Software updates can cause some unexpected behavior from your PlayStation 4 (PS4). If your PlayStation 4 isn’t acting right or has frozen during a software update, there are some steps you can take to resolve this issue. This article specifically focuses on solving the SU-30746-0 error, but if you are experiencing another update error code, the solutions included in this article may still be helpful! So have a look, and hopefully, you can get up and running quickly.
Software update errors on PS4
With PlayStation 4 still immensely popular among players, Sony continues to release software updates for this console generation. You can check the latest software updates for your PS4 on Sony’s official website.
Sony has released many software updates throughout the lifespan of the PlayStation 4. As a result, you can find many software update errors and solutions on the internet. Below are some of the commonly reported update errors:
- SU-42118-6
- SU-42481-9
- SU-30746-0
- SU-34788-0
- SU-30634-6
- SU-43461-8
This article will focus on the software update error code SU-30746-0, but many of these solutions will apply to other software updates, so feel free to try them for other error codes as well.
What causes the SU-30746-0 software update error on PS4?
Your PlayStation 4 may experience issues during software updates for a variety of reasons. To learn more about what may be contributing to this error, read below:
1. Hard Drive Failure
The PS4 has a traditional mechanical hard drive, an HDD. These are somewhat more unreliable and can experience early failure due to a head crash or other problems. If you are experiencing freezing or issues during updates, check for these symptoms that may suggest hard drive failure:
- Frequent crashes
- Overheating or excessive noise coming from PS4
- Read or Write disk errors
- PS4 error CE-34335-8 (no hard drive)
- Date corruption
- Booting into Safe Mode
If you are experiencing a few of the symptoms listed above and the SU-30746-0 error, you may need to backup your HDD as soon as possible. A critical hard drive failure could render data retrieval impossible.
2. System Software Problems
The PlayStation 4 has software that runs all the major services and tasks for your PS4. This software is responsible for communicating with the PS4 hardware and managing the system’s memory and processes. If the PS4 system software is corrupt, then problems are likely to arise, such as freezing or stuttering. You can solve software corruption issues by fully initializing your PS4, which will reinstall the system software.
3. Database Issues
Database issues can trigger error codes during software updates. Your database itself may be corrupted or just the data itself. Suspect a database issue if you encounter problems like:
- Sputtering graphics and sound, including frame-rate drops
- Error code CE-34875-7
- Error code NP-32062-3
- Slow load times
- Issues reading game disks
You can resolve many database issues by restarting your PS4, but you can also defragment your drive.
Proven fixes for the SU-30746-0 software update error on PS4
Below are five solutions presented step-by-step so that you can follow along.
1. Restart your PlayStation 4
Restarting your console is the number one way to fix issues. It can clear up a variety of temporary problems, such as data corruption and software quicks. To restart your system:
- Press and hold the PS button on your controller.
- Select Power from the options.
- Choose Restart PS4.
- You can alternatively press the Power button for 7 seconds, waiting for the system to beep 2x.
When the console restarts, you can now try applying the outstanding software update to see if the SU-30746-0 error remains.
2. Unplug PS4 and check the connections
If the PlayStation restart did not fix the problem and your PS4 is still stalling or freezing during the update and showing the error SU-30746-0, you may need to check your power connections. Sometimes there may be a failing power connection to your console. To rule out this problem:
- Turn off your PS4.
- Unplug the power cord from the wall and from the PlayStation 4. Check all connections for the power supply and make sure everything is secure.
- Plug everything back in and turn your PS4 back on.
- Check to see if you can properly install the software update now or if the problem persists.
3. Apply the software update in Safe Mode
Users report great results by using Safe Mode to apply the problematic software update. To enter Safe Mode and apply the update:
- Press the Power button and hold until you hear two beeps, then release.
- Select Update System Storage from the list.
- You can choose Update Using Internet if you have an ethernet cable connected to your PlayStation 4. If not, you will need to use the USB method below.
- The update will be applied, and then you can restart your PS4.
Check to see if any errors persist or if the problem is resolved.
If your PS4 gets stuck in safe mode during this process, do not worry. We have covered in a separate article what do to when a PS4 is stuck in a safe mode loop.
4. Restore PS4 settings to default using Safe Mode
Another solution that has helped solve this problem, according to PlayStation players, is restoring the PS4 settings to default. You should do this in Safe Mode, which you learned how to access in the previous solution:
- Once in Safe Mode, select Restore Default Settings.
- Choose Yes and then press the X Button to revert all settings to the default values.
- Restart your PS4 and see if the SU-30746-0 error is resolved when you try to apply the new update.
If this solution doesn’t fix the problem, continue to the final method, initializing the PlayStation 4 software.
5. Initialize PlayStation 4 software
PS4 has a Safe Mode option that you can use to reinstall the system software of your PlayStation 4, a process called initializing. To complete this process:
- On a computer, you will need to format a USB drive to FAT32. Then create a folder named PS4, and within that folder, another named UPDATE. Make sure your folder names are in capital letters.
- Navigate to PlayStation’s System Software support page. Scroll down to How to reinstall the PS4 console system software and expand that section. At the bottom is a button labeled PS4 console reinstallation file.
- Click the file and select save as. Save in the UPDATE folder you created on the USB and save the file as PS4UPDATE.PUP.
- Now safely eject the USB from the computer and plug it into your PS4 console.
- You need to start the console in Safe Mode. Press and hold the power button until you hear two beeps. Then release.
- When the PlayStation 4 loads, you will see an options menu. Select Safe Mode option 7: Reinstall System Software.
- When prompted, select Update from USB Storage Device and then click OK.
Alternatively, you may be able to enter Safe Mode and Initialize the PS4 without using a USB drive. It can save you some time, but it may be less secure.
When completed, the PlayStation 4 may restart. You may then be prompted to reinstall the newest software update. Install this update, and it should proceed without issues.
Software update error SU-30746-0 fixed
The five solutions recommended in this article are intended to fix the SU-30746-0 software update error on PlayStation 4. This error typically occurs when you are trying to apply a PlayStation 4 software update. The primary causes for the SU-30746-0 error are hard drive failure, system software problems, and database problems.
To fix this update error, you want to start simple. Restart your PS4 first and then disconnect and reconnect the power source to check for secure connections. Next, you are going to try to apply the outstanding update in Safe Mode and try reverting the PlayStation 4 to its default settings. If those four solutions don’t fix the problem, you can try to initialize the PlayStation’s software. Many of these solutions have been reported to have excellent results in the PlayStation community.
If none of the above solutions fix the problem, you may have a dead hard drive. Thankfully, hard drives are not expensive and are relatively easy to replace. You can even opt to upgrade to a solid-state drive (SSD) which performs much better and is more resilient. If you want to install a new hard drive or update it, you can find information on the process on PlayStation 4’s Upgrade HDD support page.
Hopefully, you have managed to resolve the software update error SU-30746-0, and you are now back to gaming.
