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How To Fix PS4 Share Play Not Working? [2023]

There are many ways to solve the error, such as power cycling your internet router and modifying DNS settings.

Whenever you or your friend encounter the issue of PS4 Share Play not working, something is wrong with your internet connection or its configurations. Therefore, rule out the possibility by power cycling your router, verifying internet speed, and other fixes discussed in this guide.

Key Takeaways

  • PS4 Share Play may fail to work due to slow internet, faulty DNS, or problems with the PSN servers.
  • It can cause error code NP 37667-9, CE 37742-3, and NP 37671-4 to appear. 
  • Switch to a wired connection, rebuild the database from the “Safe Mode,” or modify DNS settings to eliminate the issue.

Why Is PS4 Share Play Not Working?

Here are the possible reasons for this issue:

  • Slow or unstable internet.
  • Insufficinet internet speed.
  • Fault or glitches in the system or its data.
  • Outdated system software.
  • PlayStation servers malfunction.
  • Enabled Parental Controls.

Furthermore, the following error codes are associated with PS4 Share:

  • Error Code NP 37667-9.
  • Error Code CE 37742-3.
  • Error Code NP 37671-4.

How To Fix PS4 Share Play Not Working?

There are many effective solutions you or your friend can use if Share Play is not functioning on your PlayStation 4. Let’s discuss them in this section.

Power Cycle Your Router

Before resorting to any troubleshooting method, we recommend you power cycle your internet router to rule out the possibility that the problem lies within your internet.

Here are the complete steps to run a power cycle on your router:

  1. Grab your internet router and locate the “Power” button. It is built on the back side of most routers.
  2. Press it once to turn off the device.
  3. Next, “Switch Off” from the electric board.
  4. Unplug the “Ethernet” and “Power” cords from your router.
    Remove Cables
    Remove Cables (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  5. Sit it out for about 5 minutes.
  6. Now, re-insert the cords.
    Connect Cables
    Connect Cables (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  7. Then, “Switch On” from the board.
  8. Turn on your WiFi router and restore the internet connection to your PS4.

Ensure You Have PlayStation Plus

The Share Play mode offered by Sony consoles is only limited to users who have subscribed to PlayStation Plus. If either you or your friend does not have the subscriptions, you will not be able to use the feature.

Restart Your PS4

Restarting the console will eliminate any temporary glitches or bugs messing with its features and functionality. Furthermore, learn how to reset the PS5 controller in a few quick steps.

Start Share Play From The Controller

This is another method we found while trying to fix the issue. Instead of starting Share Play from “Settings,” you need to hit the “Share” button on your controller. This will give you a choice to “Start Share Play,” select the option, and the feature should start working.

Check PlayStation Servers

The PlayStation servers may be down worldwide or in certain regions, halting its features and online services, such as Share Play.

Verify the server status with these steps:

  1. Open your default browser and type “PlayStation Server Status.”
  2. Follow the first link, “PSN Service Status.”
    PS4 Share Play Not Working
    PSN Service Status Search (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  3. It will lead you to a different webpage.
  4. Choose your country/region from the dropbox.
    Select Country
    Select Country (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  5. It should read, “All Servers Are Up And Running,” to indicate no issues on their end.
  6. You will also notice a green circle before each PS feature when they are working fine. However, an orange or red circle may indicate an ongoing issue with the service.
    PS4 Share Play Not Working
    PSN Server Status (Image By Tech4Gamers)

Verify If The Game Is Available 

We noticed Share Play was not working on PS4 when we tried to share a game unavailable in our friend’s region. Therefore, you can only play games accessible in your and your friend’s regions.

Use A LAN Cable

Using a LAN cable is always better, as it is more stable and fast. A Wi-Fi connection can cause different issues if it is not stable. Therefore, to fix the error, try switching to a LAN connection. 

Ensure Optimum Internet Speed

Both you and your friend should have a minimum of 2Mbps of internet speed for Share Play to run without disruptions. Furthermore, if you cannot use a LAN cable, place the WiFi router close to your console to avoid signal interruptions. You can check your internet speed via third-party software like Speedtest by Ookla.

