The PlayStation 4 has a lot of internet-based features that become useless when the system won’t connect to WiFi. Unfortunately, these types of network problems are often difficult to address. If your PS4 is not connecting to WiFi, here are a few ideas of what you can do to fix the situation and get back online.
PlayStation 4 Not Connecting To WiFi | How to fix
A number of problems can result in a PlayStation 4 not connecting to WiFi. A PS4 won’t connect to WiFi with incorrect login credentials, incorrect DNS settings, or during PlayStation Network server outages. The system may also lose wireless connectivity due to common home network issues.
Step One: Verify PSN status and login credentials
The easiest way to address PS4 WiFi problems is to eliminate the simplest issues first. To start, check to make sure that the PlayStation Network is actually online. You won’t be able to connect if servers are down. If PSN is up, double check that your PSN username and password are correct. It should be obvious, but you won’t be able to connect at all if your login credentials are wrong.
Step Two: Rule out common network problems
Assuming PS4 services are working as normal, your next step is to diagnose your home WiFi network. This should be relatively easy: You need to make sure that your WiFi is up and running, and that your PlayStation 4 is within signal range. You also need to make sure that you’ve correctly entered the password for your WiFi network.
If your phone or PC is working on your home WiFi, your network is probably fine. Similarly, if your PS4 was able to connect through WiFi previously, you can assume that the console’s placement in your home is not to blame. However, if you’ve recently moved the system, or placed any new gadgets or decorations between your PS4 and WiFi router, it’s worth trying to place the console somewhere else. Even if the system connects successfully, you may run into slow PS4 download speeds.
Step Three: Restart everything
The common advice to restart your system is common for a reason: It works surprisingly often. Assuming you haven’t already, try restarting your PlayStation 4. If the PS4 still won’t connect to WiFi, try power cycling your wireless router or modem. Press the power button if it has one; otherwise, unplug the power cable and wait a few seconds before plugging it back in. With any luck, the problem will sort itself out.
Note: Don’t use the reset button on your router or modem unless you know what you’re getting into. The reset button isn’t used to power cycle the device; it’s used to remove custom settings and/or restore the device to factory settings. Using the reset button could create more problems than you already have.
Step Four: Configure PS4 network connection
If nothing has worked so far, it’s time to dive into your PS4 network settings. Head to Settings and select Set Up Internet Connection. It’s best to use the automatic IP configuration, though problems may arise when it comes to DNS settings. Users who encounter the “cannot connect to Wi-Fi network within the time limit” error can try to set their primary DNS to 8.8.8.8 and their secondary DNS to 8.8.4.4. Everything else should be set to the auto configuration whenever possible.
With the automatic configuration complete, regardless of manual DNS settings, use the option to Test Internet Connection. If you’re still encountering problems, you should be given an error code or an error description with more details. You can search those online or through the PlayStation Support website to learn about more specific fixes.
Step Five: PS4 factory reset or hard-wired connection
By this point you will have eliminated all of the most common PS4 WiFi problems. However, it’s possible that your PlayStation is still not connecting to WiFi for whatever reason. If that’s the case, it’s worth looking at two last resorts: Performing a factory reset on your console or abandoning all wireless aspirations.
You’re probably already aware that you could run an ethernet cable from your modem to your PS4. That’s a simple solution, but it’s not a WiFi solution. So if nothing else has worked, it’s time to think about a PS4 factory reset. This should only be done as a last resort, as it wipes all data from the console, including your games, saves, screenshots, system firmware, and so on. More information about how to perform a factory reset can be found on the PlayStation Support website.
