• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
TechEngage

TechEngage®

Hands-on reviews, research-backed buying guides and technology news.

  • News
    • Internet & Social
    • Gadgets
    • Car Tech
    • Business
    • Science & Health
  • Reviews
  • Buying Guides
  • How-to
  • AI
  • Computing
    • Apps
    • Security
    • Gaming
  • More
    • Tools
    • Puzzles
    • Mobile
  • Launchpad
  • Sign in
TechEngage » Gaming & Entertainment

PS4 BUG: How to protect your console

If you are a PS4 owner and getting a warning message, containing a string of characters, do not open it!

How-To

Avatar for Areen Zahra Areen Zahra Follow Areen Zahra on X Published: Oct 14, 2018 · 1:54 PM ET Updated: May 16, 2026 · 12:54 AM ET

featured image containing PS4 with controller
FacebookTweetPinLinkedInPrint

PS4 owners are reportedly hit with a  PS4 bug that causes their Sony console to malfunction. The bug makes its way through a warning message that is composed of a string of characters. Opening this message causes Sony’s console to stop working or functioning normally. The bug causes such serious malfunctioning that the user ultimately has to go for a factory reset on their device.

Such bugs are a norm on cellular devices and are reported to be fixed through an update. Sony has already been known for giving quick updates. This gives us hope that this bug might get fixed in a coming update. Until then, just have a look at some points that can help you protect yourself from this bug:

Steps to avoid PS4 Bug:

  1.  If you receive any warning message, avoid opening it on your Sony Console. That says, if you have downloaded a Sony messaging app and you delete this message right away, then it is least likely to affect your Console. You can get this app from both Google Play and App Store.
  2.  Restrict your messages to “Friends Only”  or “No one” to avoid receiving messages from unreliable sources. You can do this by following the given steps:
  • Open up your web browser and visit this link.
  • Sign in to your PS4 account.
  • Choose ‘Personal Info’ to move to your ‘Messages.’
  • Click on the ‘edit’ icon near your messages.
  • Change the message settings to ‘friends only’ or ‘no one.’

Or you can also follow the steps below:

  •  Log in to your PS4 console.
  • Go to settings
  • Select Account Management
  • Select Privacy Settings
  • Choose ‘Personal Info’ to move to ‘Messages’.
  • Click on the edit icon near your messages.
  • Change the message settings to ‘friends only’ or ‘no one’.

This would help you protect your PS4 from this bug until Sony’s next update gets it fixed.

What to do if already affected by this bug?

If you are already affected by this bug, you can get your Database rebuilt. This can be done by running your PS4 in safe mode and rebuilding your database. Hopefully, by doing this, you won’t lose any of your data, and you might also get your console working normally again.

Sony says that rebuilding your database “Scans the drive and creates a new database of all content on the system. However, this operation may take a long time depending on the type and number of data items. This option is useful for cleaning up the data on your PS4 as it reorganizes everything on the hard drive. Therefore, select this option if you experience issues such as ‘game freezes’ or ‘framerate drops’”.

Also read: Best video game consoles to buy on Amazon

We completely understand that you would never want to lose all your data. Therefore, the recommended solution on your Console might save you from the factory reset.

We hope the guidelines help you save yourself from the recent glitch on PS4. However, we’ll inform you as soon as Sony does something to get this fixed. Stay tuned!


Related reading

  • Red dead redemption 2 online beta releasing on 27th November
  • Titan One lets you use your DS4 on your XOne; and more possible configurations
  • Fortnite’s New Year's surprise leaves players confused
Something incorrect? Report an error in this article. Include a source if you have one; your name and email are optional.

Filed Under: Gaming & Entertainment Tagged With: How-To, Sony PS4

Related Stories

  • 10 Best Video Games To Play Right Now (Every Platform)

    10 Best Video Games to Play Right Now (Every Platform)

    Gaming & EntertainmentJan 4, 2024

  • 9 Best Music Torrent Sites

    9 Best Music Torrent Sites

    Gaming & EntertainmentApr 27, 2023

  • Netflix Crackdown Nears As Streaming Giant Tightens Password Sharing Rules

    Netflix crackdown nears as streaming giant tightens password sharing rules

    Gaming & EntertainmentFeb 1, 2023

Stay on top of technology

Get TechEngage reviews, buying guides and news in your feed.

