To factory reset a PS5, go to Settings, then System, System Software, Reset Options, and choose Reset Your Console. This erases every account, game, save file and setting on the console and returns it to the state it was in when you first unboxed it.
Because it cannot be undone, the preparation matters as much as the reset itself. This guide covers what to save first, the exact steps, the gentler reset options, and how to reset from Safe Mode when the console will not start properly.
What a PS5 Factory Reset Deletes and What It Keeps
| Deleted from the console | Safe, because it lives in your account |
|---|---|
| All user profiles on the PS5 | Your PlayStation Network account |
| Installed games and apps | Digital game purchases, which you can download again |
| Save data stored on the console | Saves uploaded to PlayStation Plus cloud storage |
| Screenshots and video clips | Trophies that have been synced |
| Settings, Wi-Fi passwords, controller pairings | Your PlayStation Plus subscription |
What to Do Before You Factory Reset Your PS5
1. Back up your save data
If you have PlayStation Plus, check that your saves are in the cloud: go to Settings, Saved Data and Game/App Settings, then Saved Data (PS5) and upload anything missing. Without PlayStation Plus, back up the whole console to a USB drive from Settings, System, System Software, Back Up and Restore.
2. Copy screenshots and clips you want to keep
Open Media Gallery and copy them to a USB drive, or make sure they have uploaded to the PlayStation App.
3. Sync your trophies
Open your profile, go to Trophies, press Options and choose to sync with PlayStation Network.
4. Turn off Console Sharing if you are selling or giving the PS5 away
Go to Settings, Users and Accounts, Other, Console Sharing and Offline Play and select Disable. This stops the console from being treated as your main PS5.
5. Remove discs and USB drives
Take out any game disc and unplug external drives so nothing gets left behind or wiped by accident.
Sony’s own checklist is on its support page for transferring or disposing of a PlayStation console.
How to Factory Reset PS5 From the Settings Menu
- From the home screen, select the Settings gear in the top-right corner.
- Select System.
- Select System Software.
- Select Reset Options.
- Select Reset Your Console.
- Confirm by selecting Reset.
The PS5 restarts and shows a progress bar. Leave it alone until the setup screen appears. Do not unplug it or switch it off while it is working, because interrupting a reset can corrupt the system software.
The Three PS5 Reset Options and Which One You Need
- Clear Learning Dictionary only removes the words the on-screen keyboard has learned from you.
- Restore Default Settings puts system settings back to default and keeps your games, saves and accounts. Try this first if you are fixing a glitch.
- Reset Your Console is the full factory reset that erases everything.
How to Factory Reset PS5 in Safe Mode When It Will Not Start
If the console freezes, loops or shows a black screen, you can reach the reset options without loading the home screen.
- Turn the PS5 off completely by holding the power button until it shuts down. The light should be off, not orange.
- Press and hold the power button again. Release it after the second beep, which comes about seven seconds after the first.
- Connect the controller with a USB cable and press the PS button.
- In the Safe Mode menu, try the less drastic options first: Clear Cache and Rebuild Database, then Restore Default Settings.
- If those do not help, select Reset PS5.
There is also Reset PS5 (Reinstall System Software). It wipes the console and reinstalls the operating system from a USB drive, so you need to download the PS5 system software file from Sony’s website onto a drive first. Use it only when a normal reset fails.
What to Do After the Reset
If you are keeping the console, sign in to your account, reinstall your games from Game Library, and download your saves from cloud storage or restore your USB backup. If storage was the reason you were clearing things out, see how much storage the PS5 has and how to add more.
If you are selling it, stop at the first setup screen and turn it off. The new owner signs in with their own account.
If you already sold it without resetting, sign in to your account on Sony’s website and deactivate all devices from the device management settings. Sony limits how often you can do this, so use it only when you cannot reach the console.
Frequently Asked Questions About Resetting a PS5
How long does a PS5 factory reset take?
Usually a few minutes, although it can take longer on a console with a lot of data. Reinstalling the system software from USB adds extra time.
Does a factory reset delete my PSN account?
No. It only removes the account from that console. Your account, purchases and trophies stay on Sony’s servers.
Will I lose my games after a factory reset?
The installed copies are deleted, but you can download digital games again for free and reinstall disc games from the disc.
Does a factory reset fix a slow or freezing PS5?
It can fix software problems. Start with Clear Cache and Rebuild Database in Safe Mode, which often solves freezing without erasing anything. Overheating or hardware faults will not be fixed by a reset.
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