This is an official /r/PS4 wiki maintained by members of the community.
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Newest Questions
Reedem.us.playstation.com isn't working. How do I redeem my free game?
Until that site gets fixed, you can use this alternate link to redeem the Pick 1 of 4 bundle codes.
How long do I have to claim a free game?
You can only get a game for free while it is listed in the PlayStation Plus. That's usually just for a month, but sometimes it is longer. If you get there after it's been removed from the list, you can't get it for free. New games are posted on the first store update of the month, so make sure you grab the current free games before they get replaced.
What about games I got at a discount through PlayStation Plus?
Those are yours regardless of PlayStation Plus status. You will not lose access to them if your subscription lapses.
If I get a game through PlayStation Plus, how long can I play it?
The game can be played as long as you have an active subscription. If your subscription lapses, you'll lose access to any games you got for free through PlayStation Plus. If you resubscribe, you will regain access.
Why can't I play my digitally purchased games offline?
In order to play digital copies offline, you must first set your system as your Primary System. When a system is your primary system, it caches the licenses for your purchases for offline use. This allows for offline play by anyone who uses that system. To set your system as your primary, follow these steps:
- Make sure you are currently connected to PSN
- Go into Settings->PSN->Activate as Your Primary PS4
- Select [Activate]
I already did that. I'm still having issues.
There are two extra things you can try. The first is to log out and back into PSN. You can do this by Going to Settings->PSN and using the appropriate options in there. You can also try restoring the licenses in the same area. This action will force a recaching of the licenses.
General Questions
Why can't I play my digitally purchased games offline?
In order to play digital copies offline, you must first set your system as your Primary System. When a system is your primary system, it caches the licenses for your purchases for offline use. This allows for offline play by anyone who uses that system. To set your system as your primary, follow these steps:
- Make sure you are currently connected to PSN
- Go into Settings->PSN->Activate as Your Primary PS4
- Select [Activate]
I already did that. I'm still having issues.
There are two extra things you can try. The first is to log out and back into PSN. You can do this by Going to Settings->PSN and using the appropriate options in there. You can also try restoring the licenses in the same area. This action will force a recaching of the licenses.
When is the update that adds [promised feature]?
We don't usually find out about an update until they're just about ready to push it. The 1.70 update was an exception that was announced over a month in advance, though that lacked a release date. Excluding that, we have only heard about updates from Sony a few hours prior to them pushing them.
What games have multiplayer?
A list of all games that support multiplayer can be found on this wiki page
When (and how) does the PlayStation Store update?
The NA store updates sometime on Tuesday (EU on Wednesday). This is usually in the afternoon but varies widely at times. The PS Store does not update instantly. It is a slow process. Some things will be added before others. PS+ games will not be free until they say they are free. If you buy them before they say they are free, you are paying for them. There are rare occasions that games will launch at 12:01 A.M. (EST. usually but sometimes even PST.) on the store but they are special cases for (generally) big games. A post containing these points is made by the Auto-Moderator every Tuesday.
What does [error code] mean?
This has historically never been super transparent. We do have a handy table listing what the error code refers to. It can be found here.
What does [acronym] mean?
There are a lot of acronyms and initialisms thrown around in this subreddit. So many in fact that there is now a dedicated Wiki page for it. It's a handy list in case you don't recognize what SEN or F2P mean.
Is it worth it to turn off HDCP?
If you want to capture footage with a capture card, then yes. In any other situation, the odds are probably against it being worth it. You can't watch Bluray movies or stream from some media sources when HDCP is turned off.
I have a PS4 bought in [Region]. Can I play games from [Other Region]?
This is a bit of a complicated answer. For physical games, there is no region locking from the system itself. Certain developers may implement region locking, but that is a rare situation. For digital games, there isn't any region locking on the games themselves but the PlayStation Store requires an account from the same region. So an EU PS4 can access the NA store if you have a NA PlayStation account. The EU accounts on the system can still play it, but the NA account must purchase it.
