PS4 error NW-31297-2 means the console cannot connect to the selected Wi-Fi network. It does not prove the password is wrong: Sony lists both an incorrectly configured Wi-Fi password and a busy wireless network as possible causes. First reconnect using Easy setup and restart the network equipment; if that fails, use a hotspot or Ethernet test to narrow down whether the problem is the PS4 or the home router.
What NW-31297-2 means
Sony describes NW-31297-2 as an inability to connect to a wireless network. The message about a WPA password is a clue, not a definitive diagnosis. A saved password or network profile may be stale, or the wireless network may be busy or temporarily refusing connections. Signal interference, router access controls, incompatible wireless settings, or a failing PS4 Wi-Fi radio are also possibilities to investigate if the basic fix does not work.
This is different from reaching Wi-Fi but being unable to sign in to PlayStation Network (PSN). If the console joins Wi-Fi but online services are unavailable, check the PlayStation Network Service Status. If only one game has an online problem, investigate that game’s service rather than treating it as a Wi-Fi connection failure.
Try these safe fixes first
1. Check service status, then restart the equipment
Check PSN status before changing settings. Then fully shut down the PS4; do not unplug it while it is in Rest Mode or writing data. Unplug the modem and router, wait several minutes, reconnect the modem first, and allow it to reconnect to the internet. Plug in the router and wait until its Wi-Fi is available, then start the PS4. This general power cycle can clear temporary router or connection state; it is not a special Sony command for this code.
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2. Re-enter the Wi-Fi details
Sony’s first recommended step is to configure the wireless connection again. On the PS4 home screen, follow Settings > Network > Set Up Internet Connection > Use Wi-Fi > Easy, select the intended network, and enter its password manually. Run Test Internet Connection when prompted. Menu wording can vary slightly by system software, language, or region. Sony’s internet connection setup guide also describes manual setup if the network does not appear.
- Check that the selected network name (SSID) is the one you intend to use.
- Match uppercase and lowercase letters, and check lookalike characters such as 0 and O or 1 and l.
- If you recently changed the Wi-Fi password, configure the connection again so the PS4 does not rely on old saved details.
3. Reduce congestion and improve signal
Sony says a busy wireless network can cause this error. Pause large downloads or streams, temporarily disconnect devices that do not need Wi-Fi, and retry the connection test. If the problem occurs only at busy times, try again when fewer devices are using the network. Move the PS4 closer to the router and remove major obstructions where practical; Sony’s PS4 support guidance also recommends reducing distance and obstructions for wireless problems. These steps address congestion or signal conditions, not an incorrect password or incompatible security mode.
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If the password is correct, isolate the problem
Test a phone hotspot
Temporarily try connecting the PS4 to a phone hotspot. This is a diagnostic test, not a guaranteed fix. If the PS4 connects to the hotspot but not the home Wi-Fi, the home router, its settings, or the signal path is the likelier place to investigate. If it fails on both, look at the PS4’s saved network settings, system software, or wireless hardware. A hotspot can use mobile data and may not be suitable for game downloads or system updates.
Test Ethernet
If you can connect a LAN cable, follow Settings > Network > Set Up Internet Connection > Use a LAN Cable > Easy, then run Test Internet Connection. Sony documents this wired setup in its internet connection guide. If Ethernet works while Wi-Fi does not, the internet service and basic PS4 networking are functioning; focus next on wireless signal, router Wi-Fi settings, or the console’s Wi-Fi hardware. Sony’s PS4 Quick Start Guide favors a LAN connection for stability.
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Compare Wi-Fi bands or networks
If your router offers separate 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz network names, try the other SSID. If both bands share one name, temporarily separating them in the router settings may help identify a band-specific signal or compatibility issue. Available behavior varies by PS4 model and router, so do not assume every model supports every newer Wi-Fi configuration.
Router settings to check after the basic tests
Make router changes only after re-entering the connection details and testing another network or Ethernet where possible. Router menus and labels differ by manufacturer; consult its instructions rather than following a universal path.
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- Wireless security: Sony’s connection guide lists WPA, WPA2, and WEP for PS4. Prefer a modern mode compatible with the PS4 and other household devices. If the router is set to WPA3-only or a restrictive compatibility mode, try a compatible mixed or older-client mode as directed by the router maker. Do not switch to WEP as a routine workaround; it is outdated and weak.
