Thinking about giving your PS4 a fresh start or planning to sell it? With the PlayStation 5 Pro making its grand entrance soon, you might be considering saying goodbye to your trusty gaming partner that has stood by your side for over a decade. Or perhaps, your PS4 is bursting at the seams with digital clutter and you’re itching for a brand-new beginning.
Whatever your motivation—whether you’re handing it over to a new owner, trading it in, or simply wanting to recapture that new console magic—we’re here to guide you through the process.
Let’s delve into the steps to reset your PS4 effectively.
1. Deactivate your PS4 account
Before you jump into the reset, there’s a crucial step you shouldn’t overlook, especially if you’re planning to sell or gift your PS4. Deactivating your PS4 as the "primary" console is essential. Missing this step can cause hassles when you try to log in on other devices, and you definitely don’t want the next user to access your digital purchases without your consent. Here’s how you do it:
- Start up your PS4 and navigate to the Settings menu.
- Scroll down and select Account Management.
- Choose Activate as Your Primary PS4.
- On the next screen, click on Deactivate. (If the "Activate" button is grayed out, it means your account is already active.)
- Confirm by selecting Yes, and there you have it, you’re good to go!
Once your account is deactivated, feel free to move on to resetting your PS4.
2. Time for the factory reset
Now comes the moment you’ve been waiting for: the factory reset. Don’t worry; the process is quite simple once you get the hang of it. Just follow these steps, and you’ll have your PS4 scrubbed clean of all personal data, downloaded games, and saved files. (Pro tip: Want to keep your saved games? Back them up on a USB or use PSN’s cloud storage if you have a subscription.)
Here’s how to proceed:
- Head to the Settings menu on your console.
- Scroll down and pick Initialization.
- Select Initialize PS4 to reveal how much you want to clear out.
- For a thorough reset, choose Full—this option wipes the slate clean, leaving only the system software behind.
Once you’ve completed these steps, your PS4 will be clean and primed for its next chapter. Happy gaming, whether it’s on this console or your future endeavors with the PS5 Pro!
