Getting an error message about corrupted data on your PS4 can be frustrating, but the good news is that in most cases it can be fixed. Here is a comprehensive guide on the common causes of PS4 corrupted data errors, how to fix them, and how to recover lost data if needed.
Table of Contents
What Causes Corrupted Data on the PS4
There are several potential causes of corrupted data errors on the PS4:
- Interrupted downloads or installations: If your internet connection drops out or the PS4 loses power during a download or installation, it can lead to corrupted files.
- Damaged game discs: Scratches, cracks, or other physical damage to game discs can result in corrupted data when you try to install or play the game.
- System software issues: Glitches in system software updates or processes can sometimes corrupt key system files.
- Hard drive errors: If the PS4’s hard drive develops bad sectors or other issues, it can cause data corruption over time.
- Game bugs or crashes: Some games are more prone to crashing or data corruption issues simply due to bugs in the game code itself.
How to Fix Corrupted Data on the PS4
Here are the steps to try and fix corrupted data errors on your PS4:
- Restart your PS4 – A simple restart will often clear up temporary software glitches.
- Check for system software updates – Install the latest system software, which may include fixes for bugs causing corruption issues.
- Delete and re-install affected games – Deleting then re-downloading the affected game’s data may resolve the corrupted files. Your saved progress is stored separately and won’t be lost.
- Rebuild the PS4 database – Rebuilding the database reorganizes files and clears some corrupted data. Back up your data first just in case.
- Initialize (format) the PS4 – Initializing will wipe all data and restore the PS4 to factory settings. So only use this method as a last resort after backing up your data.
How to Recover Lost PS4 Game Data
If the above steps don’t resolve your corrupted data issues – or if you realize you forgot to back up important save files before initializing your PS4 – you may need to utilize data recovery methods to restore deleted game data. Here are the options:
- PS Plus cloud storage – If you have an active PS Plus membership, your PS4 may have automatically uploaded save files to the cloud. You can download these to restore lost data.
- Data recovery software – Software like EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard can scan your PS4 drive and recover deleted files that weren’t overwritten.
- Professional data recovery service – For difficult cases of data loss, a professional recovery lab may be able to extract data from a damaged PS4 hard drive. This costs hundreds of dollars but can rescue truly valuable save files.
Prevention is also key – be sure to regularly back up your PS4 game saves and other important data, either to the cloud or an external USB drive. This will help minimize any data loss if you do encounter corrupted files down the road.
Following the troubleshooting steps in this guide should help you get back up and running if you see corrupted data errors on your PS4. But data recovery options are available if you do lose any valuable game progress or save files in the process.