Follow on Google News
FacebookTweetPinLinkedInPrint
Avatar for Areen Zahra

Areen Zahra

Auto & AI Reporter

Areen Zahra is an Auto and AI Reporter at TechEngage who writes about automotive technology, artificial intelligence, apps, and social media. An IT professional by training, she covers how software and machine intelligence are reshaping transportation and daily life across more than 130 articles.

Joined TechEngage September 2018First article on TechEngage September 2018

Reader Interactions

Share Your Thoughts Cancel reply

Please read our comment policy before submitting your comment. Your email address will not be used or published anywhere. You will only receive comment notifications if you opt to subscribe below.

Primary Sidebar

Google News

Get TechEngage in your feed

Reviews, news, and buying guides as they publish.

Follow on Google News

Recent Stories

  • Usb C Power Meters Techengage |
    Computing & HardwareBest USB-C Power Meters for Chargers and CablesSep 28, 2026
  • Akamai Anthropic Cloud Techengage |
    Tech News & AnalysisAkamai’s $11.6 billion Anthropic cloud deal: costs, timeline and CPU strategySep 27, 2026
  • Openai Agent Dns Incident Techengage |
    Tech News & AnalysisOpenAI pauses advanced-model research after agent bypasses network restrictionsSep 27, 2026
  • Ai Markets Feat |
    AIThree CEOs Asked to Slow Down. The President Said No and the Market Fell 3 Percent. Hassan Taher on What Actually Happened.Sep 21, 2026
  • Iphone 18 Pro Availability Sept 18 |
    Tech News & AnalysisiPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max Available Today in 65+ CountriesSep 18, 2026

More in Gaming & Entertainment

  • Pexels Photo 442576 |
    10 Best Video Games to Play Right Now (Every Platform)Jan 4, 2024
  • Best Music Torrent Sites Jpg |
    9 Best Music Torrent SitesApr 27, 2023
  • Netflix Password Sharing Crackdown Jpg |
    Netflix crackdown nears as streaming giant tightens password sharing rulesFeb 1, 2023
  • Psd7 Jpg |
    Netflix’s Long-term Subscribers are Canceling the Netflix SubscriptionMay 19, 2022
More Gaming & Entertainment stories →

Footer

Discover

  • About TechEngage
  • Company News & Updates
  • Our Team
  • Advertise
  • Send us a tip
  • Submit your company to TechEngage Launchpad Hot
  • TechEngage Brand Kit
  • Contact us
  • Tools & Calculators

Legal pages

  • Editorial Standards
  • Reviews Policy
  • Our Ethics
  • Corrections Policy
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • GDPR Compliance
  • Copyright & DMCA

Must reads

  • Best Mechanical Keyboards Under $100
  • Best USB-C Hubs
  • Best Portable SSDs
  • Best Gaming Graphics Cards (GPUs)
  • Best Long-Range Outdoor WiFi Extenders
  • Best Wireless CarPlay Adapters
  • Best Slack Alternatives
  • Best Long-Range Walkie-Talkies

About TechEngage

TechEngage® is an independent technology publication covering tech news, reviews and buying guides.

Founded
2003
Publisher
TechAbout LLC
ISSN
2690-3776
Google NewsRSS feed

© 2026 TechEngage®. All Rights Reserved. TechEngage® is a project of TechAbout LLC.

TechEngage® is a registered trademark in the United States under Trademark Number 6823709 and in the United Kingdom under Trademark Number UK00003417167. It is also ISSN protected under ISSN 2690-3776 and has OCLC Number 1139335774.

Contact team@techengage.com · WhatsApp +1-307-381-8801

Your analytics choice
Allow Google Analytics to help us understand readership? You can use the site without it and change this choice anytime.

Privacy details