Top 7 Solutions to Fix PS4 White Light of Death

Read time: 9 minutes

Summary: Is your PS4 showing flickering white light? Gaming consoles are not different from other electronic devices when it comes to getting wear and tear. One of the most feared issues faced by PS4 users is the “white light of death.” If you’re also a victim of this issue, review this article step-by-step and find methods that will help you recover from the situation. Apart from that, use Kernel for Windows Data Recovery and recover all your data by connecting PS4 hard drive to a Windows PC.

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PlayStation 4 or PS4 is widely recognized and admired gaming console known for its user-friendly design as well as efficient performance. Whenever a user sees a white light on their PS4 device, they’re often startled considering it White Light of Death.

Well, WLOD on PS4 is actually a serious concern that needs to be considered significantly. It’s been happening to a lot of people lately, and it can be really frustrating when your console just stops working. Well, we are here to assure you that there is hope! We’ve fixed our PS4 with one of these methods, and we are positive that at least one of them will work for you too. So read on, and hopefully, your console will be up & running again in no time.

What does a white light on a PlayStation 4 mean?

White light in PlayStation 4 can be of different types and have different meanings. Not every white light you see in your console represents an issue. It is therefore important to understand these light patterns:

Blinking white then off: The device is shutting down.
Solid white: PS4 is functioning properly but if there’s no picture, it signifies problem.
Blue first then white: Regular power up, the console is being started.
Constant blinking/ solid white (no picture): White Light of Death due to power supply or hardware issues.
Blue (solid or blinking): The console is turning on.
Solid Orange: Device is in Rest mode or low power.
Orange: Charging is on
No light: Disconnected device

PS4 White Light of Death – Causes

There are many causes for the PS4 White Light of Death issue, but the most common one is hardware failure. Other causes include:

Overheating: The PS4 console can overheat if it is placed in an enclosed area or if it is used for prolonged periods of time without proper ventilation.
HDMI Issues: The HDMI port connects the PS4 to the TV, and if it’s not making a proper connection, the PS4 won’t work.
Firmware Issues: If the PS4 firmware is not up to date, it can cause the console to malfunction.
Blown IC Chip: This can happen if you use an improper HDMI cable or if you plug/unplug the HDMI cable too often.
Power Supply Problems: If the PS4 power supply is not working effectively, it can cause the console to shut down unexpectedly or show a white light on the top of the unit.
Outdated Drivers: If your system’s drivers are out-of-date, it can cause all sorts of problems, including video issues like this one.

How to fix PS4 White Light of Death?

There are some solutions that you can give a try before running into a PS4 repair station. This might help you fix PS4 white light of death and restore your console without making a hole in your pocket.

Solution 1: Fix Hardware Issues

One of the most general causes of the PS4 WLOD is hardware damage. If your PS4 was dropped or otherwise subject to physical trauma, it’s possible that one of the internal components has become dislodged or damaged.

To check for hardware damage, first, make sure that your PS4 is properly plugged into an outlet and that all cables are securely connected. Then, power on your PS4 and listen for any unusual sounds coming from the console. If you hear a grinding noise or see sparks coming from inside the PS4, unplug it immediately and contact Sony for assistance.

Solution 2: Try a Power Cycle

If your PS4 appears to be rightly plugged in and there’s no obvious hardware damage, the next thing is to try a power cycle. This simply means turning off your PS4 completely and then unplugging it from the power outlet for at least 30 seconds.

After 30 seconds have passed, plug your PS4 back in and turn it on. In most cases, this will fix the WLOD issue and allow you to continue playing your games.

Solution 3: Update Controller’s Drivers

This issue can be caused by many factors, but most often, it is due to outdated controller drivers. Here, we will see how to update the controller drivers to fix this issue.

Open the Device Manager on your PC. You can do this by searching for the “Device Manager” in the Start menu.
Expand the section “Universal Serial Bus controllers.”
Locate the “USB Root Hub” and right-click on them one by one. Select “Update Driver“.
Choose the option “Browse my computer for driver software.”
Then tap the “Let me pick” link.
Click on the “Have Disk” button.
Browse and select the folder where you extracted the driver files. Click “OK.” then Next and Install.

