Fixing Performance Issues and Game Crashes
Modern gaming consoles like the PlayStation 5 are essentially highly specialised computers. Just like a Windows PC or a Mac, the PS5 uses a system cache—a dedicated area of fast memory where it stores temporary files, frequently accessed data, and small chunks of game code to ensure the operating system runs smoothly and games load faster.
However, over months or years of heavy use, downloading enormous 100GB game files, and installing frequent system updates, this cache can become cluttered with corrupted or outdated temporary files. When this happens, the console’s performance can degrade rapidly. You might experience severe frame rate drops in games that previously ran perfectly, excruciatingly slow loading times in the system menus, or games that crash entirely straight back to the home screen.
When you encounter these types of unexplained performance issues on a PlayStation 5, clearing the system cache is the very first troubleshooting step you should take. It is completely safe, it does not delete your game save files, and it does not uninstall your downloaded games.
How to Clear the Cache Using Safe Mode
Unlike some older consoles or internet browsers, there is no simple “Clear Cache” button located in the standard PS5 Settings menu. To perform this action, you must boot the console into its hidden diagnostic interface, known as Safe Mode.
- Turn the console completely off. You cannot do this while the console is in Rest Mode (the orange light). Press the physical Power button on the front of the console, or use your controller to navigate to the Power menu and select Turn Off PS5. Wait until the lights on the console stop flashing and go completely dark.
- Once the console is off, press and hold the physical Power button on the front of the console.
- You will hear one beep immediately as you press the button. Keep holding the button down.
- After approximately seven seconds, you will hear a second beep. The moment you hear the second beep, release the Power button.
- The console will boot into a stark black screen asking you to connect your controller using a USB cable. (Bluetooth does not work in Safe Mode, so you must use a physical cable). Plug your DualSense controller in and press the PlayStation button in the centre.
You are now in the Safe Mode menu. The text will look very basic and low-resolution; this is completely normal.
- Use the D-pad on your controller to scroll down the list and select Option 5: Clear Cache and Rebuild Database. Press X.
- A new sub-menu will appear. Select the first option: Clear System Software Cache. Press X.
- The console will display a warning confirming that the cache will be cleared. Select OK.
The screen will go black, and the PlayStation 5 will restart itself. The process of clearing the cache usually only takes a few seconds. When the console boots back up to the standard login screen, the process is complete.
When Should You Rebuild the Database Instead?
In step 6 above, you may have noticed the second option: Rebuild Database. While clearing the cache deletes temporary files, rebuilding the database reorganises the hard drive. It scans the SSD and creates a new index of all the games, apps, and save data on the system.
If clearing the cache does not fix your performance issues, you should boot back into Safe Mode and run the Rebuild Database tool. This is particularly useful if you are experiencing issues with game icons appearing blank on your home screen, DLC content refusing to load, or the console telling you a game is not installed when you know it is.
Rebuilding the database can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, depending on how many games you have installed on your internal SSD and M.2 expansion drive, so only perform this step when you do not need to use the console immediately.
