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Start by finding out where the connection fails: the PS4 may not see your Wi‑Fi network, may fail to obtain an IP address, may connect to the router but not the internet, or may reach the internet while failing to sign in to PlayStation Network (PSN). Run the PS4 connection test, then work through the matching fixes below—from restarting and reconnecting to checking DNS, router settings, and system software.
Find the stage where the connection fails
On the PS4, open Settings > Network > Test Internet Connection. Note the result for each item—not just the estimated download speed:
- Obtain IP Address: whether the console received a local address from the router.
- Internet Connection: whether it can reach the internet beyond the router.
- PlayStation Network Sign-In: whether PSN sign-in succeeds.
- NAT Type: information about how the console connects through the router; restrictions can affect some multiplayer features.
- Download and upload speed: estimates that can help identify a poor connection, but a low estimate by itself does not prove the connection is unusable.
If the test does not complete, note any error code. Sony’s PS4 error-code directory describes the failure stage and links to code-specific guidance; a code is a clue, not proof that one particular device is defective.
Rule out an outage or a home-network problem
Check whether a phone or computer can use the same Wi‑Fi network. If several devices are offline, check the modem or router status and your internet provider’s service page before changing PS4 settings. If internet access works elsewhere but PSN sign-in fails, check the live PlayStation Network status page. Sony also recommends checking service status for some server-connection errors: NP-40833-8 troubleshooting.
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Restart the PS4, modem, and router
Fully restart the console
- Hold the PS button and select Power > Turn Off PS4.
- Wait until the console is completely off, then turn it back on and run the connection test again.
Rest Mode is not the same as a full shutdown and restart. If the PS4 is frozen, shut it down before disconnecting its power.
Restart the network equipment
- Turn off the PS4, modem, and router. If you have a combined modem/router gateway, turn that off.
- Wait at least five minutes before restarting the router, as Sony recommends for several PS4 network errors.
- If the modem and router are separate, turn on the modem first and wait for its internet connection to return. Then turn on the router.
- Turn on the PS4 and test again.
A restart can clear temporary wireless, routing, or DHCP problems. It cannot restore a provider outage, repair faulty cabling, or fix failing equipment. Sony’s guidance for NW-31291-6 and NW-31204-0 also recommends restarting the router.
If the PS4 cannot see or join the Wi-Fi network
Reconnect and enter the password again
- Open Settings > Network > Set Up Internet Connection.
- Select Use Wi-Fi > Easy.
- Choose your home network, check that it is the intended network rather than a neighbor’s or guest network, and enter the password again.
- Run Test Internet Connection when prompted.
Check capitalization and special characters in the password. If your router broadcasts separate 2.4GHz and 5GHz network names, try each one. Which bands, Wi‑Fi modes, and security settings work depends on the PS4 model and router configuration, so do not assume every console supports every modern router option. Sony’s setup guidance also documents Set Up Manually for networks that do not appear, and WPS setup where supported: Set up an internet connection on PS4.
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- Temporarily move the PS4 closer to the router and test again.
- Keep the console in open air rather than inside an enclosed cabinet. Avoid placing the router behind a television, inside furniture, or near large metal objects.
- Try with fewer devices using the network and remove avoidable obstructions.
If Wi‑Fi works near the router but fails in the PS4’s usual location, coverage or interference is more likely than a PSN problem. Sony lists weak signal as a cause of NW-31291-6 and recommends moving the console and router closer together. A phone hotspot can be a temporary comparison test, but mobile latency, data limits, NAT restrictions, and carrier rules make it unsuitable as a guaranteed long-term fix. Public and hotel networks may also require a browser-based sign-in that the PS4 cannot complete reliably.
If the PS4 cannot obtain an IP address
An IP-address failure usually points to the connection between the PS4 and router, or to the router’s address assignment, rather than to PSN. Restart the network equipment, reconnect to the intended Wi‑Fi network, and test with Ethernet if possible. If other devices also fail to join the router, contact the router maker or your internet provider; if only the PS4 fails on multiple networks, continue with the software and support checks below.
Use Ethernet to separate Wi-Fi trouble from broader failure
- Connect an Ethernet cable from the router to the PS4’s LAN port.
- Go to Settings > Network > Set Up Internet Connection > Use a LAN Cable > Easy.
- Run Test Internet Connection.
- Ethernet works but Wi‑Fi fails: focus on wireless range, interference, router Wi‑Fi settings, or the PS4’s wireless hardware.
- Neither connection works, but other devices are online: check PSN status, PS4 software, DNS, and whether the problem follows the console to another known-good network.
- Other devices also fail: prioritize the modem, router, cabling, or provider.
Sony recommends trying a wired connection for some network errors, including NW-31204-0. Ethernet is especially useful as a diagnostic; it is not a required upgrade if Wi‑Fi is already stable.
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If Wi-Fi connects but internet access or DNS fails
If the PS4 joins Wi‑Fi but the internet test fails, check the provider’s status and router connection first. A DNS problem can also make a console appear connected to Wi‑Fi while it fails to reach online services: DNS translates website and service names into server addresses. Sony describes NW-31253-4 as a delayed or unstable DNS response and NW-31246-6 as invalid DNS settings in its PS4 error-code directory.