By following the steps above, you should be able to update the controller drivers and fix the PS4 white light of death issue.

Solution 4:Use Safe Mode

PS4’s Safe Mode menu is a great way to solve issues you may be having with your console. The Safe Mode menu allows you to start the console with only the most basic functions activated. This can help if your PS4 is not starting up properly. It can also help if your console is stuck in an infinite loop, or you are experiencing other issues.

To enter Safe Mode on the PS4, follow these steps:

Turn off your PS4 with the power button on the front of the console.
Once the PS4 is off, press & hold the power button again.
Keep holding the power button until you get 2 beeps. This means that your PS4 is now in Safe Mode.
Once your PS4 is in Safe Mode, connect a DualShock 4 controller to the PS4 using a USB data cable.
Press the PS button on the controller to log into Safe Mode.
You will now see a list of options on the screen. Choose the option that you want and press X on the controller to select it.
If you want to exit Safe Mode, simply turn off your PS4 and then turn it back on again without holding the power button down this time.

Solution 5: Try Controller Reset

In case you are still stuck with the white light of death error, the controller reset becomes the viable option for you. Go through the steps below.

Turn off your PS4 console and unplug it from the power outlet.
Locate the small hole on the back of the PS4 controller near the L2 shoulder button.
Using a paperclip or other sharp object, press and hold the button inside the hole for about 3-5 seconds.
While still holding the button, plug your controller into the PS4 console using a USB cable. Continue to push the button for an additional 5 seconds.
After a few seconds, you may also see a blinking LED on your controller, indicating that it’s been reset. You can now release the button and test your controller to see if the issue has been fixed.

Solution 6: Update Your Firmware

If neither of the above solutions works, it’s possible that you’re dealing with a software issue. The first thing to try is updating your PS4’s firmware to the latest version. You can perform this by going to Settings > System Software Update and following the prompts on-screen. Once your firmware has been updated, restart your PS4 and see if the WLOD issue has been resolved.

Solution 7: Automated Tool for Easy Data Recovery

At times, the troubleshooting process of your PS4 can be risky with the risk of losing your important data but do we have an alternate option to escape this problem? Yes, we have an ultimate solution for all such tech needs.

The PS4 data recovery is possible with the help of the Kernel for Windows Data Recovery tool. This tool can recover lost, deleted, or corrupted data from a PS4 hard drive or any other storage device connected to a Windows system. The tool supports all versions of Windows operating systems, such as Windows 365, 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP, 2000, 98, NT, and 95.

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The tool has a simple and easy-to-use interface. The software also comes with a free trial version. To recover lost or deleted data from PS4, you just need to follow the below- mentioned steps:

Connect the PS4 hard drive to your PC using a USB cable.
Launch the Windows data recovery tool and select the desired option from the given Quick Scan, Deep Scan, and File Trace from the main screen.
Next, you need to select the connected hard drive from the list of drives displayed on your screen and click on Scan.
Once the scanning process is completed, a list of recovered files is displayed on your screen.
You can preview the recovered files and then save them at the desired location on your computer.

This tool is an effective and reliable tool that can be used for recovering lost or deleted data from PS4. This tool offers various features like a preview option, selective recovery, etc., making it a better choice than other tools available in the market.

Last Say

These are our top ways to fix the PS4 White Light of Death issue. We hope one of these methods works for you and your console! If not, don’t worry – we’ve still got an ultimate troubleshooter for the recovery of your important data. Make sure that you use Kernel Windows Data Recovery solution for once before giving up on your PS4 altogether. It will help you recover your data even if there’s problem with your device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this white light always mean problem in my PS4?

No, not necessarily. Most of the time a solid white light represents that your console is working fine. The issue is only when the screen stops working and becomes blank.

How to fix white light of death in PS4?

To fix the error in PS4 device, follow the given practices:
1. Update or reinstall the controller drivers
2. Reset your PS4 console
3. Enter the safe mode on your PS4
4. Update the firmware in your PlayStation

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