently. It has started freezing when I play my games, especially with up close graphics on Madden 15 and now 16. I have never had any problems with any Playstation. But this nuisance is reminding a lot of, “Just take the cartridge out and blow on it then it will play”. While that sounds funny and reminds you of Nintendo days I assure you I don’t find the humor in a $500 dollar machine that is only a few yrs old.
I have read the advice up top. I hope it is just an update that needs to be applied. I would hate to think I need to rebuy a damned PS4 already!
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Lmfao should have bought an xbox one… “Keep your system ventilated so it doesn’t shut off” *crying*
My PS4 HDMI plug in is messed up the lil wire thing inside there is bent so if anybody know were i can get it fixed at plz tell and add me online its games_373
i thank sony the way the are helping people.thanks.
Mine is from original release date,of course warranty up & it won’t accept any discs now. .anyone know an inexpensive fix
Disc doesn’t load just spends, all disc have been properly clean. Syetem just won’t accept disc.
New PS4, Star Wars edition. Not wanting to turn on. Was working great at first, next day, not so much. Try to turn it on and it stays on for one, second, then its back off.
Just purchased ps4 for my kid this Christmas. …brand new out the box. ….why the HELL does it keep shutting off? [email protected]@
I plug Ina brand new hdmi cord an I can’t see the screen it’s just black what do I do is there any place I can fix this problem. Ots not the cord it’s the port on the back of my ps4
just got mine and I haven’t played it, I notice the power is the problem, when I on the power it switch off again almost immediately, any one with what I can do to it.
had my ps4 since launch, started to switch on and off and ejecting discs after about 3 months, sent it in and was replaced, dont know if it was with a new or serviced console, now it is switching on and off repeatedly and going in and out of safe mode and continually beeping. I have about a total of a four hundred hours between both consoles i had and I have always been a playstation fan. I never had any issues with my other playstation consoles but the ps4 has been an absolute joke, I saved for a year to purchase the console on release date and poured money into about 12 games, I have two broken R2 buttons on two controllers as the manufacture of them was pathetic and now i am out a console unable to replace due to cost, stuck with games and 3 controllers, 2 broken and a camera. I hold sony responsable for all the crap they have put us through. shoddy soldered joints etc. I am an avid gamer and now am unable to replace my console. Sony does not give a damn about our problems as they have already made their profits. I am so dissapointed in the product as i have spent thousands upon thousands over the years supporting them and now I cannot even get my console repaired as it is almost the same price as buying a new one. I have game pre orders I have to cancel now for games I have been dying to play. Goodbye Sony and thanks for nothing.my console now repeatedly switches on and off on and off if i have the power cable plugged in.
THIS WORKED FOR ME – Had it since launch. Fixed the problem by playing the blue ray, in this case Starwars return of the jedi, once it froze, I held the off button on the console till I got three spaced out beeps (force shutting down the console) once i turned it back on it played fine after a good delay of black screen.
You’ll know if it worked if you can still return to the main home screen when pressing the center button on the controller after you’ve tried playing from beginning (when mine froze I couldn’t do anything except restart the system). Dunno if this works but it worked for me. Hope this helps
Also.. once I finished the movie and tried playing a game, it didn’t recognize the disc so I repeated the same process and the game played fine after.
Ps4 shut off after 9 hours of use. Tried turning it on with the controller and got a blinking blue light on the controller. Unplugged the power cable and the hdmi cable to check for loose wires and the unit was warm on the bottom. Waited 5 min and turned it on from the console. It was working fine but I decided to let it cool off for awhile. Put a small fan blowing on the console and did not have any other further problems. My guess is the internal units fan is not good enough. Hope this helps
Ps4 keeps crashing and freezing in games also will switch off or will remain frozen until you manually switch it off I have now restored the console 3 times and the same thing happens after a couple of days ?? Does anyone know how to fix this please it is driving me nuts I have reported it on screen 3-4 times the same issue so can anyone shed some light on the matter please thx
PS4 is only 2 months old its a 1tb It keeps freezing ,turning of ,goose blink, makes loud noises and internet down most of time . I try everything Sony said but still not working and dnt want it fixed money back our replacement as it only 2 months old I only play it a hour 3 r 4 time a week at most look after it good. its happened to few friends of mine 2 think its time move to Xbox one
My ps4 goes randomly black screen every 30 mins of any gameplay or use and i hit the home button and it turns back to gameplay how can i get rid of this
My ps4 turns on but it doesn’t want to show on the t.v.just a blank blue screen.can anyone help me.it worked b4 and now doesn’t want to work.
