Sony’s PlayStation 4 (PS4) is a fascinating gaming console with over 2,000 games and an incredible collection of 299 exclusive titles. PS4 also boasts incredible performance that delivers the ultimate gaming experience. Unfortunately, the console tends to freeze during gameplay or on the home screen, which can ruin the otherwise amazing PS4 experience. Luckily, with a few troubleshooting tips, you can easily resolve this issue.
The PS4 can freeze for various reasons, including a faulty controller, overheating, battery issues, and incompatible games or software. If your console freezes, try rebooting, updating any affected software, freeing up disc space, checking the fan, or contacting SONY tech support for assistance.
Nothing is as frustrating as your PS4 freezing in the heat of exciting gameplay. But unfortunately, such technical hitches are not unusual for a gaming console that has been around since 2013. The good news is that the PS4 freezing problem doesn’t imply your beloved console is dead. Most of the time, the problem requires an easy fix such as a restart to get you back into the zone. Let’s take a look at why the PS4 freezes and how to solve it.
Why Does My PlayStation 4 Keep Freezing?
Every avid gamer wants to avoid anything that could disrupt the adrenaline rush that comes with a good game, but some situations are hard to predict and avoid. The last thing you want is a frozen screen when you’re in the middle of a game.
If your PS4 screen freezes, don’t bang your controller in frustration. Instead, take a deep breath, then start troubleshooting to find out what’s behind the freezing. While Sony hasn’t explicitly outlined the cause of PS4 freezing, the active PlayStation community has identified major reasons that include:
Faulty PS4 Controller
Any malfunctioning external hardware connected to your PS4 can affect the functionality of your console and can cause freezing. The controller is one of the peripheral devices to keep an eye on.
This is an essential, yet often-overlooked component of the PS4 gaming experience. If your PS4 freezes regularly, the controller should feature among the most probable causes.
A faulty controller means your console doesn’t get enough juice to run. Sometimes, spikes in power supply result in freezing. Confirm that the USB cable works fine with other devices.
Next, plug one end of the cable into your PlayStation 4 and then into the PS4 controller. If the controller is fine, an amber light comes on and turns on and off until the device charges fully.
Overheating
Heat is one of the biggest risks for any electrical device. For a PlayStation that runs for hours, overheating is a common problem. When your PlayStation overheats, a frozen screen is one likely outcome.
If you’ve enjoyed hours of gaming on your PS4, don’t be surprised if the console suddenly freezes.
Your PS4 is more likely to overheat if you don’t provide enough room for air to circulate through the system. If you place your gaming console on a crowded desk or on your bed, the cooling fan won’t run efficiently.
An overheated PS4 CPU is another likely culprit when troubleshooting the freezing problem.
Battery Problems
One of the most dreaded issues for a PS4 gaming enthusiast is the PS4’s CMOS battery issue. The internal CMOS batteries have a lifespan of about 10 to 15 years, which means this is now a problem for some PS4 users. The CMOS affects the console’s internal clock battery and resets it to zero.
The depleted battery makes it impossible to play physical or stored games. The CMOS battery problem is a common cause of PS4 freezing and game crashing. If your PlayStation 4 has a freezing problem, check the life of the CMOS battery and consider buying a new one. The PS4 uses a CR2032 battery (on Amazon), but it can be tough to install on your own.
Check Power Management Devices
Power management devices are essential to protecting electrical appliances. Like most players, you’ve most likely invested in a power strip with surge protection capability or another such device. However, the power surge protection device may develop efficiency problems with age.
If your PS4’s power strip or surge protector is nearing the end of its life, there might be power supply issues resulting in a screen freeze. To rule out your surge protection device, plug the PlayStation 4 directly into the wall. If the freezing problem doesn’t reoccur, you now know the power management device is the cause of freezing.
Game Installation/Compatibility Problems
Unsuccessful installation of a game or software in your PS4 is another possible cause of freezing. The game installed or any other software might could be incompatible with the PS4 software version, causing freezing problems.
Corrupted Disc Data
While corrupted CMOS memory data is a rare occurrence, the problem has caused PS4 freezing problems on multiple consoles. Data corruption happens because of corrupted game or app software downloads, hard drive problems, account license issues, and other problems.