- Access controls: Check whether MAC filtering, parental controls, access schedules, or a device limit is blocking the console. Review the router’s connected-device and access-control settings rather than disabling security permanently.
- Guest network: As a diagnostic, try a secured guest SSID. If it works while the primary SSID does not, primary-network access controls, band steering, or security settings may be involved. Guest networks can isolate devices from each other, so a successful test does not necessarily make that network the best permanent choice.
- IPv4-only configurations: Sony’s current guide warns that its consoles do not support an IPv6-only network and advises using IPv4 if the router is configured that way. The warning appears in the PS5 portion of the guide, so treat this as an edge-case check for unusual router configurations, not a likely explanation for every PS4 instance of NW-31297-2.
Custom setup is not automatically better for this error. In Settings > Network > Set Up Internet Connection, leave IP Address Settings, DNS Settings, and MTU Settings on Automatic, DHCP Host Name on Do Not Specify, and Proxy Server on Do Not Use unless your network administrator or ISP has given you specific values. DNS affects name lookups after the console has joined the network; changing DNS is not a first-line remedy for failure to connect to Wi-Fi. Port forwarding and UPnP are also generally relevant to NAT or multiplayer issues after connection, not this initial wireless failure.
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These outcomes point toward likely areas to investigate; they are not guaranteed diagnoses.
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| Test result | Likely direction |
|---|---|
| PS4 connects after the password is re-entered | Saved password or network profile |
| PS4 connects when other devices stop using Wi-Fi | Wireless congestion or router capacity |
| PS4 connects to a hotspot but not home Wi-Fi | Home router settings, access controls, or signal |
| PS4 connects by Ethernet but not Wi-Fi | Wireless signal, router Wi-Fi settings, or PS4 Wi-Fi hardware |
| PS4 fails on home Wi-Fi and a hotspot | Console settings, system software, or hardware |
| Other household devices also fail to connect | Router, modem, ISP, or service outage |
| PS4 joins Wi-Fi but cannot reach PSN | PSN status, account, DNS, or internet-service issue |
Restore PS4 settings without deleting games or saves
If reconnection, a restart, and network isolation tests do not help, Sony’s Restore Default Settings option is a later console-side step. From the home screen, go to Settings > Initialization > Restore Default Settings and select Restore. Sony says this resets affected system settings without deleting games, apps, screenshots, video clips, or saved data.
Do not confuse this with Initialize PS4 or Initialize PS4 (Reinstall System Software). Sony says both initialization options delete user data; reinstalling also removes and reinstalls system software. Do not use either as a routine fix for NW-31297-2.
When an update or Safe Mode is relevant
A system software update is worth considering if the PS4 has been offline for a long time, an earlier update failed, or other system features are also malfunctioning. If Wi-Fi is unavailable, update through Ethernet, another network, or Sony’s USB method described in its PS4 system software instructions. The manual USB procedure requires a FAT32- or exFAT-formatted drive, a PS4 folder with an UPDATE subfolder, and the official file named PS4UPDATE.PUP. Use Sony’s file and instructions only: reinstalling system software is destructive and deletes console data, unlike a normal update intended to update the software.
Safe Mode is not required for the usual Wi-Fi steps. To enter it, turn off the PS4 by holding the power button for about three seconds. Press and hold it again; release after the second beep, about seven seconds after the first. Connect the controller with a USB cable and press the PS button. Sony documents these steps and the options in its Safe Mode guide. Do not choose initialization for this connection error. Rebuild Database is not a primary wireless-authentication fix; Sony describes it for system-feature or content-database problems.
Quick Recap
When to contact PlayStation, your router maker, or your ISP
- Contact your router manufacturer or ISP if multiple devices cannot connect, the router is unstable, or only the home network blocks the PS4 despite a working hotspot test.
- Contact PlayStation Support or use its PS4 support and Repairs resources if the console fails on multiple known-good Wi-Fi networks, or Wi-Fi remains unavailable after non-destructive settings troubleshooting and an update.
- Seek hardware diagnosis if the PS4 repeatedly loses all nearby wireless networks while other devices remain connected, especially after physical damage, liquid exposure, overheating, or repair work.
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