Why isn't my PS4 auto-updating my games?
It checks once a day(usually 4-5am) when in Rest Mode and immediately upon being turned on. So this means there is a very good chance that those who turn their system on every day will do so after the patch has been pushed but before the system's daily check for updates. Currently there is no setting to increase the frequency of checks or change the window of time that it checks during.
PSN General
Is online play still free?
Online play for most games will require PlayStation Plus. Some games, however, will not. These are at the moment generally Free-to-Play games, though that may change down the line. For PlayStation Plus questions, check the category below.
Will [game title] be available digitally?
Sony is requiring all games for the PS4 to be available digitally.
Does the PS4 support Cross Game Chat?
It does. It's listed under "Party" in the main screen.
Can I change my PSN ID?
Yes, for information regarding ID changes, see the official website faq
Why are some trophies labeled "common"?
The PS4 has added a rarity level for trophies. Sony takes the total number of PSN users who have played that particular game and determines how many people have each trophy. The more people have that particular trophy, the lower it's rarity level is. The four rarity levels are common, rare, very rare, and ultra rare.
How many separate users can the PS4 store at a time?
The maximum number of user profiles on a system is 16. The maximum number of players at one time is 4.
How many users can set a PS4 as their primary system?
16. The system can have potentially all of it's users set to use it as their primary system, but the users can only have one primary system.
PlayStation Plus
Will everyone on a system need their own PlayStation Plus subscription?
Fortunately the answer to this is no. Only one PlayStation Plus subscription is needed per system as long as that system is the Primary System for the user with PS+.
Will other services like Netflix require PlayStation Plus?
Only online gaming will be locked behind the PlayStation Plus service.
What are the other benefits of PlayStation Plus?
Cloud storage, auto-upload of save data, discounts on games, and free games are the three big ones. More information on PlayStation Plus can be found here.
How long do I have to claim a free game?
You can only get a game for free while it is listed in the PlayStation Plus. That's usually just for a month, but sometimes it is longer. If you get there after it's been removed from the list, you can't get it for free. New games are posted on the first store update of the month, so make sure you grab the current free games before they get replaced.
What about games I got at a discount through PlayStation Plus?
Those are yours regardless of PlayStation Plus status. You will not lose access to them if your subscription lapses.
If I get a game through PlayStation Plus, how long can I play it?
The game can be played as long as you have an active subscription. If your subscription lapses, you'll lose access to any games you got for free through PlayStation Plus. If you resubscribe, you will regain access.
I own a PS3 and a Vita. Will I need three PlayStation Plus subscriptions?
Nope. Just one, and you'll get stuff for all three.
How do I tell how much time is left on my PlayStation Plus subscription?
If you look under the PSN section in settings, it should have an option for subscriptions. You can look in here and see all the services you're subscribed to and when that subscription ends.
Go to "Settings > PSN > Account Info > Services List > PS+" or alternatively "hover over an IGC game > press Options > select Information > shows expiry"
Why do I have to have a credit/debit card on my account to use PlayStation Plus?
When PlayStation Plus is activated or renewed, it automatically enables auto-renewal. That requires a stored credit or debit card. You can cancel the automatic renewal of PlayStation Plus by following these steps.
Hardware
What's the difference between 'Rest Mode' and 'Powered Off'?
Rest Mode allows the system to download updates and keeps the currently active game on pause. It uses a bit more power than turning the system off, but not a whole lot. It can be left in this mode indefinitely.
Is the PS4's hard drive replaceable?
Yes. It's actually really easy to swap out. This link will provide detailed instructions from Sony on how to do it.
Is there any benefit to having an SSD or hybrid drive instead of a normal hard drive?
Yes. The PS4 runs everything off of the hard drive itself, so both of these types of drives will have better performance than a traditional hard drive. Is it worth the added cost? That's up to you.
Where Can I find more information on the system hardware?
Various places. Here is the /r/PS4 Wiki page on the topic, and here is Sony's official page on the hardware specs.
Controller
Can I charge controllers when the system is turned off?
Thankfully you can. If for some reason it isn't working, you can enable it in Settings->Power Save Settings->Set Functions Available in Rest Mode.
Can I disable the light on the controller?
At this time you cannot disable the light. You can, however, dim the light in games and apps that do not use the light. You can access this setting by holding the PlayStation button, selecting "Adjust Devices", and clicking into "Brightness of DUALSHOCK 4 Light Bar."
What does the EXT port on the controller do?
It's a bit of future proofing for potential attachments like a physical keyboard down the line. Right now it is used by some controller charging stations, but not much else.
Camera and Voice
What all can the camera do?
The PlayStation Camera adds voice control to the main OS. It also adds a few neat features such as video chat and tracking which player is sitting where(based on controller light). Since it isn't packaged with the system, most games released right now don't fully support it. It does also work as a microphone by default. Make sure and turn that feature off if you don't want to broadcast everything happening in your living room.
What kinds of headsets are compatible?
Any headset with a 3.5mm connector should work. You don't need to buy some PlayStation specific headset. Older bluetooth headsets currently do not work, though Sony has announced that support for them will be added down the line. More information can be found on the wiki's Headsets page.
Does the PS4 support voice controls?
Yes. It actually supports it if you have a headset or the PlayStation Camera. Here is the official support page for it.
Does the PS4 support video chat?
It appears to not be present at the moment.
Installs and Uninstalls
Why are installs often super large?
The PS4 moves all of the files on the disc over to the hard drive. The benefit of this is faster access to the files. The downside is that each game takes up a lot of space.
Can I play a game while it's downloading?
Yes, with one caveat. The game must download a certain amount before it can be played. Additionally, depending on the game, you can download the single player or multiplayer section first. Not all games support this though.
Can games install in the background?
Yes, PS4 games can install in the background and in Stand By mode. The game may need to be opened once before it'll start the install though.
How many systems can I Install a digitally purchased game on?
As many as you want. The caveat is that only your Primary Machine will be able to play it when you aren't logged in. Every other machine you install it on will only have it available while you are logged in. It will stay downloaded and installed, but it will be locked until either you log in again or someone else purchases the game. If they buy it, they won't have to redownload it.
Will uninstalling a game delete my save data?
No. Save data is stored separately from the game data.
Media
What formats does the PS4 support?
At the time of writing, the PS4 supports MP3, MP4, M4A, and 3GP for music only.
What are the alternatives?
Additionally, the PS4 supports Spotify, aka PlayStation Music. This can run while you're playing most games, and can be controlled by your smartphone via the Spotify app.
For a list of apps you can download on your PS4, click here.
Is DLNA supported?
It's not supported by the OS itself, but it can be used if you stream through the web browser.
Is 3D supported?
Some games do support 3D, but most do not. As of PS4 OS 1.75, 3D BluRays are supported.
How do I get rid of icons for media apps I don't use?
At present there is no way to hide or remove them.
Backwards Compatibility
Can the PS4 play PS3/2/1 games?
Unfortunately, no. The PS4 is based on the x86 architecture while older systems are not. This leads to a lot of headache in getting older games to run. Sony has opted to not attempt messy emulation that probably would not work very well at all.
Can I play games I bought on PSN for the PS3?
At the moment, PSN games will only work if they were coded with the PS4 in mind. So unless they re-release like Flower has, they won't work.
How does the PS3->PS4 game upgrade work?
If you bought it digitally, you should be able to upgrade some games for $10. If you bought it physically, you should have a code in the box that can be used to purchase the game. Either way, once purchased you'll end up downloading the PS4 version of the game. You'll have to put the PS3 disc in if you bought it physically first though. Here is the PlayStation Support page on the subject.
If I upgrade my PS3 version to a PS4 version, will I still be able to play the PS3 version?
It should work the same as normal.
Will backwards compatibility be added later on?
It is unlikely that hardware emulation will be added later on, with the existence of the PlayStation Now service. For more information, see the below section.
What is PlayStation Now?
PlayStation Now is a game streaming service that will allow you to play PlayStation 1, 2, and 3 games on your PS4, Vita,TV, tablet, and potentially other internet connected devices. It has not been stated when the service will launch in Europe . A subscription starts at $19.99 for a month up to three months for $44.99. When renting games, a variety of rental options are available. Most games can be rented for about $1 a day for a week, or choose from 4-hour, 30 day and 90 rental periods available for most games.
Sharing and Streaming
Can I share gameplay stuff from the PS4?
Yes. When you press the Share button, it will open up the Share menu. From here, you can either upload a screenshot, upload a video, or save them locally. To save a video, press square while the Share menu is open. To save a screenshot, press triangle.
What services can I share stuff to?
At the moment, you can only share video to Facebook. Screenshots can be shared through either Facebook or Twitter. You will need accounts with either service to take advantage of this.
What services can I broadcast gameplay through?
UStream and Twitch are currently supported. You will need accounts with both services to take advantage of it.
Why are some scenes missing in my captures?
Sony has provided developers with a way to block certain things from being broadcast to prevent spoilers. If a scene is missing, odds are that a developer has decided it shouldn't be captured or streamable. You can enable on screen prompts to let you know when these things happen by opening the Share menu, pressing "Option", entering Share Settings, and looking under Video Clip Options. Here you will find a toggle for displaying an icon on your screen whenever a blocked scene happens during play. Most people won't want this, so it's disabled by default.
How do I access my captures?
There is an icon labelled "My Gallery" that lists all of your screenshots and videos. You can also access them from either the Share menu or your PSN profile icon on the XMB.
The PS4 isn't auto-capturing the last 15 minutes like it's supposed to. What's going on?
When you open the Share menu, you need to press square to save a video clip.
My clip is boring by itself. What can I do to make it fancier?
You can use the built in Sharefactory app to do editing, add commentary, add a soundtrack, and many other things. It's a lot more stuff than can be explained in this FAQ. If that program isn't powerful enough for your needs, you can also export the video and screenshots off of your PS4 and onto a USB drive.
Remote Play And Second Screen
What is Remote Play?
Remote Play allows for a PS Vita, PC/Mac or Android* phone to operate a PS4. This way you can play from your device instead of your TV screen. The video will be mirrored between the two. This feature was available on the PS3, but it used to require the dev to allocate resources for it. As such, it wasn't really used. Now it is built into the system, so pretty much every game should support it.
*Only officially supported on Sony phones.
Do all games support Remote Play?
Games that require the PlayStation Camera or Move controller won't work with Remote Play. Most other games should work just fine with it.
Can I pair my device with my system, then go to my friend's house and use it on their system?
Yes and no. Yes, it is possible to do this. It will require you to pair with their system though, and the Vita can only be paired with one system at a time. You'll have to re-pair it when you get back to your system.
Can I broadcast gameplay while I'm using Remote Play?
Not at present. It appears to use the same broadcast system, though Remote Play also sends input back. As a result, you can't do both at the same time.
If we're playing a split screen game and I'm using Remote Play, will I see just my stuff on my screen and just their stuff on the TV?
If you're playing from the same system, it will just mirror what's on the TV to your device's screen.
What is Second Screen?
You can use the PS Vita, iPad, or Android tablet as a secondary screen to display unique content when playing games that support the Second Screen feature. How the second screen is used is up to individual game developers, but possibilities include radar, maps, alternate camera angles, playbooks in sports games, and much more.
Miscellaneous
Can I hook my PS4 up through my XBox One?
Yes. At the moment there is a bit of lag, but it isn't a large amount. It should be pretty much unnoticeable.
How do I choose a new TV to use with my PS4?
The biggest factor in gaming is the Input Lag, which is a stat they don't generally advertise. Go here, and choose the best TV you can find in the size you want with the lowest input lag: http://www.displaylag.com/display-database/ [1]
Last revised by LividGrass