What Restoring to Factory Settings Does
Restoring your PlayStation 4 to factory settings erases everything on the console and returns it to the state it was in when it left the factory. This means all your games, save data, user accounts, and settings are deleted. The operating system is reinstalled fresh, which can fix software problems like freezing, crashes, or performance issues that won't go away after a normal restart.
There are two ways to do this: Initialize PS4, which erases everything but keeps the current system software version, and Initialize PS4 (Reinstall System Software), which also downloads and installs the latest system software from scratch. The second option takes longer but is more thorough and is the one to use if you suspect a system software problem.
Before you start, back up any save data you want to keep. Once you initialize, that data is gone unless you saved it to a USB drive or to PlayStation Plus cloud storage.
Key Takeaways
- Factory reset erases all games, accounts, and save data, so back up anything you want to keep before you start.
- Use Initialize PS4 for a quick reset, or Initialize PS4 (Reinstall System Software) if you want to reinstall the operating system from scratch.
- The process takes 15 minutes to an hour depending on which option you choose and your internet speed.
- Your console needs to stay plugged in and connected to the internet during the reset; do not turn it off or unplug it.
- After the reset, you will need to set up your console again, including creating or signing into a user account.
Back Up Your Save Data Before You Start
Save data is the hardest thing to recover once it is gone. If you have games you want to play again, or progress you want to keep, save that data before you initialize.
The easiest way is through PlayStation Plus cloud storage. If you have a PlayStation Plus subscription, your saves are uploaded automatically. You can also manually upload saves by going to Settings > System > Backup and Restore > Upload Save Data to Online Storage, then select the games whose saves you want to keep. This takes a few minutes depending on how many games you have.
If you do not have PlayStation Plus, save to a USB drive. Plug a USB drive into one of the PS4's USB ports, go to Settings > System > Backup and Restore > Back Up Your Files, and select the save data you want to copy. The console will copy the files to the USB drive. Keep that drive somewhere safe.
How to Initialize PS4 (Quick Reset)
This option erases everything but keeps your current system software. It is faster than reinstalling the system software and works for most software problems.
Go to Settings > Initialization > Initialize PS4. The console will ask you to confirm. Select Initialize, and the console will restart and begin erasing your data. Do not turn off the console or unplug it during this process. The screen will go dark for a moment, then show a progress bar. This usually takes 15 to 30 minutes.
When the reset is complete, the console will restart and show the setup screen, the same one you saw when you first turned on the PS4. You will need to create a new user account or sign into an existing PlayStation Network account to use the console.
How to Initialize PS4 (Reinstall System Software)
This option erases everything and reinstalls the system software from the internet. Use this if you think the system software itself is corrupted or if a regular initialize did not fix your problem.
Go to Settings > Initialization > Initialize PS4 (Reinstall System Software). The console will warn you that this will take longer and requires an internet connection. Select Initialize. The console will restart, read the latest system software from Sony's servers, and reinstall it. This process takes 45 minutes to an hour on a typical home internet connection, longer on slower connections.
During this time, the screen will show a progress bar and may go dark briefly. Do not interrupt the process. When it is complete, the console will restart and show the setup screen.
What to Do If the Reset Fails or Gets Stuck
If the console freezes during initialization or the progress bar stops moving for more than 10 minutes, you may need to force a restart. Hold the power button on the front of the console for 10 seconds until it beeps twice and shuts down completely. Wait 30 seconds, then turn it back on.
If the console will not turn on at all, or if it restarts repeatedly without completing the reset, the system software may be too corrupted to repair. In this case, you can try Safe Mode, which boots the console with minimal software loaded. Hold the power button for 7 seconds (not 10) until you hear a second beep, then release. The console will boot into Safe Mode and show a menu with options including "Initialize PS4" and "Reinstall System Software". Try the reset from Safe Mode.
If Safe Mode does not work, or if you see an error code, the console may have a hardware problem that a reset cannot fix. At that point, contact PlayStation Support or take the console to a repair shop.
Setting Up Your Console After the Reset
When the reset is complete, the PS4 will show the initial setup screen. You will need to choose a language, connect to Wi-Fi, and either create a new user account or sign into an existing PlayStation Network account.
If you backed up save data to a USB drive, plug the drive in after setup is complete. Go to Settings > System > Backup and Restore > Restore Your Files, and the console will copy your save data back to the internal storage. If you used PlayStation Plus cloud storage, your saves will read automatically once you sign into your account.
You will need to read your games again from your library. Go to your Profile > Purchased Content, find the games you own, and read them. This can take a while depending on how many games you have and your internet speed.
When to Reset vs. When to Try Something Else
A factory reset fixes most software problems, but it is not the first thing to try. If your PS4 is freezing, crashing, or running slowly, restart it first: hold the power button for 10 seconds until it shuts down, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on. This clears temporary memory and fixes many problems without erasing anything.
If restarting does not work, try rebuilding the database. Go to Safe Mode (hold power for 7 seconds), select "Rebuild Database", and let it run. This can take an hour but often fixes performance problems without erasing your games or saves.
Reset only if restarting and rebuilding the database do not work, or if you are selling the console and want to erase your data completely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I lose my games if I factory reset?
Yes, all games are deleted during a factory reset. However, your games are tied to your PlayStation Network account, not the console. After you set up the console and sign into your account, you can read your games again from your library for free. You will not need to buy them again.
Can I restore my save data after a factory reset?
Only if you backed it up before the reset. If you saved to a USB drive, plug it in after setup and restore from Settings > System > Backup and Restore > Restore Your Files. If you used PlayStation Plus cloud storage, your saves will read automatically when you sign in. If you did not back up, the save data is gone.
How long does a factory reset take?
Initialize PS4 usually takes 15 to 30 minutes. Initialize PS4 (Reinstall System Software) takes 45 minutes to an hour, depending on your internet speed. Do not turn off the console during this time.
Do I need to be connected to the internet to factory reset?
For Initialize PS4, no. For Initialize PS4 (Reinstall System Software), yes—the console needs to read the latest system software from Sony's servers. Make sure your console is connected to Wi-Fi or ethernet before you start.
What should I do if my PS4 will not turn on after a factory reset?
Try Safe Mode: hold the power button for 7 seconds until you hear a second beep, then release. If the console boots into Safe Mode, you can try the reset again from there. If it will not boot into Safe Mode, or if Safe Mode freezes, the console may have a hardware problem that requires professional repair.