How To Fix PS4 White Light Of Death (WLOD)

PS4 White Light of Death is one of the most common issues with PS4. When this happens, the PS4 would flash white light and doesn’t turn on or off. It will simply freeze. 

In this post, we’re going to talk about how to deal with the white light PS4 gamers dread. We’ll answer the questions surrounding this issue specifically what a blinking white light in PS4 means, what the possible causes are, and the steps you can take to fix the error.

What is the White Light of Death on PS4?

A steady white light on your PS4 is no cause for concern. It is the blinking white light that you should look out for as this indicates that there is a problem with your console. Here are the different light indicators in PS4 and what they mean.

  • No light – powered off
  • Starts blue then transitions to white – powering on
  • Solid white light – powered on / the console is working normally
  • Blinking orange – entering resting mode
  • Solid orange – resting mode
  • Blinking white light then transitions to off – powering off
  • Blinking white light, solid blue light, or blinking blue light – console error
  • Pulsing red light – the console is overheating

What are the Possible Causes of Blinking White Light (WLOD)?

There are several possible reasons why the PS4 system may fail or have errors resulting in the PS4 blinking white light of death. It may be because of a hardware failure or a severe software issue.

For the hardware issues, this could be any of the following.

  • HDMI issues due to HDMI failure, a blown IC chip in the PS4’s HDMI port, or cable damage can result in a lack of connection to the TV.
  • A buildup of dust can block the vents or can settle on the parts of your console causing it to overheat and eventually affect its performance or damage the parts.
  • A failing PS4 motherboard can cause a system failure because the PS4 system is not able to process requests.
  • A hard drive with bad sectors would result in the operating system not being able to read data from the hard drive.
  • A degrading PS4 processor can and usually causes a system failure because the PS4 system cannot operate if the processor is not working properly or at all.
  • A declining RAM chip can also cause system failures because the PS4 operating system is not able to access data stored on the RAM chip properly.

The main cause of software issues is outdated drivers.

How To Fix WLOD PS4?

When you see the WLOD, there are several things you do to try to bring your console back to life. Here are some of the basic troubleshooting steps for the White Light of Death on PS4.

Disconnect your console from the power

Unplug the console and then wait 60 seconds before plugging the console back in, and turn it back on. This will usually do the trick.

Check the HDMI and TV Connection

Check for loose cables and fix them. If the cable is not properly attached, it will not function properly and cause the white light of death issue.

If that doesn’t solve the issue, check the ports themselves to see if they are damaged. If the PS4 port is damaged, you must take your device to a technician for repair.

If there is no visible damage to the parts on your PS4 and your TV, it is possible that the HDMI cable itself is damaged. If you have a spare HDMI cable, try replacing the one on your PS4 and see if that resolves the issue.

Clean Your PS4

Dust and dirt inside your PS4 can cause it to malfunction. Sometimes, just cleaning your console will resolve the white light of death issue. This requires opening up your console, so if your PS4 is still under warranty, it might be better to just contact customer service for your issue.

Be sure to fully shut down and disconnect your device from power. Clean the outside of your console first with a microfiber cloth to get rid of dust.

For the original PS4, remove the stickers from the rear and unscrew the screws using a T8 or T9 Torx screwdriver. Turn the console upside down and then remove the base of the console.

Clean the inside part of the cover with a microfiber cloth and set it aside.

Next, remove the power supply of the console to gain access to the other parts inside. Remove the five screws and gently lift up the power supply. You don’t have to remove the cable that connects to the motherboard. Just carefully rest it on the side without unplugging the cable.

Take a can of compressed air and spray a few blasts of air away from your console just to make sure there’s no liquid remaining in the tip. Then, blow short bursts of air around your PS4 to remove the dust that has accumulated inside. When spraying on the fan, be sure to hold it with your finger or jam it with a cotton swab to prevent damaging your console’s components.

For PS4 Slim and PS4 Pro, keep the console on the right side up. You don’t have to unscrew anything. Just gently slide off the outer casing from the front of the console. You will be able to see the fan and you can blow compressed air to clean it.

To access the other parts of the console, you will need to remove the metal plate. Remove the screws from the power supply first and lift it up a bit to access the plate. Then remove the screws on the plate. You can now clean the heat sink and the fan using compressed air.

Leave the console to air dry for about an hour before reassembling it.

Reset the PS4 Controller

Make sure your PS4 is turned off and disconnected from the internet. Unplug your PS4 controller and flip it over.

Locate the recessed reset button in the small hole near the controller’s L2 button and use your paper clip or pin to press and hold it for at least 6 seconds.

After a few seconds, plug the controller using a micro USB cable. Then press the PS button. The light bar on the controller should turn blue to indicate that it has successfully paired.

Update the Controller Driver

An outdated controller driver may also cause a WLOD issue. Here’s how to update your controller driver.

  1. Connect the PS4 to your PC and then press Win + R to open the run box, then type “devmgmt.msc” and press Enter.
  2. Right-click your device and uninstall it. Check the box “Delete the driver software for this device” and choose Uninstall.
  3. Reconnect PS4 to PC. Go to the manufacturer’s website and locate the newest driver to get it downloaded.

Try Safe Mode Options

Another thing you can do to try and fix the white light of death is by entering safe mode and re-initializing PS4.

This Safe Mode option will result in the loss of data so be sure to back them up to a USB drive or Cloud Storage. To enter safe mode, do the following.

  1. Press and hold the power button for three seconds to turn off your console.
  2. Press and hold the power button again. Release your finger only after you hear the second beep.
  3. Connect your PS4 controller with a USB cable and hold the PS button on the controller
  4. Your PS4 will now start in safe mode.

Once you’re in safe mode, you can try to reinstall the system software by going to option number 7, Initialize PS4 (Reinstall System Software). This usually solves the white light of death issue.

Contact Customer Service for Repair

If none of the above fixes works, the underlying cause might be hardware problems. Contact PlayStation support to have your console repaired.

Conclusion

The white light of death is a common issue with PS4. The cause of white light of death can either be a hardware or a software issue.

Most of the time, it can be fixed by simply restarting your console or resetting your controller, or ensuring the HDMI connections are good. Cleaning your console may also help. Lastly, you can try reinstalling the system software of your PS4 by starting in safe mode.

When all else fails, you need to contact PlayStation support to help you with your problem or have it repaired by a professional.