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PS5 Safe Mode: How to Start It and What Each Option Does
If your PS5 will not start right, shows a blank screen, or acts strange after an update, Safe Mode may help. Sony says Safe Mode starts the console with only the most basic functions on. Its menu can fix storage problems, change the picture settings, or wipe the console, so you need to know which option does what.
Back Up First
Sony warns that some Safe Mode options will cause data loss. Its page tells you to back up your data to a USB drive or cloud storage before you pick one. You can follow Sony’s steps to back up and restore PS5 data or read about PlayStation Plus cloud storage.
How to Start Safe Mode on PS5
- Turn the console off by holding the power button for three seconds. The power light blinks for a moment, then goes out.
- Press and hold the power button again. Let go after the second beep. The first beep sounds when you press the button, and the second comes about seven seconds later.
- Plug your controller into the console with a USB cable, then press the PS button on the controller.
If Safe Mode will not start, Sony says to turn the console off and on again and check your cables. It also has a separate page for when you cannot start in Safe Mode.
What Each PS5 Safe Mode Option Does
Sony lists these options in this order. The table shows the data risk for each one, using only what Sony’s page says.
| Option | What Sony says it does | Does it erase data? |
|---|---|---|
| Restart PS5 | Ends Safe Mode and restarts the console normally. | No |
| Change Video Output | Lets you pick Change Resolution or Change HDCP Mode. Sony says it can help with blank-screen problems. | Sony does not say |
| Repair Console Storage | Try it if the PS5 does not start up well or has storage issues. | No |
| Update System Software | Updates the system software by direct download or from a USB drive. | Sony does not say |
| Restore Default Settings | Puts settings back to factory defaults. | Sony says it will not delete games, apps, screenshots, video clips, or saved data. |
| Clear Cache and Rebuild Database | Has two parts: Clear System Software Cache and Rebuild Database. | Sony does not say |
| Reset PS5 | Returns the console to its original state. | Yes. Sony says it deletes all user data. |
| Reset PS5 (Reinstall System Software) | Removes the system software. | Yes. Sony says it deletes all user data. |
Which Option Fits Your Problem
- Blank or black screen: Try Change Video Output first. Sony says changing the resolution or the HDCP mode can help.
- Console does not start properly or has storage problems: Try Repair Console Storage, which Sony says does not erase data.
- A feature acts up or the system feels slow: Sony says Clear System Software Cache is meant for system feature issues and drops in speed.
- A game icon stays on the home screen after you delete the game: Sony says Rebuild Database scans the drive and builds a new list of all your content, and it helps here.
- The console has been offline for a long time, or an update stopped halfway: Use Update System Software, which can run from a direct download or a USB drive. Sony has a page on updating system software in Safe Mode.
Save the Two Reset Options for Last
Both Reset PS5 choices delete all user data, so treat them as a last step after the milder options fail. Back up first, since a reset leaves nothing to restore from unless you saved a copy.
Sony’s page does not list how long any option takes, so plan some time and keep the console plugged in while it works. If nothing in the menu helps, Sony points you to the PlayStation Repairs tool for the next steps.
Next time your PS5 acts up, ask which option is the mildest one that matches the problem. Starting small keeps your games and saves safe.
