If you own a PS4 game console, there’s a chance you’ll encounter some lagging, and slowing down of the PlayStation at some point in time. Especially when you’ve saved large files and data on the device hard drive, thus, leaving limited storage space on it.
While some game lovers tend to desist from playing games on the PS4 due to this issue, the courageous ones will rather find a way of fixing this problem. And you can be among them by following the instruction we’ll be discussing in details in this guide.
However, if the problem is a technical hassle that requires tampering the hardware, you’ll need to take the game console to a hardware engineer or technician. So, before we dive into how to fix lagging and slow operation in PS4, we’ll first walk you through the signs and causes of slowing and lagging of PS4.
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Signs of Slowing and Lagging of PS4.
- Takes much time to load or boot while performing any task.
- Automatically freezes or shutdown abruptly while still in use.
- Console freeze during any installation.
- Slow response to command.
- Unusual behavior and noises.
Now that you’re familiar with signs of slowing and lagging in PS4 console, what are the causes? Continue below.
Why your PS4 is Slow and Laggy?
The slowing and lagging of PS4 are a complicated issue that requires patience and experience to know the exact causes. However, in most cases, the duo hassle may be due to software or hardware problems. Whatsoever it may be, below, we will detail the causes for you.
Why your PS4 is slow?
Below are the factors contributing to the slow operation of your PS4 console.
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Not enough space on the hard drive
When your PS4 is operating slowly, the first thing you do is to check the available space on the hard drive, since it determines the speed of operation. The secret behind this is when your hard drive is almost occupied, let’s say 90% upward, there is a high tendency that its speed decreases as there won’t be any space for the PlayStation to save any apps required to perform any operation.
The PS4 brain or memory will be clogged leaving no breathing space for it. Thus, slowing down its working process totally.
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Improper Installation of Games, Apps and System Software
Another major reason your PS4 is lagging and slowing may be due to improper or interrupted installation. This often happens when the Apps or the system software you’re about to install is been corrupted.
Or maybe while you are trying to install the Apps using an internet connection, you experience a poor connection and unknowingly, you continue the process. This will bring about the interruption of the installation process. And eventually, your system will be slowing or may not even work properly.
Additionally, force installation of corrupt games and apps may also affect the functionalities of your system.
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The PS4 is far from the router and connection source.
Again, if your system is located farther from the connection source, you may experience slow response from the PS4. But how do you know the problem is from the connection source?
Well, you can detect this if you’re playing an online game and maybe while playing, you discovered the game takes time to respond. And upon taking the system closer to the connection, the slowness disappears and the game started responding faster.
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Faulty Internal Hard Drive or external hard drive
After you have checked all the aforementioned causes but your system still works the same, then, it is high time you check your PS4 internal hardware. This is because HDD and SDD play a dominant role in system performance. It is the powerhouse of the PlayStation as it is the system part to receive, store and also send data, files, information and others that are saved when the need arises.
However, signs of fault on the internal hard drive include unusual performance and noises. And this will automatically affect the overall performance of your PS4, by causing it to slow considerably.
Similarly, just like the internal hard drive, the external hard drive also performs the same function. But its own defect can only be discovered if the game you’re playing is stored on it and you experience any slowness while playing on the PlayStation.
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Hardware Malfunctioning
Lastly, if you’re sure you have checked all the listed options but you’re yet to ascertain the cause of your system slowness, you can then check the entire PS hardware. Because the problem might arise from them also. Since they are part of the PS4 system and they also work to complement the functionalities of the PS4.
The faulty hardware system could be the System motherboard, CPU, RAM, the button pad and or other hardware that work with the PlayStation system.
Why your PS4 is laggy?
Lagging of PS4 is somehow similar to its slowness, however, there are little differences in them. So highlighted below are the causes of lagging in your PS4.
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Opening of more menus at a time on the PlayStation home screen
Among the first thing if not primarily that may cause a ps4 to lag is the number of items being displayed on PlayStation’s home screen at a time. Regularly check the screen to view any game you’re no more playing, unused apps, unwatched movies and TV shows and others.
All these menu displays could be the cause of your system’s laggings has they make the screen heavier to navigate through. Thus, retarding its speed and making it more difficult to load and access.
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Having heavy backgrounds on the PS4.