Try custom DNS only after basic checks, and treat it as a diagnostic—not a guaranteed speed or latency improvement:
- Open Settings > Network > Set Up Internet Connection, select Use Wi-Fi or Use a LAN Cable, then choose Custom.
- Use Automatic for IP Address Settings unless you have a specific network-management reason to set an address.
- Select Do Not Specify for DHCP Host Name unless your network requires another setting.
- Choose Manual for DNS only to test a different resolver. Enter the DNS addresses for a provider you choose; there is no single value established here as best for every region or connection.
- Leave MTU at Automatic and select Do Not Use for Proxy Server unless your network requires a proxy.
- Run the connection test. If changing DNS makes no difference, return the DNS setting to Automatic.
Sony’s NW-31253-4 guidance also recommends restarting the PS4 and router, checking for provider maintenance, and investigating blocked ports when relevant. DNS changes will not repair weak Wi‑Fi, an ISP outage, blocked PSN traffic, or defective hardware.
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If internet works but PSN, chat, or matchmaking fails
First check the live PSN status page and confirm the PS4 can reach the internet. If only online games, party chat, or other services are affected, look at NAT restrictions, router configuration, or double NAT. Double NAT can occur when an ISP gateway and a second router both perform routing; the right remedy depends on the home network, so ask the ISP or router manufacturer before changing bridge or access-point settings.
Sony lists these ports for certain PS4 connection problems: TCP 80, 443, 3478, 3479, 3480; UDP 3478, 3479. Some Sony error guidance also lists UDP 49152–65535 for particular cases. These are not first-line settings for a console that cannot join Wi‑Fi. Before considering port forwarding, test Ethernet, check router firmware and UPnP, and confirm the problem is specific to online services. Port-forwarding instructions vary by router, and opening ports changes how traffic can reach devices on your network; ask the router manufacturer or ISP for device-specific advice rather than opening broad ranges casually. See Sony’s guidance for NW-31204-0, NP-40833-8, and NW-31253-4.
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For recurring connection failures, check the router manufacturer’s official support page for firmware instructions. Match the exact model and hardware revision, especially if the router is ISP-supplied; the provider may control updates. Never interrupt a firmware installation. Sony recommends checking router firmware for some network errors, including NW-31204-0.
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Use the error code to choose the next check
| Symptom or code | What it points to | First useful check |
|---|---|---|
| Network does not appear | Wireless visibility, range, or router configuration | Move closer, restart the router, or use Set Up Manually. |
| NW-31291-6 | Weak Wi‑Fi signal | Improve placement and remove obstructions. |
| NW-31204-0 | General network connection failure | Test the connection, restart the router, try Ethernet, and check router firmware. |
| NW-31253-4 | Delayed or unstable DNS response | Restart the router, check provider status, then consider a DNS test. |
| NW-31295-0 | Weak Wi‑Fi signal | Improve signal and test closer to the router. |
| NW-31297-2 | Unable to connect to wireless network | Reconnect to Wi‑Fi and test another known-good network if available. |
| CE-39984-3 | IP address obtained, but internet unavailable | Check the router’s internet connection, provider status, and DNS. |
| CE-35239-2 | System software update required | Update PS4 system software. |
| NW-31205-1 | Unstable or weak connection to PSN | Check PSN status, improve signal, or test Ethernet. |
Descriptions are summarized from Sony’s PS4 error-code directory; consult the individual Sony page for the code shown on your console.
Update PS4 system software if online features still fail
Sony notes that PS4 online features require current system software. Try Settings > System Software Update first. If the console cannot update online, use another device to download the official update file and prepare a USB drive as Sony specifies: create the PS4/UPDATE folders, save the file as PS4UPDATE.PUP, then start Safe Mode by holding the power button and releasing it after the second beep. Select Update System Software > Update from USB Storage Device. Folder and file names must be correct and uppercase. Follow the current instructions on Sony’s PS4 support page.
Do not choose Reinstall System Software as a routine Wi‑Fi fix: reinstalling deletes PS4 data. Restore Default Settings and Rebuild Database are separate Safe Mode options with different purposes; neither should be treated as a universal network repair. Review Sony’s Safe Mode instructions before using them.
Know when to ask for help
- Contact your ISP if multiple devices cannot reach the internet, the modem reports a service problem, or the connection drops on both Ethernet and Wi‑Fi.
- Contact the router manufacturer or ISP for model-specific firmware, DHCP, double-NAT, or port configuration help.
- Contact PlayStation Support if the PS4 cannot connect on multiple known-good networks, other devices work normally, and the console remains unable to connect after the basic checks and software update.
A PS4 hardware fault becomes more plausible when both Ethernet and Wi‑Fi fail only on that console, or when it fails across multiple known-good networks. One failed Wi‑Fi attempt alone is not enough to diagnose a failed wireless adapter.
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