If your PlayStation 4 no longer has a place in your heart or your home, you might have considered gifting it or even selling it. MusicMagpie is currently paying between £100 and £115 for those in good condition, and you could potentially make even more if you list it via an auction site.
But before you sell or give away your PS4, be sure to deactivate the console as your primary device and remove all personal information from it. This may also be helpful if you are hanging on to your PS4 but it’s been playing up, and if this is the case be sure to back up any save data to an external device or online before you begin.
How to deactivate PS4
Open SettingsSelect Account ManagementSelect ‘Activate as Your Primary PS4’Choose DeactivateSelect Yes
How to factory reset PS4
Open SettingsScroll down to and select InitializationChoose Initialize PS4Choose Full
The process might take more than an hour to wipe all your personal data, and you should be careful not to switch off the console before it has completed. Do note that this cannot be undone, so be absolutely sure before wiping your data.
How to reset PS4 in Safe mode
If you can’t even get to the Settings menu to reset your PS4, you can also access the ‘Initialize PS4’ option from Safe mode.
Enter Safe mode by turning off the console and then pressing and holding the power button for around eight seconds, until you hear two bleeps.
We’d advise caution in choosing the ‘Initialize PS4 (Reinstall System Software)’ option here, because it will require you to reinstall the software from another device. Use this only as a last resort.
Also see our PlayStation 5 review.
Marie is Editorial Director at Foundry. A Journalism graduate from the London College of Printing, she’s worked in tech media for more than 17 years, managing our EMEA and LatAm editorial teams and leading on content strategy through Foundry’s transition from print, to digital, to online - and beyond.
