Factory resetting your PS4 can be a daunting task, but it’s often necessary to restore your console to its original settings. Whether you’re experiencing technical issues, selling your console, or simply want to start fresh, a factory reset can be the solution. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the step-by-step process of how to factory reset your PS4, using both the standard method and the safe mode method.
Before embarking on the factory reset process, it’s crucial to note that it will erase all data from your PS4’s hard drive, including games, apps, saved data, and user settings. Therefore, it’s highly recommended to back up your important data to an external hard drive or USB drive before proceeding. Once you’ve backed up your data, you can proceed with the factory reset by following the instructions outlined in this guide.
After completing the factory reset, your PS4 will be restored to its original factory settings. You’ll need to set up your console again, including creating a new user account, downloading and installing games and apps, and restoring your backed-up data from the external hard drive or USB drive. While this process can be time-consuming, it can also be incredibly beneficial for resolving technical issues and starting fresh with your PS4.
Preparing for the Reset
Before You Begin:
Factory resetting your PS4 will erase all data and settings. Ensure you have taken necessary precautions to preserve your essential information. Here’s a detailed checklist of steps to follow:
- Backup Your Data: Connect an external hard drive or USB flash drive to your PS4. Navigate to Settings > System > Back Up and Restore and create a backup. This will save your game progress, save data, screenshots, videos, and other personal files.
- Deactivate Your Primary PS4: If your PS4 is set as your primary console, it’s crucial to deactivate it before resetting. This will allow you to re-establish your primary status after the reset. To do this, go to Settings > Account Management > Deactivate Primary PS4.
- Sign Out of Your PSN Account: Ensure you sign out of your PSN account before resetting. This will prevent any potential issues with data recovery or account verification after the factory reset.
- Turn Off Automatic Updates: To avoid automatic software updates during the reset process, ensure the “Automatic Downloads and Uploads” setting is disabled. Go to Settings > System > Automatic Downloads and Uploads and uncheck the boxes for “Application Update Files” and “Update File for System Software.”
- Prepare Your Controller: Most reset methods require a compatible USB controller. Ensure your controller is connected and has sufficient battery life to complete the reset process.
Accessing the Safe Mode Menu
Accessing the PlayStation 4’s Safe Mode menu is essential for troubleshooting and system recovery. Follow these detailed steps to enter Safe Mode:
Hold the Power Button
Shut down your PS4 completely by holding the power button on the console’s front panel for about 7 seconds until you hear two beeps. The first beep signifies the console turning off normally, while the second beep indicates it has entered Rest Mode.
Press and Hold the Power Button Again
Continue holding the power button for another 7 seconds. You will hear three beeps in rapid succession: the first two beeps as before, followed by a third slightly louder beep. The console will then emit a faint blue light, indicating that it has entered Safe Mode.
Connect the Controller
Use a USB cable to connect a DualShock 4 controller to your PS4 and press the PS button on the controller to turn it on. The controller will automatically pair with the console in Safe Mode.
Safe Mode Menu Options:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Restart PS4 | Restarts the PS4 without making any changes. |
| Change Resolution | Changes the screen resolution. |
| Update System Software | Updates the PS4’s system software via a USB drive or the internet. |
| Factory Reset | Reinitializes the PS4 to its factory settings, erasing all data. |
Initiating the Factory Reset
1. Safety Precautions
Before embarking on the factory reset process, ensure the following safety measures are in place:
- Back up all vital data, as the reset will erase all content from the PS4’s storage.
- Ensure the PS4 is connected to a stable power source, as power interruptions during the process may corrupt the system.
- Connect a compatible controller to the PS4 for navigation during the reset.
2. Entering Safe Mode
To initiate the factory reset, the PS4 must first be started in Safe Mode. This is a special boot mode that provides access to various system recovery options. To enter Safe Mode:
- Completely shut down the PS4 by holding down the power button until the system beeps twice.
- Once the PS4 is off, hold down the power button again and continue holding it until you hear a second beep, approximately 7 seconds after the first beep.
- Release the power button and connect a controller using a USB cable.
- Press the PS button on the controller to enter Safe Mode.
3. Factory Reset Options
Safe Mode offers two factory reset options:
Option 1: Initialize PS4 (Reinstall System Software)
This option completely erases all data from the PS4’s storage and reinstalls the system software. It is the most comprehensive reset option and is recommended if the PS4 is experiencing severe issues or if you are preparing it for a new user.
To perform this reset, select the “Initialize PS4 (Reinstall System Software)” option from the Safe Mode menu and follow the on-screen prompts. Note that this process may take several hours depending on the amount of data stored on the PS4.
Option 2: Initialize PS4 (Keep User Data and Settings)
This option erases all user data, including games, saved data, and user profiles, but retains the system software and default settings. It is useful for resetting the PS4 without losing progress in games or other data.
To perform this reset, select the “Initialize PS4 (Keep User Data and Settings)” option from the Safe Mode menu. Note that this process will not erase any data stored on external USB storage devices.
Reinstalling System Software
Reinstalling the system software will erase all data on your PS4, so be sure to back up any important data before proceeding.
- Insert a USB drive formatted as FAT32 into your computer.
- Create a folder called “PS4” on the USB drive.
- Inside the “PS4” folder, create a folder called “UPDATE”.
- Download the latest PS4 system software update file from the PlayStation website and save it to the “UPDATE” folder on the USB drive. The file will be named something like “PS4UPDATE.PUP”.
- Turn off your PS4 completely by holding down the power button until it beeps twice.
- While holding down the power button, connect the USB drive to your PS4.
