How to Fix PS4 Running Slow and Freezing

PlayStation 4 users from time to time face issues along with the console freezing or lagging. There are a couple of symptoms that accompany the freezing and lagging problem actually. Some of which include the console freezing (and eventually shutting down) during gameplay or normal use as well. The console freezing during an installation, also the game lagging whenever playing online games, and freezing associated along with particular games or discs. In this article, we are going to talk about How to Fix PS4 Running Slow and Freezing. Let’s begin!

There isn’t an exact cause of this problem, however, rather a number of them. Some causes of the freezing or lagging problem basically include:

• Faulty or full hard disk drives
• Firmware bugs and issues as well
• Slow internet connection
• Clogged cache
• Poor ventilation
• Cluttered database

Whatever the reason(s) behind the freezing or lagging of the PlayStation 4, there is always a way to fix any issue actually. If you are looking for such solutions, then keep reading this article as well. In this article, a lot of methods are provided with which you can easily fix your PS4’s lagging and freezing problem as well.

How to Fix PS4 Running Slow and Freezing

The freezing and Lagging of the PlayStation 4 can also be caused via any hardware or software issue. Before trying any method, first of all, you have to restart your PS4 console to refresh it. In order to restart the PS4, you have to follow these steps.

• On your PS4 controller, tap and hold the power button. The following screen will then appear.
• Tap on Turn Off PS4.
• Then unplug the power cable of the PS4 whenever the light goes off on the console.
• Now just wait for around 10 seconds.
• Plug the power cable back in the PS4 and then tap on the PS button on your controller in order to turn on PS4.
• Now, try to play games as well. It may run smoothly without even any freezing and lagging issues.

If the above method does not really work, then follow the below methods to fix your issue.

Freeing Up Space

Low space on the console basically creates smaller room for the system in order to operate hence causing it to slow down. Freeing up some space will also help improve the speed of your system.

• From the main screen, you need to navigate to Settings > System Storage Management and select any of the categories below to see more information.
  • Applications
  • Capture Gallery
  • Application Saved Data
  • Themes

• Choose the content that you want to delete
• Tap on the Options button and then choose Delete

Application Saved Data basically contains all the data saved from games and there’s likely to be some bad cache there as well. Open up the game that is the system to freeze and clear its data as well.

Checking the Hard Drive

A faulty hard drive can also cause the system to slow down considerably. It’s advisable in order to check the hard drive out for faults. It’s likely that the hard disk also has problems if you guys hear unusual noises or notice unusual behavior in the hard disk bay as well. At this point, it’s also advisable to change the drive as described in the steps below. Because this process consists of taking apart the device, you guys need to be extra cautious.

• Turn off the PS4 completely via pressing the power button for at least 7 seconds till you hear two beeps that indicate it’s been completely turned off as well.
• You have to disconnect the power cable and any other cables attached to the console.
• Slide the Hard Disk Drive bay cover (the shiny part) out and also away towards the left of the system in order to remove it.
• Check the hard drive in order to make sure it’s properly seated and properly screwed to the board. If you guys want to change it, take off the screw and replace the hard disk along with a new one. Remember that you’ll have to install new system software on the new hard disk actually.

Rebuilding the Database | ps4 running slow and freezing

The PlayStation 4’s database begins to clog over time that makes it inefficient and slow. Rebuilding the database will significantly boost the performance of your console and decrease freezing or lagging.

• Power off the PS4 via holding the power button for at least seven seconds. You guys will hear two beeps indicating it’s completely off.
• Boot into Safe Mode via pressing and holding the power button for about 7 seconds until you guys hear a second beep.
• Now connect your DualShock 4 controller via a USB cable to the PS4 since Bluetooth is inactive in Safe Mode as well.
• Scroll down and then choose the Rebuild Database – This scans the drive and creates a new database of all content. This operation may also take a long time relying on the type and number of data items.
• After this, tap on the “Update System Software” option and then check if there are any updates available or not.
• If there are, then just install them and check to see if the issue persists.

