Imagine you’re right in the middle of playing God of War, perched on the edge of your seat, then your PlayStation crashes. This is one of the most frustrating things that can happen to avid gamers. But why do games keep crashing?
PS4 game crashing could be due to overheating, a random bug, outdated software, or limited storage space. These problems can be fixed by cooling down your PS4, rebooting, updating your software, and/or freeing up space on your hard drive.
PS4 games can keep crashing for several reasons, and it helps to know what to look for if this happens to you. Knowing what to do if your PS4 game gives you an error or gets overheated can save you a few bucks too.
4 Reasons Why Your PS4 Game Keeps Crashing
Overheating
Overheating can harm the system performance of your PS4 and affect any functions. Your PS4 may overheat if the following happens:
- Some of the components start producing more heat than usual.
- Overall room temperature is too high.
- Blocked air vents.
- Airflow is obstructed.
- If a hardware component begins malfunctioning.
Random Bug
All computers are susceptible to getting a bug, including the PS4. A bug might be why your PS4 keeps rebooting or crashing to the Home Screen. A bug might be why your PS4 keeps rebooting or crashing to the Home Screen.
Outdated Software
Outdated Software is another reason that your PS4 might crash. The PS4 comes with many updates. Some are optional, and some are mandatory.
If you ignore the required updates, you may find yourself closed off from the network or experience network issues, which may cause your PS4 to crash repeatedly.
Limited Space On Hard Drive
Limited space may not seem like such a big deal, but it can cause your PS4 to crash. A game console is a computer, which means that part of a disc drive should always be free for virtual memory.
This free portion comes in handy as an overflow, storing data while RAM clears. If there is insufficient space for this function, any overflows that might be caused by operations requiring more memory will lead to your PS4 crashing.
How to Fix Game Crashing on PS4
Cool it Down
To cool down your PS4:
- Check your room temperature.
- Ensure it’s not sitting in an enclosed space that restricts airflow.
- Move your PS4 away from other electronics or obstructions blocking airflow.
- If the room temperature is too high, consider taking your PS4 to a cooler room or investing in a PS4 cooling stand.
Overheating may also result from blocked air vents, which stop hot air from dissipating. You can unblock the air vents by gently hitting them with a blast of compressed air and then using a soft brush to remove the dust. You can also use the hose attachment on a vacuum cleaner to suck out the dust gently.
Clean the Game Disc
You can clean your disc using a soft, lint-free cloth to avoid scratching. Always clean gently from the center of the disc to the edges. Follow through with a dry cloth to remove any excess moisture.
Avoid using harsh household chemicals. Instead, you can use a slightly dampened cloth with clean water, a disc cleaning solution, or diluted isopropyl, equal parts water, and isopropyl. This is to prevent chemical damage.
But only clean your PS4 disc when necessary. Cleaning it way too often or aggressively may cause scratches and make your disc unreadable. And if your PS4 keeps crashing, replace the disc with a new one.
Note: This only applies if you played games with a game disc when your PS4 crashed.
Restart the Console
Sometimes all you need is a slight reset. First, shut down your PS4 and remove it from any power sources. Wait until it’s cool to the touch, and then turn it on and resume what you were doing.
If it stops overheating, your problem is solved, and you can use your console safely and without hiccups.
Free Up More Space or Upgrade Your Hard Drive
If your PS4 keeps crashing because of limited space, you can try upgrading your internal hard drive to boost storage space and speed. The alternative is to free up space in your existing hard drive. You can try deleting some games that you don’t use often.
Don’t worry about losing your progress. Your game saves will be retained, so reinstalling should land you right where you left off. Just select any games you wish to delete and confirm.
Related Questions
How do I fix error CE 34878-0 on PS4?
Error CE 34878-0 occurs when your current game crashes. The most straightforward fix for this error is to restart the game. However, if you keep getting the same error message, something else is wrong, and you can start troubleshooting.
You can do this by checking if your system software and the game you are playing have been updated to the latest version. If not, you can update both and then reboot your PS4.
If you still keep getting error CE 34878-0, you can choose the option to back up your saved data and then go to your Settings and initialize PS4. If this fails, check if your PlayStation camera is connected. If it is, disconnect it and reboot your PS4.
If you have tried all these steps and you keep receiving error CE 34878-0, you should get in touch with PlayStation support.
Conclusion
Knowing why your PS4 games keep crashing can be the difference between having a dull day and having a fascinating day filled with online adventures. Problems like overheating or limited memory can easily be fixed by cleaning air vents, taking your PS4 game to a cooler room, and clearing up some space on your hard drive.
Most problems that you experience with your PS4 game have very simple fixes. However, if you have tried troubleshooting and still get the same issues or errors, you can try contacting PlayStation support for more expert help.