PlayStation 5

All pages in this section

• Capture cards on PS5, Xbox and Switch 2: HDCP and setup

  Updated6 October 2026 Accessories, Guides

  A capture card sits between the console and the TV. PS5 needs HDCP turned off first or the capture is black; Xbox doesn’t apply HDCP to games; Switch 2 needs no setting but must go through the dock.

• Controllers with Hall-effect or TMR sticks for PS5, Xbox, Switch and PC

  Updated6 October 2026 Accessories

  Third-party controllers whose makers state Hall-effect or TMR sticks, by console: Nacon, Victrix and Razer for PS5; Razer, Turtle Beach, GameSir and 8BitDo for Xbox; PowerA, EasySMX, 8BitDo and GameSir for Switch and Switch 2.

• 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.

• DualSense vs DualSense Edge: differences

  Updated6 October 2026 Accessories, Guides

  The DualSense Edge adds back buttons, replaceable stick modules and stored profiles, but has a smaller battery (1,050 vs 1,560 mAh) and weighs about 45 g more.

• HDMI 2.1 cables for 4K 120 Hz on PS5 and Xbox: what to buy

  Updated6 October 2026 Accessories, Upgrades

  For 4K at 120 Hz, PS5 and Xbox Series X need their included cable or a certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable; the Series S needs one bought separately. How to recognise certification, and cables checked.

• How to charge a PS5 or PS4 controller

  Updated6 October 2026 Accessories, Guides

  Connect the controller to the console with a USB data cable, with the console on or in rest mode. For rest mode, set Supply Power to USB Ports. Charge-only cables don’t work.

• How to connect a PS5 or PS4 controller to a PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad or Android

  Updated6 October 2026 Accessories, Guides

  Pair a DualSense or DualShock 4 over Bluetooth (hold create or SHARE plus the PS button) or connect it by USB. Which systems Sony lists, and which controller features don’t work on each.

• 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.

• How to turn off a PS5, PS4, Xbox or Switch without the controller

  Updated6 October 2026 Guides

  PS5 and PS4: hold the power button until the console beeps. Xbox: hold the Xbox button on the console for 10 seconds. Switch and Switch 2: hold POWER for three seconds and choose Power Options.

• Keyboard and mouse on PS5 and Xbox: what works

  Updated6 October 2026 Accessories, Guides

  PS5 takes USB or Bluetooth keyboards and mice; Xbox takes wired USB ones. On Xbox a mouse only works in games and apps whose publisher enabled it, never on the dashboard.

• PlayStation Portal: specifications and requirements

  Updated2 October 2026 Accessories

  PlayStation Portal streams games from your PS5 over Wi-Fi; it doesn’t run games itself. 8-inch 1080p LCD, up to 60 fps, Wi-Fi 5, PlayStation Link audio, 5 Mbps minimum connection.

• PS VR2 specifications and PC requirements

  Updated2 October 2026 Accessories, Compatibility

  PS VR2 hardware specs (OLED 2000×2040 per eye, 90/120 Hz, ~110° FOV) and what a Windows PC needs to run it through the PS VR2 PC adapter.

• PS5 (CFI-1000/1100/1200) specifications

  Updated4 October 2026 Consoles

  Specifications of the original PS5 chassis, disc and Digital Edition.

• 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 compatible SSDs: which M.2 drives fit and which need a heatsink

  Updated4 October 2026 Upgrades

  12 M.2 SSDs checked against the PS5 slot, including Samsung 990 PRO, WD_BLACK SN850X and SN850P, Kingston FURY Renegade and Lexar NM790: heatsink, size, speed and cache.

• 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 M.2 SSD requirements and installation

  Updated4 October 2026 Upgrades

  Which M.2 drives the PS5 accepts (PCIe Gen4 NVMe, 250 GB–8 TB, size limits including heatsink) and how installation differs between models.

• 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 Pro (CFI-7000) specifications

  Updated4 October 2026 Consoles

  PS5 Pro specifications: 16.7 TFLOPS GPU, 16 GB GDDR6 + 2 GB DDR5, 2 TB SSD, Wi-Fi 7, 390 W rating.

• PS5 rest mode: downloads, charging and settings

  Updated6 October 2026 Guides

  In rest mode a PS5 can keep downloading, update games and system software, and charge controllers, but only with the matching features switched on. Sony doesn’t say downloads run faster in rest mode.

• PS5 Slim (CFI-2000) specifications

  Updated4 October 2026 Consoles

  Specifications of the CFI-2000 model group with and without the detachable disc drive.

• 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 USB extended storage: requirements and limits

  Updated4 October 2026 Upgrades

  USB drives on PS5 can store PS5 games but not run them. Requirements: SuperSpeed USB 5 Gbps or faster, 250 GB–8 TB, no hub, one drive at a time.

• PS5 vs PS5 Slim vs PS5 Pro: hardware differences

  Updated2 October 2026 Consoles, Guides

  Side-by-side specifications of the three PS5 chassis: GPU, memory, storage, Wi-Fi, disc drive options, power and size.

• 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.

• 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.

• USB-C chargers for Switch 2, Steam Deck, ROG Xbox Ally, Legion Go and PS Portal

  Updated6 October 2026 Accessories

  How much power each handheld’s maker asks for: 54 W for an unlicensed Switch 2 adapter, 45 W PD 3.0 for Steam Deck, 65 W for ROG Xbox Ally and Legion Go, 5 V/3 A for PS Portal. Common 65 W chargers checked.

• When did each console come out? Release dates for PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo and more

  Updated6 October 2026 Consoles, Guides

  Release dates of PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, Sega and Valve consoles and handhelds, from the NES (1983) to the Steam Machine (2026), with regional launch dates where they differed.

• Which headsets work on PS5, Xbox and Switch 2? Bluetooth, USB and 3.5 mm

  Updated6 October 2026 Accessories, Compatibility

  PS5 and Xbox don’t connect to Bluetooth headsets; Switch 2 does, but without the microphone. What each console accepts (USB, 3.5 mm, Xbox Wireless, Sony wireless) and multi-platform headsets by console.

• Which PS4 accessories work on PS5?

  Updated6 October 2026 Accessories, Compatibility

  DualShock 4 works on PS5 for PS4 games only. PS VR needs the PS4 camera plus the Camera adaptor. Licensed wheels, arcade sticks and USB/3.5 mm headsets work.

• Which PS5 consoles work with the detachable disc drive?

  Updated2 October 2026 Compatibility, Upgrades

  The PS5 disc drive fits CFI-2000 (Slim) and CFI-7000 (Pro) consoles only. The original Digital Edition can’t use it. First setup needs an internet connection.

• Which racing wheels work on PS5, Xbox, Switch 2 and PC?

  Updated6 October 2026 Accessories, Compatibility

  Most racing wheels are sold in a PlayStation version and an Xbox version. Logitech, Thrustmaster, Fanatec, MOZA and HORI wheels by console, from the makers’ compatibility lists.