Julian Chokkattu/Digital TrendsJulian Chokkattu/Digital Tendencies
The PlayStation four is a exceptional piece of , however like all recreation consoles, it’s not resistant to the occasional hiccup. Since its unique launch in 2013, Sony has labored to resolve most of the console’s intermittent points via numerous firmware updates. In 2016, Sony launched two new iterations of its premier console — a slimmer mannequin with the identical title and the 4K-compatible PlayStation four Professional — each of which give improved efficiency over their predecessor and handle a few of the console’s lingering points.
Nonetheless, you might end up with a misbehaving unit, and that’s an actual bummer for those who’re hoping to squeeze some gaming into your busy schedule. Our information covers widespread issues with the PS4 household of methods and gives potential options to get you again within the recreation as quickly as potential.
Get in contact with Sony
First, right here’s all the knowledge you’ll must get involved with Sony in case your specific concern is just not resolved from our information.
Technique
Contact
Cellphone
1-800-345-7669 (Accessible Monday via Sunday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. PT)
Boards
Web site
Dwell Chat
Web site
Twitter
@AskPlayStation
Twitter
You can even search Sony’s error message library and comply with the troubleshooting strategies for the error that you simply encountered.
Malfunction: Blinking blue indicator mild
Three years down the road, the “Blue Line of Loss of life” stays the most-crippling of all issues but to floor on the PS4. Taking a cue from the Xbox 360’s “Crimson Ring of Loss of life,” the pulsing blue line signifies a technical drawback may imply your console is not practical. Not like the pink ring, the “Blue Line of Loss of life” doesn’t routinely imply your PS4 is lifeless, however it does the identical job because the ring; letting you already know that there’s a extremely huge drawback.
When booting up the PS4, the LED indicator mild adorning the aspect of the console ought to rapidly pulse blue previous to turning white. On consoles affected by the “Blue Line of Loss of life,” nonetheless, the blue mild pulses repeatedly, indicating failed video output earlier than inexplicably powering off. On this case, the console by no means sends a sign to the TV, primarily bricking the system and stopping regular operation. Sony believed the issue was an remoted incident, but in addition launched a troubleshooting information highlighting a slew of potential fixes. Whereas the issue was extra widespread at launch, it nonetheless crops up for a small portion of customers and is extra prone to be a problem in case your console was manufactured between late-2013 and early-2014.
Potential options:
As Sony outlined within the aforementioned troubleshooting information, the blinking blue mild might be indicative of a variety of or software program points. That stated, there are a variety of potential options you’ll be able to attempt. In the event you do handle to isolate a problem with the PS4 , contact PlayStation buyer help, or take your console on to an official Sony retail retailer, as they’ll generally present on-site repairs or replacements. If there isn’t a retailer accessible in your space, you’ll doubtless must ship your console to Sony. At this level, your console might not be beneath producer guarantee: If that’s the case, needless to say you might have to pay a restore payment.
Replace your TV’s firmware — A handful of customers have famous that updating tv firmware has resolved the shortage of audio-video sign. When you’ve got newer tv, significantly one with web connectivity, discuss with the tv’s instruction guide and replace its firmware. Doing so could alter HDMI settings and repair system compatibility.
Test the HDMI ports — Check out each the HDMI port in your TV and your PS4 for any blaring abnormalities or damages, alongside along with your HDMI cable. If potential, attempt testing various HDMI cables.
Test the ability provide — Contact the ability button on the entrance of the PS4 for a minimum of seven seconds, or till the system beeps twice and powers off. Afterward, disconnect the AC energy twine from outlet and verify the AC IN connector and energy twine for any conspicuous harm or anomalies.
Test the arduous drive — Be certain that your PS4 is turned off, then disconnect the AC energy twine and every other linked cables earlier than sliding the HDD bay cowl outward. As soon as eliminated, examine the arduous drive for any potential harm and guarantee it’s correctly seated within the HDD bay.
Controller reset — Be certain that all the things is linked correctly. Press and maintain the PS button in your controller till the system mild turns orange. Then, press and maintain the PS button once more till the sunshine turns white. We have now examined this technique, and it may possibly get your PS4 besides correctly.