Another cause of lagging in a PS4 is having solid backgrounds, graphics, images and cartoons on the screen. These graphic sets although add beauty to your screen, still they have cause laggings to your system as they consume much-dedicated memory meant for the system to work.
Meaning, as far as you still have them on the screen, you will keep on experiencing the lagging problem with PlayStation.
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Not rebuilding the system database
If you fail to rebuild your system database, it continue to lag. The reason being that your system always contains some files and data that may not necessary to be on your system. So if you fail to rebuild your PS4 system and wipe off these files including games you’re no more playing, unused apps and so on, sorry to say, it will lag again.
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Hardware malfunctioning
Just like as hardware malfunctioning can slow down your PS4, it can also make it lag. But you can only discover this if you have tried all the possible listed means and the problem still persists. Imagine you have been using your PS4 for years without servicing it once, it will definitely malfunction and lag, either due to expiration or any defect.
Generally, the above-highlighted causes plus poor ventilation and others may be the prime causes of slowness and lagging in your PS4.
So once you notice the signs and found out the causes of lagging and slowing of PS4, how do you fix it?
Let’s begin!
How to fix PS4 Slow and Lagging
Slow operation and laggings console has always been experienced by PS4 users, and it has turned some PS4 lover away from the game. However, this problem is easy to fix even without prior experience, especially when the problem doesn’t involve the hardware.
Below are the steps you should take to fix slowing and lagging in your PS4.
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Decongest the load on the system by freeing up some spaces
Our first advice on how to fix your PS4 problem is to reduce the load on its console, as this is a major factor that slows down the system response. However, by doing this, some space will be freed for the system thus, improving your PlayStation’s speed.
To achieve this, simply go to the main screen and head to Settings. Click on System Storage Management and delete any Icon which you think is less significant to you. This could be apps, themes, files, gallery and others.
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Check the hard drive
To fix any hard drive problem either for system lagging or slowness, you need to check the hard drive as this may be the cause the PS4 is malfunctioning. But how do you check the drive?
Follow the step below to achieve a perfect result after you have disassembled the entire system. Although, we often recommend taking it to a professional technician.
- Turn off the PlayStation by holding the power button for a minimum of 7 seconds until you hear 2 beeps sounds. This signaled total turn off of the system.
- Then, unplug the power cable as well as other cables that are connected to your console.
- Remove the Hard Disk Drive holder of your system towards the left side by slipping it.
- After this, check whether your hard drive is well-tightened to the board with subsequent running of game on the PS4 again to check result.
But, if you wish to change the drive, loose the screw and install a new hard disk. Please note that you’ll have to install a new system software this time around.
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Optimize the internet connection
The optimization of the internet again could be another way of solving the hassle of system slowness and lagging. This is however useful for games or apps that can work online. So prepare to optimize your internet by switching off other apps that may be sharing a connection with your PS4.
Or, you can move your PS4 closer to the connection source, especially, when you’re experiencing a slowing or lagging while playing the game on your PS4 online and you are far away from the source.
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Upgrade and update the system.
In most cases, your system will request for update and upgrade but if you fail to respond, it may malfunction. You can always download any latest PS4 and then incorporate it on your system so as to avoid disturbing your normal operation.
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Rebuild the System Database
This is the easiest strategy to fix your PS4 lagging and slow operation problem. Although, it takes more time to achieve depending on the saved files. This process is simple and involves a simple press on the power off button of your PlayStation and hold till the system go off.
Then boot the system into safe mode by holding on to the power button for over 7 seconds so the system beep.
Subsequently, plug the DualShock 4 controller using a USB cable to your PS4 other than Bluetooth because you are yet to access your system total functionalities this time.
Scroll down and click on the Rebuild Database. It is through this process that your drive will be scanned. Then you can create a new database of all content again.
Lastly, other ways to fix your PS4 however, include providing proper ventilation to the system, checking on what to copy on the system (to determine) if corrupted or not and many more.
Conclusion
We have come to the end of this guide and are pleased to tell you that there are many reasons your PlayStation4 operates slowly and lagging. Although, you may fix some yourself, however, others may require the help of an expert. Especially those pertaining to the hardware.
So, we believe if you strictly follow all the above advice and process, you will overcome the problem of this slowing and lagging of your PS4.
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