WS-37398-0: what it means on PS5 and how to fix it
PlayStation Network is not reachable from the console because the service itself is unavailable. The code appears on many consoles at the same time during PSN outages and maintenance and is not listed in Sony's own error-code index.
Before you start
- Note the exact code and the game or app that was open; the same digits can mean different things on PS4 and PS5.
- Check the PlayStation Network status page first: this code is raised on the service side.
- Make sure saves are backed up to PlayStation Plus cloud storage or a USB drive before any step that mentions initialising.
- Work through the steps in order and stop as soon as the code stops appearing; later steps take longer and change more.
Fix steps, in order
- Step 1Check the PlayStation Network status page; if a service is marked as experiencing issues, wait and try again later.
- Step 2Confirm that other online services on the same connection work, so the fault is not on your network.
- Step 3Restart the console once the status page shows PSN as up; the session token is refreshed on the next sign-in.
- Step 4If the code persists while PSN is reported as running, run the connection test in Settings > Network and restart your router.
Why WS-37398-0 appears
PS5 codes are grouped by their prefix. WS codes belong to the PlayStation Network service group, which means the console reports the problem from that subsystem rather than from the game you were playing. That is why the same code can show up in different games: the game is the trigger, not the cause.
The steps above are ordered by how often each one resolves WS-37398-0 — not by how drastic it is. Restarting and updating the system software clear a surprising share of codes because the console reloads the drivers and the store cache it relies on. Rebuilding the database from Safe Mode sits further down because it takes longer, not because it is riskier: it keeps saves and games. The last resort, initialising the console, is where data is at stake.
If WS-37398-0 returns after every step, the pattern matters more than the code. A code that appears in one game only points at that game's files: delete and reinstall it before anything else. A code that appears across games, or during system functions such as updates and sign-in, points at the console or the network. A code that appears at the same time on other people's consoles, which a quick look at the PlayStation Network status page or a search for the code with today's date will show, is a service problem and the only fix is waiting.
Frequently asked questions
What does WS-37398-0 mean on PS5?
PlayStation Network is not reachable from the console because the service itself is unavailable. The code appears on many consoles at the same time during PSN outages and maintenance and is not listed in Sony's own error-code index. The prefix WS places it in the PlayStation Network service group of PS5 codes.
Is WS-37398-0 a problem with my console or with PlayStation Network?
WS-37398-0 is a service-side code. When it appears across many consoles at once, the cause is a PlayStation Network outage or maintenance — nothing on the console fixes it until the service recovers. Check the PSN status page before trying anything local.
Do I lose saved data fixing WS-37398-0?
Restarting, updating the system software and rebuilding the database keep your saves. A full initialisation ("Initialise PS5/PS4") erases the drive — back up saves to PlayStation Plus cloud storage or a USB drive first, and only take that step if the earlier ones fail.
Can WS-37398-0 be caused by a specific game?
Yes, when the code appears only while one game or app is open. The game is the trigger rather than the cause, but its files can be the part that is damaged: deleting and reinstalling that title from Settings > Storage is the shortest route when the code is limited to it.
Should I contact PlayStation Support about WS-37398-0?
Only after the steps on this page, including a database rebuild, have failed, or when the console shows a hardware symptom such as a drive that cannot be read or formatted. Support will ask for the code, the console model and what you have already tried; having those ready shortens the call.
How long does it take to clear WS-37398-0?
A restart or update takes minutes. Rebuilding the database takes from a few minutes to over an hour depending on how much is installed. If the code persists through every step, the fault is usually hardware or the service, and the page above says which.