Not all technology is perfect, and this includes our gaming system. Occasionally, we run into problems with our PlayStation 4 system that a simple console restart cannot help. The worst happens when you are trying to play the game and before you save you get a chance to save a point. Recently, these problems are being exacerbated due to the age of the system. These frustrating experiences happen to everyone, and there is a relatively simple way to fix them: a complete factory reset.
Resetting PlayStation 4 is a fairly simple process. Typically, this is a last resort to ensure system functionality. Be sure to save any data you have before starting the reset process. A factory reset of PlayStation will erase all your data from the system, so you will have to start this process from scratch without backing up your data. Fortunately, PS Plus customers can upload uploads to the cloud, so if you’re a member, saving data should be non-issue.
Below are the step-by-step instructions to complete a factory reset on your PS4, whether you’re shaking a basic model, a slim one, or a pro.
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How to factory reset your PS4
Before you begin, you should know that a factory reset completely erases the console’s hard drive and may even remove its system software. This is a last resort when a software glitch deadens your PlayStation 4 in its tracks, especially when booting or when you want to make sure your data is no longer on the console.
You should back up any data you hold, such as pictures, save and videos, to an external device or cloud. To back up data using the cloud, you must have a PlayStation Plus account, which gives you 100GB of storage space.
There are two ways to reset your PS4 – from the console’s dashboard or in safe mode if the console has boot-up problems. We are going both ways, first through your PlayStation 4 dashboard.
1. Sign in on your PS4 and head to the Settings menu
Start in the Settings menu and find the option for account management. You want to disable the machine as your primary PlayStation 4. This setting allows you to play downloaded games offline by identifying this particular PS4. Miss this step, and when you sign your new console and try to play your game, you will face other problems.
2. Disable your PlayStation
Go for Activate as your primary PS4. Your PS4 will probably be activated already. If so Active The option will be grayed out, and Disable There will be only option you can choose. Choose Disable Choose more Yes On the following screen.
3. Sign back in with your user account
For the last steps, log into your account and go back to Settings.
4. Find Initialization Options in Settings
Scroll all the way down Adjustment Menu. Click on Start And you will be presented with some more options. For the purposes of this guide, you only need to worry about the two options below – we’ll skip the Clear Learning Dictionary. Below that, you will see restore default settings, Which will clear your saved settings data and return the PS4 to its factory settings, but it will not erase your hard drive.
other options, Early PS4, Is the big one that will clean your hard drive of data including downloaded games, saved game data, and anything else you have added to the console after purchasing it. This will restore your PS4 to its pristine condition when it came out of the box.
5. On the opening screen, select Complete
The big wipe is what you are looking for. Note that this will take a long time – maybe a few hours or more.
Once you initialize the wipe, the PS4 will show you a progress bar showing how long it will take, but hopefully it will take longer as the console goes through several stages. When it finishes, you’ll be able to set up your PS4 the same way you did the first time. If you want to sell it, you will completely reassign it and no data will be attached.
Factory reset in safe mode
If you are troubled by system software or other errors that are preventing you from going to the Settings menu and restarting your PS4, you can access the same options from the console’s Safe Mode.
1. Turn off your PS4 completely
Do not set it Rest mode. You want full power on your console so that you can boot into safe mode.
2. Press and hold the power button until you hear two beeps.
You need to physically push the power button on the console instead of starting it with the controller. Hold it for about eight seconds. When you touch the button for the first time, it will beep once and then before booting Safe mode. It will be labeled, and you will recognize its black background.
3. Choose the reset option you need
In form of Adjustment Menu, in safe mode, you can choose restore default settings In PS4 to reset everything to its original software settings but keep your data. You can also choose Early PS4.
This will wipe your hard drive and restore you to factory settings, but will keep the system software – its operating system in other words. The last option is Initial PS4 (reinstall system software), Which is a fuller factory reset that you will need to reinstall the PS4 operating system.
4. If you are not having software problems, choose the initial PS4
This will restore your hard drive and software settings to factory defaults but it will keep the operating system software intact. This is similar to the option given above (available in) Adjustment Menu), and you will be able to choose between Soon And complete initializations. If you need to, you are done.
How to reinstall system software on PS4
This is a larger wipe than the previous complete initialization, removing all software from the console. If you do this, you must reinstall the system software from another device. If you are having software problems in the operating system, then you have to choose Initial PS4 (reinstall system software), But there is one more step in the process to do first.
1. Download the official PS4 firmware
Go to your PC and download the latest system software from the PlayStation website. You’ll also need a USB connection or external hard drive with a USB flash drive to transfer updates to your PS4. Grab a hard drive or USB flash drive with about 1.1GB of free space.
2. Create a new folder on your USB device and name it PS4
Inside that folder, create a folder and name it “update” in all caps. Save the firmware file to the “update” folder and you should be good to go. Make sure the file name is “PS4UPDATE.PUP” when you save it.
3. Boot your PS4 in safe mode
Keep your PS4 fully powered down as described above and then hold the power button until it rings twice and boot into safe mode.
4. Select Start PS4 (Reinstall System Software) on your PS4
Just follow the prompts. The console will erase all data, including system software, and then you’ll need to plug the update into the saved USB device to reinstall the system software. When this happens, your PS4 will return to factory settings.
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