The time has come for you to let slip the firm grasp you have had on your PlayStation 4 for the last few years. Perhaps you are upgrading to a PlayStation Pro or maybe it's just time for you to move on. If you're planning on selling, you need to know what to do in order to get it ready to hand off to its new owner. The most important thing is wiping it clean.

Products used in this guide

Backing up your data

The first thing you're going to want to do is to make sure you have all the parts together. Making sure that everything is in proper working order is probably important as well. However, the most crucial thing you must do is to ensure that your console is a blank slate upon which its new owner can build their gaming world.

If you're planning on moving over to a newer model of PlayStation, you may want to back up your data to an external hard drive. Once you're armed with an external storage device, plug it into your PS4 and the transfer can begin!

  1. From the home page on your PS4, go to Settings.

  2. In the Settings menu, select System.

  3. From System, scroll down and select Back Up and Restore.

  4. Finally, select Back Up PS4.

Deactivate as primary PS4

The first thing you need to do is make sure that your PlayStation account is no longer linked to the system that you intend to sell.

  1. From the home page of your PS4, go to the Settings menu.

  2. Scroll down and select Account Management.

  3. Select Activate as Your Primary PS4.

  4. From the Activate menu, choose Deactivate.


Initializing your PS4

  1. From the home page of your PS4, go to the Settings menu.

  2. Scroll down and select Initialization at the very bottom.

  3. Select Initialize PS4.

  4. Select Full initialization.

This is going to take a few hours but it's going to ensure that all your data is wiped clean like you were never there.

This is a great point in the lifecycle of the PS4 to sell. It has an incredibly robust library of games which makes it desirable for those who have been aching to check out the titles they have been missing. And with the Slim and Pro versions of the PlayStation out it is also a great time to upgrade

Our top equipment picks

A great backup drive

Seagate 2TB Drive

For transferring ALL your data

If you want to save all the data you pull off of your PS4, you're going to need a drive. This baby is perfect for the task and should have more than enough space to store all your saves and screenshots with plenty of room to spare.

This Seagate drive is a great option for backing up your PlayStation. It's super thin and can fit just about anywhere. Not only that, but it has a perfect design that will fit right in with the black and blue styling of the PlayStation. You can pick one up at Amazon for a mere $80. It also comes in a 4TB flavor for all the storage your heart desires.

PlayStation accessories you'll love

Every one of these quality accessories is guaranteed to enhance your PlayStation experience.

EasySMX VIP002S RGB Gaming Headset ($36 at Amazon)

Good headsets tend to get expensive, but the EasySMX VIP002S headset gives you the best of both worlds: affordability and quality.

HyperX ChargePlay Duo ($20 at Amazon)

Charge up your controllers without taking up that precious USB space on your console. The HyperX ChargePlay Duo can charge two at once in two hours through an AC adapter.

PDP Bluetooth Media Remote ($20 at Amazon)

PlayStation is good for much more than gaming. When you want to browse the web or navigate your favorite apps, a DualShock 4 controller just doesn't cut it.

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