Do you have too many games on your PS4 and need to make some space? Not only do we understand this struggle, but we have the perfect solution for you. We are going to take you step-by-step through the process of how to delete games on PS4.
First, navigate to the game you want to delete on your PS4 home screen. Then, press the Options button on your controller. A menu will appear with several options, including Delete. Select Delete and confirm your choice. The game will now be deleted from your PS4. Additionally, if you have any saved data for the game, such as save files or progress data, you will be given the option to delete that as well.
Deleting games on PS4 is a quick and easy process. However, if you are having any trouble deleting a game, you can always contact customer support for assistance. What are you waiting for? Start freeing up space on your PS4 today!
Removing Games through the PS4 Home Screen
Navigating the PS4 home screen to delete games is a straightforward process. To achieve this:
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Access the Game Library: Begin by navigating to the ‘Game Library’ tab on the PS4 home screen. This tab displays a list of all installed games on your console. Use the left and right directional buttons to scroll through the games until you locate the one you wish to remove.
Note: If the game you are searching for is not immediately visible, press the ‘Options’ button on your controller and select ‘Show All’ to view the complete game library. -
Select the Game: Once you have identified the game you want to delete, press the ‘X’ button to select it. This will bring up a menu with various options related to the game.
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Locate the Delete Option: Navigate through the menu options until you find the ‘Delete’ option. This option will typically be located towards the bottom of the list. Select it by pressing the ‘X’ button.
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Confirm Deletion: A confirmation message will appear on the screen, asking you to confirm the deletion of the game. Select the ‘Yes’ option to proceed with the deletion.
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Wait for Completion: The PS4 will now begin the process of deleting the selected game. This process may take a few minutes depending on the size of the game. Once the deletion is complete, the game will no longer be visible in your Game Library.
Uninstalling Games via the Games Library
The Games Library offers an accessible method for uninstalling unwanted games from your PS4. Follow these steps to efficiently remove games through the library:
- Navigate to the PlayStation Dynamic Menu.
- Select the “Games” tab.
- Highlight the game you wish to uninstall.
- Press the Options button on your controller.
- Choose “Delete” from the drop-down menu.
- Confirm your selection by pressing “OK”.
The game will be promptly removed from your console. If you encounter space constraints, consider deleting additional games to free up storage capacity.
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Bulk Deletion of Games
While the PlayStation 4 allows for the deletion of games individually, it does not offer a native feature for bulk deletion. However, there is a workaround that enables you to delete multiple games simultaneously:
1. Go to the “Settings” menu on your PS4 console.
2. Select “Storage” > “System Storage” and then view “Applications”.
3. Hold down the “Options” button on your controller while highlighting a game you wish to delete. A menu should appear below the game’s title.
4. Select “Delete” from the menu and confirm your selection.
This process can be repeated for each game you wish to delete. By following these steps, you can swiftly remove multiple games from your PS4 without having to delete them individually.
Clearing Game Data for Partial Removal
This method offers a compromise between deleting the entire game and preserving all its data. It allows you to remove specific game files, such as saved games, screenshots, or updates, while keeping the game’s core installation intact. This can free up some storage space while still retaining the possibility of resuming gameplay later.
Steps for Clearing Game Data:
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. | Navigate to the “Settings” menu on your PS4. |
| 2. | Select “Storage” from the list of options. |
| 3. | Choose “System Storage” or “Extended Storage” (if you have an external hard drive connected). |
| 4. | Scroll down the list of games and select the one you want to partially delete. |
| Press the “Options” button on your controller. | |
| Select “Manage Game Content” from the menu. | |
| Uncheck the boxes next to the game files you want to delete, such as “Saved Data” or “Installed Updates.” | |
| Select “Delete” and confirm your choice. | |
| 5. | Once the deletion is complete, you can restart the game to check if it loads successfully. |
Note that clearing game data may affect your progress or online functionality in some games. Always check the game’s specific instructions before performing this action.
