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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →A full PS5 reset erases local users, games, saved data, screenshots, video clips, and settings, so back up anything you want to keep first. On a working console, go to Settings > System > System Software > Reset Options > Reset Your Console. If the PS5 will not start normally, use Safe Mode and choose Reset PS5; reinstall system software only when a deeper repair is needed.
Choose the right PS5 reset
“Reset” can mean anything from restarting the console to erasing it. Use the least destructive option that matches the problem. Sony’s US support instructions reviewed August 18, 2026 use the menu wording below; labels can vary slightly with software updates.
| Your goal | Use this option | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Recover from a temporary freeze | Turn off and restart the PS5 | Restarts the console without intentionally deleting data. |
| Undo changed audio, video, or other settings | Restore Default Settings | Restores settings without deleting games, apps, captures, or saved data. Sony’s explanation of reset options. |
| Address a storage or content-index issue | Safe Mode > Repair Console Storage or Clear Cache and Rebuild Database | Repair Console Storage does not erase data. Rebuild Database scans the drive and creates a new content database; it may help with some system-feature issues or a deleted game icon that remains on the Home screen. Sony’s Safe Mode options. |
| Erase the console before selling, returning, or giving it away | Reset Your Console in Settings, or Reset PS5 in Safe Mode | Deletes user data and returns the console to its initial setup state. |
| Repair a severe system-software problem | Safe Mode > Reset PS5 (Reinstall System Software) | Erases user data and removes then reinstalls the PS5 system software using a USB drive. |
For a blank screen, try Safe Mode’s Change Video Output before erasing the console. If only one game or app is malfunctioning, deleting and reinstalling that title is usually a more targeted step than wiping the PS5. Sony lists these options separately in its Safe Mode guide and system-software troubleshooting guidance.
Back up important data before resetting
A factory reset cannot be undone. Sony’s USB backup tool can include games and apps, saved data, screenshots and video clips, and settings. To create one, connect a compatible USB drive formatted as FAT32 or exFAT, then go to Settings > System > System Software > Back Up and Restore > Back Up Your PS5. Not every USB device works, and a drive formatted as PS5 extended storage cannot be used for this console backup. See Sony’s backup and restore instructions.
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- Sync trophies separately. Trophies are not included in a USB backup.
- Check cloud saves. Cloud storage depends on your subscription and whether the saves have actually synchronized; verify before erasing local copies.
- Account for extra storage. Games and apps on extended USB storage or an M.2 SSD are not included in the console backup.
- Know the restore trade-offs. Restoring a backup erases data already on the destination console. To restore on another console, sign in with the same PlayStation account used for the backup; its system software must be the same version or newer than the version used when the backup was made. Restore also disables Console Sharing and Offline Play, which you can enable again if needed.
To restore a USB backup later, use Settings > System > System Software > Back Up and Restore > Restore Your PS5. Sony documents the restore conditions on its backup page.
Factory-reset a working PS5 from Settings
- Turn on the PS5 and open Settings using the gear icon in the upper-right corner of the Home screen.
- Choose System > System Software > Reset Options.
- Select Reset Your Console.
- Review the warning and confirm. Do not turn off or unplug the console while it erases data.
- Wait for the PS5 to restart and reach the initial setup screen. If transferring or selling it, leave it there rather than signing back into your account.
This is Sony’s current US Settings path for a full reset: Settings > System > System Software > Reset Options. The broad path remains useful if a label changes in a future system update.
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Reset a PS5 that will not start normally
Safe Mode provides recovery tools when the console cannot boot as usual. The controller must be connected by USB for the initial interaction.
- With the PS5 on, hold the power button for about three seconds until it shuts down.
- After it is fully off, press and hold the power button again. Release it after the second beep, which sounds about seven seconds after the first.
- Connect the DualSense controller to the console with a USB cable, then press the controller’s PS button.
- Select Reset PS5 for a factory reset, or Reset PS5 (Reinstall System Software) if system software must be removed and reinstalled.
Both reset choices erase user data. Use the reinstall option only after less destructive recovery steps fail or Sony’s troubleshooting directs you to it. See Sony’s Safe Mode instructions.
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Reinstall PS5 system software from USB
Reinstallation is a deeper recovery operation, not the routine choice for a slow or glitchy console. It requires a computer and a compatible USB drive with about 1.2 GB of free space for Sony’s reinstallation file. Use the official file from Sony’s PS5 system-software page, not an ordinary update file or a third-party download.
- Format the USB drive as FAT32 or exFAT.
- Create a folder named
PS5on the drive, then create anUPDATEfolder inside it. The resulting path isPS5/UPDATE/. - Download Sony’s PS5 reinstallation file and save it in the
UPDATEfolder asPS5UPDATE.PUP. - Connect the USB drive directly to the PS5 and start the console in Safe Mode using the power-button sequence above.
- Choose Reset PS5 (Reinstall System Software) and follow the on-screen prompts. Do not interrupt installation; Sony warns that an interruption can damage the console or keep it from operating properly.
If Safe Mode does not recognize the file, check that the drive is FAT32 or exFAT, the folders and filename use the exact uppercase spelling above, the reinstallation file—not the standard update file—is in PS5/UPDATE/, and the drive is connected directly to the console. Sony’s system-software instructions give the official download and file requirements.
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What a full reset deletes—and what it does not
A full reset removes user profiles and data stored on the console, including local games and apps, saves, captures, and personalized settings. Digital purchases remain associated with the PlayStation account that bought them; after signing in again, eligible games can be downloaded again. The reset does not delete the PlayStation account itself. Sony describes the loss of user and game data in its reset guidance.
Content stored separately on an external USB drive or M.2 SSD is not the same as the PS5’s internal console data. Handle those drives separately before a sale or transfer, and do not assume their contents are part of a USB console backup.
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Before selling or returning your PS5
- Sync trophies and verify that saved data and captures you want to keep are backed up.
- Remove any disc and disconnect USB accessories and storage devices.
- Run Reset Your Console and wait for the full process to finish.
- Leave the console at the initial setup screen; do not sign back into your account.
If the reset or recovery does not solve the problem
A reset cannot repair a failing drive, overheating, a power fault, a damaged HDMI port, or other hardware damage. If Safe Mode will not start, turn the console fully off, check power, HDMI, and USB connections, then retry with a data-capable USB cable for the controller; another cable or USB port may help. If the system update repeatedly fails, first retry the download from Downloads/Uploads > View Error Info > Try Again; Sony also provides update instructions for USB. Avoid jumping to reinstallation unless ordinary recovery fails. Persistent faults or installation failures may require Sony repair and support.
If you need to check the installed software version before troubleshooting, the path is Settings > System > System Software > Console Information. Sony’s version-check instructions explain where to find it.
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