Easy Ways To Fix A Frozen Or Unresponsive PS4 | Keeps Freezing

Having a frozen or unresponsive PS4 does not always mean there’s a major issue on your console. In many cases, the issue is temporary and is caused by something that can easily be fixed on a user’s level. If your PS4 is frozen and the menus take too long to load, you’ll need to perform a number of troubleshooting steps in order to identify the real cause. This guide will help you with that.

Causes why a PS4 is frozen or unresponsive

There can be a number of reasons why a PS4 may become unresponsive. Below is a list of common causes that we’ve compiled over the years:

  • PS4 console bug
  • game issue
  • slow Internet connection
  • corrupted PS4 software

PS4 console bug.

A PS4 may become unresponsive if it encounters an error that the system can’t resolve, or if the console is left running for a long time. Although there may be other reasons for this issue, these two are the common ones that affect PS4 consoles widely. The good thing is, bugs due to these causes can easily be fixed by simply rebooting the PS4.

Game error or issue.

Some game specific errors or game coding problems may leave the console unresponsive. If your PS4 only freezes when trying to play a specific disc or game, you may have a game issue. This means that the system may not be prepared to deal with the error, or there’s a problem reading a portion of a disc. A crash may happen if your PS4 is unable to fully get the information it needs in order to process a task. You may need to look for a specific solution for a particular game issue online or from the game publisher. In most cases, known game bugs are fixed by updates so be sure to keep your game or console Operating System up-to-date.

Slow Internet connection.

In some cases, slow internet connection or constant disconnection from a game server may crash a PS4. Make sure that your internet connection is stable by connecting your console directly to your router using an ethernet cable.

If you’re on wifi, try to check for possible wifi problems by checking these posts:

Corrupted PS4 software.

System updates or game updates may sometimes result to unintended consequences. If your PS4 is crashing or keeps freezing after an update, you may have a software problem.

How to fix a frozen or unresponsive PS4

If your PS4 keeps freezing or becoming unresponsive often, here are the solutions that you can try.

  1. Reboot the console.

    Restarting your PS4 console may fix your problem. Close all running applications and power down your PS4. Then, disconnect the power cable from power outlet and the back of the console for 3 minutes. Afterwards, reconnect everything and check for the problem.PS4 front panel

  2. Check for slow internet connection issues.

    Do a quick speed test on your PS4 to see if it’s not getting enough bandwidth. To do that:
    -Open Settings.
    -Select Network.
    -Select Test Internet Connection.
    If the download and upload speeds are way too low, try to improve network performance to fix the problem. Start by restarting the router and the console. PS4 speed test 1

  3. Rebuild Database in Safe Mode.

    This is usually effective in fixing bugs caused by a corrupted database. This can happen if the console did not install updates or games properly. Follow the steps below to rebuild the database in Safe Mode.
    -Shut down the console by pressing the Power button on the front panel. Wait for the power indicator to blink a few times.
    -Once the console is fully off, press and hold the power button. Release it after you've heard two beeps: one when you initially press, and another 7 seconds later.
    -Connect the DualShock4 controller with the provided USB cable and press the PS button.
    -If Safe Mode launched successfully, select Option 5 to Rebuild Database.rebuild database

  4. Reinstall System Software.

    If rebuilding the database won’t help, you can access Safe Mode again and this time, choose a more drastic option of reinstalling the Operating System. This is only recommended if none of the above solutions has worked. Depending on your situation, you may need to prepare the update file in a USB drive first in order to reinstall the OS. In that case, follow this video on what to do.
    To go to safe mode and reinstall the System Software:
    -Shut down the console by pressing the Power button on the front panel. Wait for the power indicator to blink a few times.
    -Once the console is fully off, press and hold the power button. Release it after you've heard two beeps: one when you initially press, and another 7 seconds later.
    -Connect the DualShock4 controller with the provided USB cable and press the PS button.
    -If Safe Mode launched successfully, select Option 7 (Initialize PS4/Reinstall System Software).reinstall system software 1

IMPORTANT: reinstalling the system software will delete all data from the console and return the software to its factory settings. You’ll have to reinstall your games and apps later on after this procedure.

Suggested readings:

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Having Issues with your phone? Feel free to contact us using this form. We’ll try to help. We also create videos for those wanting to follow visual instructions. Visit our TheDroidGuy Youtube Channel for troubleshooting.


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