Getting the Latest Updates

A firmware update most of the time provides performance improvements and also fixes to your PS4 console.

• Get a USB stick along with at least 400 MB of free space. The USB must be wiped and also then create a folder that is called PS4 along with a subfolder called UPDATE.
• Then you have to download the latest PS4 update from here and copy it over to the UPDATE folder on your flash drive as well.
• Shut down the console, and then slot the USB stick into one of the PS4’s forward-facing USB ports as well.
• Hold the power button for at least 7 seconds in order to boot into Safe Mode.
• In Safe Mode, just choose the third option which is “Update System Software” and then just follow the directions along with from there.

Reinitializing the PS4 system will restore your system providing you with an out-of-the-box experience as well.

Here are a few additional measures that you can take to make sure your PS4 doesn’t freeze or lag.

• If you guys are facing freezing issues along with a game disc, then contact the retailer you bought it from.
• Give enough ventilation for the system as well.
• Just rebooting the system most of the times works.

Optimize the Internet Connection | ps4 running slow and freezing

You can also experience lags during online gameplay because of a slow internet connection. Then just follow these tips in order to reduce lag during online gaming sessions.

• Use ethernet connections over Wi-Fi if possible
• You can use a Wi-Fi signal booster if the signal is really weak or move the console closer to the router
• Also, use a Faster DNS

• You can download and run Google’s Namebench on any PC (try not to have any other download going on as you do because it could alter the results). It will benchmark all the available nameservers and then also find the ones that are closest and fastest for you as well.
• On your PS4, just head to Network > Set up Internet Connection and then choose “Use Wi-Fi” or “Use a LAN Cable” relying on if you’re connected via Wi-Fi or an ethernet cable.

• Choose Custom > Automatic > Do Not Specify > Manual
• Enter the numbers provided via the Namebench application in their respective order as well. After, just choose “Automatic” and then “Do Not Use”.

Note that the quality of connection to nameservers basically varies over time, so you might want to repeat this process periodically.

Setting Up Port Forwarding

• You have to head to your router’s browser settings (Typically 192.168.1.1) along with a browser.
• Then look for “port forwarding” settings
• When you’re there provide or choose the IP address of your PS4. You guys can find it Settings > Network > View Connection Status on your PS4.
• Just create UDP and TCP port forwarding rules for both for the following numbers: 80, 443, 1935, 3478, 3479, 3480. This site can walk you through the procedure for your particular router.
• Also, remember to use NAT Type 2 rather than 1.

Initialize the PS4 | ps4 running slow and freezing

In order to initialize the PS4, you have to follow these steps.

• First, just navigate to the Settings from the main screen of the PS4.
• Now under the settings, then just tap on Initialization.
• Under the initialization, you have to tap on Initialize PS4.
• You guys will see two options: Quick and Full. Select the Full.
• Just follow the on-screen instructions in order to complete the process.
• After the initialization process, then restore all your backup data and reinstall all the games and applications as well.

After completing the above steps, then use the PS4 again and check if the freezing and lagging issues are fixed or not.

Call the customer support of the PS4

After trying all the above methods, and if the freezing and lagging issue of your PS4 still persists. Then there are chances that the problem is along with the hardware and you may have to change or repair it. In order to do so, you have to contact the customer support of the PS4 as well. They will help you in replacing or repairing the faulty PS4 so that your issue will be fixed actually.

Note: Here are a few additional measures that you can look into to make sure your PS4 doesn’t freeze or lag.

• If you guys are facing the freezing issue with the game disc, then just contact the retailer you bought it from.
• Give enough ventilation for the system.
• Just rebooting the system that mostly works.

Conclusion

Alright, That was all Folks! I hope you guys like this article and also find it helpful to you. Give us your feedback on it. Also if you guys have further queries and issues related to this article. Then let us know in the comments section below. We will get back to you shortly.

Have a Great Day!

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