Why your PS5 is turning off by itself

Has your PS5® been mysteriously turning off while playing games? Annoying, right? We’ve heard from many PlayStation® 5 owners that they’ve experienced unexpected shutdowns and wondered what might be causing it.

The good news: at uBreakiFix® by Asurion, our experts have you covered. With more than 18 million repairs completed and 20+ years in business, we have the know-how to fix all of your favorite tech. Here are a few reasons why your PS5 may be turning off unexpectedly—and some quick tips to get you back up and running. 

Commons reasons your PS5 turns itself off

There can be several reasons why your PS5 unexpectedly shuts down while you're in the middle of a game:

• Power settings
• Overheating
• Faulty power cable or power supply
• Software glitches or system errors

How to stop your PS5 from randomly shutting off

Having your PlayStation 5 turn off right when you're about to reach the pivotal moment of your game can be a bummer. Luckily, there are a few quick tips to get it working again—and prevent unexpected PS5 shutdowns in the future.

Check your cables and power supply

A problem with your PlayStation's cables can cause the console to shut off in the middle of a game. Over time, cables can wear out, get damaged, or develop loose connections. Look to make sure all of the cables are connected snugly. Also, inspect them for any signs of visible wear and tear—if any exists, try swapping out the old cables for new ones to see if it solves the problem. 

Your PS5's power supply is another critical component. If it's not functioning correctly, your console may receive inconsistent power, which can result in the system powering off unexpectedly.

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Avoid overheating

Gaming consoles can generate a lot of heat, especially during intense gameplay sessions. When your PS5 gets too hot, it has built-in safety mechanisms to prevent damage—turning itself off.

Keep your PlayStation off the ground and away from places where it's likely to accumulate dust, crumbs, and debris. If you can see visible build-up in your PS5's vents, you can lightly vacuum them and unblock the airflow.

To learn more, check out our guide on ways to prevent your PS5 from overheating and discover the right way to clean your PS5.

Turn off HDMI Device Link

HDMI Device Link makes getting to your games even faster. When you power on your PlayStation, your TV will also turn on and automatically switch to the HDMI input, so you don't have to.

The HDMI Device Link can sometimes misinterpret signals, leading to sudden shutdowns on your PS5. Follow these steps to turn it off:

1. Go to Settings > System > HDMI.
2. Select HDMI Device Link. 
3. Hit the X button on your DualSense controller to toggle the feature off.
4. Restart your PS5.

Turn off Rest Mode

Rest Mode, or Sleep Mode, is a PS5 feature that conserves power while keeping essential functions active. This mode is handy when you want to pause your gaming session and resume it quickly without waiting for your console to turn on from the system start screen. 

While the Rest Mode feature offers several advantages, it may also cause unexpected shutdowns that disrupt your gaming. Here's how you can tweak your Rest Mode settings for a smoother experience:

1. Go to Settings > System > Power Saving.
2. Set the Rest Mode activation time.
3. Save changes.

Check for updates

Outdated software can sometimes cause glitches, which lead your PS5 to crash. Here's how to make sure your PS5 is up-to-date:

1. Open Settings > System Software.
2. Select System Software Update and Settings to see if an update is available. If so, follow the onscreen instructions.

Restore your PS5 database

If all else fails, restoring your database can sometimes resolve software-related issues causing your PS5 to shut down unexpectedly. Here's how:

1. Turn your PS5 off.
2. Press and hold the power button on the console for around 7 seconds or until you hear two beeps. Release when you hear the beeps—your PS5 will now boot in Safe Mode. 
3. Using a USB cable, connect a DualSense controller to the console. Press the PS button on the controller to activate it.
4. Using the controller's D-pad, scroll down and select Clear Cache and Rebuild Database.
5. Choose Rebuild Database and then click OK.

Be patient—restoring your PS5 database can take some time (depending on your console’s storage, this can take a few minutes or a few hours). Once the process is complete, your PS5 will restart.