Managing Cloud Storage for Game Saves
The PlayStation 4 offers cloud storage for game saves, allowing you to back up your progress and access it from any PS4 console. You can manage your cloud storage by following these steps:
- Go to Settings > Application Saved Data Management.
- Select Saved Data in Online Storage.
- Select the game saves you want to manage.
- Choose from the following options:
- Download to PS4 Storage: Downloads the selected save to your console’s local storage.
- Upload to Online Storage: Uploads the selected save to the cloud.
- Delete: Deletes the selected save from both the cloud and your console.
- Repeat steps 4-5 for any additional game saves you want to manage.
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Download to PS4 Storage | Downloads the selected save to your console’s local storage. |
| Upload to Online Storage | Uploads the selected save to the cloud. |
| Delete | Deletes the selected save from both the cloud and your console. |
Deleting Games from External Hard Drives
Step 1: Safely Disconnect the External Hard Drive
Before disconnecting the external hard drive, it’s crucial to unmount it properly to prevent any data corruption. Access the PlayStation menu by pressing the “PlayStation” button on the controller. Then, navigate to “Settings” > “Devices” > “External Storage” and select the external hard drive.
Step 2: Choose the “Unmount” Option
Once you’ve selected the external hard drive, select the “Unmount” option and confirm the action. This will safely disconnect the hard drive from the PlayStation.
Step 3: Remove the External Hard Drive
After unmounting the drive, physically disconnect it from the PlayStation by gently pulling out the USB cable.
Step 4: Connect the External Hard Drive to a Computer
Use a compatible USB cable to connect the external hard drive to your computer. Ensure that the computer has sufficient permissions to access and modify the drive’s contents.
Step 5: Open the External Hard Drive
Once the external hard drive is connected, open it and navigate to the “Games” folder. This folder contains all the PlayStation games stored on the hard drive.
Step 6: Delete the Game Files
Select the game folder you want to delete and right-click on it. Choose the “Delete” option and confirm the action. Note that some PlayStation games may have additional files stored in other folders on the hard drive, so it’s recommended to delete all associated files to ensure complete removal.
Step 7: Re-connect the External Hard Drive to the PlayStation
After deleting the game files, reconnect the external hard drive to the PlayStation. The games will no longer appear on the PlayStation’s storage list, confirming their successful deletion.
1. Select Settings
From the PS4’s home screen, navigate to the “Settings” icon and press the X button to open it.
2. Choose “Storage”
In the “Settings” menu, scroll down and select the “Storage” option.
3. Select “System Storage”
On the left-hand side of the “Storage” screen, choose the “System Storage” option.
4. Select “Games and Apps”
Under the “System Storage” section, select the “Games and Apps” option.
5. Find the Game You Want to Delete
A list of all installed games and apps will be displayed. Scroll through the list and select the game you want to delete.
6. Press the “Options” Button
Once you’ve selected the game, press the “Options” button on your controller.
7. Choose “Delete”
In the pop-up menu that appears, select the “Delete” option. Confirm the deletion by selecting “OK” in the next pop-up window. The game will be removed from your PS4.
Factory Reset for Complete Game Removal
If you want to completely remove all games and data from your PS4, including user accounts and saved games, you can perform a factory reset. Follow these steps:
| Step | Instructions |
|---|---|
| 1 | Turn off your PS4. |
| 2 | Disconnect all peripherals (controllers, external hard drives, etc.) from the PS4. |
| 3 | Locate the small reset button on the back of the PS4. It’s near the power cord connector. |
| 4 | Insert a small tool (e.g., a toothpick or paperclip) into the reset button and hold it down for about 5 seconds. |
| 5 | The PS4 will beep twice and then start up in Safe Mode. |
| 6 | Select option 7 (Initialize PS4 (Reinstall System Software)) using the controller. |
| 7 | Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the factory reset process. |
Checking for Remaining Game Files
After deleting a game from your PS4, it’s essential to check if any remaining game files are taking up space on your console. These files can include save data, DLC, or patches. To check for remaining game files:
- Go to the “Settings” menu on your PS4.
- Select “Storage” from the left-hand menu.