What Are the Symptoms of PS4 Freezing?
If you’ve enjoyed many years of trouble-free PS4 gaming, the freezing problem might catch you off guard. To protect your PS4, you need to learn the main signs of PS4 freezing. So, now that you have an idea about common causes of PS4 freezing, take a look at the telltale symptom of this problem.
Error Code (CE-36329-3)
Before your PS4 freezes, you’ll notice Error CE-36329-3, which indicates a software system problem. When this occurs, your console freezes, suffers a restart loop, or the system stops working completely.
Possible causes of this PS4 error include data conflict or corruption, physical hardware issues including hardware failure, a CMOS internal date problem, or power issues.
Mid-Game Console Freezing
The most obvious symptom of PS4 freezing is lagging or a frozen screen during gameplay. The problem can happen with a specific game, which points to installation or compatibility problems.
In extreme cases, your PS4 freezes when you try playing any game.
Home Screen Console Freezing
Another common sign of a PS4 freezing is when your console freezes on the home screen. Your console boots up with no problem until the home screen begins to load. A frozen PS4 home screen is a more serious problem than gameplay freezing.
Slow Loading Before a Freeze
If your PS4 takes lots of time to load, you should suspect something is not right. In most cases, the console then freezes and you can’t load or play your game.
What Should I Do When My PS4 Freezes?
PlayStation freezing is an inconvenience but, luckily, you can quickly fix it and continue playing. If your PS4 frequently freezes, consider the following fixes to resolve the annoying problem:
Reboot the Console
A reboot of your console from safe mode resolves myriad problems, including the common freezing issue. To get started, turn off power and unplug all cables from the PS4. Long press the power button until you hear two beeps and a black screen on the console. If you wish to factory reset the console, you have three options:
- Restore Default Settings
- Initialize PS4
- Initialize PS4 (Reinstall System Software)
Power up your console and confirm whether the freezing problem is resolved. If you deleted the software, reinstall it to continue playing.
Update the Affected Game/Software
If your PS4 only suffers freezing when playing or loading a particular application or game, update the affected item. An update helps overcome data corruption or other file problems in your game or applications.
If you have a game or application you wish to update, check your PS4 home screen. Select the game/application that causes your PS4 freezing and update it. On the home screen, look for updates for the specific game or application. The wizard guides you to the update option where you can view available updates for your games/apps.
Free Up Disc Space
When troubleshooting for the cause of PS4 freezing, consider the remaining storage space in the hard disc. Low storage causes slow speeds and, eventually, console freezes. In the PS4 settings, check system storage management and delete games or files you don’t need.
Resolve Hardware Problems
Hardware issues are a common cause of PS4 freezing. To overcome the overheating problem, turn off your PS4 and give it more room in an open space. A dirty, clogged fan can also reduce the efficiency of the cooling fan, which results in freezing. Check the condition of the fan and clean it to boost air circulation.
Check the hardware connections, including the cables and bad controller issues to avoid PS4 malfunctions. A hard drive upgrade also resolves multiple problems, including freezing, and gives you a better gaming experience.
Upgrade Your Hard Disc
If you find it hard to play smoothly, consider a hard drive upgrade. A malfunctioning PS4 HDD causes multiple gaming issues and an upgrade solves the problem permanently.
Resolve Slow Internet Issues
PS4 lagging and freezing can occur because of a poor internet connection. To resolve the issue, restart your WiFi or invest in a WiFi signal booster, such as this one from NETGEAR (on Amazon). For better network speeds, try using an ethernet cable if possible.
Talk to Sony Tech Support
Sony offers reliable tech support for PS4 users. If you’ve tried troubleshooting and resolving the freezing problem without success, contact the SONY support team for advice.
The best thing about Sony’s customer service is its availability online through Twitter, live chat, and other platforms. The company’s error message platform also offers insightful tips on resolving freezing issues. A visit to your nearest PlayStation service center is also an option to fix the PS4 freezing issue.
Conclusion
So is your PlayStation freezing frequently? There’s no need to panic. PS4 freezing is a common problem, and in most cases, it’s easy to fix.
Now that you’re familiar with the causes and symptoms of PS4 freezing, you can quickly identify any issues and also provide preventive care for your gaming console.