Your PS4 won’t connect to Wi-Fi, and you’re stuck before the game even starts. Start with the password and a restart, then use the console’s connection test to find where things break down. From there, you can target the failed connection stage instead of changing settings at random.
Reconnect with the correct Wi-Fi password
An incorrect Wi-Fi password stops your PS4 from joining the network and is one cause of error NW-31297-2.
Open Settings > Network and check Connect to the Internet.
Go to Settings > Network > Set Up Internet Connection > Use Wi-Fi > Easy.
Select your network.
Enter its current Wi-Fi password.
If the network is hidden, select Set Up Manually from the network-selection screen.
Enter the exact network name and security information requested onscreen.
Give the console and router a fresh start
A restart is the next thing to try. PlayStation recommends restarting the console and power-cycling your network equipment for connection errors.
Select Power > Turn Off PS4 from the function screen or quick menu. Alternatively, hold the console’s power button for at least seven seconds until you hear two beeps.
Once the console’s indicator is off, press its power button to turn it back on.
Turn off your modem or router.
Leave it off for five minutes before turning it back on.
If the PS4 still won’t connect, run Settings > Network > Test Internet Connection next. The results tell you which part of the connection needs attention.
Find out where the connection fails
Use the built-in test to separate a local network problem from an internet or PlayStation service failure.
- 1.Open Settings > Network > Test Internet Connection.
- 2.Check Obtain IP Address. A failure means the console has not obtained an IP address on your network.
- 3.Read Internet Connection separately. This checks whether the PS4 can reach the internet.
- 4.Check PlayStation Network Sign-In. If internet access succeeds but sign-in fails, move to the online-services checks below.
- 5.Follow any troubleshooting instructions displayed with the result, and note the error code.
Improve the signal and try another band
Start here when the console struggles to reach your router or find your network. Weak signal is a cause of connection errors NW-31295-0 and NW-31291-6.
Move the PS4 and router closer together.
Remove obstructions between them.
Place the router centrally and higher up, away from interference sources.
On a PS4 Slim or PS4 Pro, open Settings > Network > Set Up Internet Connection > Use Wi-Fi > Easy to try another band. Frequency selection requires 5 GHz-capable PS4 hardware.
Press OPTIONS on the network-selection screen.
Choose the other supported frequency band.
For a busy network, temporarily disconnect other Wi-Fi devices or wait for heavy network activity to finish.
Run Settings > Network > Test Internet Connection again.
Check your router’s compatibility settings
A disabled wireless radio or incompatible security setting prevents a connection. PS4 supports WPA2; Sony lists WPA3 support for PS5, not PS4. The paths below apply to supported TP-Link Archer models; on TP-Link Wi-Fi 8 routers, the equivalent settings are under Wi-Fi > Main Network. Use your router’s own instructions for other models.
To make the network discoverable, sign in at tplinkwifi.net and open Advanced > Wireless > Wireless Settings. Check Enable or Enable Wireless Radio for the required compatible band. Clear Hide SSID, then select Save.
For a security compatibility problem, open Advanced > Wireless > Wireless Settings and choose WPA2-PSK with AES encryption. In TP-Link’s illustrated interface, set Security to WPA/WPA2-Personal, Version to WPA2-PSK, and Encryption to AES, then select Save. Reconnect the PS4 through Settings > Network > Set Up Internet Connection > Use Wi-Fi > Easy.
To test bands separately on a supported dual-band TP-Link router, disable Smart Connect in Wireless Settings. Give each band a different Network Name (SSID), then select Save. Choose the intended compatible network during the PS4’s Use Wi-Fi > Easy setup.
Check services when Wi-Fi already works
If the PS4 obtains an IP address but fails the internet or PlayStation sign-in test, focus on that failed stage. Re-entering the Wi-Fi password won’t resolve a service outage.
For an internet connection failure, check your internet provider’s service-status information or contact its support team about an outage or maintenance.
When internet access succeeds but PlayStation services fail, open the PlayStation Service Status page on a phone or computer.
Wait for a reported outage to end before trying again.
If only one game is affected, check that game publisher’s server-status page.
Once internet access works, open Settings > Account Management > Sign in if your account is signed out.
Complete authentication.
Correct DNS or custom network settings
Incorrect DNS settings are one cause of errors NW-31246-6 and NW-31253-4.
Open Settings > Network > Set Up Internet Connection > Use Wi-Fi > Custom.
If you use Manual under DNS Settings, confirm the Primary DNS and Secondary DNS values with your internet provider or chosen DNS provider.
Correct the configuration at DNS Settings using those values.
For other custom configuration errors, correct the relevant IP address, DHCP Host Name, MTU, or proxy settings using values supplied by your internet provider or network administrator.
Choose Easy during connection setup when you don’t need custom settings.
If Obtain IP Address fails, use your router’s instructions to check that its DHCP server is enabled and its address pool matches the LAN subnet.
Keep these changes tied to the test result. DNS changes won’t repair weak wireless signal or a rejected Wi-Fi password.
Try Ethernet and install available updates
Ethernet bypasses the wireless connection and gives you another way to get online. Connect your router to the PS4’s LAN port. Open Settings > Network > Set Up Internet Connection > Use a LAN Cable > Easy.
With Ethernet or another working network connected, open Settings > System Software Update. Install the available PS4 update.
Update your router’s firmware using its manufacturer’s instructions. On supported TP-Link routers through Tether, open More > System > Firmware Update > Update.
For another connection test, join a different compatible Wi-Fi network through Settings > Network > Set Up Internet Connection > Use Wi-Fi > Easy. A successful connection there points troubleshooting toward your home network without identifying the exact cause.
Restore settings as a last configuration step
Restoring default settings resets the console’s configuration after simpler fixes fail.
Open Settings > Initialization > Restore Default Settings.
Follow the onscreen prompts. This does not roll back the system software.
Reconfigure Wi-Fi through Settings > Network > Set Up Internet Connection > Use Wi-Fi > Easy.
Run Settings > Network > Test Internet Connection again.
For persistent failure, open PlayStation’s Connectivity Support page.
Follow Internet connection > Connection troubleshooting > PlayStation Repairs. Repair options depend on your model and region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my PS4 lose internet access in Rest Mode?
Open Settings > Power Save Settings > Set Features Available in Rest Mode and select Stay Connected to the Internet. This enables Rest Mode connectivity; it does not fix a failed initial Wi-Fi setup.
How do I connect a PS4 to a dorm or managed network?
Follow the network operator’s console-registration procedure. Find your PS4’s wireless MAC address under Settings > Network > View Connection Status and provide it if registration requires it.
Can I connect my PS4 using WPS instead of entering the password?
Yes, with a WPS-enabled router. Open Settings > Network > Set Up Internet Connection > Use Wi-Fi > Easy > Set Up Using WPS Button. Follow the prompts and activate your router’s WPS function.
Should I initialize my PS4 or rebuild its database to fix Wi-Fi?
Sony does not document Rebuild Database as a routine Wi-Fi repair. Initialize PS4 and Initialize PS4 (Reinstall System Software) erase user data and are intended for system recovery. Safe Mode’s Restore Default Settings option preserves installed games, apps, captures, and saved data.