The new era of video games is finally upon us, and PlayStation 5 is now (kinda) available to everyone. And the wait was worth it: the new console is significantly more powerful than its predecessor. It offers 4K and 3D sound, and a completely new UI, as well as an innovative controller.
Like any other console, the PS5 experienced a lot of problems at launch. Unpolished OS is a traditional weak link of almost any fresh console, and nothing changed this generation. For this reason, many users encountered nasty bugs almost immediately. We will try to collect in one article all the most common problems.
Read: Sony PlayStation 5 review: 4K Gaming and a Mind-Blowing Controller
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Each PS5 comes with a fresh DualSense controller. But no matter how much you press the button, it will not work without synchronization. In order to pair with the console, connect a USB-C cable to it (also included, or any from a smartphone) and connect it to the console. Click on the Home button (in the form of the PlayStation logo), and… the console will see it. That’s all, you can disconnect and hide the wire.
Doesn’t work anyway? Try charging your controller and try again later. No? Try updating it. Still doesn’t help? It looks like a defect.
If your controller turns off by itself, then this is most likely not a bug, but a feature. In the sense that this is how it should be – the PS5 is simply saving its power. To ensure that it never turns off, go to the power saving settings and set the value that suits you.
Settings – System – Power saving – Set Time Until Controllers Turn Off > Do not turn off
And if the controller turns off during the game, then it either has a low charge or problems with the battery. This shouldn’t happen. But before you sound the alarm, you need to try updating the controller firmware. If this does not help, you probably won’t fix anything by yourself.
Flickering is a common problem. But it is easy to solve.
Go to Settings, and then to the Screen & Video section. Then go to Video Output, and 4K Video Transfer rate.
Here you can configure the transmission of the image. If the screen flickers, try decreasing the value.
Did not help? Check your HDMI cable. Use the one included with your console, HDMI 2.1 or later. To check, you can reduce the resolution in the settings.
You can easily turn off PS5 notifications. Just go to Settings and find the notifications settings there. Here you can immediately see which notifications you need and which only interfere. Here’s a complete list of items:
You can stop looking. It’s not there. More precisely, it is hidden somewhere. And it even supports JS and everything else! How do you use it?
The sound function in the controller is very useful in some games like Sackboy: A Big Adventure. But if it’s not loud enough, that can be changed. Go to Settings, find Sound and then Volume.
In our observations, PS5 download speeds are much faster than the PS4. This applies to both wired and wireless connections. Still not satisfied with the speed? First, check the PSN service status. Everything is fine? Moving on.
My advice is not new, but I always recommend using wired connection. And it doesn’t matter if the system itself shows a low download speed, real downloads are always as fast as possible. It doesn’t hurt, of course, to check your own router. Try restarting it. If it is quite old, don’t expect lightning speeds, especially if many devices are connected to it. It wouldn’t hurt to take a closer look at modern routers with Wi-Fi 6+ support, like the Huawei WiFi AX3.
Some developers immediately began using all the new features of the DualSense controller. In particular, there are massively improved vibration motors and adaptive triggers. The latter are especially impressive in games like Astro’s Playroom, but they are not always welcome. For example, FIFA 21 players were outraged that the triggers were impossible to turn off in-game. This can only be done in the system settings. To do this, go to Settings – Accessories – Controllers – Trigger Effect Intensity.
The PlayStation 5 offers almost 100% compatibility with PS4 games, but your saves are still on your old console – or on the PS Plus cloud if you pay for the service. Still, you will have to take several steps. Unlike the Xbox Series X, this process is not automatic.
Data category | Extended storage | Cloud storage | USB drive |
Game data (PS5 games) | – | – | – |
Game data (PS4 games) | ✓ | – | – |
Saved data (PS5 games) | – | ✓ | – |
Saved data (PS4 games) | – | ✓ | ✓ |
Screenshots and videos | – | – | ✓ |
PS4 allowed backing up saves to both the cloud and removable media. But PS5 does not give such freedom: only the far from ideal cloud option remains. This means you need a PS Plus subscription. This may change in the future, but so far this is the only option.
PlayStation Plus benefits
PlayStation Plus has been around for a long time, but new players continue to get confused about it. We explain point by point how to get a free game:
Sometimes licenses need to be restored in order to regain access to digital content. For this:
Without internet the PS5 is helpless, so the first step is to set up a wired or wireless connection. With wired one, everything is simple: connect the cable to the Ethernet port on the back, then go to Settings > Network > Settings > Set Up Internet Connection > Set Up Wired LAN.
