I've only done it once: back in August when Hellblade was out. I'm not sure it was necessary, but I thought I'd do it because the system was running somewhat loud (as it does with many games that are using the system to its fullest, like Uncharted 4). I was just wondering if it's a necessity and should be done often, or just when you run into issues. I remember thinking I might do it yearly, but I don't know. I've read that it's a defragger for the system more or less, and that seems like a good thing. How often do you do it, and when should you do it?

Every time the fucking power goes out.

@retrometal: Hmm. Yeah, I haven't had a power outage in a while. I just did it for the heck of it. Still, I am curious and the question still stands.

@retrometal: Ditto, they refuse to bury powerlines or trim trees around here.

@retrometal:Ha, same.

@ntm: My PS4's hella loud when I run FFXIV, might try the database thing... not sure it'll help, but maybe worth a shot.

@someoneproud: Already did. I'm not sure if the fan running harder is relieved due to the database. I did, however, turn the systems off for a while as I cleaned my room and then I vacuumed out the systems. I went back to Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus and it was kind of running loud. It isn't so much now actually. I also just preordered (and I never preorder) Shadow of the Colossus since I knew I was going to play it regardless, so it was a good time to clean the systems out.

Edit - Oh, I just noticed you meant you might try it. Yeah, maybe. Maybe turn the system off and vacuum it out too. I think it's also just up to the game.

@ballsleon: Yeah, the power lines here are below ground (at least in my neighborhood). That said, while we don't get many power outages, it's not unheard of even with them underground. I just read that undergrounding can cost five to ten times more than having them above ground, so that's probably the reason they're not widely used.

Honestly, I've never done it, though my PS4 slim is only 1 year old. It runs fine, never had any problems, it's just as fast as it was day of purchase. Sometimes the fans get loud in some games, but well, they're fans and they do their job. I don't expect my system to be whisper quiet during a demanding game, plus it's like 0,5m from where I sit. Seems like you should rebuild the database if your run into problems since that's what often the support might tell you.

@mattgiersoni: I got my PS4 at the very end of 2013. I haven't had any real issue with it, though ever since I've had it, sometimes (though not too often) some games crash and I get the CE-34878-0 error. I sit 5.6 feet away from my TV and systems, so the system can sometimes sound louder than I want it. I'm not really concerned about the correlation between fan and defragging the system though. I'd rather just get the dust out a potentially dust ridden system than rebuild the database for that. I'm just curious if there really is any reason to do it every so often, like cleaning a PC, or just when there's an issue.

You guys don't... uh... use UPSes?

I've never done this nor known it's something I should do.

How long does this usually take? I’ve never done it on my PS4 of about 3 years.

I mean, I have in the past.

But they are expensive and once your UPS battery gives it up and the entire house smells like rotten eggs for a week, you get over them.

Whenever something goes fucky with rest mode. Tends to happen when you have a PSVR attached... VR does not like rest mode, apparently, and it can finagle your calibrations. Oftentimes a simple reboot works, but sometimes that database needs rebuildin'.

And, of course, power outages.

I do it manualy around every quarter or so.

@shagge said:

The rest mode thing. I don't have a PSVR but my rest mode still sometimes goes weird and I come back and it says "your PS4 shut down improperly" or whatever. No idea why, as it was just sitting in rest mode. Other than that though (and power outages of course) I don't ever both rebuilding the database. Seems fine.

Can someone explain to me what "rebuilding the database" does on a PS4? Why should I do this?

I'm here in this thread to learn something rather than say I do or don't(I actually do remember rebuilding the data base once on my first PS4) But I have had one hell of a concern about my fans running so loud on my PS4 pro.

So, it's not unusual...

@ntm: Yeah, I suspect cleaning out the dust is more likely to help. I'll try that first I think.

@colonel_pockets: I believe it's akin to defragging a drive on PC. Organizes the data on the drive to potentially free up the memory between the bits being used and also make accessing the data quicker. Takes all the used chunks of memory and puts them directly next to each other instead of being spread out with wasted space between (probably an oversimplification).

@someoneproud: Thanks! I guess I'll give it a shot when I get the chance.

@re_player1: The site says it depends, but for me, it only takes about a minute and a half.

@retrometal: That's unfortunate, sounds like you got a lemon. I've had a few die over the years and they've never had a smell. The battery ports just stop working (but the non-battery backed up ports still work).

I lose power far more than I should where I live (I'd estimate 15+ times in 3 or 4 years).

The PS4 gets really cross and beeps angrily at me as if it was my fault.

Not great when I forget and go to boot up the PS4 at night when kids are asleep.

I wish the Beeping sound could be turned off.