On the covered PlayStation PS5, CE-118851-4 means the console can't sync save data with cloud storage. First, select Try Again on the Sync Status screen. Then: sony's steps: if it happens across several games, turn off Enable Auto-Sync and turn it back on; if every game shows Synced but the error returns after a restart, turn off Log In to PS5 Automatically under Settings > Users and Accounts > Login Settings; and if that fails, contact PlayStation Support.
Differential
Likely causes of “PlayStation PS5 code CE-118851-4”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A sync that did not finish
What separates it The Sync Status screen shows a failure
How to confirm Select Try Again on the Sync Status screen
- 2
Auto-sync stuck in a bad state
What separates it The error repeats across several games
How to confirm Turn Enable Auto-Sync off and on
- 3
Automatic login interfering
What separates it Every game shows Synced but the error returns after a restart
How to confirm Turn off Log In to PS5 Automatically
- 4
A weak connection
What separates it The upload or download stalls
How to confirm Test the connection and retry
- 5
A cloud storage problem
What separates it The error persists
How to confirm Contact PlayStation Support
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether it affects one game or several
- What the Sync Status screen shows
- Whether it returns after a restart
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedWhat to do first
ReversibleSelect Try Again on the Sync Status screen.
Correct only the documented fault domain
ReversibleSony's steps: if it happens across several games, turn off Enable Auto-Sync and turn it back on; if every game shows Synced but the error returns after a restart, turn off Log In to PS5 Automatically under Settings > Users and Accounts > Login Settings; and if that fails, contact PlayStation Support.
Select Try Again
ReversibleOn the Sync Status screen.
Turn auto-sync off and on
ReversibleIf it affects several games.
Turn off automatic login
ReversibleUnder Login Settings, if it returns after restarts.
Restart the console
ReversibleAnd check again.
Back up saves to USB
ReversibleAs a safeguard.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Cloud saves
- PlayStation Plus stores save data in the cloud; the sync status shows which games are up to date.
- Backups
- A USB copy protects a save you cannot afford to lose while sync is failing.
- Why saves are synced
- The PS5 compares the save on the console with the one stored in the cloud each time you start a game with a PlayStation Plus subscription. If the two differ, it asks which to keep, and an error means the comparison failed. Do not choose in haste: keep the one with the later play time if you are not sure.
- Keeping saves safe
- Before you try fixes that delete or reinstall, copy your saves to a USB drive in Settings, Saved Data and Game and App Settings. A copy on a drive is useful for any game that does not support the cloud.
- If the cloud is full
- The cloud storage for saves has a limit per account. A full cloud means new saves cannot upload. Check the storage under Saved Data and Game and App Settings, delete old saves you no longer need or move them to a USB drive, and try again.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the steps do not work, contact PlayStation Support
- !Copy saves to a USB drive as a backup
- !Do not delete saves until sync works
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
What does CE-118851-4 mean on a PlayStation PS5?+
The console can't sync save data with cloud storage.
Why turn off automatic login?+
Sony lists it as a fix when the error returns after a restart.
Is my save lost?+
Not normally; keep a USB copy.