How to set up a PS4? Complete guide

If you got your first PS4 or you did a factory reset on your PS4. You might be wondering how to set up a PS4. We’ve compiled a helpful guide to get you up and running with your PS4 so that you can get the best gaming experience. Follow the below steps to set up your PlayStation 4:

First, Connect PS4 to a TV via HDMI port
Then, connect the PS4 to a power outlet
Turn on PS4 using the power button on PS4
Next, connect DualShock 4 wireless controller to PS4 with USB cable
Now, Set up an internet connection on PS4
Then, update PS4 system software
Afterwards, Sign in to PlayStation Network on your PS4
Access the PSN store to download games
Optionally, turn on HDR in PS4 settings
Enjoy your games

While there is undoubtedly plenty of excitement when you first get your console, the first step is to set it up properly before you can play your favorite games. Unbox your console and take out everything, including HDMI cable, USB cable, and power cord. There are quite a few aspects to setting up your PS4, and we will go over the main things you should know to set up everything correctly. We will also see how to connect DualShock 4 controller to PS4, play multiplayer online games with your PS4, and much more? First, let us see in detail below how to set up your PS4.

What all do you need for the PS4 setup?

You will require the following things to follow through the tutorial:

A PlayStation 4 console
DualShock 4 controller
TV or a display with HDMI input
Power Cord
HDMI cable
micro USB cable
Ethernet cable(optional)

When you buy a PS4, you will find a DualShock 4 controller, Power cord, HDMI cable, micro USB cable, and of course, a PlayStation 4 console in the box.

How do you set up a PS4 for the first time?

Connect PS4 to a TV via HDMI port.

Follow the below steps to connect PS4 to a TV:

On the back of the PS4, you will find the HDMI port. HDMI stands for High-Definition Multimedia Interface, and it enables high-definition video and audio transmissions. The PS4 supports HDMI 1.4, which can output video at 1080p 30 FPS. PS4 Pro, on the other hand, supports HDMI 2.0, which can output videos at 4k 60 FPS. Additionally, PS4 Pro games generally offer a choice between 4k resolution or 60 FPS gameplay, depending on the game.
Plug the HDMI cable into the HDMI port found on your PlayStation 4.
Locate the HDMI port at the back of your TV, where all the other ports are located.
Once you have done that, connect the other end of the HDMI cable to an HDMI port on your TV. Congratulations! You have successfully connected your PlayStation 4 to a TV.
Optional: You can also enable HDR on PS4 and in your TV settings if your TV supports it.

Connect the PS4 to a power outlet.

Insert the power cable into the AC IN port on the back of your PlayStation 4. Then connect the other end of the power cord into an electrical outlet.

Turn on PS4 using the power button on PS4.

Press the power button on the front of the PlayStation 4. It will then start booting up and ask you to connect the DualShock 4 wireless controller using the USB cable.

Connect DualShock 4 wireless controller to PS4 with USB cable.

DualShock 4 connected to PS4 via USB — *©sunshineseeds/123RF.COM*

Take the DualShock 4 controller out of the box and plug the USB cable into the USB port on the front side of your PS4 and another end to your DualShock 4 micro USB port. Then, press the PS button on the DualShock 4 to sync it with your PS4. After connecting the remote to PS4 console, follow the onscreen instructions to set your preferred language on the console

P.S. We also recommend charging the DualShock 4 controller before you start your gaming sessions in the future so that you can play the games wirelessly using the remote.

Set up an internet connection on PS4.

You can connect your PS4 console to the internet using the following ways:

Wireless connection via WiFi.
Wired connection using an ethernet cable.

We recommend connecting the PS4 to the internet using an ethernet cable (LAN cable) to enjoy faster download/upload speeds. Plug the ethernet cable into the ethernet port on the rear side of your PS4 and connect the other end of the cable to your router. Otherwise, you can also connect to the internet using your WiFi network, enter your WiFi credentials to connect to the internet.

