Why Your PS5 Won't Connect to the Internet — And How to Fix It

Your PS5 can't reach the internet for one of five reasons: the router doesn't see it, the PS5 doesn't see the router, the connection drops partway through, your internet service is down, or the PlayStation Network itself is having problems

Most of the time, the fix is straightforward — restart the router, move the PS5 closer, or check whether your internet provider's service is actually working. But the problem could also be that your router is set to a frequency your PS5 can't use, or that your password is wrong, or that too many devices are competing for bandwidth. The fastest way to fix it is to know which of these five categories your problem falls into, then work through the steps for that category in order.

This guide walks you through how to identify which problem you have, then how to solve it. Most fixes take less than five minutes.

Key Takeaways

Restart your router first — unplug it for 30 seconds, plug it back in, and wait two minutes before trying to connect again.
If your PS5 can see the network but won't connect, the password is usually wrong, or your router is broadcasting on a frequency (5 GHz only) that the PS5 doesn't support.
If the connection drops after a few minutes, move the PS5 closer to the router or check whether other devices are using all your bandwidth.
If your PS5 can't see any networks at all, restart the PS5 itself by holding the power button for 10 seconds, not just putting it in rest mode.
If everything else works but you still can't reach PlayStation Network, your internet provider's service may be down, or PlayStation's servers may be offline.

Check whether your internet is actually working first

Before you troubleshoot the PS5, confirm that your internet connection itself is working. Pick any other device — a phone, laptop, or tablet — and try to load a website or open an app that uses the internet. If that device connects and loads a page, your internet is working and the problem is between the PS5 and your router. If that device also can't connect, your internet service is down, and you should contact your internet provider.

If you're not sure whether your internet is down, you can also check your router. Most routers have lights on the front. Look for a light labeled "Internet," "WAN," or "Online." If that light is off or red, your internet service is down. If it's on and green or blue, your internet is working and the problem is with the PS5 or the connection between them.

Restart your router and PS5 in the right order

A restart fixes most connection problems because it clears out temporary errors that build up in the router's memory. Unplug your router from power, wait 30 seconds, then plug it back in. Wait two full minutes for it to finish starting up — you'll see the lights stop blinking and settle into a steady pattern. Then try connecting the PS5 again.

If that doesn't work, restart the PS5 itself. Don't put it in rest mode — that's not a full restart. Instead, hold the power button on the front of the console for 10 seconds until it shuts down completely. Wait 30 seconds, then press the power button once to turn it back on. Once it finishes starting up, go to Settings, Network, and select "Test Internet Connection" to see if it can reach the internet now.

Make sure the PS5 can see your network and has the right password

Go to Settings on the PS5, then Network, then Set Up Internet Connection. Choose "Wi-Fi" if you're connecting wirelessly. The PS5 will show you a list of networks it can see. If your network name doesn't appear on that list, your router may be broadcasting on a frequency the PS5 doesn't support — most commonly, your router is set to 5 GHz only, and the PS5 needs 2.4 GHz. Check your router's settings (usually through a web browser or an app) and make sure it's broadcasting on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, or on 2.4 GHz alone.

If your network does appear on the list, select it and enter your Wi-Fi password. The most common mistake here is typing the password wrong — passwords are case-sensitive, so capital letters matter. If you're not sure what your password is, check the sticker on the back or bottom of your router. If you've changed the password and can't remember it, you can reset the router to factory settings by holding a small reset button (usually recessed, so you need a paperclip) for 10 seconds. This will erase your password and all your settings, so only do this if you're willing to set up the router again from scratch.

Move the PS5 closer to the router if the connection keeps dropping

If the PS5 connects but then loses the connection after a few minutes, or if the connection is very slow, the signal is probably too weak. Wi-Fi signal gets weaker the farther away you are and the more walls are between the PS5 and the router. Try moving the PS5 to the same room as the router, or at least closer to it, and test the connection again. If that fixes it, you know the problem is signal strength.

If you can't move the PS5 closer, you have a few options. You can buy a Wi-Fi extender or mesh router system to boost the signal in the room where the PS5 is. You can also try moving the router itself to a more central location in your home. If your router has antennas, make sure one is vertical and one is horizontal — this helps the signal spread in different directions. Finally, if you have an ethernet cable long enough to reach from your router to the PS5, a wired connection is always faster and more stable than Wi-Fi.

Check whether other devices are using all your bandwidth

If the PS5 connects but games lag or downloads are very slow, the problem might not be the connection itself but rather that other devices are using all the available bandwidth. If someone in your house is streaming video, downloading large files, or video calling while you're trying to play, that will slow down the PS5. Ask them to pause or stop, then test the PS5 again.

You can also check how many devices are connected to your router. Log into your router's settings (the address is usually printed on the router itself, something like 192.168.1.1) and look for a list of connected devices. If there are many devices you don't recognize, someone else may have connected to your network, or a device may be stuck trying to reconnect. Disconnect any devices you're not using, then test the PS5 again.

Verify that PlayStation Network is actually online

If your PS5 connects to the internet but can't reach PlayStation Network — you can connect to the internet but can't sign in, see your friends, or access online games — the problem may not be on your end. PlayStation Network may be down for maintenance or experiencing an outage. Check the official PlayStation Network status page (search "PlayStation Network status" in any web browser) to see whether there are any reported issues. If there are, you'll have to wait for Sony to fix it.

If the status page shows everything is normal, restart the PS5 again and try signing in once more. Sometimes the PS5 loses sync with PlayStation's servers even though your internet is working fine. A full restart of the console usually reconnects it. If you still can't sign in after a restart, try signing in on a different device (like a phone or computer) to see whether your account itself is having problems or whether it's just the PS5.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use Wi-Fi or ethernet on my PS5?

Ethernet is faster and more stable if you can run a cable from your router to the PS5. Wi-Fi is convenient but slower and more prone to interference. For online gaming, ethernet is better. For casual use or if ethernet isn't practical, Wi-Fi works fine as long as the signal is strong.

Why does my PS5 connect sometimes but not other times?

This usually means the signal is weak or unstable. Move the PS5 closer to the router, or switch to ethernet. It could also mean your router is overloaded — restart it, or disconnect devices you're not using. If it happens at specific times of day, someone else may be using a lot of bandwidth then.

Can I use my phone's hotspot to connect the PS5 to the internet?

Yes, the PS5 can connect to a phone's hotspot the same way it connects to any other Wi-Fi network. Go to Settings, Network, Set Up Internet Connection, and select your phone's hotspot from the list. Keep in mind that this will use your phone's data plan, and gaming or downloading will use data quickly.

What if I've tried everything and the PS5 still won't connect?

Try a factory reset of the PS5 as a last resort. Go to Settings, System, Reset Options, and choose "Reset Your Console." This will erase all your data, so only do this if nothing else works. After the reset, set up the PS5 again from the beginning and try connecting to the internet.

Is it normal for my PS5 to disconnect when I turn on other devices?

It can be, especially if you turn on something that uses a lot of bandwidth or radio frequency, like a microwave or cordless phone. These devices can interfere with Wi-Fi. If this happens often, move the router away from these devices, or switch the PS5 to ethernet to avoid Wi-Fi interference altogether.

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.