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Blinking Blue Light and Black Screen on PS5? How to Fix It

Blinking Blue Light and Black Screen on PS5? How to Fix It

by | Sep 15, 2024 | Gamin Console Repair, PS5 Repair

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.

Playstation PS5 Gaming Console Blinking Blue light error</p> <p>

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.

Playstation PS5 Gaming Console Blinking Blue light error

If your system isn’t connected to the internet, you’ll need to choose Update from USB Drive and follow our PlayStation 5 Update Guide to install the file manually.

In our case, this system update fixed the problem, which is a painless solution. If your PS5 still won’t boot properly after an update, continue onto the other Safe Mode options.

3. Clear the Cache and Rebuild the Database

The next step is to perform some system maintenance that doesn’t delete any of your data. Boot back into Safe Mode and connect your controller, then choose the Clear Cache and Rebuild Database option this time. On the resulting menu, select Clear System Software Cache.

This won’t delete any saved games or data, but it will reset your home screen layout to the default, so you’ll have to launch games from your library again. Your PS5 will also check for updates for games you haven’t launched in a while after this process runs.

Try to boot again after performing this step. If it continues to get stuck, open the Clear Cache and Rebuild Database menu again and choose Rebuild Database. Similar to the operation that can keep your PS4 running at its best, this utility reorganizes the data on your storage drive so the console can access it more efficiently.

This won’t delete any saved games or data, but it will reset your home screen layout to the default, so you’ll have to launch games from your library again. Your PS5 will also check for updates for games you haven’t launched in a while after this process runs.

The system warns this could take a few hours, but thanks to the PS5’s speedy SSD, it shouldn’t take too long. Try to boot up your system normally after the database rebuild completes.

4. Change Video Output Options

Changing your PS5’s visual output is the final step you can take that doesn’t result in you losing personal data. Back in Safe Mode, choose Change Video Output. There are two options here: Change Resolution and Change HDCP Mode.

HDCP is an anti-piracy measure. Try choosing the opposite setting of what is selected in that menu (you’ll likely select HDCP 1.4 Only), then attempt to boot your PS5 again. In case this doesn’t have an effect, choose Change Resolution. If it’s not already on Automatic, try that. Otherwise, choose a lower resolution like 720p and see if that works.

In case one of these toggles fixes the blinking light problem, once back to normal, you should head to Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output > Resolution to make sure you’re enjoying the highest resolution that your TV supports. Changing HDCP shouldn’t have much of an effect, but you might want to set it back to Automatic if you experience any picture issues later.

5. Reset Your PS5

At this point, you’ve tried all the non-invasive troubleshooting methods. Unfortunately, the next potential fix is resetting your PS5 (and potentially reinstalling the system software). This is a factory reset, meaning you’ll lose all your installed games, save data, and captures. To perform this, enter Safe Mode again and choose Reset PS5, which will reset everything to default.

If this doesn’t solve your problem, run Reset PS5 (Reinstall System Software) next. Follow PlayStation Support’s steps to load the latest system software on a USB drive, which is necessary for the process. Doing so will reinstall the OS on your PS5, so it might take some time.

Once either resetting process completes, your PS5 should boot normally and you’ll have to walk through the initial setup steps again.

6. Contact PC Expert Services

If reinstalling the system software didn’t fix your PS5’s blinking blue light, you have a hardware issue and will need to dropoff your system to PC Expert Services. Visit https://pcexpertservices.com/computer-repair-drop-off-form/ to set up a repair for your console. We have dropoff locations in Irvine and Foothill Ranch.

How to Avoid the Blinking Light PS5 Error in the Future

The PS5 blinking blue light and black screen issue seems to happen when the system boots up after a crash. Unfortunately, this can happen when you put your PS5 into Rest Mode. While inconvenient, since your PS5 can do a lot while in Rest Mode, the best way to prevent this issue from happening again is to stop using Rest Mode—at least for a time.

When you’re done using your PS5, hit the PS Button, then to go Power > Turn Off PS5 to shut it down. To avoid your system going into Rest Mode after a period of inactivity, visit Settings > System > Power Saving > Set Time Until PS5 Enters Rest Mode and choose Don’t Put in Rest Mode for both fields.

SONY PlayStation PS5 Gaming Console Teardown

SONY PlayStation PS5 Gaming Console Teardown

by | Oct 8, 2021 | Gaming, News, Sony PS5

SONY PlayStation PS5 Gaming Console Teardown

Unlike Microsoft’s consoles, both PS5 models have the same hardware. The only difference is that the $400 “Digital Edition” doesn’t have a disc drive of any kind. These days, I tend to download all of my games, but I still like having a disc drive around for playing used titles or my handful of PS4 discs. But if you’re not so nostalgic about physical media, it makes sense to get the Digital Edition and save that extra $100 for an extra SSD down the line.

Compared to the Xbox Series X, the PS5 stands out with a far stronger launch lineup and a more innovative controller. But Sony has always been better at nabbing enticing exclusives. And, of course, it has the rights to popular characters like Spider-Man. But if you’re more interested in a wide variety of games, as opposed to big budget exclusives, Microsoft may have the leg-up with its GamePass subscription service. That gives you access to a rotating library of titles, all of Microsoft’s first-party games, as well as games from EA Play and eventually Bethesda, all for a single monthly fee. That’s something Sony is trying to imitate with its PS Plus Collection free games, which now gives you access to popular PlayStation titles for free. But while those games are great, they include plenty of titles like God of War and Uncharted 4 that many PlayStation fans likely own already.

With the PS5, Sony has managed to deliver a truly next-generation console, even if it went a bit overboard on the design. Its controller is genuinely innovative, and it actually has a bunch of new games you’ll want to play. But I won’t say that Sony has won the next-gen war just yet — maybe just the launch battle. Microsoft remains a strong competitor, especially with Game Pass, xCloud streaming and Bethesda under its wing. But in the end, it doesn’t even matter if there’s actually a decisive winner — just be happy you’ve got two solid consoles to choose from that can take on gaming PCs.

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Sony PlayStation 5’s Controller

Sony PlayStation 5’s Controller

by | Apr 12, 2020 | Gaming, News

Here’s What the Sony PlayStation 5’s Controller Will Look Like

Read in PCMAG News Spotlight: https://www.pcmag.com/news/heres-what-the-sony-playstation-5s-controller-will-look-like

The upcoming ‘DualSense’ controller promises to offer improved haptic feedback to make you feel like you’re inside the game. The base controller also drops the single color scheme for two.

The company gave the public its first look at the “DualSense” wireless gamepad, which Sony has started shipping to developers so they can begin customizing their games around it. 

The new look features two colors instead of a single color scheme. The controller also retains the same layout as the DualShock 4 model, but it’s been outfitted with a curvier shell case. (Some might even say it looks a bit like the controller for the rival Xbox Series X.)

Sony is calling the gamepad DualSense due to the improved haptic feedback, which can shake the controller at varying degrees of intensity to make you feel like you’re experiencing the gameplay in real life. To immerse you even more, the company has now placed “adaptive triggers” into the L2 and R2 buttons, “so you can truly feel the tension of your actions, like when drawing a bow to shoot an arrow,” Nishino said.

“Based on our discussions with developers, we concluded that the sense of touch within gameplay, much like audio, hasn’t been a big focus for many games,” he added. 

The potential downside of adding more haptic feedback is how it can drain the controller’s battery. However, Sony is indicating it was able to add the new features to the DualSense gamepad without diminishing the rechargeable battery life or loading too much added weight on to the device.