After setting up the network connection, you can follow the onscreen instructions to set up a PlayStation camera; if you have one, otherwise skip this option. Then enter the date and time for your location. Finally, adjust the power save settings or the Rest Mode options to your liking. We recommend keeping the options to their default settings for optimal performance and features. Press next, and you will receive a message that your PS4 setup has been completed. You can now operate your PS4 console as per your liking; we have few more settings to tinker with; read on to find out.

Update PS4 system software.

If you had connected your PS4 to the internet successfully, then the console will automatically start downloading the latest System Software update for you. Once the download is complete, you will need to restart the PS4 for the updates to get installed.

After the system reboot, the PS4 will prompt you to sign in to your PlayStation Network Account. We recommend signing in/ signing up for the PSN account to access the PSN store on the console and download the games digitally and also enjoy game demos for the latest games. Enter your PSN account credentials and select Sign In. You can also skip this step for now. If you wish to sign in later, you can also read our complete guide at How to access PSN?

Optional: The PlayStation 4 will also give you an option to transfer data from another PS4 console.

Access the PSN store to download games.

You can now access the PlayStation Store to access an extensive library of PS4 games at your disposal. You can purchase/download your favorite games and apps from the PSN store. Please note that you will require a PlayStation Plus membership to access online multiplayer gaming, and a High-speed internet connection is recommended for a better gaming experience. You can read more about it at All-New PlayStation Plus: Which tier is best for you?

Turn on HDR in PS4 settings.

You can turn on the HDR in PS4 by following the steps below:

Go to the Settings menu
Select Sound and Screen
Then open Video Output Settings.
Finally, set the HDR and Deep Color output settings to Automatic.

Your TV or display should also support HDR for these settings to work. Enable HDR in your TV settings according to your TV’s manual.

You can also read the complete guide by Sony at How to set up HDR on PlayStation 4

Enjoy your games.

Congratulations! you have finished setting up your PS4 console. You can now enjoy your favorite games by inserting the physical disc into the disc drive or digitally downloading the games from the PlayStation store. You can check out another article to enhance your PS4 experience: How to make your PS4 better? 14 tips for a better experience.

Downloading PS4 Games single player or multiplayer

Frequently Asked Questions for setting up a PS4

Why am I unable to play multiplayer games online?

You require a PlayStation Plus subscription to play multiplayer games. PS Plus is a paid subscription service that offers many benefits, such as free playing online multiplayer games and monthly games. You can read more about it in detail: All-New PlayStation Plus: Which tier is best for you?

Do I have to wait for games to download before I can play them?

If you purchased a digital version of the game, then you have option to download only a fraction of the game. Once that fraction is downloaded, you can immediately start playing that downloaded fraction or mode, and the remaining portion of the game will keep on downloading in the background as you play. This gives you relatively faster access to your game once you have purchased it than downloading the game entirely and enabling you to jump into the action quickly.

Do you need an Internet connection to play games on PS4?

If you bought a physical copy of your game in disc format, then you won’t be needing an internet connection to play your game on the PS4. The game publisher might release patches to improve your games’ performance or stability, which would require an active internet connection to download.
On the other hand, if you purchased a digital version of the game, you would certainly need an active internet connection to download the game on your PS4 to play it.

How can I delete games from PS4?

Follow the below-mentioned steps to delete a game from your PS4 and make additional storage space:
-Navigate to the game that you would like to delete.
-Press the Options button on your DualShock 4 controller.
-Chose the ‘Delete’ option and select ‘OK.’ Your selected will be deleted from your console.

How to sync/connect DualShock 4 controller to PS4?

Follow the below steps to sync or connect your DualShock 4 wireless controller to PS4:
-Plug the USB cable into the USB port on the front side of your PS4
-Connect the other end(micro USB) to your DualShock 4 micro USB port.
-Turn on the PS4 by pressing the power button on PS4.
-Press the PS button on the DualShock 4 controller to sync it with your PS4.
– Finally, you will see a login screen to choose your account or create a new one.

How to set up a PS4? Complete guide

What all do you need for the PS4 setup?