PS4 “Checking System Storage Status” Issues | Fixed by Experts

It happens that one day you turn on your PS4 and the system doesn’t directly load the home screen, rather you see a black screen with a message that says: “Checking System Storage Status | Do not turn off the PS4 | When the check is complete, the PS4 will restart automatically.” as seen in the image below:

PS4 Checking System Storage Status

This message appears usually once you have replaced your PS4 stock hard drive with a new one then turned on the PS4 for the first time after replacement. It’s basically a normal message that you don’t have to worry about and it only appears once then you don’t see it again. If this is your case, just wait for the checking process to complete and the message will disappear.

On the other hand, there are some users who have serious troubles with this message and can’t skip that on-screen message.

Issues Covered In this Guide

This guide covers the most common issues with this message that are:

  • The “Checking System Storage Status” message appears then the PS4 turns off entirely with a black screen and no signals and nothing happens afterward.
  • The PS4 enters an infinite loop with the “Checking the system storage status” message.
  • The PS4 is stuck on the “Checking the system storage status” message and the progress bar never moves on, or it might move a little until 24% or 25% then freezes.
  • The PS4 turns off after a while of showing up that message on the screen.
  • That message appears every time the PS4 is turned on, then the PS4 system loads normally without any noticeable issue..

If you have one of these problems with that message, then please keep on reading so that you may hopefully find a relevant solution.

Why Does PS4 Checks for System Storage Status?

PS4 checks for system storage status for different reasons
The PS4 system automatically checks for system storage status when something unusual happens to the PS4 internal hard drive. Therefore, the PS4 system has to check the storage status to ensure everything is on the right track.

When it’s a new hard drive, the PS4 system takes time to prepare for the installation of the operating system. It will take time to format it to a relevant file system before the installation process begins.

Additionally, the PS4 checks for the system storage status when there’s an error occurring in the hard drive or the PS4 can’t properly connect to it for some reason. It may happen when your PS4 fell on the ground from a high place, or you opened up the PS4 cover to clean the inside of it and you messed with some cables.

In most cases, when that error is on a low-level (i.e. logical/system-file related) the PS4 system can easily fix it itself without the need for any additional interference from anyone. But sometimes that error is serious that you need to reinstall the PS4 system software from scratch.

On the other hand, if the error is physical (i.e. hardware-related), then it’s a serious situation that can cease the PS4 system from loading and hence working.

Causes of Hardware-Related Errors

The hardware-related deficiencies that cause the “Checking system storage status” issue may occur due to varied reasons, most commonly:

  • Bad sectors on the PS4 internal hard drive [Also referred to as PS4 system storage]. That’s usually easy to fix and it’s the most common reason.
  • Some serious defects/failures in one or more of the PS4 hard drive parts (i.e. one of the platters might be scratched, or the HDD head was dislodged from its track, or even the HDD motor is malfunctioning or degrading).
  • A power issue within the PS4; either that the PS4 power supply is malfunctioning, or the PS4 power cord is damaged and needs replacement, or the PS4 motherboard itself has some serious power issue due to an abrupt power surge.
  • The PS4 motherboard is defective. It can be a small circuit that got burnt, or even a part of the PS4 motherboard, usually the SATA connector is dead and needs replacement.
  • Corrupted Data of the CMOS memory chip. This may happen due to unstable electrical power or damage to the CMOS battery.

These are the most common hardware-related issues that promote the situation where the PS4 system has issues detecting the system storage.

Fixing the PS4 “Checking System Storage Status” Issue

If you’re one of the unfortunate guys who have trouble with the PS4 “Checking System Storage Status” message, you need to try the following suggested workarounds below.

1. Completely Disconnect the PS4 from Power

unplug the PS4 power cable from the power outlet

The first, yet easiest step you should carry out is to disconnect the PS4 console from power. You have to unplug it from the power outlet and wait 5 minutes before plugging it in the back.