- Keep holding down the power button until you hear two beeps. The second beep will sound after about seven seconds.
- Release the power button. Your PS4 will now start in Safe Mode.
- Select option 3, “Update System Software”.
- Select “Update from USB Storage Device”.
- Select the system software update file that you downloaded earlier.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the update.
Once the update is complete, your PS4 will reboot and be restored to factory settings.
Data Backup and Restoration
Before you perform a factory reset on your PS4, it’s crucial to back up your data to ensure you don’t lose any important files or progress. Here are the steps to back up your data:
1. Connect an External Hard Drive
Plug an external USB 3.0 hard drive with at least 250GB of storage into your PS4.
2. Access Settings Menu
Navigate to “Settings” from the PS4’s main menu.
3. Select System Option
Scroll down and select “System” from the settings menu.
4. Find Backup and Restore
Locate and select the “Back Up and Restore” option under the “System” tab.
5. Create a Backup
On the Backup and Restore screen, you’ll have the following options:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Back Up All | Creates a backup of all user data, including game saves, settings, and applications. |
| Back Up PS4 Games | Backs up only PS4 game-related data, such as game saves and game progress. |
| Back Up Application Saved Data | Creates a backup of all saved data for installed applications. |
Select the desired backup option and follow the on-screen prompts to create a backup.
Troubleshooting Common Errors
Database Rebuild Failed
This issue can occur if the PS4’s hard drive has become corrupted or fragmented. To resolve it, try rebuilding the database from Safe Mode. If the issue persists, it may be necessary to reinitialize the PS4.
Problems Restoring Backups
If you encounter difficulties restoring backups, ensure your PS4 is connected to the internet and that the backup file is compatible with your current PS4 model.
Freezing or Lagging During Initialization
If the factory reset process freezes or lags, it could be due to a large number of games or applications installed on the PS4. Try deleting unnecessary items before proceeding with the initialization.
Unable to Boot PS4 After Reset
This could indicate a hardware issue with the PS4. Contact PlayStation support for further assistance.
Stuck on “Loading System Software…”
Wait patiently for the initialization process to complete. It may take several hours depending on the amount of data being erased and the speed of your internet connection.
Cannot Connect to PSN
After a factory reset, you may need to re-enter your PSN credentials. Ensure you have a stable internet connection and that the PSN service is not experiencing any outages.
Error Code CE-43487-8
This issue is often caused by corrupted system files. Try rebuilding the database from Safe Mode. If the error persists, you may need to reinitialize the PS4.
Error Code CE-34788-0
This error is typically encountered when the PS4 is connected to a 5 GHz Wi-Fi network. Switch to a 2.4 GHz network or use a wired Ethernet connection to resolve the issue.
Additional Tips for Data Recovery
If you have lost important data during the factory reset process, there are a few additional steps you can take to try and recover it:
- Check the PS4’s hard drive: If the hard drive is still accessible, you may be able to use a data recovery software to scan it for lost files.
- Contact Sony support: Sony may be able to assist you with data recovery if you have created and linked a PlayStation Network (PSN) account to your PS4.
- Use a cloud backup: If you had enabled cloud backups for your PS4, you may be able to restore your data from the cloud.
10. Advanced Data Recovery Techniques
If the above methods do not work, you may need to consider more advanced data recovery techniques, such as:
| Technique | Description |
|---|---|
| Hard drive cloning: | Creating an exact copy of your PS4’s hard drive and using data recovery software on the clone. |
| Bit-level recovery: | Using specialized software to scan the hard drive’s raw data for lost files. |
These techniques are more complex and require specialized knowledge and equipment. It is recommended to seek professional data recovery services for these methods.
How To Factory Reset PS4
A factory reset is a process that restores a PS4 to its original settings. This can be done for a variety of reasons, such as troubleshooting problems, selling the console, or giving it to someone else. Before you perform a factory reset, be sure to back up any important data, such as game saves and screenshots.
To factory reset a PS4, follow these steps:
- Turn off the PS4.
- Hold down the power button until you hear two beeps.
- Release the power button.
- Connect a controller to the PS4 using a USB cable.
- Press the PS button on the controller.
- Select "Initialize PS4".
- Select "Full".
- Confirm that you want to factory reset the PS4.
- The PS4 will now begin the factory reset process. This may take several minutes.
- Once the factory reset is complete, the PS4 will restart.
People Also Ask
How do I factory reset a PS4 without a controller?
If you do not have a controller, you can still factory reset a PS4 by using the console’s recovery mode. To do this, follow these steps:
- Turn off the PS4.
- Hold down the power button until you hear two beeps.
- Release the power button.
- Press and hold the power button and the eject button simultaneously.
- Release the eject button when you hear a second beep.
- The PS4 will now start in recovery mode.
- Use the directional buttons on the console to navigate to the "Initialize PS4" option.
- Press the X button to select the option.
- Select "Full".
- Confirm that you want to factory reset the PS4.
- The PS4 will now begin the factory reset process. This may take several minutes.
- Once the factory reset is complete, the PS4 will restart.
What happens when I factory reset my PS4?
When you factory reset your PS4, all of the data on the console will be erased. This includes game saves, screenshots, videos, and any other files that you have stored on the console. The console will also be restored to its original settings.
How can I back up my PS4 data before I factory reset it?
There are two ways to back up your PS4 data before you factory reset it:
- You can use the PS4’s built-in backup feature to create a backup of your data on an external hard drive. To do this, go to Settings > System > Backup and Restore > Back Up PS4.
- You can also use a third-party backup tool to create a backup of your data. There are a number of different backup tools available, so you can choose one that best suits your needs.
