Troubleshooting

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• 4K at 120 Hz on Xbox Series X: requirements and setup

  Updated6 October 2026 Guides, Troubleshooting

  4K at 120 Hz needs a Series X, an HDMI 2.1 TV and an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable. Set 4K UHD and 120 Hz in TV & display options; AV receivers are a common weak link.

• DualSense not pairing or connecting to PS5

  Updated4 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Pair over a data USB cable, unplug the cable before wireless pairing, reset the controller with the button on the back (5 seconds), and update system software.

• How to eject a stuck disc from a PS5

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Turn the PS5 off, unplug it, remove the cover, then turn the eject screw clockwise with a #1 Phillips screwdriver until the disc is almost fully out.

• How to reset a PS5 or PS4 controller

  Updated6 October 2026 Guides, Troubleshooting

  Every PlayStation controller has a reset button in a small hole on the back. Turn off the console, unplug the cable, hold the button for at least five seconds with a pin, then reconnect by USB.

• Joy-Con 2 not recognised or disconnecting: fixes

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Update and restart the Switch 2, reset each Joy-Con 2 with SYNC and reattach. Dropouts when docked often come from a non-Ultra High Speed HDMI cable or a weak adapter.

• Joy-Con drift: sticks moving on their own or not responding

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Reset remapped inputs, update system and controller firmware, remove skins and calibrate. If calibration fails, only the Joy-Con needs servicing — not the console.

• Joy-Con won’t turn on or charge: fixes

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Joy-Con only charge on a console that’s plugged in and on or asleep. Reset them with the SYNC button, reattach them, and test the Charging Grip. A full charge takes about 3.5 hours.

• Nintendo Switch 2 game card not read: fixes

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Remove the card, restart, check it’s a supported card inserted label-forward, update the system and the game, and wipe a single problem card dry. Several failing cards point to the console.

• Nintendo Switch 2 no picture on TV: dock, cable and adapter fixes

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  TV mode needs the Switch 2 adapter (or 54 W+) and an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable; the original Switch adapter, dock and cable won’t work. Also check heat, VRR and the dock fan.

• Nintendo Switch 2 won’t charge (or stops at 90%): fixes

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Check the ‘Stop battery charging at approximately 90%’ setting first. Then reset the adapter, force a shutdown, try both USB-C ports and an adapter of at least 54 W.

• Nintendo Switch 2 won’t turn on: black screen fixes

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Unplug the adapter for 30 seconds, hold POWER for 20 seconds, then charge 15–30 minutes. Try both USB-C ports and an NGN-01 or 54 W adapter.

• Nintendo Switch dock shows no picture on the TV: fixes

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Test the console in handheld mode first, then check the adapter, HDMI cable and dock, connect straight to the TV, and try another input, port, cable, TV and dock.

• Nintendo Switch game card error: card not read or nothing inserted

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Check the card is a Switch card inserted label-up, restart, reinsert it, update the system and the game, and wipe a single failing card dry. Whether one card or several fail decides what gets serviced.

• Nintendo Switch not recognising the microSD card: fixes

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Turn the Switch off before handling the card, check the slot for dirt, confirm the card type (microSD, SDHC or SDXC up to 2 TB), update for SDXC, then format the card.

• Nintendo Switch Pro Controller won’t pair: fixes

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Update and restart the console, check the controller reads HAC-013, then pair it over its USB cable in the dock. On Switch Lite, pair through Change Grip and Order.

• Nintendo Switch won’t charge: how to fix it

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Reset the adapter (unplug 30 s), force a shutdown (POWER 20 s), try another outlet, and charge an empty battery for 30 minutes. Then test the adapter on another device.

• Nintendo Switch won’t turn on: black screen and sleep mode fixes

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Unplug the adapter for 30 seconds, hold POWER for 20 seconds to force a shutdown, then charge for 15–30 minutes if only a battery icon appears. Check the HAC-002 adapter.

• PS3 yellow light then flashing red (YLOD): what it means

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  A PS3 that turns green, then yellow, then flashes red has a hardware failure, known as the yellow light of death. How it differs from overheating, and what repairs owners report.

• PS5 120 Hz: settings, TV and cable requirements

  Updated6 October 2026 Guides, Troubleshooting

  Turn on 120 Hz Output in Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output; the TV and the game must support 120 Hz. For 4K 120 Hz, Sony’s checklist covers the HDMI 2.1 port, the cable and receivers.

• PS5 and PS4 controller stick drift: how to fix it

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Reset the controller with the button on the back and update the system software. If the stick still drifts, Sony’s route is PlayStation Repairs; on a DualSense Edge you can swap the stick module.

• PS5 and PS4 Safe Mode: how to start it and what each option does

  Updated6 October 2026 Guides, Troubleshooting

  Safe Mode starts a PlayStation with only basic functions, for fixing data and display problems. Hold the power button until the second beep. What Rebuild Database, Restore Default Settings and Initialize PS4 do, and which options delete data.

• PS5 blue light or blinking white light: what the power indicator means

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  A PS5 that only blinks white, or stays blue instead of turning white, has frozen while starting. Unplug it for 3 minutes, then use Safe Mode. All light colours explained.

• PS5 CE error codes: meanings and fixes

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  All 72 PS5 CE error codes from PlayStation Support, with what each code means and the steps to fix it.

• PS5 disc drive not working after attaching it

  Updated4 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  The detachable PS5 disc drive needs an internet connection for its first pairing and only works with CFI-2000 and CFI-7000 consoles.