You might be surprised to learn that when you turn off the PS4 without plugging it out (controller and other peripherals as well), they don’t completely turn off. All the components/pieces are just in a very low powered-on state.

That means if your PS4 has a hiccup/glitch that locks up a piece of hardware (RAM, AUDIO, and such), that glitch can still linger on because of that low power state. Many problems have been fixed by just pulling the power plug, waiting a few minutes, and plugging it back in again, due to what has been illustrated earlier.

So, try that first before going for any other solution.

Additionally, you can learn more about the PS4 power issues when reading about our fix for PS4 not turning on.

2. Reseat the PS4 Internal HDD

reseat PS4 internal hard drive
Reseating the PS4 hard drive means removing it and then installing it again. This helps the PS4 system in many cases to detect the hard drive and connect to it normally again. This step is the first thing you have to start with to make sure everything is connected properly and your PS4 doesn’t undergo a loose-connection problem.

If you want to learn how to remove the PS4 hard drive, please visit our guide here.

Please try the other steps below if that doesn’t work for you.

3. Confirm the Health of the PS4 Hard Drive

PS4 internal HDD health check

Yes, the PS4 internal hard drive might be defective/damaged and is the main culprit for this whole trouble. So, what you need to do here is to check whether it’s working properly or not. Listen to it when the PS4 turns on, do you hear any loud clicking/grinding noise? If yes, it’s definitely the reason for the PS4 checking system storage status issue. It’s a strong indication that you need to replace the PS4 HDD as soon as possible, as it’s dying and soon will fall into decay and stop working entirely.

Otherwise, if you hear no noise out of the PS4 HDD, it’s most probably healthy, but, on the other hand, it can indicate a serious issue with other PS4 hardware parts.

Anyway, all you need to do at this stage is pull out the PS4 hard drive and connect it to a PC, either internally or externally (internally is preferred). Now see whether the system detects it or not. If it’s detected, go and perform a FULL format on it (full, not quick). This will help restore the original performance of the PS4 hard drive and repair the damaged file system.

To learn more about PS4 hard drive failure, please click here. Additionally, you may want to learn how to format the PS4 internal HDD.

4. Clear the PS4 CMOS Memory Chip

PS4 CMOS memory chip
A corrupted CMOS memory data can cause lots of problems within the PS4 system, including the “checking system storage status” issue. All what you need here is to locate the PS4 CMOS battery and pull it out for 10 seconds, then put it back again.

Make sure you do that while the PS4 is fully disconnected from power.

Our guide on PS4 CMOS Memory and how to clear it will help you understand more on this issue.

5. Seek Help from an Expert

If none of the above has worked for you, the issue seems very serious that you need to seek the help of a technician. It might be the PS4 motherboard or even the PS4 power supply. Your console simply needs a deep diagnosis in order to figure out where the problem really is.

Conclusion

The PS4 checks for the system storage status because there’s an issue interacting with the internal storage device. It might be the storage device itself that’s defective, or it can be one of the other innards of the PS4. In all cases, don’t take your PS4 to a repair shop until you try all possible ways to fix it. Always take a backup of your data whenever possible for trying to “play” with the PS4 components.


PS4 Checking the system storage status FAQ

Why is my PS4 stuck on checking the system storage status?

How do I reset my PS4 system storage?

Resetting the PS4 system storage means to wipe all data on it and clean it from everything except the system files. In other words, you need to learn how to perform a full initialization of the PS4 as it will reset the system storage the way you want.

Why can my PS4 not access system storage?

This indicates either that there is a loose connection between your PS4 HDD and the motherboard, or the PS4 HDD stopped working.

Why is checking system storage status ps4 taking forever?

When the checking system storage message on PS4 is taking forever to complete, this indicates that there's a sort of failure or data corruption in the PS4 internal hard drive.

What causes the ps4 checking system storage status loop?

