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NW-31204-0 means the console could not connect to the network. Sony documents this exact code as a PS4 error, not a current native PS5 code. On PS4, start by checking PlayStation Network status, run the built-in connection test, restart the console and network equipment, and compare Wi-Fi with Ethernet. If a PS5 displays similar wording, verify its exact code and use the PS5-specific troubleshooting path.
Official references: Sony’s NW-31204-0 page, the PS4 error-code directory, and the PlayStation error-code hub.
What NW-31204-0 means
Sony’s definition is simply: “There was an error connecting to the network.” It is a broad connection failure, not proof that one particular part is broken. Possible directions include a temporary PSN outage, an unavailable internet service, router or modem trouble, weak or interfered Wi-Fi, DHCP/IP-assignment problems, router filtering, ISP restrictions, or a console network-configuration issue.
The code alone cannot distinguish those causes. The connection test and a comparison with other devices provide the useful evidence.
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Is NW-31204-0 a PS4 or PS5 error?
The official code page and directory place NW-31204-0 under PS4. Sony’s current PS5 listings use different code families; they do not identify NW-31204-0 as a PS5-specific code. A PS5 owner should recheck the characters on screen and use the exact PS5 code’s support page if one is shown.
For a PS5, the general test is Settings > Network > Connection Status > Test Internet Connection. Sony’s PS5 support resources are at playstation.com/en-us/support/hardware/ps5/ and its PS5 error directory at playstation.com/en-us/support/error-codes/.
Quickest safe troubleshooting sequence
- Check the official PlayStation Network status page.
- Check whether another phone, computer, or streaming device on the same network reaches the internet.
- Run the console’s connection test.
- Restart the console.
- Power-cycle the modem and router, leaving them off for at least five minutes.
- Try a temporary wired Ethernet connection.
- Recreate the saved Wi-Fi connection if wireless remains the only failure.
- Only then investigate firmware, filtering, DNS, NAT, or port configuration.
This order avoids changing advanced settings while a service outage or simple Wi-Fi problem is still possible.
Run the correct connection test
PS4
Open Settings > Network > Test Internet Connection. Record whether the PS4 obtained an IP address, reached the internet, signed in to PlayStation Network, and what NAT type and download/upload results it reports when available.
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PS5
Open Settings > Network > Connection Status > Test Internet Connection. Record the same results and the exact error code. A failed line narrows the investigation but does not, by itself, identify the failed component.
Restart the console, modem, and router correctly
- Turn off the PS4 or PS5 completely.
- Turn off the modem and router.
- Leave both network devices powered off for at least five minutes, matching Sony’s PS4 instruction.
- Power on the modem and wait until its internet connection is restored.
- Power on the router and wait for Wi-Fi or LAN service.
- Start the console and run the connection test again.
This is a full power cycle, not merely pressing a router’s Wi-Fi button. It temporarily disconnects every device in the home but does not factory-reset the router.
If Wi-Fi is the differentiating factor
- Move the console closer to the main router and remove practical obstructions or nearby interference. Sony specifically recommends this for the PS4.
- If the router offers both bands, test its 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks. This is a diagnostic comparison, not a guaranteed cure: 2.4 GHz generally travels farther, while 5 GHz can be faster at short range.
- Avoid testing through an overloaded extender or mesh node when a direct router connection is available.
- On the console, delete or forget the saved wireless network and set it up again using the router’s normal automatic settings.
- Connect by Ethernet for a comparison test.
If Ethernet works while Wi-Fi fails, concentrate on signal strength, interference, band selection, mesh/extender behavior, or router wireless settings rather than replacing the console.
Use Ethernet as an isolation test
Connect the console directly to the router with a known-good LAN cable, then rerun the internet test. A successful wired test points toward wireless conditions or configuration. Failure over both Ethernet and Wi-Fi shifts attention to the router, ISP, PSN status, account sign-in, filtering, or the console’s network setup. Sony recommends trying a wired connection when possible.
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Recreate the network connection
Set up the connection again from the console’s network settings, initially choosing the normal automatic options supplied by the router. Do not guess a static IP address, gateway, subnet mask, MTU, proxy, or DNS value. If a managed network requires a fixed address, reserve that address in the router or obtain the values from its administrator.