- Choose “System Storage” and then “Applications.”
- Look for the game you deleted in the list of applications.
- Select the game and check the “Data” column. If there is any data displayed, the game still has remaining files on your PS4.
- To delete the remaining files, select the game and press the “Options” button on your controller.
- In the pop-up menu, select “Delete” and then “Confirm.”
- The remaining game files will now be deleted from your PS4.
- Go to the PlayStation Store and sign in to your account.
- Click on the “Library” tab.
- Scroll down to the “Purchased” section.
- Find the game you want to recover and click on it.
- Click on the “Download” button.
- If you have PlayStation Plus, you can restore your saved game data from the cloud.
- If you have a physical copy of the game, you can simply insert it into your PS4 and start playing.
- If you have purchased the game digitally, make sure you are signed into the same account that you used to purchase the game.
- Go to the PlayStation Store and sign in to your account.
- Click on the “Library” tab.
- Scroll down to the “Purchased” section.
- Find the game you want to recover and click on it.
- Click on the “Download” button.
- Once the game is downloaded, start playing it.
- Your progress should be automatically restored.
- Turn on your PS4 and navigate to the Home screen.
- Select the Game library tab.
- Highlight the game you want to delete and press the Options button on your controller.
- Select the Delete option from the menu.
- Confirm your selection by selecting OK.
It’s important to note that deleting remaining game files will also remove any saved data associated with the game. If you wish to keep your saved data, ensure you back it up before deleting the remaining game files.
Recovering Deleted Games
If you’ve accidentally deleted a game, don’t worry! It’s possible to recover it. Here are the steps to recover deleted games on PS4:
The game will start downloading and will be available to play once the download is complete.
Here are some additional tips for recovering deleted games:
Recovering Progress in Deleted Games
If you deleted a game and then reinstalled it, you may be able to recover your progress. Here are the steps to recover your progress:
If your progress is not automatically restored, you may need to manually load a saved game. To do this, go to the game’s main menu and select the “Load Game” option.
1. Navigate to the Game Library
From the main PS4 dashboard, navigate to the “Library” tab at the top of the screen.
2. Find the Game to Delete
Scroll through your game library or use the search function to locate the game you want to delete.
3. Select the Game
Once you find the game, hover over it and press the “Options” button (represented by the three horizontal lines) on your controller.
4. Choose “Delete”
From the options menu, select “Delete” to initiate the deletion process.
5. Confirm Deletion
A confirmation message will appear. Select “OK” to continue with the deletion.
6. Wait for Completion
The PS4 will now delete the game files. The time it takes will vary depending on the game’s size.
7. Verify Deletion
Once the deletion is complete, the game will disappear from your game library.
Troubleshooting Common Deletion Issues
Game Isn’t Listed in Library
Ensure that the game is actually installed on your PS4. Check the “Installed” tab in your library.
Delete Option is Greyed Out
Make sure the game is not currently running or being updated. Close all applications and try again.
Insufficient Storage Space
Deleting the game may require additional storage space. Check your PS4’s total storage capacity and consider deleting other games or apps to free up space.
Game Save Data Won’t Delete
Game save data is stored separately from the game files. To delete save data, navigate to “Settings” > “Application Saved Data Management” > “Saved Data in System Storage” > “Delete” and select the game’s save file.
Slow Deletion Process
If the deletion process is taking an unusually long time, try restarting your PS4 or rebuilding the database (Settings > System > Rebuild Database).
Game Reinstalls Automatically
Check your PS4’s “Automatic Updates” settings (Settings > System > Automatic Updates) and disable the “Install Automatically” option for games to prevent them from reinstalling after deletion.
Disc-Based Game Won’t Delete
Remove the game disc from your PS4 and try deleting it again. If the issue persists, try inserting the disc into another PS4 and deleting it from there.
Error Message During Deletion
If you encounter an error message during the deletion process, note the error code and contact PlayStation Support for assistance.
How to Delete Games on PS4
Deleting games from your PS4 is a straightforward process that can free up storage space and improve the performance of your console. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it:
