Sony’s PS5 is still one of the most popular consoles since its release in late 2020. Its slick design and specs make it more than capable of supporting all the latest games available. However, users have experienced that their PS5 is stuck on a black screen.
You’ll notice this problem when your PS5 is flashing blue on its center or its controller is also blinking blue. Though it may seem overwhelming at first, it can be fixed using a few workarounds. In this guide, we’ll show you the most common reasons for the PS5 black screen issue and how to fix it.
Read this guide to learn more.
Table of Contents
Most Common Reasons for the PS5 Blinking Blue Light and Black Screen Issue
When your PS5 boots normally, its lights on top will go from a blue color to white. When it’s stuck on blue light, chances are the PS5 is having problems booting up. The display, on the other hand, will briefly show the PlayStation logo and then be stuck on a black screen.
If you’ve recently experienced this on your PS5, here are some of the most common reasons for this problem:
- Forced Shutdown – Whether you’ve done it intentionally or by accident, the PS5 blinking blue light and black screen problem can occur once a forced shutdown is applied to your console.
- Outdated Software – If your PS5 is still running with an old software version, you’ll need to update it to install the latest configurations and settings. You can update your PS5 on its Safe Mode.
- Display Problems – Your PS5 can malfunction when its resolution settings are misconfigured. Problems with the HDMI cable can also lead to this issue.
Always remember to check all cable connections if they’re properly plugged in and replace all damaged cable connections.
- Corrupted Hard Drive – Although this is the worst-case scenario, a corrupted hard drive on your PS5 can lead to several problems, including the PS5 blinking blue light and black screen problem. To fix this, you’ll need to reset your PS5.
PS5 Blinking Blue Light and Black Screen Fix
Below are some fixes that you can try to fix the PS5 blinking blue light and black screen issue. Remember to go over them individually to see which one works best for your console.
Fix #1: Power Cycle your PS5
Power cycling is an immediate way to fix the most common problems on your PS5. It temporarily drains power on your device and reverts it to its stable state.
To power cycle your PS5, follow these steps:
- Press and hold the Power button on the front of your PS5 until you hear two beeps.
- Unplug all of its connections, including the HDMI cable.
- Then, press and hold the Power button for a few seconds to help drain most of its power.
- Reconnect all cables to your PS5 and turn it on. Check if it now boots normally.
Power cycling your PS5 should be your first step, and is also recommended for the PS5 Error CE-10095-5 and PS5 Error CE-1005-6.
Fix #2: Do a Software Update via Safe Mode
Another fix that you can do is to update your console’s software through Safe Mode. If your console is near a stable wireless network, this fix can be easy to do.
To boot your PS5 to Safe Mode and update its software, follow the steps below:
- With your PS5 turned off, press and hold the Power button until you hear a second beep—then, quickly release the button. Your PS5 will now boot into Safe Mode.
- Connect your PS5 controller via a USB cable and navigate to the third option or Update System Software.
- Select Update Using Internet and install the latest software update available.
- Once the update is installed, reboot your console and check if the PS5 blinking blue light and black screen issue is solved.
If you are having issues with your controller going flat quickly, please read our article which talks about the PS5 controller battery life and how to check or extend it.
Fix #3: Clear the System Cache of your PS5
As a part of optimizing your PS5, its system stores cache to help it run faster and access more apps seamlessly. However, it can cause problems once it’s corrupted or hasn’t been cleared up for a while.
To clear the system cache of your PS5, follow these steps:
- Press and hold the Power button until you hear a second beep, then release the button. Your PS5 will now boot into Safe Mode.
- From the options, select Clear Cache and Rebuild Database and choose Clear System Software Cache on the next window.
- Wait for the cache to be cleared.
- Next, turn on your PS5 and see if the problem is solved.
Fix #4: Change the Video Output of your PS5
The PS5 blinking blue light and black screen issue can sometimes be solved by configuring your console’s video output settings. Fortunately, you can also do this in Safe Mode and won’t lose data in the process.
To change the video output of your PS5 via Safe Mode, follow the steps below:
- Boot your PS5 to Safe Mode.
- Once your controller is connected via USB, navigate to the second option or Change Video Output.
- Go to Change HDCP Mode and set it to HDCP 1.4 Only. Then, try booting your PS5 and see if it boots normally.
- If it still has the same problem, go back to Safe Mode and select Change Video Output.
- Now, go to Change Resolution and change it from Automatic to a lower resolution like 720p.
- Reboot your PS5 and see if it solves the issue.
Fix #5: Reset your PS5
Once all fixes didn’t work, your last resort is to reset your PS5 via Safe Mode. It effectively wipes all data on your console and resets everything to factory state. To do this, boot your PS5 to Safe Mode and select Reset PS5.
Also, you can proceed to reinstall your PS5’s system software once resetting it doesn’t work. However, you’ll need to download the latest system update first on another computer and transfer it into a flash drive.
First, plug the flash drive into your PS5 and select the Reset PS5 (Reinstall System Software) option in Safe Mode. On the next window, choose Update from USB Storage Device and select OK. After the process is complete, try turning on your PS5 and see if the problem is fixed.
Final Thoughts
PS5s are powerful consoles that are capable of running the latest games today. Although problems can rarely happen to your console, it’s still possible that you might run into the PS5 blinking blue light and black screen issue.
Hence, these fixes can hopefully guide you to solve this PS5 booting problem once you encounter it for the first time. For further assistance, you can contact Sony Support.