How to Factory Reset Your PS4/PS5

15-Feb-2024

If your PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5 is malfunctioning, or if you intend to sell it or give it to another user, then may need to perform a factory reset on your game console. Doing this will restore the gaming device to its factory default condition, erasing any apps, games, data, or custom settings that you may saved on it.

While performing a factor reset on a PlayStation console is relatively straightforward, you may be unclear on the process if you’ve never done it before. If so, don’t worry, we’re here to help. In this how-to guide, we’ve created a step-by-step walkthrough for factory resetting your PlayStation console to help make the process a breeze.

How to factory reset your PS5

To perform a factory reset on your PlayStation 5 console, you can do the following:

Switch on your device and select the “Settings” icon in the home menu.
In the “Settings” menu, choose “System”, then select the “System Software” option.
Select “Reset Options”, choose “Reset Your Console”, and select “Reset” again to confirm.

Once you’ve done this, your console will perform a full factory reset, resetting custom settings and erasing content including games, apps, photos, and videos, and save data.

If you’re resetting your console to resolve performance issues and would prefer to retain your data after the reset, you have the option to do this too.

To do this, simply select “Restore Default Settings” instead of “Reset Your Console” in the “Reset Options” menu. This will restore factory settings but will leave your apps, games, media, and save files intact.

How to factory reset your PS4

To perform a factory reset on your PlayStation 4 console, you can do the following:

Switch on your device and select the “Settings” icon in the home menu.
In the “Settings” menu, scroll down and choose “Initialization”. This will take you to the console’s reset options.
Select “Initialize PS4”, choose “Full”, then select “Initialize” again to confirm.

As with the PS5, the PS4 gives users the option to do a partial reset to retain their saved data. To do this, you can simply select “Quick” rather than “Full” in the Initialization options.

factory reset PS4 or PS5 without signing in

How to factory reset your PS4 or PS5 without signing in

In the event that you’ve forgotten your login details or are having problems getting the system to boot up correctly, you can factory reset your PS4 or PS5 using its Safe Mode functionality. To do this, you can follow these steps:

Power down your PS4 fully by holding the power button for three seconds.
With your system fully powered down, hold the power button on your console until you hear it beep twice. This should take around 8 seconds. Then, release it.
Connect your controller via a USB cable and press the PS button.

In safe mode, you will be given a different selection of reset options depending on your console.

On the PS4, you can select “Initialize PS4” or “Initialize PS4 (Reinstall System Software)”. The former will delete all data and restore settings, while the second option will also remove the console’s firmware.

On the PS5, you can select “Restore Default Settings”, “Reset PS5”, or “Reset PS5 (Reinstall System Software)”. The first of these options will restore settings while keeping data. The second will delete data and restore settings, while the third will delete data, restore settings, and remove the console’s firmware.

factory reset PS4 or PS5 controller

How to factory reset your PS4 or PS5 controller

If you’re having issues with your console’s controller, you may also need to factory reset it. The process for this is the same for both PS4 and PS5 controllers, and you can do it by following these steps:

Locate the reset button in the small hole on the back of the controller, next to the Sony logo.
Using a pin or paperclip, press the reset button in the hole.
Hold the button down for a minimum of 5 seconds to reset the controller.

That’s everything you need to know to perform a partial or full factory reset on your PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5 console. With your device now reset to factory defaults and software-related issues hopefully resolved, you can pass the console on to another user or resume using it yourself to enjoy a fresh start with your gaming device.