I just bought a ps4 for my son’s birthday brand new out of box he played it 15 mins and it shut off won’t come back on until u wait 30 mins then he can play 15 more mins or so and it will do it again it has plenty of ventilation I even put a lab top cooler under it cause they told me when I bought it to keep it plenty ventilated or it would get hot and turn off,,I have done what they told me and it still does it I have bought every system they come out with besides the Xbox one ant ever had any problems with none of them the ps4 is the first to give me any problem anyway any ideas anyone? Anyone else have this problem?
Any ideas. Ive had my ps4 about 3-4 mounths went to play and heard a loud pop. Saw smoke and now it wont turn back on. Its the 1t cod3 console.
Had this damn game for 3 weeks it goes in to safe mode when it wants to. and I do everything to fix and the game never cuts back on
i had my ps4 for 15 full minutes and it just showed a black screen with white text saying ” please click the shut down button for 1 second (until it beebs).. and so on and i press the button nothing happens
The fix for the ps4 ejecting disc that are not working does not work for the original white ps4 with the touch screen buttons. It does nothing well unplugged
I installed a 1 tb hdd in mine and tried to update it to 3.50 and it says the update file cannot be used plz help
I installed a 1 tb hdd in my ps4 and tried to update it and it says the update file cannot be used plz help
I fixed 2 ps4 with Hammer the newest oneafter repair dient work again and the oldest bluelight of shit and now i dont buy that shit anymore works for me
I dont know what is this problem and i dont know what to do.
When i turn off the ps4 i see just black screen and i must to unplug it to turn on the console again
My control turns off while playing GTA online and can’t get it to connect back
What can I do my son has forgotten his email and his password hasn’t been able to play for days ?
Try and find it on a piece of paper that u might have put it on somewhere.
i was loving my ps4 then it started giving me problems now the playstation network wont let me sign in
My PS4 has been powering itself down for the past two days. Troubleshooting so far: 1. Disconnected the power, removed all connected periphery, and then plugged it back in and rebooted it 12 times now. 2. Done all of the above plus unplugged the router and rebooted it
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L1 & R1 on my Duel Shock controller have stopped working. I have reset the controller and many other things that have been suggested online. Nothing works. The PS4 is only two weeks old. Can you help me?
Mine just turned off unplug it and let it rest
My problem is that my PS4 doesn’t turn off completely. If i put it in rest mode it doesn’t turn back on, i have to unplug the power chords and reconnect it and turn it on. After playing, if I try to turn OFF my PS4, then the white light doesn’t go at all, it stays, and again, i can’t turn it on again. I have to switch off the mains, which, I am well aware that it causes damage. Please help me resolve this issue as soon as possible. Thank you.
I was playing star wars battlefront and suddenly the R2 button malfunctioned, i quit the lobby and rejoined it, nothing happened then i closed the application and restarted it again then the “press x to start menu came up” i pressed X but nothing happened, i kept spamming X but the screen would be the same then i started a different game, same problem occured. I deleted the Star wars software and re installed it again still i cant use the controller. My controller does not work when i play a game but it works when i am in the home screen. PLZ HELP!!
My sons PS4 keeps telling him the disc is unrecognizable and we have tried the trouble shooting but still doing it can you suggest what we can do please
playstation 4 isn’t shit……a waste of money
Playing blacklight retribution I had a blue system error screen pop up for a brief second and then it went back to my game. Any ideas?
When i press options button and the mini menu for something opens up, the white line on the left of it blinks. Is this normal? Or a potential display bug?
My PS4 just has a black screen when I turn it on?
We bought a PS4 for my son Dec 2015 and suddenly the sound won’t play and we are having difficulties maintaining a connection with any tv. We’ve tried different HDMI cord, rebooting too. What could be the problem?
I’ve been having this problem for about a week now. In a party, I can hear everyone but they can’t hear me. The little icon that shows who’s talking doesn’t show up for me. My headset isn’t on mute. I’ve used 3 different headsets and a different controller. I’ve gone through the audio and device settings about a thousand times. I can’t seem to talk through my mics at all. No voice regonition, no voice messages, no chat. Nothing voice oriented. The jack is plugged all the way in until I hear a click so I know that’s not it either. How can this be fixed?
If you can’t get your system to work then send it in to tech device repair… they have a great 5 day turn around time rush service and They are the best out there in PS4 repairs.
My ps4 is only like 3weeks old. I turn it on to a completely black screen. No sound or anything. Tried that hold it to the second beat but it still does nothing at all. I don’t get it
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