You're done for the night. Or maybe you're just heading to the kitchen to grab a sandwich while Elden Ring updates in the background. Either way, you don't want to shut the whole system down. Why would you? Cold boots take forever. This is exactly why knowing how to put PS5 into rest mode properly is basically the first thing every owner needs to master. It’s that sweet spot between "fully on" and "totally dead," keeping your controllers charged and your game suspended right where you left it.
Sony designed the PlayStation 5 to be an "always-on" machine, but honestly, the software can be a bit finicky. If you’ve ever seen that dreaded "Your PS5 wasn't turned off properly" warning after a power flicker, you know the stakes.
The Quick Way: Using the DualSense Controller
Most of the time, you aren't going to get up and walk to the console. That’s just too much work.
- Tap the PS Button in the center of your DualSense controller. Don't hold it down; a quick tap brings up the Control Center.
- Scroll all the way to the right to find the Power icon. It looks like a circle with a vertical line through it.
- Select it, then hit Enter Rest Mode.
Your screen will go black, and the white light on the console will start pulsing orange. Once it stays a steady orange, you're officially in rest mode. It’s fast. It’s easy. It’s what 99% of people do. But there are a few things that can go wrong here if your settings aren't dialed in.
Using the Physical Power Button
Maybe your controller died. Or maybe you're already standing by the TV because you're tidying up the living room. You can do it manually.
Just press the Power button on the front of the console.
Wait. Be careful here. You only want to press it until you hear one beep. If you hold it down for several seconds and hear a second beep, you’re actually triggering a full hardware shutdown. That’s a different beast entirely. A single, quick press tells the system "Hey, take a nap," and the light bar will transition to that signature amber glow.
Why does the orange light matter?
If the light is blinking white, the console is still busy. It’s saving data or checking the SSD. Never, ever pull the plug while that light is blinking. I’ve seen people brick their external drives or corrupt their Spider-Man 2 save files because they got impatient and yanked the power cord.
The Settings You Must Check First
If you try to figure out how to put PS5 into rest mode and realize your controllers aren't charging while it's "asleep," your settings are probably messed up. Sony ships these consoles with different power-saving defaults depending on the region.
Head into Settings, then System, and look for Power Saving.
Inside "Features Available in Rest Mode," you’ve got three big toggles. First, "Supply Power to USB Ports." Set this to 3 Hours or Always. If it's off, your controller won't charge, and you'll wake up to a dead battery. Second, make sure "Stay Connected to the Internet" is toggled on. This is how the PS5 downloads those massive 40GB patches for Call of Duty while you sleep. Finally, there's "Enable Turning On PS5 from Network." This is essential if you use the PS Remote Play app on your phone.
Solving the Rest Mode Crash Issue
We have to talk about the elephant in the room. Since launch, some users have reported that their PS5s simply won't wake up from rest mode. They get a black screen, or worse, a hard crash that requires a database rebuild.
Is it common? Not really. Is it terrifying? Absolutely.
If your console is acting weird, try disabling "Enable Media File Sharing" in the network settings. For some reason, certain routers keep pinging the PS5, preventing it from entering a deep sleep state. Also, if you’re using an external HDD or a secondary M.2 SSD, ensure they are seated properly. Hardware handshakes during the power-down phase are often where these glitches live.
Is Rest Mode Bad for the Console?
I get asked this a lot. "Is it better to just turn it off?"
Honestly, it depends. If you live in an area with frequent lightning storms or a shaky power grid, a full shutdown is safer. Rest mode keeps the RAM powered. If the power cuts out, it's like a tiny heart attack for the operating system.
But for daily use? Rest mode is fine. It consumes about 1.2 to 3.2 watts of electricity, which is basically nothing. Compared to the 200+ watts it pulls during God of War Ragnarök, your electric bill won't even notice.
Key Steps to Optimize Your Experience
Don't just set it and forget it. To get the most out of your console's downtime, you should verify these specific configurations:
- Check your Update Settings: Go to Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings. Toggle on "Download Update Files Automatically" and "Install Update Files Automatically." This ensures that when you wake the console, you actually get to play instead of staring at a progress bar.
- Manage External Storage: If you use an external drive for PS4 games, go to Settings > Storage > USB Extended Storage and make sure "Always" is selected for power supply. If the drive loses power too early, the PS5 will yell at you when it wakes up.
- HDMI Link: If your TV supports it, enable HDMI Device Link (CEC). This allows the PS5 to enter rest mode automatically when you turn off your TV. It’s convenient, though sometimes a bit "ghost-in-the-machine" if your TV likes to update itself at 3 AM.
What to Do If It Gets Stuck
If you've followed the steps on how to put PS5 into rest mode and the light just blinks white forever, something is hung up. Usually, it's a game that refuses to suspend.
Force a shutdown by holding the power button for 15 seconds. It’s not ideal, but it’s better than leaving it in a loop. When it boots back up, it will do a disk check. Let it finish. Then, try clearing the system cache in Safe Mode.
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To get to Safe Mode, turn the console off completely. Hold the power button until you hear a second beep (about 7 seconds). Plug your controller in via USB, and select "Clear Cache and Rebuild Database." This often fixes the software bugs that make rest mode unreliable.
Moving Forward With Your PS5
Now that you know the mechanics, make it a habit to check your downloads before you hit that power button. The real magic of the PS5 isn't just the haptic triggers or the fast SSD; it's the fact that it works while you aren't looking.
Set your USB power to 3 hours, keep your internet connected, and let the machine do the heavy lifting. The next time a surprise patch drops for your favorite multiplayer game, you'll be the one ready to play while your friends are stuck waiting for a download. Just remember: if the light is orange, it’s resting. If it’s dark, it’s off. If it’s blinking white, leave it alone.
Next Steps for System Health:
Navigate to your Power Saving settings right now and confirm that "Supply Power to USB Ports" is set to at least 3 hours. This is the single most common reason people think their rest mode is "broken" when their controllers simply aren't charging. Once that's confirmed, check your "Auto-Download" toggles to ensure your library stays current without manual intervention.