Malfunction: Blinking pink indicator mild
Reviews of the “Crimson Line of Loss of life” aren’t as widespread because the aforementioned blinking blue mild, however it’s nearly as critical. On consoles affected by the “Crimson Line of Loss of life,” the LED indicator mild adorning the aspect of the console will flash pink repeatedly, subsequently powering off after the system emits three distinct beeps. The difficulty is tied to overheating issues as outlined within the PS4 person information and confirmed by Sony, probably a results of fan malfunction. Some customers have reported the difficulty inside minutes of powering up the console for the primary time, nonetheless. Fortunately, it’s not the signal of a very bricked unity.
Potential options:
If the issue persists and isn’t alleviated by both of the potential options beneath, contact PlayStation buyer help or take your console on to an official Sony retail retailer to rearrange a restore/substitute.
Give it a relaxation — Contact the ability button on the entrance of your PS4 for a minimum of seven seconds, or till the system beeps and powers off. Then, disconnect the ability provide and permit the console to relaxation for an prolonged time frame, or till it sufficiently cools down, earlier than powering it up once more.
Give it ample area — Place your PS4 in a well-ventilated space to make sure it has sufficient respiratory room, avoiding carpet and comparable companies every time potential. Moreover, some customers have reported that inserting the console vertically helps lower overheating (although it shouldn’t contemplating the place blocks entry to both aspect vent).
Drawback: Broken HDMI port and defective HDMI cables
It might not be PS4-specific or widespread, however some customers have reported points stemming from a broken HDMI port delivery on their PS4 items. The issue, which ends up in an absence of audio or video output on the TV, is usually attributable to a connection obtrusion ensuing from a bent piece of steel throughout the console’s built-in HDMI port. Though the reasoning for the bent part is unknown, it successfully renders the port incompatible for the reason that bent piece can not correctly join with the HDMI twine. Moreover, there have been stories of defective HDMI cables that merely don’t work for one purpose or one other.
Whereas this concern was resolved in subsequent PS4 shipments after the console’s launch, if you buy a pre-owned unit otherwise you’re experiencing HDMI points, you’ll nonetheless wish to search for potential solutions beneath.
Potential options:
If neither of the potential options beneath resolve the issue, attempt contacting Sony. Though not confirmed, Sony will doubtless ship you a free substitute cable in a matter of days as soon as the issue has been confirmed.
Test the HDMI ports — Check out each the HDMI port in your TV and your PS4 for any blaring abnormalities or damages, alongside along with your HDMI cable. If potential, attempt testing various HDMI cables.
Bend again the steel — In the event you can clearly see a bit of steel bent upward throughout the console’s HDMI port, bend the broken piece down utilizing a pin or small device. Additionally, be certain the port didn’t knock out any tooth or trigger any extra harm to the HDMI cable. If that is the issue, you should still wish to contact Sony and ask for a substitute, even when the console begins to work.
Use a distinct HDMI cable — In the event you’re unlucky sufficient to obtain a defective HDMI cable from Sony, easy use one other on-hand cable or buy a brand new one.
Drawback: Broken DualShock four analog sticks
We like lots of issues in regards to the DualShock four controller, however the tender rubber padding on its analog sticks can tear fairly simply when enjoying a recreation that requires fast actions, like Bloodborne. However simply because the rubber tears doesn’t imply you need to ditch the controller!
Resolution: Analog stick covers, comparable to GelTabz — stocked in shops like GameStop and on Amazon — pop proper over your analog stick, offering an much more snug gaming expertise whereas additionally defending the stick itself. They’re barely textured, so your fingers don’t slip regardless of their flat design, and 4 are included in each package deal. PlayStation-formatted GelTabz work with each DualShock three and DualShock four controllers.
Annoyance: Operating out of space for storing
The latest PlayStation four methods, together with the “slim” mannequin and the extra highly effective PlayStation four Professional, each have elevated inner storage of as much as 1TB. That is loads of area for a number of AAA video games, so you’ll be able to simply leap between a number of of your favorites with out having to delete something. For these with a 500GB inner drive, nonetheless, one can find your self working out of area with regularity, significantly as recreation updates make your file sizes even bigger than they had been at launch.
Options:
Join a USB exterior arduous drive to your console. The PS4 works with any USB three.Zero-compatible arduous drive. Merely plug it into one of many PS4’s USB ports, and choose the Format as prolonged storage choice.
You can even swap out your PlayStation four’s inner storage. Any 2.5-inch drive with storage larger than 160GB will work along with your system, and you may swap it with out voiding the guarantee in your PlayStation four. You can even add all of your save information to the cloud via PlayStation Plus or to a flash drive, so you’ll be able to simply retrieve them when you’re completed. Try our full information for a step-by-step walkthrough.