Fixing corrupted databases/data on PS4

"Database is corrupted. PS4 will restart." and "Corrupted data - Cannot load corrupted saved data." are common error messages you might see when trying to play games on your PS4. When the database is corrupted, you won't be able to use your PS4 for anything. When your PS4's data is corrupted, you can't play the game that's reporting the error.

Obviously, you don't want any of those. Fortunately, all of these issues have viable fixes, which you can remove from your PS4 with the steps below.

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Part 1: Fixing a Corrupted PS4 Database

The PS4 database is an organized collection of data associated with your device. Whenever you want to access, edit, or update this data, you do so by interacting with the database. Hence, when your PS4 database becomes corrupt, it can be quite frustrating.

Symptoms of a corrupt database:

• Your PS4 displays a database corrupted error and restarts automatically.
• Games take an unusually long time to load.
• The PS4 is unable to read discs.
• The console is slow to respond when navigating menus.
• Games stutter or lag while playing.

Reasons for database corruption:

• Corrupted base platform
• Corrupted file header
• Damaged storage medium
• Power failure
• Hardware malfunction

Of course, there are other possible culprits, but there is no space here to enumerate them. Having diagnosed the symptoms and causes, it is time to consider the remedies.

Repairing a Corrupted Database on PS4

Unlike a PS4 that won't turn on, you can still boot your device when you get a database corruption error, which gives you more options to fix the problem. Many users have found that the most effective way to fix a corrupted PS4 database is to rebuild the database. In short, rebuilding the database scans the drive and creates a new database for everything. You can access the "Rebuild Database" option in Safe Mode, so you'll need to power down your console and enter this mode. Here's how:

Step 1: Turn off your console and wait for the white light to turn off completely.

Step 2: Hold down the power button on the console until you hear two beeps. This will boot the PS4 into Safe Mode.

Step 3: Connect the PS4 controller to the console with a USB cable.

Step 4. In Safe Mode, you have several options. Choose “Rebuild Database,” then wait for the process to finish.

However, rebuilding the database won't fix a corrupted database caused by hardware failure (for example, your HDD) or system malfunction. In this case, you have two options:

• Repair Corrupted Hard Drive without Formatting
• Initialize PS4

To fix the internal hard drive of your PS4, you'll need to remove it first. If you choose to initialize the device (an option available in Safe Mode), keep in mind that this will restore system settings to their defaults and delete data stored on the system storage. Exercise caution before making this choice.

Part 2: Repair Corrupted Data on PS4

Unlike a corrupted database, corrupted data is specific to a game, not the database on your PS4.

Symptoms of data corruption on PS4:

• The PS4 game runs slowly, the screen goes black, or characters don't load.
• Error message: "Cannot use the application. The data of the following application is corrupted. Remove the application from your PS4 and insert the disc again."
• Error message: "Data corruption - Saved data cannot be loaded due to data corruption."
• Encounter error codes such as CE-37732-2 and NP-32062-3.

When your game's data is corrupt, you'll see signs like those in the image below:

Causes of PS4 Data Corruption:

• HDD failure or malfunction
• Damaged game files
• The downloaded file was not installed correctly on the system
• Corrupted system data

To address your data corruption issue, we offer the following suggestions. You don't need to try them all; just find the one that best suits your situation.

Solution 1: Manually delete corrupted data

The most common reason you get these error messages is that one of the files associated with your game is corrupted. Deleting them is the most straightforward way to fix this issue.

Step 1: Go to Settings > Storage management > Saved data > Media player.

Step 2: Navigate to the media player's folder, where you should see the corrupted file that was saved.

Step 3: Click on the “Options” button and then remove the corrupted data files that are saved.

Step 4: Quit. Reopen the media player app.

Method 2: Delete the Corrupted PS4 File and Redownload It

The downloaded file failed to install correctly in the system. This could be due to corruption of data during the download process.

Step 1. Delete the downloaded file. On the PS4 system, go to [Notifications] > [Downloads], and then select the content.