The ps4 checking system storage status loop is a strong indication that the PS4 cannot access the internal hard drive. You may need to reseat the PS4 internal HDD or just replace it with a new one in case it went out of action.

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22 Responses

  1. JLiew says:

    First time experiencing this issue with my PS4 Pro of 3 years old. Initial boot up was fine but couldn’t entered any game, showing “the application couldn’t be started” and whole system hang on me. Forced restarted the console and entered the checking system storage and stuck at 23%, then “could not start PS4” pop up and prompted me to re-download the update manually.

    Tried booting up safe mode, downloaded the update via internet but didn’t solve the issue. Rebuilding database gave a SU-41337-8 error and it went back to the checking system storage page again. Will reinitializing solve this issue?

    • PlayStation Expert says:

      This is a common issue that some PS4 users have faced when trying to boot their console. The error code SU-41337-8 means that the system software update file cannot be used. This may happen if the update file is corrupted, incomplete, or incompatible with your PS4 system.

      Here are some possible solutions that you can try to fix this issue:

      • Check your internet connection. Make sure you have a stable and fast internet connection when downloading the update file. If possible, use a wired connection instead of Wi-Fi. You can also test your internet connection by going to Settings > Network > Test Internet Connection on your PS4.
      • Download the update file again. It is possible that the update file you downloaded was corrupted or incomplete. You can try downloading the update file again from the PlayStation website using a computer and a USB flash drive. Follow these steps:
        • Go to the PlayStation website and download the latest system software update file for PS4.
        • Format your USB flash drive to FAT32 or exFAT file system.
        • Create a folder named PS4 on the root of your USB flash drive.
        • Inside the PS4 folder, create another folder named UPDATE.
        • Copy the system software update file (PS4UPDATE.PUP) to the UPDATE folder.
        • Safely eject your USB flash drive from your computer.
        • Connect your USB flash drive to your PS4 via one of the front USB ports.
        • Turn off your PS4 by pressing and holding the power button for about 7 seconds until you hear two beeps.
        • Turn on your PS4 by pressing and holding the power button for about 7 seconds until you hear two beeps again.
        • You will see the safe mode menu on your screen. Select option 3: Update System Software and follow the instructions on screen.
      • Reinstall the system software. If the update file still cannot be used, you may need to reinstall the system software on your PS4. This option will reset your PS4 to its factory settings and wipe all of your data and settings from the hard drive. It will also reinstall the system software. This option should be used as a last resort, as you will lose everything on your PS4. Make sure you back up your important files before doing this. To reinstall the system software, follow these steps:
        • Go to the PlayStation website and download the latest system software reinstallation file for PS4.
        • Format your USB flash drive to FAT32 or exFAT file system.
        • Create a folder named PS4 on the root of your USB flash drive.
        • Inside the PS4 folder, create another folder named UPDATE.
        • Copy the system software reinstallation file (PS4UPDATE.PUP) to the UPDATE folder.
        • Safely eject your USB flash drive from your computer.
        • Connect your USB flash drive to your PS4 via one of the front USB ports.
        • Turn off your PS4 by pressing and holding the power button for about 7 seconds until you hear two beeps.
        • Turn on your PS4 by pressing and holding the power button for about 7 seconds until you hear two beeps again.
        • You will see the safe mode menu on your screen. Select option 7: Initialize PS4 (Reinstall System Software) and press X.
        • Follow the instructions on screen to reinstall the system software.

      If none of these solutions work for you, you may need to contact PlayStation Support for further assistance. They may be able to help you troubleshoot the issue or repair or replace your console if it is defective.

      I hope this helps you resolve your issue and enjoy your PS4. If you have any other questions or feedback, please let me know.

  2. George says:

    So I got a brand new unopened PS4 from a friend. All are in their original packaging. When I turn it on, I get the checking system storage status screen, which keeps looping me back to. It would reset itself and then, every now and then, it would let me get to the main screen long enough to reload my old psn account, but now it won’t let me get to the main menu. On the check system storage screen, it just keeps looping and resetting.

