Fixing PS4 Error Code NW-31194-8 – Multiple Solutions

Written by Oliver in PlayStation Error Codes

The PS4 NW-31194-8 error message often comes up saying there was a problem with the Internet connection on the PS4, or that the PS4 couldn’t connect to the game servers. What are the best ways of resolving this error message?

The first thing to do with this error message is try to narrow down if it is the PlayStation Network that is down which is causing the error, or whether your PS4’s connection with the router is too weak. These seem to be the main two causes of this error code, and changing MTU settings to 1473/1475 or running through some console and router resets seem to be the two most common solutions.

You can check the current status of the PlayStation network here to see whether something is down. You can also do an internet connection test on your PS4 by going to Settings…..Network….Test Internet Connection and then checking the results.

If the initial two connection steps are successful (IP, Internet Connection), but it fails at the PlayStation Network Sign In step, then you know that it’s the PSN that is the issue and not your home network.

If this is the case then proceed to Solution #1.

If however your Connection Test can’t even find an IP or connect to the internet, then you know that your home network or ISP is the problem and proceed to the other solutions below.

Solution #1 – Change Your MTU Settings

If your connection test shows that the PlayStation Network is the problem here, then a common solution is to manually enter a custom MTU setting on your PS4. This has been a popular solution to PSN sign in issues for several years now, particularly in late 2014 when a PSN outage just after Christmas left loads of frustrated gamers offline.

This solution works in more than 50% of cases for this error message; it isn’t a slam dunk but has a decent chance of working if PSN is suffering connection issues. It also works if you seem to be struggling to connect to a particular game’s online servers only – see the video below for an example.

Here are the steps to take to manually configure MTU settings for your PS4. The video below also shows you:

  • Go to Settings…..Network…..Set Up Internet Connection
  • Select Wi-Fi or LAN depending on your connection.
  • Click Custom
  • Click through all the setting as they are without changing them, until you get to MTU Settings.
  • For MTU, switch to Manual
  • Enter 1453, 1473 or 1475 for the MTU value. If one doesn’t work, try the other.
  • Optional – you can also switch to Manual for DNS Settings and manually change to Google DNS if you like (Primary 8.8.8.8 Secondary 8.8.4.4). Not strictly necessary.
  • Finish Setup and Test Connection. The PS4 should now be able to get online.
  • If you are signed out of the PSN account you want to use, then re-enter your email and password as shown in the video to sign back in.
https://youtu.be/D9y0WGnBNSg

 

This MTU solution does work for a good number of people in getting them back online; however in some cases you may simply have to keep checking the status of PSN and wait for everything to be back online before you can connect again.

Solution #2 – Check Your Home Network

If this MTU settings change doesn’t work, or you find that your PS4 Connection test falls at the first step – cannot even find an IP address – then the next thing to do is check your PS4 and your home network for the strength of the connection.

Firstly, check if other devices can also connect on the same network. If they can, then you know it is the PS4 that is the issue, and you can proceed to the steps below. If all devices are struggling, then you know your ISP or router is the problem and you should check the service status of your ISP in your area, and also check whether your router needs repairing or replacing.

If however it appears to be just the PS4 which is struggling, then here are some simple initial steps to take to try and remedy the connection problems:

  • Move your PS4 and wireless router closer together.
  • Move from wireless to a wired LAN connection if possible. If you are too far away from the router to run an ethernet cable directly, then a powerline adapter is a good next best solution to look into.
  • Try quick resetting your router and PS4
  • Try hard resetting your router and PS4, fully unplugging them for 15-30 minutes before plugging back in.
  • Try playing around with different MTU values; anything from 1450 to 1476 has been known to fix these PS4 NW error messages. See Solution #1 for more on this.
  • Try rebooting your PS4 in Safe Mode and restoring Default settings (option 4) – see this video for how to do this.
  • Try using DMZ settings to fully open up your PS4 to the internet for best connectivity. See our article on how to do this.

Solution #3 – Configure Your PS4 With a Static IP Address

If none of these above steps have worked, then the last thing you can try is to manually configure the entire connection of your PS4 so it has a static IP address. This has in some cases been known to fix this problem, though not nearly as often as the MTU solution detailed above.

Normally, by selecting “Easy” or “Automatic” when setting up your PS4’s internet connection, you are allowing your router and console to decide for you which settings to use. Manually over-riding this and putting your own settings in can in rare cases overcome networking issues which may be stopping you getting online.

Here are the general quick steps for setting up a static IP address for your PS4:

  • Go to Settings…Network….Set Up Internet Connection
  • Select Wi-Fi or LAN depending on your connection
  • Select Custom setup for LAN
  • For IP Address, switch to Manual and input the following values:
      • IP Address – 192.168.0.x, where x is any number between 100 and 254 (you choose)
      • Subnet Mask – 255.255.255.0
      • Default Gateway – 192.168.0.1
      • Primary DNS – 8.8.8.8
      • Secondary DNS – 8.8.4.4
  • Run through the rest of the settings as they are, without changing them.
  • Save and test your internet connection to see if you can get back online.
  • See our full article on setting a static IP address for a more in depth look at this.

This is a simplified shortcut way of doing setting a static IP, which isn’t fully technically correct. For the fully technically correct way of setting a static IP for your PS4 from your router, see this video.

Setting a static IP on your PS4 itself is not technically the correct way to do it, since just randomly picking a number between 1 and 254 for your PS4’s address could mean it clashes with a number another device on the network is already using, leading to IP address conflicts.

However, unless you have literally upwards of 100 devices connecting to your router, then this problem is in reality very unlikely to ever surface. As long as you have a normal networking environment (anything from a handful to maybe 20 devices connecting) then picking a number for your last digit of 100 or upwards (up to 254) should ensure you don’t run into any address conflicts.

If any readers have thoroughly tried literally all these solutions for this error code and still can’t get online, then leave a note in the comments. If you are getting a different error code instead, then check our PS4 Error Codes index, since we have already covered most of the NW- error codes.

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