A PlayStation 5 that will not turn on is read from its power indicator, because Sony gives each color its own meaning: solid white is on, blue turning to white is starting, solid orange is rest mode, blinking white or blue that never settles is a frozen console, and no light at all is powered off. So the first job is to name the light. Unplug the console for three minutes and start it again; if it still sticks on blue or blinks white, Sony's next step is to reinstall system software from Safe Mode, and a console that shuts off the moment it starts goes to Sony's repair service.
Differential
Likely causes of “PlayStation 5 (launch, Slim and Digital models) will not turn on”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The console is in rest mode, not off
What separates it The power indicator is solid orange and the screen is blank, and the controller still charges over USB
How to confirm Hold the PS button on a paired or USB-connected controller, or press the console power button once, and watch the light change to blue and then white
- 2
The console is frozen partway through starting
What separates it The light blinks white or stays blue and never turns solid white, and no logo appears
How to confirm Sony says to unplug the console for three minutes, plug it in again and turn it on; if the same light returns, use Safe Mode
- 3
The power cord or outlet is not delivering power
What separates it There is no light at all, and other things on the same outlet or strip are also dead
How to confirm Plug the cord straight into a wall outlet you have just used for a lamp, and reseat the cord in the back of the console until it sits fully
- 4
The console powers off by itself right after it turns on
What separates it The light goes blue then white and the console shuts down within seconds, sometimes after the logo
How to confirm Sony sends this case to its repair service, so first make sure the vents are clear and the console is not boxed in, then note how long it runs before it stops
- 5
Corrupted system software after a failed update
What separates it The console sat blue or blinking after an update was interrupted or the power was cut during one
How to confirm Start Safe Mode and choose Update System Software or reinstall the software; Sony warns that some Safe Mode options delete data, so read each option first
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The color and pattern of the power indicator: solid, blinking, blue, white or orange
- Whether the console is a launch model (CFI-1000/1100/1200), a Slim (CFI-2000) or a Pro, from the label on the console
- Whether the disc drive is attached, since a Slim drive is a separate module
- What was happening when it stopped: an update, a power cut or a game crash
Try in this order
0 of 8 completedRead the power indicator before touching anything
ReversibleLook at the power indicator on the console. Solid orange means rest mode, solid white means on, blue turning to white means it is starting, and blinking white or blue that never settles means the console is stuck. Write the pattern down, because Sony's fix depends on it.
Wake it from rest mode
ReversibleIf the light is solid orange, hold the PS button on a controller that is paired or plugged in by USB, or press the console power button. A console in rest mode is on standby, not dead, and it can charge controllers while it waits.
Unplug the console for three minutes
ReversiblePull the power cord from the wall and from the console, wait three full minutes, plug both ends back in and start the console. Sony gives this as the first step for a console whose light only blinks white or sits on blue.
Test the outlet and the cord
ReversiblePlug the cord directly into a wall outlet you know works, without a power strip or extension. Push the cord fully into the socket on the back of the console; a cord that is half seated gives no light at all.
Start Safe Mode with the controller on a USB cable
ReversibleHold the power button for three seconds to turn the console off, then hold it again until the second beep, about seven seconds later. Plug the controller in with its USB cable and press the PS button. Sony notes some Safe Mode options delete data, so back up first if you can. If Safe Mode will not start, Sony says to try a different USB, HDMI or power cable, then hold the power button until the console beeps, remove the power cable for 20 minutes and try again.
Try Restore Default Settings, then software
ReversibleIn Safe Mode choose Restore Default Settings, which Sony says keeps games, screenshots and saved data. If the console still will not start, Update System Software from Safe Mode or reinstall it; the reinstall option removes system software and user data.
Clear the vents and give it room
ReversibleWith the console unplugged, use a flashlight to look into the vents on both sides and clear dust with a vacuum brush. A console that overheats and shuts down soon after starting needs open space around it, not a closed cabinet.
Check the disc drive on a Slim
ReversibleA Slim's disc drive clips on as a separate module. If the drive was added or moved, unplug the console, make sure the drive is seated, and try again; a half-attached drive is a different problem from a console that will not power on.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Launch model (CFI-1000, CFI-1100, CFI-1200)
- Sony's safety guide lists the disc model at about 390 x 104 x 260 mm and 4.5 kg with a maximum rated power of 350 W; the Digital Edition is about 3.9 kg and 340 W. Both have an 825GB SSD.
- Slim (CFI-2000)
- The 2023 Slim is smaller, with a 1TB SSD on the disc model and 825GB on the Digital Edition; its disc drive is a detachable module, so a drive that is not clicked in cannot read discs.
- Pro (CFI-7000)
- Has a 2TB SSD and no drive built in; the same detachable drive as the Slim is sold separately. Power symptoms are read the same way.
- Tools and supplies
- A flashlight to look into the vents, a vacuum with a soft brush, a USB cable for the controller and a towel to rest the console on.
- Model and serial number
- Sony support asks for the model number and serial number, not a part number; both are printed on the label on the console.
- Repair cost
- For this fault a power supply replacement is about $179 at an independent shop. These are BadgerLayer's 2026 PS5 independent-shop prices; Sony's own out-of-warranty service is a higher flat fee with a longer wait.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the console shuts off within seconds of powering on, stop retrying and request a repair from Sony
- !If you smell burning, see smoke or hear a pop, unplug the console at once and do not power it again
- !If Safe Mode will not start after two attempts with the controller on the USB cable, contact Sony repair with the model number and the exact light pattern
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Where the manufacturer's article stops. Sony writes these for PS5 consoles as a group and for the PS4 alongside, so the model-by-model differences on this page (SSD size, drive type, dimensions) come from Sony's safety guide and product listings, not from the support articles. The PS5 Pro has its own page for HDR and 120 Hz.
Sony's color-by-color list of the power indicator.
How to start Safe Mode and what each option does.
What a settings restore keeps and removes.
Change the USB, HDMI or power cable, then remove the power cable for 20 minutes.
Exact questions
Common questions
What do the PS5 power indicator colors mean?+
Sony lists them: solid white is on, blue turning to white is starting, blinking white or solid blue that never changes is a console error, blinking white then off is powering down, solid orange is rest mode and no light is off.
My PS5 light is orange but nothing shows on the TV. Is it broken?+
No. Orange is rest mode. Press the PS button on a controller or the console power button and the light moves to blue and then white while the console wakes.
How long should I leave the PS5 unplugged?+
Sony says three minutes. Unplug it, wait, plug it back in and turn it on; this clears a console that is stuck on a blinking white or blue light.
Will Safe Mode delete my games?+
Not all options do. Sony says Restore Default Settings keeps games, apps, screenshots and saved data, while Reset PS5 deletes all user data, so read each option before you choose it.
Why does my PS5 turn off a few seconds after I press power?+
Sony treats a console that powers off immediately after starting as a repair case. Clear the vents and check the cord first, and if it repeats, contact Sony repair.
Does the model matter for a PS5 that will not start?+
The steps are the same for the launch model, the Slim and the Pro. The difference is the disc drive: the launch model's drive is built in and the Slim's clips on, so on a Slim make sure the drive is seated.
Can a bad HDMI cable stop the PS5 from turning on?+
No. A bad cable gives no picture but the light still goes white. If the light works and the screen is blank, follow the no picture page, not this one.
Should I open the PS5 to check the power supply?+
No. The power supply is inside the console and Sony directs power faults to its repair service. Opening the case can void the warranty and exposes you to mains voltage.
Is it safe to use a different power cord?+
Use the cord that came with the console or a proper replacement that fits the socket fully. A loose or damaged cord is one of the few power faults you can fix yourself.