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To factory reset a PS5, open Settings > System > System Software > Reset Options > Reset Your Console and follow the prompts. This deletes data stored on the console, so back up anything you want to keep first. If you can’t reach Settings, use Safe Mode and choose Reset PS5. Choose Reset PS5 (Reinstall System Software) only when you need to remove and reinstall the system software; it erases data too.
Choose the right PS5 reset option
“Hard reset” can mean different things. On PS5, the exact option names matter: some restore settings or troubleshoot a narrower issue, while others erase user data. Sony’s instructions below are from PlayStation Support, accessed October 8, 2026; menu names and procedures may change.
| Option | What it does | Erases console data? | Removes system software? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restore Default Settings | Returns affected console settings to their defaults. | No. Games, apps, screenshots, video clips, and saved data remain on the console. | No. Sony’s restore-default-settings guide. |
| Reset PS5 or Reset Your Console | Restores the console to its original state. | Yes. It deletes user data. | No. Sony’s Safe Mode guide. |
| Reset PS5 (Reinstall System Software) | Removes the system software so it can be reinstalled. | Yes. It deletes user data. | Yes. Sony describes this as a last troubleshooting step. Sony’s reinstallation guide. |
| Repair Console Storage | Checks and repairs console storage; Sony says it does not erase data. | No. | No. Sony’s Safe Mode guide. |
| Clear Cache and Rebuild Database | Offers narrower troubleshooting for specified system-feature, performance, storage-database, or stale-icon problems. | Not stated by Sony’s guide for these options; consult the current on-screen description before proceeding. | No. |
Use Restore Default Settings if you want to undo affected settings without wiping console content. For a factory reset, use Reset Your Console or Safe Mode’s Reset PS5. The reinstall option is more destructive and is not required for an ordinary reset.
Reset from Settings when the PS5 starts normally
- From the PS5 home screen, open Settings > System > System Software > Reset Options > Reset Your Console.
- Review the on-screen information and follow the prompts to reset.
Back up any data you need before starting. Sony warns that resetting deletes data on console storage and treats the action as irreversible. See Sony’s PS5 support and error-code page for its reset guidance.
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Use Safe Mode if you can’t reach Settings
- Turn off the PS5 by holding the power button for three seconds. Wait until the power indicator stops blinking and turns off.
- Hold the power button again. Release it after the second beep; Sony says the second beep sounds about seven seconds after the first.
- Connect the controller to the console with a USB cable, then press the PS button.
- Select Reset PS5 to delete user data and restore the console to its original state. Select Reset PS5 (Reinstall System Software) only if you intend to erase user data and remove the system software.
These Safe Mode options erase user data. If you only need to address a specific storage or performance problem, review the less destructive Safe Mode choices before selecting either reset. Follow Sony’s current Safe Mode instructions if you need help entering the menu or interpreting an option.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Reinstall system software using a USB drive
This manual route is for Reset PS5 (Reinstall System Software), not the ordinary Settings reset. Sony recommends reinstallation only as a last troubleshooting step because it deletes all data. You need a PC or Mac and a USB drive formatted as FAT32 or exFAT.
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- On the USB drive, create a folder named PS5, then create a folder named UPDATE inside it. The resulting path should be PS5/UPDATE.
- Download Sony’s current reinstallation file and save it in the UPDATE folder as PS5UPDATE.PUP. Use the reinstallation file—not a different system-software update file—and verify the current download on Sony’s reinstallation page.
- Connect the USB drive to the PS5 and start Safe Mode using the steps above.
- Select Reset PS5 (Reinstall System Software) and follow the on-screen instructions.
The USB drive is needed only for this manual reinstall procedure; it is not part of a standard reset from Settings. If Safe Mode will not start, Sony advises checking the power connection and cables and following its Safe Mode troubleshooting guidance. If reinstallation fails, the console may need repair through Sony’s support route linked from that same page.
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Before you confirm a reset
- Back up content you want to keep before using Reset Your Console or either Safe Mode reset; these actions delete user data from the console.
- Choose Restore Default Settings, Repair Console Storage, or an appropriate cache/database option when its narrower effect matches the problem.
- Do not prepare a USB drive for an ordinary Settings reset. It is needed for the manual system-software reinstall route only.
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