What is the difference between factory reset and initialize PS4?

The difference between factory reset and initialize PS4 lies in the extent of data deletion and system restoration, with factory reset restoring the console to its original settings without deleting user data, and initialize PS4 completely wiping the hard drive and restoring the system to its default settings. When you initialize PS4, all settings and information saved on the PS4 system are deleted, and this process cannot be undone, whereas a factory reset will only wipe your saved settings and return your PS4 to factory settings without erasing all the data on your hard drive.

Understanding the Initialization Process

What Happens During Initialization

Initializing your PS4 will not necessarily fix a corrupted hard drive issue, but it essentially resets the console to its factory settings, erasing all user data, settings, and installed games or applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is initializing PS4 the same as factory reset? No, initializing PS4 is not the same as a factory reset, as initialization completely wipes the hard drive, while a factory reset only restores the console to its original settings without deleting user data.
2. Does initialize PS4 delete everything? Yes, when you initialize your PS4, all settings and information saved on the PS4 system are deleted, and this process cannot be undone.
3. Does initializing PS4 fix problems? Initializing your PS4 may not fix all problems, such as a corrupted hard drive issue, but it can resolve issues related to settings and user data.
4. How do I get my games back after initializing my PS4? You can restore your game data after initializing your PS4 by going to Settings, selecting Application Saved Data Management, choosing Saved Data in Online Storage, and downloading the files to your system storage.
5. What is the difference between initialize PS4 and initialize PS4 reinstall system software? Initialize PS4 reinstall system software is an even fuller factory reset that will require you to reinstall the PS4’s operating system, while initialize PS4 only restores the system to its default settings.
6. What do you lose when initializing PS4? When you initialize your PS4, you will lose all settings and information saved on the PS4 system, including user data, settings, and installed games or applications.
7. Can you initialize PS4 without losing data? No, you cannot initialize PS4 without losing data, but you can choose to restore default settings, which will reset everything in the PS4 to its original software settings but keep your data.
8. What is the point of initializing PS4? The point of initializing PS4 is to restore system settings to default values, delete data saved on system storage, and delete all users and their data from the system.
9. Is it better to initialize PS4 quick or full? A full initialization will make your PS4 good as new, as it will reset to its original settings, while a quick initialization is a faster option, but there is no guarantee that your data will no longer be retrieved by whoever will next use the console.
10. How long does full PS4 initialization take? The full PS4 initialization process can take around 30 minutes to complete once you launch it, and you cannot cancel it once you’ve started.
11. What to do before initializing PS4? Before initializing your PS4, you should sign in to your PS4, deactivate your PS4, back up your saved data, sign back in with your user account, find the Initialization option, and choose Full on the Initialize screen.
12. Is initialize console a factory reset? Yes, initializing the console will remove all data in the system memory, including software, save data, screenshots, and user information, restoring the console to factory settings.
13. Why won’t my controller connect to my PS4 after initializing? If your PS4 controller won’t connect after initializing, try a different USB cable, reset the PS4 controller, or get support from Sony.
14. What is the difference between reset and initialization? Resetting will reset specific settings or data, while initialization will reset all settings and data to their default values.
15. Why should I factory reset my PS4? You should factory reset your PS4 if you’re having issues with your console, such as crashing, glitching, freezing, or save errors, as it may help to resolve them.