In order to set up a wireless connection (Wi-Fi), go Settings > Network > Settings > Set Up Internet Connection.
A list of possible access points will appear. Select the one you want and adjust the settings.
If your network supports WPS, select WPS option for an even easier and faster connection.
Doesn’t work anyway? Try restarting your router (wait a few minutes, then turn it back on) and reconfigure the connection. Warning: if the console finds the Internet, but refuses to connect to the PSN, then you most likely do not have the latest software installed. Go to Downloads and install the update there.
PlayStation’s refund policy is known to be much stricter than other services like Steam or EGS. But it is possible to return a game if you really want to.
To request a refund, fill out the form and select ‘Refund Request’ from the list under PlayStation Network and Account. Be sure to include your PSN Online ID, email address, date of birth, and the name of the game or content you want to return.
If you bought the physical edition, then contact the store. If it’s digital, then everything is simple: log in to the official website and make a request. After the purchase of the game is confirmed, you will get your money back.
If you receive an error message stating that your billing information has been “updated too often in a short period of time,” it means your account has been locked out for security reasons. You will have to wait exactly 24 hours before trying to update your billing information. Don’t try to do this earlier – or you will have to wait even longer.
Before sounding the alarm, check if your card is supported. Here is a list of supported payment methods:
Also make sure the region of your card matches the region of your PlayStation Store account. The American store require an American card.
Although the PlayStation 5 supports the use of USB media, you cannot transfer your PS5 games to it yet, but you can transfer your PS4 games. If you use removable media with your PS4, you can connect it to your PS5 and it will immediately recognise your installed games. Handy.
Expanded PS5 storage requirements
Several users have reported issues with various headsets. Depending on the situation, the headphones emit crackling and other unwanted sounds. Most likely, this is due to the operation of another device via Bluetooth. Consider what is connected nearby and turn off that device while you’re playing.
Go to Settings > Storage > Extended Storage. Then select Install PS4 games to extended storage.
If your console is not working as it should, it may be overheating. This almost always happens due to incorrect placement: due to the impressive dimensions of the console, many find it difficult to find a place for the PS5, and put it upside down, fit into tight spaces, etc. We strongly recommend that you only put your PS5 in a roomy space with enough space on all sides. And do not put anything on it or cover it with anything. You can also try to get rid of the dust inside.
Some games crash quite often. At best, the console just closes the title and shows the home screen. Sometimes, it turns itself off completely. At worst, it refuses to turn on. What to do?
As we know, PS5 is compatible with 99% of games from the previous console, but it happens that for some reason a game refuses to launch. Before you panic, remember if a particular game was purchased from a digital store or bought disc? Because even if you have a title in your library, it won’t start without a disk. Then (this will help in the case of PS5 games as well) go to Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Restore Licenses. Still not working? Check if the game is supported. A complete list of unsupported games can be found online. Also if once you downloaded the demo version, played it and forgot, it will display in your library just like the full version.
While the PlayStation 5 is still “young”, it gets a lot of these unpleasant errors without a reason. Like it often happens that some game just plain refuses to update. Why? “An error has occurred” is all we get. What can we do?
It is not so easy to answer this question, because the reasons can be different. But these methods often help:
Types of errors for the first two letters
This error is related to the previous point; it tells us that “something went wrong” with the file download. As a rule, it refers to updates. She does not have a clear solution, but there is a traditional fix: restarting the router, checking the server status, restarting the console, and so on. We advise you to refer to the previous point for other tips.
If you don’t have an camera that is sold with the PS5, then you can use a camera from the PS4. But for this you need a special adapter that Sony sends free of charge. To get it, contact the support service. Also try to set up your camera in a well-lit room.
All of these errors indicate problems with the server. Maybe something is wrong with your internet, or maybe something went wrong at Sony. Try restarting your router and check the status of the PSN service at this address.
This error occurs during a console update. In this case, try restarting your router and PS5. Did not help? Try to install the update in another way – for example, using a USB flash drive or even a disc with a fresh game.
This error appears when the user tries to open content that is prohibited by age restrictions. Check for any restrictions in your profile and try again.
You are entering incorrect information for your account. Make sure you haven’t mixed anything up.
These, of course, are not all the errors – there are a lot of them. If you cannot figure out something, write to us, and we will try to help. But before you panic and do something yourself, it is always best to contact support first.
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