Adjust Video Resolution

As per our testing, incorrect configurations for Share Play’s video output may also cause issues in its proper running. Using “Standard” settings helps in a smother shared gameplay.

Use these steps to modify Video Resolution:

  1. Open the “Homescreen” on your PS4.
  2. Access the bottom menu and go to “Party.”
    Party Menu
    Party Menu (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  3. Highlight the “Start Party” option and hit your controller’s “Options” button.
  4. A menu will pop up on your right. Head to “Party Settings.”
    PS4 Share Play Not Working
    Party Settings (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  5. Navigate to “Video Quality For Share Play” and select it.
    PS4 Share Play Not Working
    Video Quality For Share Play (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  6. Set “Resolution” and “Frame Rate” to “Standard.”
    Standard Settings
    Standard Settings (Image By Tech4Gamers)

Change DNS Settings

For this method to work, you and your friend may want to use a LAN Cable connection for the internet. Plus, we will switch to the Google DNS server since it works better on our console. 

Follow these steps diligently to modify DNS settings on your PS4:

  1. Head to “Settings” from the menu on the “Homescreen.”
    Settings
    Settings (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  2. Pick “Network.”
    Network
    Network (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  3. Choose “Set Up Internet Connection.”
    PS4 Share Play Not Working
    Set Up Internet Connection (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  4. Select “Use A LAN Cable.”
    Use LAN
    Use LAN (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  5. Go with “Custom.”
    Custom
    Custom (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  6. Click on “Automatic.”
    PS4 Share Play Not Working
    Automatic IP (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  7. Next, choose “Do Not Specify.”
    PS4 Share Play Not Working
    Do Not Specify (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  8. Pick “Manual” because we want to modify the DNS settings.
    Manual
    Manual (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  9. Set “Primary DNS” to “8.8.8.8” and “Secondary DNS” to “8.8.4.4,” which is Google’s address.
  10. Press “Next” once adjusted.
    PS4 Share Play Not Working
    Modify DNS (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  11. Move with “Automatic.”
    PS4 Share Play Not Working
    Automatic (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  12. For Proxy Server, decide “Do Not Use.”
    Do Not Use
    Do Not Use (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  13. Your internet settings will be updated.
    Internet Settings Updated
    Internet Settings Updated (Image By Tech4Gamers)

Reduce The Number Of Devices On Your Connection

Another effective way to make Share Play function is disconnecting idle devices on the network to allow more bandwidth for your PS4. Additionally, verify that someone is not using high-quality video streaming sites, like YouTube, Netflix, or Twitch, on the connection since it consumes a good amount of bandwidth.

We also found Share Play not working and showing instability on our PS4 when a team member was simultaneously downloading a large file using the same network. So, avoid downloading heavy files via the internet while using Share Play.

Turn Off Parental Controls

If you have Parental Restrictions enabled on your PS4, you might not be able to access some features, such as Share Play. Therefore, turn off the controls to resume using the service, as it helped us fix with the issue. 

Here is how you can turn off these restrictions:

  1. Head to “Settings.”
  2. Pick “Parental Controls/Family Management.”
    PS4 SHARE PLAY NOT WORKING
    Parental Controls (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  3. Open “PS4 System Restrictions.”
    System Restrictions
    System Restrictions (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  4. Enter the default password, “0000.”
  5. Now, choose “Default Parental Controls.”
    Default Parental Controls
    Default Parental Controls (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  6. Set “Allowed” in all the sections on this screen.
    PS4 Share Play Not Working
    Allow (Image By Tech4Gamers)

Rebuild PS4 Database

Rebuilding the database clears the system cache and refreshes the temporary data stored on the console, eliminating glitches and bugs. We prefer rebuilding the database from Safe Mode.

Rebuild the database from Safe Mode with these steps:

  1. Bring your PS4 to the “Safe Mode” by long-pressing your console’s “Power” button.
  2. Wait till you hear two beep sounds, and let go after the second beep.
  3. Once the screen comes up on your display, connect the PS4 controller to the console via a USB cable.
    Connect Controller
    Connect Controller (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  4. Press the “PS” button on your controller.
  5. There will be seven options on your screen. Choose “Rebuild Database.
    PS4 Share Play Not Working
    Rebuild Database (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  6. Select “OK.”
  7. You will see a blue screen reading, “Rebuilding Database.”
  8. Wait for the process to complete, and do not turn off the PS4.

