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To factory reset a PS4, back up anything you want to keep, then go to Settings > Initialization > Initialize PS4 and choose Full. If you cannot open Settings, use Safe Mode and select Initialize PS4. Sony calls a factory reset an initialization; Restore Default Settings is different and does not erase games, saves, or other console content.
Choose the right reset option
The right choice depends on whether you want to keep your content, erase the console, or reinstall its system software.
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- Restore Default Settings: Resets settings but preserves content on console storage, including games, apps, screenshots, video clips, and saved data.
- Initialize PS4: Deletes user data and restores the console to its original state. Choose this for a factory reset.
- Initialize PS4 (Reinstall System Software): Deletes user data and removes the PS4 system software as part of a reinstall. Use it when you specifically need to reinstall the software, not just reset settings.
Sony says initialization deletes information and cannot be undone. Back up any data you need before choosing an erasing option. Sony’s backup instructions and initialization guidance explain the available procedures.
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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Back up data before erasing the PS4
Sony’s documented USB backup includes games and apps, saved data, screenshots and video clips, and settings. The drive must be formatted as FAT32 or exFAT and have free space of at least twice the size of the backup file.
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- Connect the USB drive to the PS4.
- Open Settings > System > Back Up and Restore > Back Up.
- Follow the prompts and do not turn off the console during the backup.
- Sync trophies separately from the Trophies screen: press OPTIONS, then select Sync Trophies With PSN.
A USB drive is needed for this documented backup method, not for the reset itself. Sony’s backup guide has the full instructions.
Factory reset from PS4 Settings
- From the home screen, open Settings > Initialization.
- Select Initialize PS4.
- Select Full for Sony’s transfer or disposal workflow.
- Review the prompt and confirm only when you are ready to erase the console.
Keep the PS4 powered on while initialization runs. Sony warns that the deletion cannot be undone; see its PS4 initialization instructions.
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Factory reset from Safe Mode
Use Safe Mode if you cannot reach the Settings menu. You will need a USB cable to connect the controller.
- Turn the PS4 off by holding the power button for about three seconds. Wait until the power indicator stops.
- Press and hold the power button again. Release it after the second beep, which Sony says occurs about seven seconds after the first.
- Connect the controller to the console with a USB cable, then press the controller’s PS button.
- Select Initialize PS4 and follow the prompts to erase user data.
Do not mistake Safe Mode option 4, Restore Default Settings, for a factory reset: it preserves console content. Option 7, Initialize PS4 (Reinstall System Software), is the more extensive software reinstall route. See Sony’s Safe Mode guide for option details.
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Reinstall PS4 system software
Choose this procedure only when you need to reinstall the system software. It erases PS4 data and requires a USB drive prepared with Sony’s official reinstallation file.
- On a computer, format a USB drive as FAT32 or exFAT.
- Create folders named PS4 and, inside it, UPDATE.
- Download Sony’s official PS4 reinstallation file and save it in the UPDATE folder with the filename PS4UPDATE.PUP.
- Connect the USB drive to the PS4 and start Safe Mode using the steps above.
- Select Initialize PS4 (Reinstall System Software) and follow Sony’s prompts. Do not interrupt the installation.
Use the reinstallation file and current instructions from Sony’s PS4 system software page.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Before selling, transferring, or disposing of a PS4
Back up data you want to keep, remove USB devices and any disc, then use Settings > Initialization > Initialize PS4 > Full. Sony says the process deletes saved information and cannot be undone. Its instructions do not describe initialization as a certified secure-wipe standard. If you move the internal hard drive to another PS4, Sony says that drive will be reformatted and its data deleted. Follow Sony’s transfer and disposal guidance.
If resetting does not solve the problem
A reset is not a guaranteed fix for a hardware fault. For some system-feature or game-icon problems, Sony describes Rebuild Database in Safe Mode as an option that scans the drive and creates a new database; it is distinct from initialization and does not serve as a factory reset. Sony’s error-code guidance may recommend restarting, trying Rebuild Database, backing up save data, and initializing if needed.
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If the PS4 will not enter Safe Mode, Sony suggests powering it off and on again or checking the cables, then using its repair diagnostic flow. Consult Sony’s Safe Mode troubleshooting guidance rather than assuming initialization will fix the cause.
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