Why Your PlayStation 5 (PS5) Lags and 10 Ways to Fix the Issue

Why Your PlayStation 5 (PS5) Lags and 10 Ways to Fix the Issue.Are you having problems playing your PlayStation 5 (PS5) due to excessive latency? If yes, then you are not alone! Many PS5 gamers are facing similar issues and in this article, we will talk about why your PS5 is stuck online and show you how to fix it.

Why Your PlayStation 5 Lags or Freezes

There are several reasons why your PS5 is having lag issues. Some of them are more common than others. We recommend that you rule out simple reasons for the delay before moving on to fixing more serious problems. Here are a few known issues that can cause PS5 lags, freezes, or shutdowns:

Bad internet connection.
PSVR connection issues.
Software problems.
Congested network.
Interference between router and console.
The game is not optimized.
Problems with internal hardware.
Storage issues.
Unstable power supply.

Each of these possible causes can be eliminated, so let’s see what you can do to improve your gaming session.

1. Turn Your PS5 Off and On

Sometimes you can fix serious performance issues with the simplest solutions. Turning your PS5 off and on again may improve your device’s gaming experience. But it’s important to wait a few minutes before turning it on in order to fully reset your PS5.Turning off your console is a good habit. Unfortunately, some users do not turn off their devices for a long time. Instead, they leave it in rest mode. But to keep your game console running smoothly, you should turn off your PS5 completely on a regular basis.Here’s how to properly turn off your PS5 and restart it:

Go to the PS5 Control Center by pressing the PlayStation logo on your controller.
Scroll down to find the power button on the right side of the menu.

Press the power button and you will get three options: Enter rest mode, Turn off PS5 and Restart PS5.
Select the second option Turn off PS5. This will close all games and applications and turn off the PS5 system.

After turning off the console (when the console light goes out), unplug the power cable. Wait three minutes before turning it back on.
To turn your PS5 back on, press the PS logo button on your controller.

Try playing the game right now and see if it slows down.

2. Check All the Cables and Connectors

If you are playing on PlayStation VR, the reason why your PS5 may be lagging is because of a bad connection between PS5 and VR device. A good connection is required to operate a data-sensitive device. Loose network cables or a faulty HDMI port can cause delays. So, go ahead and check all connections between the console and the devices connected to it. Make sure all cables are connected properly and the HDMI port is working. You can try using a different cable or port.

3. Check the Power Source

PS5 may freeze or even freeze if it has an unstable power supply. That’s why you’ll have to check everything to do with your network connection, from the cable to the outlet.The power cable may be damaged, which can also lead to power surges on the console. All defective electrical equipment must be replaced.

4. Check the Internet Connection

Slow internet connection and problems with DNS settings are the main reasons for the delay. You need a good internet connection for your PS5 to run smoothly and give you the best online gaming experience. Check your internet connection using your PS5 console.

Launch your PS5 and go to Settings. You’ll find the gear icon next to your profile picture in the top right corner of the screen.

Select Network.

Go to Check Internet Connection.

Wait for the test to finish and look at the results. They should give you an idea if something is wrong.

You can also use your PC or laptop to test your network download speed through a website like Speedtest.Finally, you can reset your router or modem to fix internet issues. Be aware that wireless connections can cause delays because they can be congested. Instead of WiFi, try connecting with an Ethernet cable.

5. Check the Air Vents

Your console may start to perform poorly due to overheating. Constant delay may be one indication that this is the case. If your console gets very hot, check the vents. Air must circulate freely around the PS5 console. Do not block the ventilation openings by placing the console in a confined space or by placing objects around it.You should also regularly clean the ventilation openings from dust and other particles that may accumulate on them. Dust can accumulate enough to clog the ventilation system and cause the unit to overheat.

6. Check the Internal Storage Drive

If the internal storage is full or nearly full, your PS5 may freeze. This happens because the cache files have nowhere to store. They will end up in a queue, waiting to be stored on your device, and the result will be a system crash, which manifests itself as a delay or freeze.That’s why you should make sure to provide enough space on your PS5’s internal storage from time to time. You should always have at least 10 GB of free space. This will ensure optimal console performance.Here is how you can free up space on your internal storage device:

Go to Settings, the gear icon in the top right corner of the home screen.
Select Storage.

You can choose from games and apps, media gallery, Saved Data and Other. Select Games & Apps as they are the ones that take up most of the storage. Here you will be able to delete games that you don’t play anymore or don’t intend to play anytime soon.

On the next screen, you can individually select the game to delete by checking the box next to it. You can also select multiple games to delete at the same time. Select Delete in the lower right corner, then click the OK button to confirm.

Remove anything you don’t need to leave on the SSD. Check the Media Gallery for old images and videos that you no longer need. They can easily clutter up your internal storage.

7. Update All PS5 Applications and Software

Always update the software to the latest version. Follow these steps to update PS5 apps:

Find the app you want to update on the PS5 home screen and highlight it.
Press the Options button on the controller.
Select Check for updates.
Follow the instructions to download and install available updates for the selected application.
Repeat these steps for all applications that need to be updated.
Restart your PS5 console.

Usually, system updates are performed automatically. But if you installed it manually, here’s how to do it:

Go to Settings and select System.

Select System Software and navigate to System Update and Settings BY. .

Select Update System Software to start the process.

Click the Update button.

Wait for the process to complete. The console will restart automatically.

If you experience an error while loading, please restart your console and try again. If you experience multiple failed downloads, please contact Sony PlayStation Support.

8. Rebuild the Database

The database over time not only becomes clogged, but also damaged. This makes it inefficient and slow, and can also cause screen lag and freezes. If this happens to your PS5, you must rebuild the database.Please note that this process can take a long time, so please be patient while your console scans the drive and creates a new database.Follow these steps to restore the PS5 database:

Turn off your PS5 console by pressing the power button.
When the console is completely turned off, press and hold the power button again.
Release it only after you hear the second beep. You will hear the first beep when you press the button, and the second after a few seconds.
Connect the controller using the USB cable and press the PlayStation logo button.
You have entered the PS5 Safe Mode. Select Rebuild Database from the options provided and wait for the process to complete.

9. Change Game Settings

If you’re only experiencing lag in certain games, the problem may be with the game itself, and not with your PS5 console or network. Changing the game settings usually solves this problem. It is important to play power-hungry games in performance mode.If you are having framerate issues, please select a higher FPS mode in the game settings. This should reduce lag, although your graphics may look worse.

10. Factory Reset Your PS5

If nothing works, your only option might be to reset your PS5 console to factory settings. Please note that this is a last resort. A factory reset deletes everything on your device and installs a fresh copy of the PS5 software. This might be the only option if your PS5 is freezing due to system errors.To perform a factory reset:

Press the power button on the console to turn it off completely.
Press and hold the power button for about 10 seconds until you hear a second beep.
Connect the controller using the USB cable and press the PlayStation logo button.
You will enter Safe Mode. Select the Reset PS5 (reinstall system software) option. He is the last one on the list.

Wait for the process to complete and only then try playing your favorite game to see if you’re experiencing any lag issues.While troubleshooting lag issues can sometimes be a problem on PS5, with a few smart troubleshooting steps like these, you should be able to enjoy a new online gaming session in no time.