Look For PS4 Updates

The features and services may also malfunction when your console has an available system update ready to be installed. Check if that is the case and download the updates at your earliest to prevent such errors.

Use these instructions to install PS4 updates:

  1. Launch your console’s “Homescreen.”
    Settings
    Settings (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  2. Come to the bottom set of options and scroll to “Settings.”
  3. In the menu, pick “System Software Update.”
    System Software Update
    System Software Update (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  4. If you have downloaded the update file and connected the USB to your console, proceed with “Next.”
    Next (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  5. Hit the “Update” button.
    Update
    Update (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  6. Let the updates install. The console will restart automatically once the update is done.
    ps4 share play not working
    Installing Updates (Image By Tech4Gamers)

Create A New User Account

PlayStation might have blocked your user profile if you went against their terms and conditions. In addition, incorrect profile configurations may also hinder the service. Hence, we tried accessing Share Play with a new profile, which effectively resolved the issue.

Quickly create a new profile with these steps:

  1. Come to the home screen and press your controller’s “PlayStation” button.
  2. Navigate to “Power” and proceed with “Switch User” to sign out from your profile.
    Switch User
    Switch User (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  3. Select the “New User” option.
    New User
    New User (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  4. Pick “Create A User.”
    PS4 Share Play Not Working
    Create An Account (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  5. “Accept” the terms.
    PS4 Share Play Not Working
    Accept Terms (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  6. Press “Next.”
    nEXT
    Next (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  7. Go down to “Create An Account.”
    PS4 Share Play Not Working
    Create An Account (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  8. On the next screen, select “Sign Up Now.”
    PS4 Share Play Not Working
    Sign Up Now (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  9. Enter your details.
    PS4 Share Play Not Working
    Enter Details (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  10. Set a login email and a password and hit “Next.”
    Enter Credentials
    Enter Credentials (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  11. Now, choose your “Avatar.”
    Choose Avatar
    Choose Avatar (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  12. Follow the on-screen personalization settings to create a new user ID.
  13. Once created, try accessing Share Play from the new “User Profile.”

Perform Initialization

The last resort is to fully initialize your PlayStation in Share Play is not working on PS4. It means restoring the settings to their factory default and erasing your personal game data and other files. Thus, it is important to create a backup.

Run a full initialization using the instructions below:

  1. From the “Settings” screen, choose “Initialization.”
    Initialization
    Initialization (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  2. Select “Initialize PS4.”
    Initialize PS4
    Initialize PS4 (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  3. It would be best if you went with “Full” initialization. Remember that proceeding with this option will erase the data on your console.
    PS4 Share Play Not Working
    Full Initialize (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  4. Hit the “Initialize” button at the bottom.
    Confirm Initialize
    Confirm Initialize (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  5. Wait for the “Deactivating” to complete.
    PS4 Share Play Not Working
    Deactivating (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  6. Click “Yes” on the next screen.
    PS4 Share Play Not Working
    Yes (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  7. The console should now restart.
    Restarting PS4
    Restarting PS4 (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  8. The initialization will begin shortly, so be careful not to shut down your PS4 the entire time.
    PS4 Share Play Not Working
    Initializing (Image By Tech4Gamers)

Contact PlayStation Support

If none of the solutions mentioned above fixed your issue, and you are still stuck with the problem, it would be best to contact PlayStation Support. Explain the ongoing trouble to the support assistant and see if they have any personalized assistance for you.

Final Words

These are all the tried and tested fixes our team applied when Share Play was not working for us on PS4. Remember to create a data backup on the cloud or an external storage device before initializing your PS4.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Can’t I Start Share Play On My PS4?

It could be due to poor internet connectivity, bugs or glitches in the system, and other reasons.

How Do I Get Share Play To Work On My PS4?

Update the system software, change DNS settings, and power cycle your internet to fix the issue.

Can My PS4 Profile Get Blocked From Share Play?

Your profile could get banned due to a violation of the terms and conditions of the company

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