Gearfuse Technology, Science, Culture & More
PlayStation is a universal gaming console that almost every player is well versed in. However, what you don’t realize about this gaming console are the downsides. For example, if your PS4 has become extremely slow and laggy, it is a sign that there are potential hardware or software complications.
It is not a good sign, but the good news is that the problem can be fixed. If you send it over to Sony to analyze the issue and fix it, be assured that the same will take a few weeks to come back.
To bypass that issue, we have sorted all the reasons why your PS4 is so slow and what you can do to fix the issue.
Related : Why is My PS4 So Loud: Reason & How to Fix?
Reason Why is My PS4 So Slow at Downloading & Freezing
Slow loading issues aren’t always prevalent in your PS4, but once the problems start, they will persistently worsen over time. So, your first task is to identify the potential cause of the lag and delay.
Some of the most potent reasons are:
- Less or unavailable space in the hardware
- Dust and dirt accumulated inside the vents of the console
- Poor ventilation set-up in the PS4
- Lagging internet connectivity
- Corrupted PS4 database
- Outdated PS4 software
- Faulty hard disk
The issue could be a single from the above list or a combination of problems. Your work in rectifying the issues is to identify what is causing the issue in the first place.
How to Fix Slow PS4: 10 Actionable Fixes
Once you have identified the potential reason behind the lagging PS4, the next step is implementing the actionable fixes to revert the device into its prime self.
We have sorted the top 10 fixes that work effortlessly in fixing the lagging and overheating issues. Here’s what you need to know.
1. Turn Off Your PS4 and Restart
If you are a beginner with no technical knowledge about fixing the laggy PS4, your most straightforward fix is to turn off the PS4 and restart it. This is one of the most common troubleshooting practices. Even when you call customer care with the issue, they will ask you to restart the PS4 and see if it fixes the problem or not.
Also, if you leave your PS4 in the Rest Mode all day, restarting is very important to fix the software bug issues. Here’s what you have to do:
- Long press the PS4 button on the controller
- Tap on “Turn off PS4”
- Remove the power cables from the console and outlet
- Leave it aside for 10 minutes
- Replug everything and restart the PS4
2. Charge Your Controllers
The lagging issue with the PS4 is often due to the lacking charge in the controllers. If the controller has a low charge, we recommend you immediately charge the controllers before re-starting the game.
3. Check Your Hard Drive
Hard drive problems are quite prevalent with most PS4 gaming consoles. If you have the technical knowledge to assess the problem, we’d recommend unplugging the console and turning it around.
Open the console and take the hard drive. Your aim is to look for any damage or burnt smell from the hard drive. Also, if you notice unusual noises from the hard drive when the PS4 is switched on, that indicates a faulty hard drive.
The easiest fix for the hard drive issue is to format your hard drive.
4. Clean Your PS4 Gaming Console
PS4 is a very intricately designed gaming console, so keeping up with the maintenance is essential. If you don’t clean your gaming console now and then, it will lead to the eventual death of the gaming console.
Dust and dirt accumulation in the internal components in the gaming console will contribute to faulty performance issues over time. This might also lead to overheating, another common issue behind the lagging and buffering performance.
Look for all the open vents and clean them out. If you know how to open and put together a PS4, we recommend opening it and cleaning the internal components with a fan brush. Using compressed air can works the best in cleaning the console.
5. Give PS4 More Space for Ventilation
Overheating is the most common issue regarding slow and laggy performance. And one of the most significant contributors to overheating is lack of ventilation. So, working on sorting out the ventilation is crucial.
The biggest issue with ventilation is the placement. If you have placed the PS4 in a position where the wall or cabinets block the ventilation, it will contribute to overheating.
So, always place the PS4 in an open area with enough space around it to streamline the ventilation process. If the overheating persists, it can lead to connectivity complications, GPU thermal paste damage, etc. Finding immediate remedies for the issue is hence a necessity.
6. Free up Space on the Hard Drive
If your hard drive is filled to the brim with games, it will eventually catch up and lead to slow performance on the PS4. This is because the PS4 needs enough space in your hard drive to function optimally.
So, if your hard drive’s storage is 95% full, your task is to delete the games on the console you don’t play. Clear the cache and unnecessary files too. Your work is to delete everything unnecessary to free up as much space as possible.
Also, if your games are automatically updating themselves, that can lead to the hard drive running out of storage. See to that issue and implement an immediate fix for that too.
7. Rebuild Database on Your PS4
When your PS4 knows where the data is stored, it allows for faster performance. In addition, when the console can access the data proactively, it becomes easier for the device to work proficiently without lags.
Rebuilding the database also eliminates any corrupt database you had on the PS4, which is a benefit. You should do this every three months to maximize the efficiency of the console.
Also, if you aren’t that technically sound about the process, we’d recommend getting it done by a professional.
8. Check Your Internet Connection and Speed
Slow wifi connectivity could be why your PS4 is so slow. So, check the internet connectivity, and upload and download on another device. If you notice that the network speed is slow across all devices, that could be a potential reason why the PS4 is slow as well.
In that case, you can restart the router and then connect the console to the internet. If that doesn’t work, you can integrate a wifi signal booster to optimize the internet speed further.
9. Update Your PlayStation 4 System Software/Firmware
Much like your other electronic devices like laptops and smartphones, even your PS4 needs a software update now and then. If you don’t update the firmware, it will directly affect the efficiency and performance of the console over time.
Lack of updates might also affect the hardware and software of the device over time, something that no one wants to experience. So the best thing we’d recommend you do is to switch on the automatic software update.
10. Initialize PS4
If the software update and other fixes weren’t enough, the last fix is to initialize your PS4. This involves a complete reset of your PlayStation. Doing this will delete all the settings, games, and applications installed on the console. So, only proceed if you are willing to let that go.
However, if nothing is optimizing the console’s speed, this is your last resort. If possible, back up all the data to a pen drive or other device before you reset the PS4.
Also Read : 5 Reasons Why Won’t My PS4 Connect to the Internet/Wi-Fi & How to Fix It
Conclusion
The PS4 slowing down is a prevalent issue with this console. While it could be for multiple reasons, the primary one is a faulty hard drive. Since the issue affects the gaming performance, we’d recommend implementing these quick fixes to restore the efficiency of the games.
