PS4 controller flashing red and white, what to do?

The light signals sent by the PS4 controller reveal its working status. So when the light bar shows an unusual color and starts blinking, worry quickly arises. Fortunately, that doesn't necessarily mean your controller is at the end of its life. It may happen that a minor malfunction is the cause. So find out today why and what to do when your PS4 controller flashes red and white?

Why is your PS4 controller flashing red and white?

PS4 controller flashing red and white what to do

The light bar on a controller is used to indicate a state of use or a malfunction of the controller. Some colors are common (Blue, orange, white) and do not indicate a problem. However, when the light bar starts flashing red and white, it means that the PS4 controller is experiencing a malfunction.

It could be a minor problem such as a software bug, a lack of synchronization between the device and the controller or the battery reaching the end of the charge. It may also be a more significant defect such as an internal component malfunction and therefore a failure requiring either professional support for the PS4 controller or replacement of the latter.

Please note: If your PS4 controller flashing red and white is still under warranty, contact the retailer or PlayStation support directly.

What to do when your DualShock 4 controller flashes red and white?

Resetting the PS4 controller

The first reflex to have is to proceed to a reset and resynchronization of your PS4 controller when it flashes white and red. This will remove software bugs and factory reset microprocessor. To reset your controller, follow these steps:

  1. Unplug the PS4 after turning it off.
  2. Turn off and unplug your controller.
  3. Press the reset button which is on the back of the controller next to the L2 button before a sharp object. Hold for 5 seconds.
  4. Reconnect your console.
  5. Connect the controller to the PS4 again using the original USB cable. In this case, connect it with a compatible USB cable (very important to allow synchronization to succeed).
  6. Press the PS button on your controller.

Normally, the controller should start blinking blue or white and then attach. If your controller continues to flash red and white, the bluetooth circuit or a component failure may be the cause and cause connection difficulties. This defective component will then have to be replaced.

Check battery and USB cable

When your PS4 controller flashes red and white, this may signal a fault in the power supply circuit (connector or cable problem) or car's battery performance. Perform the following checks:

1/ First, check that the battery is charging. To do this, put the controller on charge. If she blinks orange, this means that it is loading.
2/ Then, check that the battery is fully charged. If so, check that the USB cable is working by plugging another controller into your PS4. If the USB cable does not work, then it will need to be replaced.
3 / If the cable is not the cause, the fault may then be attributed to the battery. In this case, the DualShock controller will work plugged in, but once unplugged it will not turn on at all or not for a long time. It will then have to be replaced by a new battery.

Read also: My PS4 controller is no longer charging, what should I do?

Restart the PS4

Sometimes the problem comes from the console and not your controller. In this case, you will need to restart your PS4 in safe mode. First, start by doing the following:

  1. Turn off your console by pressing the power button for 10 seconds.
  2. Unplug your PlayStation 4 by removing the power cord.
  3. Wait 60 seconds.
  4. Reconnect the console's power cord and turn it on.
  5. Connect your controller to the console.
  6. Press the PS button on the DualShock controller.

If this has no effect and your PS4 controller keeps flashing white and red, switch to the PlayStation 4 Safe Reboot mode by doing the following:

  1. Turn off your PlayStation.
  2. Connect your PS4 controller with the original USB cable preferably. In this case, use a compatible cable.
  3. Hold down the power button on the console until you hear a second beep approximately 7 seconds later.
  4. Select "restart PS4" mode by pressing the PS button in the center of the controller.

Contact a professional

If unfortunately nothing works and your PS4 controller keeps flashing red and white and encounters dysfunctions, it may be that a bigger problem either at the origin of the problem. For example, it could be a faulty internal component, a power surge, overheating or power problem. In this case, we advise you to call a professional who can then tell you what to do next.

Contact first PlayStation roadside assistance to request a repair or replacement of your defective controller. You can also contact the reseller of your controller to request the conditions of their after-sales service. Finally you can contact a repair service specializing in electronic objects.

Please note that a repair can sometimes be more expensive than buy a new controller. We advise you to always ask for a quote before proceeding with any repair.

Note: If your controller is under warranty, contact your PS4 controller retailer or PlayStation Repair Support immediately for a personalized solution.

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