Blinking Blue Light and Black Screen on PS5? How to Fix It
A Playstation PS5 gaming console controller system not booting properly is one of the scariest problems for any console owner. Unfortunately, since this issue pops up with the PlayStation 5 occasionally, you might eventually have to fix a PS5 that won’t boot to the home screen.
First, it’s important to explain the problem so you can confirm if it’s happening to you. The PlayStation 5 blinking blue light problem usually occurs when your PS5 has turned back on after a hard shutdown, like a system crash or loss of power.
Normally, when you turn your PS5 on, the lights on top of the system will turn blue, then change to white once the system has booted. If the console light stays flashing blue and won’t turn to white, it’s frozen. On your TV, you’ll see the PS logo for a few seconds, which will then disappear to show a black screen that never loads the home screen.
1. Reboot and Unplug Your Console
You should first fully shut down and reboot your system in case this is a temporary glitch. To power off your PS5, hold the Power button on the front of the system until you hear two beeps, then let go.
If you have the standard PS5, the Power button is closer to the bottom of the system. The PS5 Digital Edition only has one button, since there’s no disc slot.
Once the lights on your PS5 turn off, unplug the power cable and wait at least 60 seconds. Then reconnect the power cable and press the Power button on the system to start it again.
If you still see the blinking blue light after this, try unplugging your console while the lights are blinking. This results in a hard shutdown, but it’s one of Sony’s recommended steps for this issue.
As another preliminary step, wait some time while the blue light is flashing. Some people have reported the system fixing itself after roughly 20 minutes of waiting at the black screen.
2. Update the System Software in Safe Mode
If the above basic troubleshooting didn’t work, you’ll need to access Safe Mode on your PS5. This mode allows you to access advanced utilities to fix problems like the flashing light issue.
To enter Safe Mode, shut down your PS5 as discussed above. Press and hold the Power button on the console until you hear a second beep, then let go. When you see the prompt, connect a controller to the system using a USB cable and press the PS Button to use it.
You’ll then see a basic menu with several options. You may have to try all of them eventually, but you should start with the Update System Software entry. Select this, then choose Update Using Internet to check for and install the latest PS5 update.
