A console just has to work. It just works! To take your PS4 experience to the next level, we've put together the ultimate list of tips a...
Everything About the Controller
Dim Lamp
There are many setting options on the controller alone. To save battery, go to Settings > Devices > Controllers and set the light bar to "Dim". You can also turn the volume all the way down. Whether you leave the vibration on or not is entirely up to you.
Use Motion Sensor
Typing on the keyboard on a console is, to put it bluntly, really shit. If you press in the right thumbstick when the keyboard is open, you can select the characters via the motion sensor. You have to familiarize yourself with this method for a few minutes, because the feeling, at least for us, was a bit strange at the beginning. But after that, it goes pretty fast. If you have the Playstation app on your smartphone, you can also use it to make the entry.
Quick Change and Show Hidden Trophies
Here are two tips for the trophy hunter in you. For one, you can double-tap the PS button to bring up the last open application, similar to Android smartphones. This procedure allows you to quickly switch between a website with the trophy guide and the game. Since the system software update 4.0 you can show hidden trophies. You go to the hidden trophy in the trophies menu and then press "Square". You will now be shown a message on how to reach it. If this hint isn't enough for you, press the Options button and select the Internet Search option.
Charge in Rest Mode
Charging the controller during the session is suboptimal, to say the least. Therefore, you should charge it while your PS4 is in sleep mode. You can set this in Settings > Energy-saving settings. Alternatively, you can simply connect the controller to a power supply.
Reset
If your controller does not connect to the console at all, even though the battery is charged, reset it. On the bottom of the Dualshock 4 is a small hole with the reset button in it. A toothpick is enough to get at the head. The memory is reset to the factory settings and the connection should now set itself up again by itself.
Console Features
Start TV
Of course, the PS4 itself also offers various setting options. It starts as soon as you turn it on. Under Settings > System you will find the item "Enable HDMI device connection". Check the box there and your TV will start automatically with the console. This trick may not work on older TVs.
Gamble on the PC?
You can also play your games from elsewhere using the Remote Play app on your PC or Mac. Under Settings > Remote Play connection settings you activate the feature on the console. Then, on PC, sign in to the Remote Play app with your PSN account. But you can't get around the controller. You have to connect this either via USB cable or Bluetooth adapter.
Download the Game at Work
An annoying 50GB day-one patch is turning some people's hair gray. This is always a problem, especially in Germany, a developing country for the Internet. With the remote download feature, you can download your games while you work, without lugging your PS4 around. If you leave your console in sleep mode, you can start a download using a smartphone app or a browser on your PC. As long as you haven't changed anything in the sleep mode settings, everything should work fine.
Transfer Scores
A simple USB stick formatted to FAT32 is sufficient to transfer a saved game. Connect the stick to the console and go to Settings > Management of application saved data > Saved data in system storage > Copy to the USB storage device. Then all you have to do is select the save you want to copy.
Sort Friends
To always have your friend's list sorted at hand, you can set custom lists. To do this, go to Custom Lists > Create List under the Friends tab. The purpose of such a group is to send messages or invitations to the entire list at once. Otherwise, you would have to select each contact individually.
Listen to Music While Gambling
To listen to music while gambling, you have two options. The first is to play the music from a USB stick. If the music stops when you start the game, you will need to turn off the game sound and restart the music playback from the PS4 menu. Option two is a little easier. You can download the Spotify app from the Playstation Store. You can even control playback from your smartphone.
Defrag Hard Drive
Defragmenting the hard drive is part of the monthly routine for the long-established PC gamer. But it also works on the PS4! When you turn on the PS4, press and hold the power button until you hear a second beep. In the menu that appears, select the item "Rebuild database".
Hardware Tricks
Use an External Hard Drive
If you ever run out of storage space, you have the option of connecting an external hard drive to the Plays. The hard disk must meet the following requirements:
USB 3.0 or 3.1 support
250GB to 8TB of storage
Can only be connected via USB cable
Only one hard drive can be connected at a time
Whether you use a 2.5 inch or 3.5-inch drive is up to you.
Install the New Hard Drive
Alternatively, there is also the option of installing a new hard disk. Above all, an SSD should be particularly interesting, because it can not only increase the storage space but also improve performance. From a financial point of view, however, this makes less sense because the SSDs alone sometimes cost more than the console itself.
Boost Mode for Pro Users
Proud PS4 Pro owners can use a boost mode. Under Settings > System > Boost mode, you activate the feature, which should help older games to achieve better performance.
Get Disc out of Broken PS4
Last but not least. Horror scenario: The PS4 no longer starts AND you still have a disc in the device. Step One: Unplug the console. Slide the reflective plastic on top of the device of the unit to the side. Next to the drive is a screw that you need to turn counterclockwise. The disc will gradually be pushed out of the drive. You will need the thinnest possible screwdriver to get to the screw at all.
