Charge Your Controller in Rest Mode
By default, your DualSense controller won’t charge while the console sits in rest mode. To fix that, head to System, then Power Saving, then Features Available in Rest Mode. Select Supply Power to USB Ports
and set it to Always
.
A dark yellow or amber light on the controller confirms it’s charging, and a full charge from this method can take a few hours.
Turn On Power Saver for Games
This feature arrived in a 2025 update and can meaningfully cut your electricity use. Enabling it drops power consumption from the usual 200 to 300 watts down to 90 to 110 watts for supported titles.
The tradeoff is a possible hit to frame rate and graphics fidelity, so it’s best suited for less demanding games rather than the latest graphically intensive releases. Games that support this mode show a leaf symbol with a lightning bolt next to their title. To turn it on, go to System, then Power Saving, then Power Saver for Games.
Redirect Installs to Expanded Storage
If you’ve added an M.2 SSD to your PS5, make sure new installs actually go there. Navigate to Storage, then Installation Location, and change PS5 Games and Apps
to your expanded drive.
This keeps your internal SSD reserved for PS5 titles specifically. PS4 games can run fine from USB Extended Storage instead, or even play directly off a USB drive without needing to install at all.
Switch to a Wired Connection
Even with an Ethernet cable plugged in, the PS5 often defaults to Wi-Fi anyway. To fix this, go to Network, then Set Up Internet Connection, and look for Wired LAN 1
or Set Up Wired LAN
.
If the wired option doesn’t show up automatically, set it up manually. You can also forget the Wi-Fi network entirely to force the console to prioritize Ethernet, which gives you a faster and more stable connection for online play.
Small Settings, Real Difference
None of these changes take more than a couple minutes, but together they add up. A controller that charges itself, lower power bills on lighter games, storage that’s actually organized, and a connection that won’t randomly drop mid match. Sony built the PS5 to handle all of this, it just doesn’t turn any of it on for you automatically.
Follow Hashlytics on Bluesky, Facebook, LinkedIn , Telegram and X to Get Instant Updates
