Check the platform service status before changing console or router settings. Test another device on the network, then run the console connection test and record its result. A wired connection can help isolate Wi-Fi trouble. Use the matching console instructions below before resetting network settings.
Differential
Likely causes of “PlayStation 4 will not connect online”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A single-antenna radio
What separates it Lag and slow downloads on Wi-Fi
How to confirm Use the Ethernet port
- 2
A console boxed in a cabinet
What separates it Low signal
How to confirm Open the cabinet or run a cable
- 3
A closed NAT
What separates it Matchmaking fails
How to confirm Switch on UPnP
- 4
A DNS that stalls
What separates it Downloads freeze
How to confirm Set a public DNS
- 5
A dead radio on an old unit
What separates it No networks are listed
How to confirm Use a cable
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The connection test result
- The Wi-Fi band
- Whether the console is in a cabinet
- Whether a cable helps
Try in this order
0 of 9 completedRun the connection test
ReversibleSettings, Network.
Plug in a cable
ReversibleThe Pro has an Ethernet port.
Use 5 GHz
ReversibleIf you stay on Wi-Fi.
Enable UPnP
ReversibleOn the router.
Set a public DNS
ReversibleIn the network settings.
Download in rest mode
ReversibleAllow it in power settings.
Try a lower MTU
ReversibleSettings, Network, Set Up Internet Connection, Custom, set MTU to 1473 and test.
Check the router's DHCP lease
ReversibleMake sure the router can give the console an address.
Pick a quiet 5 GHz channel
ReversibleSet the router's 5 GHz channel manually to a less crowded one and test again.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- PlayStation 4 Pro cannot connect online or has strict NAT
- The PS4 Pro's Wi-Fi is the older kind, 802.11 ac with a single antenna on the 5 GHz band and slower on 2.4 GHz, which is the main reason owners complain of lag and slow downloads even on a fast plan. The console's own test, Settings, Network, Test Internet Connection, shows the speeds and NAT type. A wired connection is by far the best remedy, because the Pro has an Ethernet port. If you must use Wi-Fi, use the 5 GHz network, bring the console closer to the router and keep it out of a cabinet. NAT type 3 hurts online play, so enable UPnP on the router or set a static IP and forwarding for the console. Downloads that crawl while the test looks fine can be improved by switching to a public DNS, and by starting downloads in rest mode so the console fetches them overnight. If the console will not see a network, check that Wi-Fi is on in Settings and try another band; very old PS4 Pro units sometimes lose the Wi-Fi radio, and a cable is the practical answer. The PS4 Pro's connection settings include a Custom setup with MTU and proxy options, which can fix stubborn drops: setting the MTU to 1473 or lower on some networks stabilizes the connection, and the default setting works for most, so change it only if a test fails. The Pro also has a dedicated optical audio port and an HDMI port but no second network option, so the Ethernet port is its only wired route, and a cable run under a carpet or along a skirting board is a one-off job that removes most network complaints for the console's remaining life. Moving the Pro's Wi-Fi to the less crowded channel on the router is a quick test: many routers choose a busy channel automatically, and picking channel 36 or 149 for 5 GHz can clear interference from neighbors.
- Old radio
- The Pro's Wi-Fi is modest by today's standard.
- A cable
- The best fix.
- MTU
- A lower value helps on some networks.
- Custom setup
- It exposes advanced settings.
- Channels
- Neighboring networks can crowd the same channel.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If no networks ever appear, use a cable and ask about repair
- !If speeds are low on every device, call your provider
- !Check outage pages
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
Why is my PS4 Pro Wi-Fi slow?+
Its radio is older and weaker.
Is a cable better?+
Yes.
What is NAT type 3?+
A strict setting that limits play.
Can it download in rest mode?+
Yes.
What does MTU do?+
It sets the packet size on your connection.
Should I change it?+
Only if the test fails.
Which channel is best?+
One few neighbors use; test a couple.
network: model differences
Also covered: PlayStation 4.