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 5 will not connect online”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A weak Wi-Fi signal
What separates it Slow downloads and lag
How to confirm Use a cable or move the console closer
- 2
A strict NAT type
What separates it Matchmaking and voice chat fail
How to confirm Enable UPnP and set a static IP for the console
- 3
A router that needs restarting
What separates it Many devices are slow
How to confirm Restart the router
- 4
DNS trouble
What separates it Downloads fail with the connection fine
How to confirm Set a public DNS in the network settings
- 5
A service outage
What separates it Sign-in fails everywhere
How to confirm Check PlayStation Network's status
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The result of the connection test
- The NAT type
- Wired or Wi-Fi
- Whether other devices work
Try in this order
0 of 9 completedRun the connection test
ReversibleSettings, Network, Connection Status, Test Internet Connection.
Use a cable if you can
ReversibleA wired link avoids Wi-Fi problems.
Restart the router and the console
ReversiblePower both off for a minute.
Enable UPnP
ReversibleIn the router's settings.
Set a static IP
ReversibleIn the console's network settings.
Set a public DNS
ReversibleUnder advanced network settings.
Download in rest mode
ReversibleSettings, System, Power Saving, Features Available in Rest Mode, allow downloads so the console fetches updates overnight.
Pause other devices during a big download
ReversibleStreaming on other devices competes for the same line.
Compare speed to your plan
ReversibleRun the console's test and a speed test on a phone to see whether the console is getting what you pay for.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- PlayStation 5 Digital Edition slim cannot connect online or has strict NAT
- Network trouble on the PS5 Slim Digital is measured with the console's own test: Settings, Network, Connection Status, Test Internet Connection, which reports the connection, the speeds and the NAT type. A weak Wi-Fi signal is the usual cause of slow downloads and lag, so a wired connection, if you can run a cable, is the best fix. Restart the router and the console, move the console closer or add a mesh node, and use the 5 GHz band. A NAT type of 3 limits online play; ExpressVPN's guide and Sony's pages say to power cycle the router, turn on UPnP in the router and give the console a static IP address so the setting survives router restarts. If the connection test fails at the Internet step, check whether other devices work and whether the PlayStation Network is down. Changing DNS to a public server fixes some download problems. Because the Slim Digital depends on downloads for every game, a slow connection matters more than on a disc console, and a 100 GB game over a weak link takes hours. Compare your actual speed with your plan, and schedule big downloads for rest mode, which the console supports, so the console updates itself while you sleep. A cabled connection over a powerline adapter can also help in a house where running Ethernet is hard, and is usually steadier than Wi-Fi in a cabinet, though speeds vary with the wiring.
- NAT type
- It decides how easily you connect to other players.
- A cable
- The steadiest option.
- Rest mode
- The console can download games while you are away.
- Every game is a download
- A digital console needs a steady connection.
- Plan speed
- Your plan sets the ceiling.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the connection test fails on a wired link, contact PlayStation support
- !If the router is the issue, ask its maker
- !Check the network status page first
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
What NAT type should I have?+
Type 1 or 2 is best; Type 3 can limit play.
Does Wi-Fi 6 help?+
A good signal helps downloads.
Is a cable better?+
Yes.
What is a static IP?+
A fixed address on your network for the console.
Can the PS5 download while it is off?+
In rest mode, yes.
How long does a 100 GB game take?+
Hours on a slow line.
network: model differences
Also covered: PlayStation 5.