Custom setup can be useful for a known DHCP, DNS, MTU, or proxy requirement, but Sony’s NW-31204-0 page does not prescribe a universal DNS or MTU value. Claims that one public DNS server always fixes this code are not established by Sony’s guidance.
Router firmware, filtering, and ports
Update firmware carefully
Sony recommends updating the router to its latest firmware and consulting the manufacturer for the model-specific procedure. Firmware can improve compatibility and stability, but some updates alter settings. Record the current configuration and download firmware only from the manufacturer or ISP.
Consider filtering and NAT
Parental controls, firewall rules, carrier-grade NAT, ISP filtering, and restrictive guest networks can prevent gaming traffic. Router menus differ by model, so use the manufacturer’s or ISP’s documentation rather than generic screenshots.
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Port forwarding is a last resort
Sony lists these ports on its PS4 NW-31204-0 page:
| Protocol | Ports |
|---|---|
| TCP | 80, 443, 3478, 3479, 3480 |
| UDP | 3478, 3479, 49152–65535 |
These are official PS4 guidance, not proof that the same code applies to PS5. Port forwarding is optional advanced work, not a default fix: it requires a stable local address, differs by router, can create maintenance and security complications, and may be impossible on hotel, school, workplace, or carrier-grade-NAT connections. Do not put the console in a DMZ as a casual shortcut.
Use the result to locate the fault
| Observed result | Most useful direction |
|---|---|
| Every device is offline | Modem, router, or ISP connection |
| Only the console’s Wi-Fi fails | Wireless signal, interference, band, mesh, or Wi-Fi configuration |
| Ethernet works but Wi-Fi fails | Wireless path rather than console hardware in general |
| Internet works but PSN sign-in fails | PSN status, account sign-in, NAT, filtering, or ISP restrictions |
| Only one game fails | Game publisher service, game update, or application data |
| Status page reports an incident | Wait for restoration instead of repeatedly changing router settings |
Check PSN and game services before changing settings
Visit status.playstation.com before making advanced changes. During an outage or maintenance window, local resets cannot repair Sony’s service; wait and try again later. If only one game is affected, check that publisher’s service page, update the game, restart it, and test another online game or PlayStation service.
A console that connects successfully but cannot use one application does not, by itself, indicate a defective console. Sony’s update guidance also recommends testing the connection, restarting the console, installing current system software, and checking or reinstalling the affected application: PlayStation system software and application version support.
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Captive portals and managed networks may require browser authentication or administrator approval. Gaming ports may be blocked, and port forwarding is generally unavailable. A phone hotspot can provide a short diagnostic comparison, but data limits, NAT restrictions, and unstable latency make it unsuitable as a guaranteed permanent gaming connection.
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When to contact support
- Contact your ISP or network administrator when other household devices are offline, the router cannot obtain service, firmware or filtering is involved, or a public/managed network blocks gaming traffic.
- Contact PlayStation Support when other devices work, Ethernet and Wi-Fi comparisons do not reveal a network-side cause, PSN is available, and the console repeatedly fails its test. Have the exact code, test results, NAT type, connection method, and steps already attempted ready.
Do not factory-reset the console or use Safe Mode merely because NW-31204-0 appears; those actions risk data or settings and are disproportionate unless separate evidence points to a broader system problem.
System and network settings worth recording
On PS4, system details are under Settings > System > System Information. On PS5, system updates are under Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings. Record software version, connection method, NAT type, and test results before changing router or custom network settings; this makes rollback and support diagnosis easier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is NW-31204-0 a PS5 error?
Sony currently documents NW-31204-0 under PS4. On PS5, verify the exact code shown and use the matching PS5 support page.
Does changing DNS fix this code?
It is an optional diagnostic for a known name-resolution problem, not a Sony-prescribed universal fix. Recreate the connection with automatic settings first.
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Should I open every listed port?
No. Port forwarding is an advanced, last-resort PS4 step that depends on the router, a stable local address, and network policy; it can add security and maintenance risks.
Why does Ethernet work when Wi-Fi does not?
That comparison points toward wireless signal, interference, band selection, mesh/extender behavior, or router Wi-Fi settings rather than a general loss of console networking.
Does the code prove my console is broken?
No. It only reports a network-connection error. PSN status, other devices, Ethernet, and the connection-test results are needed to separate service, network, and console causes.
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