2. Press the [OPTIONS] button on the controller, and then delete the downloaded content.

Step 3: Download the file again.

Fix 3: Rebuild PS4 Database to Fix Corrupted Data

As mentioned, rebuilding the database will defragment the PS4, which can fix various issues on your PS4 and repair corrupted data.

Step 1: Connect the PS4 controller to the console using a USB cable.

Step 2: Press and hold the PS4 power button until you hear a second beep.

Step 3: Release the button. Your PS4 should now be in Safe Mode, with a screen that looks like this:

Step 4: Using the controller, select “5. Rebuild Database.”

Wait for the process to finish. Once it's done, turn on your PS4 and see if rebuilding the database helped fix your bricked PS4. If the error persists, you may need to initialize your PS4 to resolve it. If you're encountering the same issue on a PS5, refer to this article for detailed steps:

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How to Repair Corrupted Data on PS5

Want to know how to fix corrupted data on PS5? Read on to learn more about the causes of PS5 data corruption. Read More >>

Additional Tip: How to Avoid Losing Data on Your PS4

Sometimes, you may lose data after fixing the error, which should remind you of the importance of data protection. Here we recommend two methods to avoid PS4 data loss.

# 1. Upgrade Your PS4 with a Larger Hard Drive

To prevent data loss, we highly recommend that you back up or clone your PS4 HDD to a larger HDD to avoid running out of space. Game downloads, demos, and high-definition videos can quickly fill up the PS3 and PS4 hard drive. When the PS3 or PS4 internal storage is full, it's time to upgrade the small hard drive to a bigger one or SSD for your PS3 or PS4 system. Doing so will also help you avoid data corruption.

# 2. Recover lost files using a file recovery tool

If you lose data when backing up to an external device, or you accidentally delete files, you can turn to the Data Recovery Wizard tool for help. This powerful yet easy-to-use recovery program helps you solve all data loss issues from removable flash devices – retrieving deleted or lost files due to software crash, formatting, corruption, virus attacks, and other unknown reasons.

Bottom line

Whether it's a corrupt PS4 database or data, you'd want to have it fixed ASAP. Based on our experience, rebuilding the database helps in both cases. Always remember that initializing the device is your last resort.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about PS4 Data or Database Corruption

This page provides symptoms, causes, and solutions for PS4 data or database corruption issues for great PS4 players. However, some users might still be unclear about what causes PS4 data or database corruption and why rebuilding can fix a corrupted database.

Below, we've listed some popular questions that many people also search for on Google, along with brief answers. Scroll through and find the answer to your question here:

"What does 'corrupted data' mean on a PS4?"

When you see the “Data corruption – The saved data cannot be loaded because it is corrupted” error on your PS4, it means that the game's data or files have become damaged, and you can't play the game on your console. You might not be able to load your game or character.

Usually, when you encounter a “corrupted data” error, you'll see an obvious error code on your PS4 display, such as CE-37732-2 or NP-32062-3.

2. What can cause data corruption?

There can be various reasons that lead to PS4 data corruption. Here are the primary causes of data corruption on your PS4:

• The hard disk drive is failing or functioning abnormally.
• The downloaded file was not installed correctly.
• The downloaded file is corrupted.
• System data is corrupted.
• The PS4 database is corrupted.

How do I fix corrupted data on my PS4?

As explained on this page, there are basically three methods that can help fix corrupted data on your PS4:

1). Delete corrupted data 2). Delete downloaded or corrupted PS4 files and redownload them 3). Rebuild the PS4 database

You can go back to Part 2 and easily fix corrupted PS4 data with any of the methods.

4. What does "Database corrupted" mean on PS4?

When your PS4 database becomes corrupt, you won't be able to access, edit, or update any data on your PS4 or within the database. You may also experience issues performing certain functions on your PS4 console, such as playing games, loading characters, or even saving screenshots.

If you experience any of the following issues, it indicates that the database on your PS4 is corrupt:

• Long and unusually slow game loading times
• PS4 unable to read discs
• Lag when navigating menus
• Stuttering or lag during gameplay