The most common PS5 problems and how to fix them

By Mike Colucci and Jesse Lennox Updated December 24, 2024

Whether you went with the PS5 over the Xbox Series X or instead of a PC, the decision likely came down to wanting to play the best PS5 games. In an ideal world, all you need as a good controller, maybe a headset and some accessories, and plenty of undisturbed time to dive into the latest and greatest game. However, sometimes your PS5 can experience some issues that prevent you from playing. Some are more serious than others, but if you are able to solve them for yourself, that can save a lot of time and frustration. Here are just a few of the most common PS5 problems and what you can try to fix them.

Stick drift affects all controllers, especially Joy-Cons, and is never fun. This is when your thumbstick breaks in a way where it sends a signal as if you’re holding it in a direction without you actually doing so. This can make it difficult, if not impossible, to play your games.

The Problem: Your controller thumbstick is drifting without you moving it.

The Solution: There are a few things you can try to fix stick drift in our guide here, but you may need to get a replacement controller.

Getting an error message stating your console is overheating can be terrifying. Overheating can cause permanent damage to your console and should be avoided at all costs. If you ever get this message, immediately shut off your PS5 and perform the following tips to hopefully prevent overheating from appearing again.

The Problem: Your PS5 is overheating.

The Solution: The first step is to make sure your PS5 is in an open area with plenty of airflow. Do not put it in a cabinet or any other fully contained space. Ideally, it should be on a shelf with at least a few inches of space on all sides. Also, make sure you always use the stand to make sure the vents are clear.

The most common error code PS5 users report is related to not being able to connect to the server. Sadly, even most single-player games require you to be online to play them so not being able to ping PSN means you may be locked out of most or all of your games.

The Problem: The PSN is down or your console is not able to connect to it.

The Solution: First, check that the PSN itself isn’t down to make sure the problem isn’t on your end. This is rare but does happen. If that isn’t the issue, try rebooting your PS5 and using a hard-wired connection if possible. Next, you may need to reboot your router or modem to see if that is the cause.

Players use rest mode when downloading games overnight or charging their controllers when out of the house. It’s a great way to conserve energy and let your system do its job in a low-power mode. 

The Problem: PS5 has been reported to crash unexpectedly when entering rest mode. 

The Solution: Err on the side of caution and don’t use rely on rest mode all the time. Patches have greatly reduced how often this problem occurs, but don’t default to putting your system in rest mode:

This will ensure players don’t accidentally enter rest mode and crash their entire system. It’s not a bug that is plaguing everybody, but there is no sense in risking it.