Are you currently experiencing a flashing white light on your PS4 controller and wondering why? You’re not alone. Luckily, we have all the answers you need to solve this issue and get back to gamine!
If your PS4 controller flashes white, it’s either because it cannot connect to the console or you need to charge your controller. Either way, you won’t be able to use your controller or your console until you fix the issue. You may need to reset the connection between the controller and the console.
There are several ways to fix this issue. Here we have outlined seven ways to stop the flashing white light on your controller. Note that you don’t need to try them all. So try the first fix, and if that doesn’t work, try the next one until the issue gets resolved.
Why is Your PS4 Controller Flashing White?
There are two main reasons why your PS4 controller flashes a white light. The first reason is a low battery, which means you need to charge your controller. The other reason is that your PS4 controller failed to connect to the console. Below, we will look at ways to help fix this issue.
What is the White Light of Death in a PS4?
The White Light of Death is an issue where all your PS4 displays is an unchanging white screen. This issue could be a motherboard error or a damaged HDMI slot. Unfortunately, the white light of death means your console is faulty, and you need to spend some money to repair your PS4.
6 Ways to Troubleshoot a Flashing White PS4 Controller
1. Check the PS4 Controller Ports and Charging Functionality
The blinking white lights on your controller could be due to hardware issues. However, it is possible your controller somehow got damaged, or the component is wearing out.
Moreover, If the problem is due to a damaged internal component, you won’t be able to charge the controller or connect to the PS4 console. Therefore, we recommend thoroughly checking your PS4 controller to inspect what could be wrong.
In addition, you can check to see if the USB cables are correctly connected. If the USB cables aren’t connected properly, disconnect and reconnect the controller. This procedure troubleshoots your PS4 controller.
However, try the other method below if this solution doesn’t work, and you still see a flashing white light after restarting the controller.
2. Try the PS and Share Buttons
Another way to get rid of the flashing lights is to press the PS button and the Share button on the controller simultaneously and wait for the PS4 to turn on.
This method should resolve the issue, and your controller should be able to connect to the console normally. However, if troubleshooting doesn’t work, try another fix.
3. Reset Your PS4 Controller
You can resolve many PS4 controller issues by simply resetting the controller. Resetting your controller can fix the flashing white lights issues. To reset your controller, follow these steps:
- First, turn off the PS4 console.
- Then, look for a tiny hole behind the controller that houses the reset button. You can find the reset button close to the L2 button.
- Insert a thin object, like a toothpick or pin, into the hole to activate the reset button.
- Press the reset button for a couple of seconds and remove the thin object.
- After restarting the console, reconnect the controller to the console using the USB cable and press the PS4 button.
4. Update the PS4 and its Drivers
You can repair the PS4 controller by updating the PS4 and its driver via a computer since the PS4 drivers can get outdated. Here are the steps for updating the PS4 controller on Windows.
- First, open the Run tool by clicking the Windows logo and the R key, and then run the following command: devmgmt.msc
- Afterward, search for your PS4 from the list of drivers.
- From the context menu, select the PS4 controller, delete and uninstall the device.
- Restart the computer after unplugging the PS4 controller.
- Download the most recent driver update from the Sony PlayStation’s support website.
- Reconnect the controller to the computer to complete the driver installation.
- Last, reconnect the controller and restart the computer if you can’t find the updated driver.
After completing these steps, check the controller to see if it has stopped blinking white lights. First, however, try the other methods discussed below if the blinking hasn’t stopped.
5. Install the PS4 Driver in Windows OS
To install the PS4 driver with this method, you’ll need a USB flash drive and a computer with internet access. Note that there should be a minimum of 46 MB of free space on the USB drive. So here are what you need to do: the steps to take.
- First, create a folder titled PS4 to save the update file on the flash drive.
- Afterward, create another ” UPDATE ” folder inside the “PS4” folder.
- Proceed to PlayStation’s official website to download the PS4 driver.
- Place the downloaded file in the “UPDATE” folder and connect the USB drive to the PS4 console.
- Proceed to settings and select “System Software Update” from the function screen.
- Last, follow the on-screen instructions to finish the installation.
6. Launch the PS4 in a Safe Mode
A PS4 has a safe mode for upgrading software and managing databases. For example, if your PS4 controller flashes a white light, try launching the console in safe mode.
Before you begin, launching in safe mode means you’ll lose your current configuration. Furthermore, ensure to save your most important files before starting this process. Here’s how to launch your PS4 in safe mode:
- First, switch off your PS4 and hold down the power button for around seven seconds, or until you hear two beeps.
- Connect the controller with a USB cable. The PS4 console will launch in safe mode.
- To clear the existing database and create a new one, select the “Rebuild Database” option.