How to Connect Your PS4 to the Internet and Your TV

Connect your PS4 to a TV first, then to the internet

Your PS4 needs two connections to work: one to your television and one to the internet. The TV connection is simpler — you use an HDMI cable, which comes in the box. The internet connection can be wired (faster, more stable) or wireless (more convenient if your router is far away). Most people do both on the same day during initial setup, and the whole process takes about 15 to 20 minutes.

The order matters slightly: connect the TV first so you can see the setup screens, then connect to the internet. If you skip the TV connection, you will not see what the console is asking you to do.

Key Takeaways

Use the HDMI cable included in your PS4 box to connect to your TV, plugging one end into the console and one into any HDMI port on the back of your television.
A wired internet connection (ethernet cable plugged directly into your PS4 and router) is faster and more reliable than wireless, though wireless works fine for most gaming.
During setup, the PS4 will ask you to choose your Wi-Fi network and enter your password if you use wireless, or it will detect the ethernet cable automatically if you use wired.
You will need a PlayStation Network account to finish setup and read games, but you can create one on the console itself during the initial setup process.
If your TV does not show a picture after connecting the HDMI cable, try a different HDMI port on your TV or restart both devices.

Connecting the HDMI cable to your TV

The HDMI cable connects your PS4 to your television and carries both picture and sound. One end plugs into the HDMI port on the back of your PS4 (there is only one, so you cannot plug it in wrong). The other end plugs into any HDMI port on your TV — most TVs have two to four ports along the back or side.

After you plug in both ends, turn on your TV and your PS4. Your TV should automatically switch to the HDMI input, or you may need to press the Input or Source button on your TV remote and select the HDMI port you used. If you see the PlayStation logo and a blue setup screen, the connection is working.

If your TV shows no picture, try unplugging the HDMI cable from your TV, waiting 10 seconds, and plugging it into a different HDMI port. Some ports work better than others, and a few older TVs have ports that do not work with PS4. If you still see nothing, restart your PS4 by holding the power button for 10 seconds until it shuts down, then turn it back on.

Choosing between wired and wireless internet

A wired connection means running an ethernet cable from your router directly to the PS4. This cable is not included in the box, but it is inexpensive (under $10 for a 25-foot cable). Wired connections are faster and do not drop out, which matters if you play online games where lag causes you to lose. The downside is that you need to run a cable from your router to wherever your PS4 sits, which is not always practical.

A wireless connection uses your home Wi-Fi network. It is slower than wired and can drop out if your router is far away or if many people are using the network at once, but it works fine for most games and streaming. Wireless is the choice most people make because they do not want to run cables across their living room.

You do not have to choose now — you can set up wireless first and add a wired cable later if you notice lag during online play. The PS4 will use the wired connection automatically if both are plugged in.

Setting up a wireless connection during initial setup

When you turn on your PS4 for the first time, it will walk you through setup screens. One of these screens will ask you to choose a network. You will see a list of Wi-Fi networks in range — select your home network (you should recognize the name from your router or your internet bill).

After you select your network, the PS4 will ask for your Wi-Fi password. Type it carefully — the password is case-sensitive, meaning capital letters and lowercase letters are different. If you are not sure of your password, you can usually find it on a sticker on the back of your router, or you can log into your router's settings from a computer or phone to see or change it.

Once you enter the password correctly, the PS4 will connect to the internet. This usually takes 30 seconds to a minute. The setup will then move on to creating or signing into a PlayStation Network account.

Setting up a wired connection

If you are using an ethernet cable, plug one end into the ethernet port on the back of your PS4 (it looks like a wider version of a phone jack) and the other end into an available port on your router. The PS4 will detect the cable automatically — you do not need to do anything else.

During setup, when the PS4 asks about internet connection, it will show that it has found a wired connection. Select that option and the setup will continue. The wired connection is now active and will be used whenever you are online, even if your Wi-Fi is also turned on.

If the PS4 does not detect the cable, unplug it from both ends, wait 10 seconds, and plug it back in. If it still does not work, try a different port on your router — one port may be broken while others work fine.

Creating a PlayStation Network account

After your internet connection is set up, the PS4 will ask you to sign into or create a PlayStation Network account. This is a free account that you need to read games, play online, and save your progress to the cloud. You can create one on the console itself during setup — you just need an email address and a password you will remember.

If you already have a PlayStation account from a previous console or from the PlayStation website, sign in with that email and password instead. This will let you read games you bought before and keep your saved games.

The setup will then ask if you want to set up additional user accounts on this PS4 (for family members or roommates). You can do this now or skip it and add accounts later — it does not affect your internet connection.

Testing your connection

After setup is complete, you can test your internet connection to make sure everything is working. Go to Settings (the gear icon on the home screen), scroll down to Network, and select Test Internet Connection. The PS4 will check your connection speed and stability and tell you if there are any problems.

A good connection for gaming shows read speed above 5 Mbps and upload speed above 1 Mbps. If your speed is much lower, you may be too far from your router (try moving closer or switching to wired), or your internet plan may be slower than you thought (contact your internet provider to check). If the test shows a connection error, go back and check that your password was entered correctly or that your ethernet cable is plugged in firmly.

Troubleshooting picture and sound problems

If you have a picture but no sound, check that your TV volume is turned up and not muted. Then go to Settings on your PS4, select Sound and Screen, and make sure the audio output is set to your TV (not headphones or a soundbar you do not have connected). If you have a soundbar or home theater system, you may need to select that as the audio output instead.

If your picture is blurry or stretched, your TV may be set to the wrong resolution. Go to Settings, Sound and Screen, and select Screen Size and Zoom. You can adjust the picture to fit your TV properly. If the picture is still wrong, try unplugging your HDMI cable and plugging it into a different port on your TV.

If you have both picture and sound but they are out of sync (the lips do not match the words), this is usually a TV problem, not a PS4 problem. Check your TV settings for an audio delay or lip-sync adjustment — most modern TVs have this in their picture settings menu.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a specific type of HDMI cable?

No. Any HDMI cable works with PS4, including the one in the box. You do not need to buy an expensive "gaming" HDMI cable — a basic one costs a few dollars and works just as well. The cable length does not matter either, as long as it reaches from your console to your TV.

Can I use Wi-Fi and ethernet at the same time?

Yes, but the PS4 will only use one at a time. If both are plugged in, it will use the ethernet cable because it is faster and more stable. If you unplug the ethernet cable, it will automatically switch to Wi-Fi without you having to do anything.

What if I do not know my Wi-Fi password?

Check the back or bottom of your router — most routers have a sticker with the network name and password printed on it. If the sticker is worn off or missing, you can log into your router's settings from a computer or phone using the router's IP address (usually printed on the router) and change the password there.

Why is my internet connection slow?

Wireless connections are slower the farther you are from your router. If your PS4 is far away, try moving it closer, or switch to a wired ethernet cable for faster speeds. If you are using wired and it is still slow, contact your internet provider — your plan may not include the speed you thought, or there may be a problem with your connection.

Can I move my PS4 to a different room after setup?

Yes. If you are using wireless, it will automatically reconnect to your Wi-Fi in the new room. If you are using ethernet, you will need to move the cable with it or switch to wireless. You do not need to redo the setup process.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.