Is there anything more frustrating than settling in for an epic gaming session only to be greeted by a "PlayStation Network Sign In Failed" error message? Don‘t worry – while sign in issues can be annoying, they‘re usually easy to diagnose and fix.
In this guide, we‘ll walk you through the most common reasons your PlayStation may have trouble connecting to your account, along with simple troubleshooting steps to get you back online and fragging away in no time. Let‘s jump in!
Check Your Network Connection
The first thing to do when you can‘t sign into your PSN account is verify your console has a working internet connection. Here‘s how:
- Go to Settings > Network > Test Internet Connection.
- If the test fails, try restarting your router and console. Unplug both devices, wait 30 seconds, then plug them back in.
- Make sure your PlayStation is connected via Ethernet cable if possible, as wired connections are generally more stable than Wi-Fi.
- If on Wi-Fi, ensure your console is close to the router. Move it closer or remove any large objects between the devices that could interfere with the signal.
- Try connecting your PlayStation directly to the modem with an Ethernet cable, bypassing the router. If it works, the issue is with your router settings.
- On the router, confirm UPnP is enabled and your console has an open NAT type. Forward the PlayStation Network ports if needed.
- As a last resort, connect to a different network like a mobile hotspot to see if the issue is with your home internet.
If your PlayStation connects to PlayStation Network on another network, contact your ISP for help with your home internet. But if you have a solid connection and still can‘t log in, move on to the next step.
Verify Your Login Credentials
Entering the wrong email, password or two-factor authentication code is another frequent reason for PlayStation Network sign in failures. Double check that you‘re using the correct login info for your account.
If you‘re certain the email and password are right but it‘s still not working, try resetting your password:
- On the sign in screen, select "Trouble Signing In?"
- Choose "Reset Your Password" and enter the email associated with your account.
- Check your email for instructions from PlayStation to create a new password.
- Use the new password to log into your account.
Note that if you have two-step verification enabled (and you should for better security), you‘ll also need the code generated by your authenticator app to complete the sign in.
Renew PlayStation Plus or Other Subscriptions
Certain PlayStation Network features require an active paid subscription. If your membership has expired, you‘ll need to renew it to regain access.
To see if your PlayStation Plus is still active and renew it:
- Go to Settings > Account Management > Account Information > PlayStation Subscriptions.
- If your subscription is expired or about to expire, select "Manage Subscription" to extend it.
- Add a valid payment method if none is on file and complete the purchase.
- Once renewed, try signing in again.
Other subscriptions like PlayStation Now can also cause sign in issues if they lapse, so repeat these steps for any additional memberships you may have.
Check PlayStation Network Server Status
PlayStation Network is generally stable, but outages do happen from time to time for maintenance or unexpected issues. If PSN is down, there‘s nothing you can do but wait for Sony to fix it.
To check if PSN is having problems:
- On a computer or phone, go to the official PlayStation Network Service Status site (https://status.playstation.com/).
- Look for your region and the status of "Account Management."
- If it says anything other than "All services are up and running," PSN is experiencing issues. Try again later when the status changes to normal.
- For updates, follow @AskPlayStation on Twitter where outages are posted.
You can also check third-party "Is it down?" type sites for user reports of recent issues with PSN.
Update System Software
Using an outdated version of the PlayStation system software can cause sign in failures and other glitches. Keep your console updated to ensure the best performance and access to the latest features.
To check for and install updates:
- Go to Settings > System Software Update.
- If an update is available, select "Update" to download and install it.
- Restart the console if prompted and try signing in again.
You can also enable automatic software updates in Rest Mode so you never miss an important patch:
- Go to Settings > System > Automatic Downloads.
- Check "System Software Update Files."
Your PlayStation will now automatically download and install updates while in Rest Mode. Just remember to leave it there when you‘re done playing.
Restart and Rebuild Your PS4
If your PlayStation is up-to-date and PSN is online but you still can‘t sign in, the next step is to clear the cache and rebuild the system database. This process removes temporary data that may have become corrupted and causes the console to scan and reorganize the hard drive, fixing many small issues.
To do this:
- Turn off the PlayStation 4 completely (not Rest Mode).
- Once the lights stop blinking, press and hold the power button until you hear a second beep (about 7 seconds). This boots the console into Safe Mode.
- Connect your controller with a USB cable and press the PS button.
- Choose option 5, "Rebuild Database."
- Let it complete (may take a few hours) and restart.
- Update the system software if prompted, then try signing in.
If that doesn‘t fix the login issue, repeat steps 1-3 and choose option 7 instead to reinstall the system software. This will erase all saved data, so ONLY do this if you‘ve exhausted all other options. Backup any gameplay footage or screenshots you want to keep first.
Contact PlayStation Support
Still unable to sign into your PSN account? It may be an issue with the account itself that requires assistance from PlayStation support to resolve.
Common reasons to contact support include:
- You forgot the sign in email or password and don‘t have access to the recovery methods
- You think your account was hacked and credentials changed
- Your account was banned for a violation of the PlayStation Network Terms of Service
- You see an error code not listed in the support database
- The troubleshooting steps above didn‘t resolve your issue
To get in touch with PlayStation support:
- Go to https://www.playstation.com/en-us/support/contact-us/
- Choose the topic that best fits your issue – for sign in problems, select "Account & Security."
- Pick your PlayStation model.
- Enter a description of the problem you‘re having signing in. Give as many details as possible.
- Select your preferred contact method – live chat, Twitter DM, or request a callback.
- Provide your contact info and wait to hear back from an agent.
Have your basic account info and the serial number from your PlayStation ready when you talk to support to speed things up. Remember to be polite – the agents are there to help!
Wrapping Up
We hope this guide helped you track down and fix what was causing your PlayStation Network sign in issues. To avoid problems in the future, keep these tips in mind:
- Always keep your PlayStation updated with the latest system software
- Use a strong password and two-factor authentication on your account
- Note when your PlayStation Plus and other subscriptions renew to avoid unexpected lapses
- Don‘t game on unstable network connections if you can avoid it
- Rebuild your database periodically to clear out any corrupted data before it causes bigger glitches
If you found this article useful, visit our PS4 Learning Center for more helpful guides and how-tos. Now get back to your gaming – that chicken dinner isn‘t going to win itself! Leave a comment if you have any other questions or PSN sign in tips.