    • PlayStation Expert says:

      ● 1: Reinsert the Hard Drive.
      ● 2: Troubleshoot PS4 in Safe Mode.
      ● 3: Run CHKDSK Command.
      ● 4: Format the Hard Drive.
      ● 5: Replace the Internal Hard Drive.

  3. Chris says:

    I have had this issue before after a new update and had to initialize the PS4. This time it says checking system storage every time I start up, runs to 100% and then I get the PS4 logo and then blank black screen. I was able to select restore to factory settings in safe mode. Then I was able to select change resolution, it gave me the screen and I was able to set it and it started up, asked me to set language, time, re-enter my wifi and my 2 games that I’ve been playing after the first time it wiped out all my saved games (about 7 or 8 saved games) were there.

    I thought it was fixed, I almost signed up for ps plus so I could backup my games, but decided to try to reboot again to make sure it was working. Of course it’s back to the same issue, and now I can’t change resolution again. I might try taking the HD out and cleaning the dust out. It obviously works, it just won’t get past that system storage check. It’s only a few years old. I don’t know what to do at this point!

    • PlayStation Expert says:

      Hi Chris and welcome to our forum. We are happy to have you among our readers.

      As far as your issue is concerned, there’s a problem with the internal hard drive. It might be having some bad sectors that cause all these issues. We strongly recommend you perform a FULL FORMAT on a PC and replace it inside the PS4. This has fixed it for many users. To learn how to format the PS4 internal HDD on a PC, please read this article and the comments below.

  4. ?-? says:

    It stops at 25 and doesnt move for the entire day

    • PlayStation Expert says:

      Most probably it’s your PS4 internal HDD that you need to repair or replace with a new one.

  5. Rolanddive says:

    PS4 stuck on checking system storage or black screensز It checks the system storage then black screens I’ve tried everythingز

    • PlayStation Expert says:

      – Reinsert the hard drive to see whether your PS4 can boot normally.
      – Run CHKDSK to fix the found errors or shield the found bad sectors on the hard drive.
      – Format the hard drive to its normal state.
      – Replace the damaged hard drive with a new one.

  6. Mats says:

    My PS4 gives the checking System Storage message and then completes it, starts up until it shows a white light but never shows any output to the screen after this. It also gives three beeps when starting up.

    • PlayStation Expert says:

      Mostly it’s the PS4 Hard drive malfunctioning. You have to either repair it or replace it.

  7. Siddu says:

    My ps4 stops at 26 percent and sometimes when I am playing a game it says data corrupted delete and download from the library again

    • PlayStation Expert says:

      There might be a serious problem with the PS4 internal hard drive. Please check out this article for more details and how to work around this issue.

  8. Makai says:

    For me, my ps4 would update, check system storage, go to 8% skip to 100% and say failed to start ps4

  9. Gavin says:

    Could the problem be solved by initializing the ps4?

    • PS4 Storage says:

      It’s most likely a hardware-level error which initializing the PS4 won’t help fix it. But the question is, how can you access the Safe Mode in this case?

      • helpppppp says:

        same is happening with me it says the error and then the ps4 white icon apperas and stays on the screen for about 20 seconds, but after that the screen just goes black (i mean you can see that it is on but its still black). I can also go to safe mode

        • PS4 Storage says:

          It seems there’s a power issue with the PS4 that the storage device is not receiving enough power. This happens with aged PS4 consoles. The only fix now is to upgrade the PS4 HDD to an SSD, as SSDs use much less power than HDDs and can accommodate to most of power conditions.

          • Deborah Wolf says:

            My ps4 is less than 5 months old and I’ve been having this issue off and on now for the last 4 months. I don’t think “aged” is the issue.

          • PS4 Storage says:

            It seems your PS4 internal HDD is broken and must either be repaired or replaced. Try first connecting it to a PC and verify its health.

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