Why Does Restarting Fix Many PS4 Problems?
Powering PS4 console off and then on again may seem like too simple an action to fix any kind of problem. But guess what? It almost always works! We estimate that more than half of the technical PS4 problems we hear about from our readers are fixable with a simple reboot. Yet, many people forget this step when troubleshooting their game console.
Rebooting any device is usually as simple as shutting it off and then turning it back on again. If the PS4 power button is not working or it can’t restart for any reason, you can instead unplug the PS4 from its power source and plug it back in.
Note that “restarting” is not the same as “resetting“, which is a much bigger process that involves erasing everything and returning to factory defaults.
Why Restarting Your PS4 Works So Well
When your PS4 is running, you open and close some apps, leave others running, and maybe install or uninstall games or apps. Lots of other behind-the-scenes processes stop and start, too.
Many of these actions, as well as the PS4 operating system, leave behind a kind of electronic footprint, usually in the form of background processes you don’t really need running anymore, or apps that don’t quite close all the way.
These “leftovers” hog your PS4 system resources, usually your RAM. If this happens too much, you get problems like a sluggish system, apps that won’t open, error messages, and other issues.
When you reboot your PS4, every single app and process ends as the power leaves your PS4 during the restart process. Once your PS4 starts back up, you have a clean slate and, usually, a faster, better working game console.
Frequent Restarting Is Probably a Sign of a Bigger Problem
Needing to restart your PS4 to fix the occasional issue is perfectly normal, especially if you’re doing work that requires a lot of interaction with the operating system, like installing apps or their updates, or reinstalling apps.
However, if you need to restart more frequently, you might have issues that a restart is only temporarily fixing for you but that may need a more robust solution. A piece of hardware may be failing, important PS4 system files may be corrupt, or you might have a compatibility issue with some installed games.
If you find yourself restarting your PS4 regularly, try some additional troubleshooting steps, like rebuilding the PS4 database, or even initialize the PS4.
If you’re still having issues after that, your best bet is probably to consult with a professional.
How to Properly & Safely Restart PS4
Restarting the PS4 system is a way too easy method that has various benefits to the performance of the game console and fixes many errors as stated earlier.
Please visit our Guide: How & Why to Restart PS4 for extended details on this issue.
