After a long gaming session, it’s time to give your PlayStation console a well-deserved rest. But sometimes, the device simply refuses to shut down.
No matter how many times you hit the shutdown button nothing happens. What’s worse is that the physical shutdown button is not working either.
If you can’t turn off your PS4 console, here are some solutions to help you fix the problem.
How do I force shutdown my PS4?
If your PlayStation won’t turn off, try waiting for 30 minutes. You could also update your console’s software via Sony’s official website or hold down the power button for 10-20 seconds to force a shutdown.
Removing peripherals, inserting/removing a game disc, or gently tapping the console can potentially resolve the issue.
As a drastic measure, unplug the power cord, and once it’s back on, rebuild the database through Safe Mode.
Fix 1 – Wait for a few more minutes
If your console won’t shut down, be patient. Wait for about half an hour and then check if the issue persists.
Some gamers confirmed that they were able to turn off their consoles after waiting for a few minutes.
Fix 2 – Update your console
Running outdated PS4 system software versions may prevent you from properly shutting down the device.
Go to Sony’s official webpage and install the latest updates available for the console. This should fix the problem.
Fix 3 – Hold the power button for 10-20 seconds
Some gamers said that holding down the power button for at least 10 seconds fixed the problem allowing them to safely turn off the console.
In some cases, you may need to press the button for a few minutes for the console to completely shut down.
Fix 4 – Remove peripherals
Removing peripherals can sometimes help with troubleshooting a PlayStation console that won’t turn off.
If a peripheral device such as a controller, headset, or external hard drive is malfunctioning or has a poor connection, it could potentially cause issues with the console’s operation.
Fix 5 – Insert or remove the game disc
Inserting a disc or removing the one in your console may fix this issue.
Quite a large number of both console owners confirmed that this quick workaround helped them solve the problem.
Fix 6 – Give it a small tap
As weird as this piece of advice may seem, you should actually give it a try. Many PS4 owners confirmed that after gently hitting their console they were able to turn it off.
Once again, your PlayStation device is not your punching bag, so don’t hit it hard enough to risk breaking anything.
Fix 6 – Unplug the power cord and rebuild the database
Ideally, you should avoid unplugging the power cord as this action may damage your console.
However, if nothing else worked and you still can’t turn off the console, you’re pretty much running out of options.
- Turn off your PS4 console by unplugging the cord then plug it back in.
- Connect your controller using the USB cable.
- Now, press and hold the power button until you hear the second beep.
- Release the power button -> press the PS button on the controller.
- Access Safe Mode -> select Rebuild Database.
- The message ‘The database will be rebuilt, it might take a few hours to rebuild the database‘ will appear -> hit OK.
- Wait until your Database has been rebuilt.
- The sign-in screen will appear once the Database has been rebuilt.
We hope something helps!
Updated in June 2023.