PlayStation (PS5 and PS4): what each light means
Sony uses one set of power-indicator colours for the PS5 and the PS4: white means on, orange means rest mode, blue is the start-up colour, and a light that stays blue or keeps blinking white means the console has frozen. Only the PS4 has a red light, for overheating. On the DualSense controller, Sony describes the light bar and the player indicator while pairing, and a mute button that turns orange.
Sony's page covers ‘PS5 consoles’ and ‘PS4 consoles’ as a whole: it names no single model, so the same states apply to the original PS5, the PS5 slim, the PS5 Pro and the Digital Editions, and to the PS4, PS4 slim and PS4 Pro. Sony does not describe a charging light for the DualSense (the battery shows on screen in the control center), so there is none here.
The console
Solid white
The console is on. This is the normal colour while you play.
PS5 and PS4 consoles. 1 step from Sony on its page.
Blue, then white
The console is powering on. Starting from rest mode is quicker than from fully off, so the blue lasts only a moment.
PS5 and PS4 consoles. 1 step from Sony on its page.
Keeps blinking white, or stays blue (solid or blinking)
Console error: the console has frozen. Blue is only meant to show for a moment on the way to white, so a light that stays blue, or white that keeps blinking and never settles, is the frozen state.
PS5 and PS4 consoles. 3 steps from Sony on its page, then its repair line.
Blinking white, then off
The console is powering off. Once it is fully off it cannot charge controllers or download content, unlike rest mode.
PS5 and PS4 consoles. Sony gives no step for this light.
Solid orange
Rest mode: a low-power state in which the console can still charge controllers and download content.
PS5 and PS4 consoles. 1 step from Sony on its page.
Blinking orange
The console is entering rest mode. The light can look yellowish, and it should settle to solid orange within a few seconds.
PS5 and PS4 consoles. Sony gives no step for this light.
Pulsing red (PS4 only)
The PS4 is overheating. Sony lists no red light for the PS5.
PS4 consoles only. 3 steps from Sony on its page, then its repair line.
No light
The console is powered off. While fully off it cannot charge controllers or download content.
PS5 and PS4 consoles. Sony gives no step for this light.
A controller
DualSense light bar blinks, then the player indicator lights
The controller is pairing. The light bar blinks while it connects, and the player indicator below the touch pad lights up once it is properly paired.
DualSense wireless controller on PS5. 2 steps from Sony on its page.
DualSense player indicator blinks a number
You are setting or switching a pairing slot. A DualSense can hold up to four pairings, each in its own slot; while you set one, the light bar and player indicator blink, the player indicator blinks the number of the slot you chose, and it lights steadily once the switch works.
DualSense wireless controller (slots for up to four devices). Sony gives no step for this light.
DualSense mute button orange
Your microphone is muted and sound to every speaker is off. Sony describes this for holding the mute button down; a short press mutes only the microphone.
DualSense wireless controller. 1 step from Sony on its page.
DualShock 4 light bar slowly blinking orange
The PS4 controller is charging while the console is in rest mode. The light bar turns off when charging is complete.
DualShock 4 wireless controller on a PS4 in rest mode. Sony gives no step for this light.
PS VR2 Sense or Move controller slowly blinking white
The controller is charging. Sony gives this for the status indicator on the PS VR2 Sense controller and the PlayStation Move motion controller.
PS VR2 Sense controller; PlayStation Move motion controller. Sony gives no step for this light.
Sources
Sony’s own support pages only, read on the date shown. Nothing here comes from forums, videos or “lights explained” sites.
- PlayStation Support: Power indicator lights on PS5 consoles and PS4 consoles — PS5 consoles and PS4 consoles (all models; the page names none separately). www.playstation.com Checked 2026-09-29.
- PlayStation Support: How to connect a DualSense wireless controller — DualSense wireless controller on a PS5 console. www.playstation.com Checked 2026-09-29.
- PlayStation Support: How to charge your controller or accessory on PlayStation consoles (US) — DualShock 4 on a PS4; PS VR2 Sense controller and PlayStation Move motion controller. www.playstation.com Checked 2026-09-29.
- PlayStation Support: How to troubleshoot DualSense wireless controller issues (US) — DualSense wireless controller. www.playstation.com Checked 2026-09-29.