The ‘corrupted database’ error is a prominent problem for PS4 users. The error pop-up perfectly describes the problem. This error happens due to the corruption of certain files on your PS4’s database. The corrupted files can also belong to a particular game that you play a lot. Database corruption can also happen if the power supply to your PS4 shuts off suddenly. This prevents your PS4 from loading a particular piece of data which ends up terminating the entire process. An error message along the line “The database is corrupted. The PS4 will restart.” will be displayed. This is not what players expect when playing a game. Luckily, you can fix this problem by performing a few steps. If you want to prevent this error from ruining your gaming session, check out the troubleshooting steps given below.
Fixes for corrupted database on PS4:
Before trying any of the fixes, backup all the data that you can from your PS4. An external hard drive or SSD will make the process very easy. Back up the data from those external storage devices and continue from there.
Now you need to boot your PS4 into safe mode to perform the steps to fix the corrupted database. To do so, turn off your PS4 and hold down the power button (first beep here) for a few seconds until you hear the second beep, which will indicate that your PS4 has booted into safe mode. After that, connect a PS4 controller through a USB port and press the PS button to bring up the Safe Mode options.
1) Rebuild Database:
After performing the steps given above, scroll down to the fifth option in the menu displayed. The fifth option in that list will be ‘Rebuild Database’. It should start a thorough scan and fix the problem with the database on your PS4. Keep in mind that this step is not instant. It will take a considerable amount of time. If you have a lot of games installed on your system, which will add to the time needed for the rebuild. After the scan, your PS4 will automatically boot back to the default menu. Post this step, you will not have any problems like a corrupted database on your PS4.
2) Look for partial or incomplete download files:
If rebuilding the database does not solve the problem, you might have to delete the problematic files manually. When you are constantly being thrown out of a specific game with the corrupted database error message, this is the step that you need. Usually, a game file gets corrupted due to a partially installed update or outdated licenses. The easiest way to fix this is by going to Notifications > Downloads and deleting the most recently downloaded files. After that, restart your PS4 and install the files again. This will fix a corrupted database for a particular game.
