Is the PlayStation Network down? Before you restart your PS5 or reset your router, check the official PlayStation server status page at status.playstation.com. It shows whether PSN services such as sign-in, the PlayStation Store, gaming and social features, and PlayStation Video are working in your region. This guide shows how to check, what the outage map tells you, and what the August 2026 “PlayStation blackout” was.
How to check PlayStation server status
- Go to status.playstation.com and choose your country. Each service shows a green check when it works and a warning icon when there is a problem.
- Click an affected service to see which platforms (PS5, PS4, web, mobile) are hit and when the issue started.
- Follow @AskPlayStation on X for updates.
- Check a PlayStation Network outage map on Downdetector to see where users are reporting problems. If reports cluster in one country, the problem may be regional.
Are PlayStation servers down? Common signs
- You cannot sign in to PSN and see errors such as WS-116522-7 or NW-102308-4.
- The PlayStation Store or your library will not load.
- Online multiplayer fails in every game, not just one.
- Party chat and messages stop working.
If only one game fails, check that game’s own servers instead. Is the PlayStation Network down right now for everyone, or just for you? If the status page and outage map look normal, test your connection in Settings > Network > Connection Status > Test Internet Connection.
How long do PSN outages last?
Most PSN outages last under a few hours. Large ones can run longer: in February 2025 a PSN outage lasted roughly a day, and Sony gave PlayStation Plus members five extra days as compensation. The longest in history was in April 2011, when a security breach took PSN offline for about 23 days. Sony usually posts on @AskPlayStation when the service is restored.
What was the PlayStation blackout?
“PlayStation blackout” was a player-led boycott that ran from August 23 to August 30, 2026. Organizers asked PlayStation owners to stop buying from the PlayStation Store and to cancel or pause subscriptions for a week in protest at price increases on consoles, accessories and PlayStation Plus. It was not a server outage, and PSN worked normally during it. If you searched “PlayStation blackout” because you could not connect, the cause was something else.
What to do while PSN is down
- Set your PS5 as your primary console (Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Console Sharing and Offline Play). Digital games then launch even without PSN.
- Play offline or single-player games.
- Avoid restoring licenses or rebuilding the database during an outage; wait until service returns.
PSN is up but my PS5 will not connect
- Restart the router and fully power off the PS5 (not rest mode) for a minute.
- Change DNS to 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1 or 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 in a custom network setup.
- Use a wired connection and check your NAT type; Type 3 can break multiplayer.
- Check that your PSN account is not suspended and that your password has not been changed; see PlayStation support and account help.
More fixes for both consoles are in our troubleshooting guide. If you use Xbox too, see is Xbox down?
PSN outage history
| Date | Length | What happened |
|---|---|---|
| April 2011 | About 23 days | Security breach; 77 million accounts affected |
| December 2014 | Several days | DDoS attacks over the holidays |
| February 2025 | About 1 day | Global outage; PS Plus members given 5 extra days |
PSN error codes you may see during an outage
| Code | Meaning | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| WS-116522-7 | PSN maintenance or outage | Check status.playstation.com and wait |
| NW-102308-4 | Connection to server timed out | Restart router; use wired connection |
| CE-33986-9 | Network connection error | Retest the connection; change DNS |
| WS-37431-8 | PSN in maintenance | Wait for maintenance to finish |
| NP-102944-0 | Cannot connect to server | Check status page, then restart PS5 |
Scheduled PSN maintenance
Not every “PSN down” moment is an outage. Sony runs scheduled maintenance, usually announced on status.playstation.com and @AskPlayStation a few days ahead, often late at night in the US. During maintenance you may not be able to buy games, change account settings or sign in to some services, while online games still work. The status page lists planned maintenance under each service with start and end times.
Is the PlayStation Network down or is it the game?
Many online games run on their own servers. If PSN is up but Fortnite, Call of Duty, EA FC or Apex Legends will not connect, check the publisher’s status page or X account. For example, Epic posts Fortnite server status at status.epicgames.com, and EA posts on its help site. A quick test: if you can open the PlayStation Store and send a message to a friend, PSN is working.
How to protect yourself from future PSN problems
- Turn on two-step verification in your PlayStation account security settings, which protects you if Sony ever has another breach.
- Keep your PS5 set as your primary console so your digital games always launch.
- Enable automatic cloud save uploads with PlayStation Plus so a console problem never costs you progress.
- Keep a copy of your account email and recovery details somewhere safe, so you can reset your password if needed.
PlayStation server status FAQ
Are PlayStation servers down right now?
Open status.playstation.com and choose your country. If everything is green, PSN is up and you should test your own connection.
Why is PSN down for me but not my friends?
Outages can be regional, and some problems only affect one internet provider. Your friends may also be on a different platform or region. Check the outage map to see where reports come from.
Does a PSN outage stop offline games?
Not if your PS5 is set as your primary console. If it is not, digital games may refuse to start until PSN can verify your license.
Does Sony compensate PS Plus members after outages?
Sometimes. After the February 2025 outage Sony added five days to every active PlayStation Plus membership automatically.
How to report a PSN problem to Sony
If the status page shows everything working but you still cannot connect after trying the fixes above, contact PlayStation Support. Use the PlayStation Support website and choose Network and Connectivity, or start a live chat when it is available in your region. Have your console model, error code, the time the problem started and your internet provider ready. Support can check whether your account or IP address has a specific problem, such as a suspension or a block, that the general status page will not show. Players in some regions can also use the PlayStation Online Assistant chatbot for simple questions about errors and outages.
Keep this page bookmarked: when PSN goes down, the fastest way to an answer is the official status page, followed by @AskPlayStation, followed by a user report map. In that order, you will know within a minute whether to wait or to start troubleshooting.
Quick checklist when PSN seems down
- Open status.playstation.com for your country.
- Check @AskPlayStation on X for an announcement.
- Look at a user outage map to see if others report the same problem.
- Test another app or device on your network.
- If PSN is up, restart your router and PS5, then run the connection test.
- Still stuck? Contact PlayStation Support with your error code.
Following these steps in order saves time: most PSN problems are either a confirmed outage you can only wait out, or a home network issue you can fix in a few minutes.