Following a new PlayStation 4 exploit, many gamers have found themselves wondering how to fix the PlayStation 4 message hack. To recap, the PlayStation 4 message hack appeared a few days ago and consists of gamers receiving strange messages comprised of symbols and/or emotes. If you open one of these messages, your PlayStation 4 will be sent into a nasty crash loop.
Prior to Sony digging into this hack, the crash appeared to be unfixable. However, thanks to a recent update from Sony, an easy fix has been revealed. If you accidentally opened one of these hacked messages, we’ve got you covered. Below, we’ve put together a quick guide on how to fix the PlayStation 4 message hack.
How to Fix the PlayStation 4 Message Hack
© Sony
To fix the PlayStation 4 message hack, affected users will need to run through a series of steps as outlined by Sony. If you received a hacked message but did not open it, the best solution is to delete it and set your PlayStation 4 messages to private. To set your PlayStation 4 messages to private, be sure to check out our previous guide.
To fix the PlayStation 4 message hack, Sony advises that you run through the following steps:
- Delete the message on the PS mobile app.
- Go into Safe Mode.
- Use Option 5.
- Check to ensure your console has returned to normal.
To further elaborate on these steps, you can download the PS mobile app from either the App Store or Google Play. Once downloaded, you can log into your PlayStation account from your phone and access your message inbox. From there, you can select and delete the affected message. After that, you’ll need to turn your PlayStation 4 on in Safe Mode and select Option 5.
To do this, you’ll need to run through the following steps as outlined by Sony:
- Turn off the PlayStation 4 by pressing the power button on the front panel. The power indicator will blink for a few moments before turning off.
- Once the PlayStation 4 is off, press and hold the power button. Release it after you've heard two beeps: one when you first press, and another 7 seconds later.
- Connect the DualShock 4 controller with a USB cable and press the PS button on the controller.
© Sony
On you’ve reached the screen seen above, you’ll want to select “Option 5” or “Rebuild Database.” After your PlayStation 4 runs through this step, turn your PlayStation 4 on as normal. If this doesn’t work, another option players have suggested is a factory reset. Note that the factory reset option cannot be undone, so please don’t do this unless you’ve run out of every other option available!
To factory reset your PlayStation 4, simply follow the steps outlined below:
- On the main PS4 menu, select “Settings."
- From “Settings” select “Initialization.”
- Choose the “Restore Default Settings” option.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to factory reset your PS4.
- WARNING: You cannot undo a factory reset, so make sure you 100% want to do this before accepting and completing the Restore Default Settings process.
Overall, the best way to deal with the PlayStation 4 message hack is to delete any strange messages you receive and to set your PlayStation 4 messages to private. For victims of the PlayStation 4 message hack, you can fix it using the solution provided by Sony. If all else fails, a factory reset can also help although, again, this cannot be undone.
Were you able to fix your PlayStation 4 after the message hack? Let us know down in the comments below! For a visual guide on how to make your PlayStation 4 messages private, be sure to check out this helpful YouTube video courtesy of user MonkeyFlop!
By reading through this guide, you should now know how to fix the PlayStation 4 message hack.