• PS5 error codes: list of meanings and fixes

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Every PS5 error code from Sony’s support list, sorted by prefix (CE, NP, WS, NW, WV, SU, E2), with what it means and the steps Sony gives to fix it.

• PS5 M.2 SSD not recognised or not working

  Updated2 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Checks for an M.2 SSD the PS5 won’t format or use: system software, interface (no SATA), capacity, seating, heatsink size, and what to do if games stutter.

• PS5 no picture or no sound: HDMI and audio fixes

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  No image: check the HDMI cable, port and input, connect straight to the screen, unplug everything for 20 minutes. No sound: check mute and set the audio output to HDMI.

• PS5 not reading discs: how to fix it

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Insert the disc label side left (console upright), clean it, try another disc, then rebuild the database in Safe Mode. Burned discs and audio CDs don’t play on PS5.

• PS5 NP error codes: meanings and fixes

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  All 24 PS5 NP error codes from PlayStation Support, with what each code means and the steps to fix it.

• PS5 NW and WV error codes: network errors and fixes

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  All PS5 NW and WV error codes from PlayStation Support: connection, communication and timeout errors, with what each code means and the steps to fix it.

• PS5 USB extended storage not working

  Updated2 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Why a USB drive isn’t accepted or a game won’t start from it: hubs aren’t supported, the drive needs SuperSpeed USB and 250 GB–8 TB, and PS5 games can’t run from USB.

• PS5 won’t start in Safe Mode, or keeps starting in it: fixes

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Safe Mode won’t launch: swap the USB, HDMI and power cables one at a time, then unplug for 20 minutes. Stuck in Safe Mode: power cycle, then clear the system software cache.

• PS5 WS error codes: meanings and fixes

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  All 29 PS5 WS error codes from PlayStation Support, with what each code means and the steps to fix it.

• PSP-3000 and PS Vita battery life and charging

  Updated4 October 2026 Consoles, Troubleshooting

  PSP-3000 3–6 h of games on a 1200 mAh pack; PS Vita PCH-1000 3–5 h, PCH-2000 4–6 h. Charging times, USB charging rules and temperature limits.

• Steam Deck external display not working when docked

  Updated4 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Check the TV input and use an active DP-to-HDMI adapter, turn on External Display Safe Mode, update the dock firmware, and try a lower resolution or refresh rate.

• Steam Deck won’t turn on or is frozen

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Charge for 15 minutes with the included PSU, force a restart (4 s LCD, 7 s OLED, then 10 s), boot via Volume + if charging works, and roll back SteamOS if it won’t load.

• Steam Machine shows no picture on the TV or monitor

  Updated4 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Restart both devices and reseat the cable, check the input, connect directly without receivers or switches, and use an active adapter for DisplayPort to HDMI.

• Stick drift: what it is, why controllers get it and what helps

  Updated6 October 2026 Guides, Troubleshooting

  Stick drift is when a controller registers stick movement you aren’t making. Most controllers use potentiometers that wear with use. Calibration and dead zones can mask it; replacement or Hall-effect sticks fix it.

• Switch 2 not recognising a microSD Express card

  Updated4 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Checks for a memory card Switch 2 won’t detect: is it actually microSD Express, dirty contacts, formatting, and when the console needs service.

• Switch Lite control sticks drifting or not responding

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Turn Console Button Input on if wireless controllers are paired, update, calibrate, then sleep/wake. Because the sticks are built in, a failed calibration means servicing the whole console.

• Wii “An error has occurred” with a game disc: what to check

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Check the disc is a Wii disc inserted the right way, clean it, and test other discs to tell a bad disc from a bad drive. Nintendo no longer repairs the Wii.

• Xbox “Something went wrong” errors E100 to E305: fixes by code

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Each start-up E code has its own fix order. E100/E200/E204/E207 start with a restart, E101 with an offline update, E102 and E105 with a factory reset.

• Xbox 360 red ring of death: three flashing red lights and how to fix them

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Three flashing red lights mean a hardware problem in the Xbox 360 or its power supply. The power supply light shows which: green means the console needs repair.

• Xbox controller stick drift or buttons not working: fixes

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Check the game’s settings, clean the controller, update its firmware and reset the button mapping. If drift remains, replace it, or repair it with Xbox replacement parts.

• Xbox controller won’t connect or turn on: fixes

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Fresh batteries first, then power cycle the controller (hold Xbox 5–10 s) and the console (unplug 30 s). If it fails over a working USB cable, it needs replacing.

• Xbox disc won’t play or isn’t recognised: fixes

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Check the disc orientation, clean it, and test it on another console. If no disc is recognised, switch from Sleep to Shutdown mode and power cycle; otherwise request a repair.

• Xbox error codes: what they mean and how to fix them

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Common Xbox error codes such as 0x80072EFD, 0x87DD0006, 0x800705B4 and 0x803F8001, plus Xbox 360 codes, with Microsoft’s meaning and fix for each.

• Xbox Series X|S no picture: how to fix a blank TV screen

  Updated6 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Check the HDMI cable is in the ‘out to TV’ port and the TV input, power cycle, then start in low-resolution mode by holding Power and Eject until the second beep.

• Xbox Series X|S not detecting an external hard drive

  Updated4 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Checks for a USB drive the Xbox ignores or only offers as media storage: USB 3.0, 128 GB, a partition, max three drives, updates, and the Sleep-mode storage setting.

• Xbox Series X|S won’t turn on

  Updated4 October 2026 Troubleshooting

  Reset the internal power supply: unplug for 10 seconds, then press the console’s Xbox button. Then check the outlet and cable before requesting service.