Having a brand new PS5 is an awesome feeling and the joy you get from playing PS5 is even better. But what if one day your PS5 suddenly won’t turn on?
This nightmare scenario is exactly what happened to me a few weeks ago when I was about to jump on my PS5 for a game of Fortnite. I picked up my controller, tried turning on my PS5, and… Nothing.
It was dead.
I’m not ashamed to admit that I panicked. A lot.
I tried doing all sorts of things, but nothing seemed to get my PS5 back on its feet and playing games.
Then after turning to the omnipotent knower of all that is Google, I finally solved my problem. But then I realized, I couldn’t be the only one with a PS5 that refuses to play ball and turn the hell on.
So here’s what I found:
What to do if your PS5 won’t turn on? There are many reasons why your PS5 won’t turn on. Some common solutions are inspecting the power button for defects, using different power sockets, inserting a game disc, cleaning the PS5, and rebooting the PS5.
Now that you have discovered the possible solutions, let’s dive more deeply into this topic to help you solve your problem and turn on your beautiful, if a little temperamental, PS5.
What can Cause the PS5 not to turn on?
There are a number of reasons why your PS5 won’t turn on. But I’d say 99% of the time it’s just a software issue. Maybe the console didn’t shut down correctly which meant that the suspend function didn’t work as intended.
Regardless, most issues can be easily resolved. However, there are some issues, though very rare, that can make it difficult to start your PS5.
Here are some other possible reasons why your PS5 won’t start:
- Poor shut down
- Game crashes
- Console didn’t shut down into sleep mode correctly
- Problems with the power supply
- Problems with the PS5 system software
- The inside of the console is dirty
- Problems with your console’s internal hardware
In the next section I’ll look at a few things you can do to get your PS5 turned on and ready to play games (That sounds a little wrong, doesn’t it?).
What To Do If PS5 Won’t Turn On?
There are a number of reasons why your PS5 won’t turn on. But generally, most can be fixed with the same solutions. Let’s take a look at some of the solutions I’ve found to get your PS5’s engine revving again.
Manually reboot your PS5
The simplest and easiest thing to do is manually reboot your PS5. It should fix 99% of the problems. To do this follow these simple steps:
1: Locate the power button.
2: Hold down the power button for 15 seconds
3: The console will restart and show a warning message on the screen.
Insert a game disc
Sometimes your PS5 can turn on automatically after inserting a disk. If you have a Standard Edition PS5 then gently push the disc into the console’s disk drive and your console should turn on automatically.
Reconnect the power cables
Unplug the power cable from the back of your PS5 and wait for about 30 seconds. Then plug them back into your console and your PS5 should start.
Check your HDMI cables
Unplug the HDMI cable from the back of your PS5 and TV. Once you’ve done this, wait 30 seconds then replug the HDMI cable back into your PS5. Now try to power on as normal
Reboot your PS5 in safe mode
Making use of the PS5’s safe mode superpower has solved problems for many PS5 users.
How to reboot your PS5 in safe mode?
It’s easy to get confused when booting your PS5 into safe mode, what with all beeps and boops that greet you on holding down the power button.
Wouldn’t it be easier if we had a Star Trek style computer voice confidently announce that your PS5 is, “Entering SAFE MODE”?
Ah well, one can always dream.
Anyway, below is a quick guide on how to boot your PS5 into Safe Mode.
To reboot your PS5 in safe mode do the following:
1: First, turn off your PS5 by pressing the power button.
2: Press and hold the power button until you can hear the second beep.
3: The PS5 will boot in safe mode.
4: Connect your DualSense controller to the PS5 using the supplied USB cable.
5: Choose the option to reboot the PS5.
Use a different power socket
The problem may be with your power socket. So, try using a different power socket and see if that solves the problem.
Clean your PS5
Dust and dirt are the enemy of the console player.
If you use your console in a particularly dusty area, say you have pets or you’re having a lot of building work done near you, you’ll find that your PS5 can get clogged up pretty quick.
If this happens, your PS5 can refuse to turn on to avoid instant overheating. You’ll need to, delicately I might add, clean your PS5 and see if that solves the problem.
You can check my How to clean your PS5 article for guidance.
If none of these solutions work, then you’ll need to take more drastic action…
How to replace your PS5?
If none of the above solutions work, then hard luck, your PS5 is dead. Better luck with your next console.
Nah, I’m just kidding. There’s still something you can do. But it’ll involve sending your stricken console back to Sony. If your PS5 is still under warranty, Sony will replace your console.
You can check Sony’s Playstation Hardware Support page to start the process of replacing your PS5.
Then you can choose the options given on the website and follow up to replace your PS5.
Warranty Policy For PS5?
The PS5 comes with a one-year warranty from the date of its initial purchase. You can also get an extended 90-day warranty beyond the initial year if you register your console.
You can refer to this official Playstation 5 Warranty article for further information.
Also, it might be worth it to look at insuring your PS5, just in case something goes wrong with it in the future. Because once that warranty ends, well, Sony’s not going to replace your console for free, let’s put it that way.