The eighth generation of consoles is over eight years old, but the PlayStation system is still not perfect. Very often users have problems and errors in different games or even in the use of system applications. One of the most effective ways to get your console out of error is to run it in safe mode.
How to start a PS4 in safe mode
Before you start you need to make sure that your console’s USB ports are working because after entering safe mode you will need to wire your controller to the console. If the ports don’t work, you need to fix them first.
- Turn off your console. Press and hold the shutdown button until it flashes several times, then the console will shut down.
- Press the power button. Hold it down until you hear one beep and then another beep after a few seconds. Then you can release the button.
Your console should turn on in safe mode. Connect your gamepad with a cable to the PS4 and press the PS button.
How PS4 safe mode works
When you start your set-top box in safe mode you will see a menu with several settings. You have to be very careful not to select the wrong one by mistake.
- “Restart” will restart your console in normal mode.
- “Change Resolution” will allow you to restart your console in 480p resolution.
- “Update System Software” Allows you to update your operating system using a USB drive, disk or internet connection.
- “Restore Default” will return your PS4 to its factory settings, but will save all your data.
- “Rebuild Database” will scan your hard drive and re-index its contents.
“Initialize PS4” Deletes all of your data and returns the console to its original state as it was when you purchased it.
PS4 stuck in a safe mode boot loop
Sometimes it may happen that your console doesn’t want to exit Safe Mode. There are several ways to solve this problem.
Connect the controller to your PS4 with a cable.
The first thing you need to do is connect your gamepad to your console with a charging cable. If it doesn’t work, you can try replacing the cable, or try plugging in another DualShock
Unplug the console from the power supply for 20 minutes.
If the console doesn’t want to respond when you exit safe mode or doesn’t respond to your actions, you need to unplug it and wait about 20 minutes. This often helps. After you turn the console back on, it will start up in safe mode. You will need to check for updates, more often than not a fresh update can solve all problems
Download the latest update to USB drive.
You can also download the update to an external drive and install it manually. You can download the update here. This way you can install the latest version of updates for your PS4 without using the Internet if the update has previously had an error.
Perform a factory reset.
If none of the previous methods worked, you can reset your PS4 to factory settings. This will delete all data, video games, videos and saves. You will be able to re-download all content using the PlayStationStore.
