Sony PlayStation 5 CE-34878-0 Fix (Error Code Guide)

by

What This Error Means

CE-34878-0 means: the game or app crashed.

On a PS5, that usually shows as “An error has occurred in the following application” and it dumps you to the home screen.

Something in the game data, save data, or system software glitched hard enough that the PS5 killed the app.

Official Fix

This is the clean, by-the-book route Sony wants you to take. Go in order; stop when the error is gone.

  1. Fully restart the PS5
    • Close the game.
    • Hold the PS button > Power > Turn Off PS5 (not Rest Mode).
    • Wait 30 seconds, then power it back on and test the same game.
  2. Update system software
    • Go to Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings > Update System Software.
    • Install any update, then reboot.
    • Out-of-date firmware is a classic cause for CE-34878-0.
  3. Update the game or app
    • Highlight the crashing game on the home screen.
    • Press Options on the controller > Check for Update.
    • Download and install everything it offers, then try again.
  4. Free up and tidy storage
    • Go to Settings > Storage.
    • Keep at least 10–20 GB free; more is better.
    • Delete a couple of big games you are not using and try again.
  5. Rebuild the database in Safe Mode
    • Turn the PS5 off completely.
    • Hold the power button until you hear a second beep (about 7 seconds) to enter Safe Mode.
    • Connect the controller with a USB cable and press the PS button.
    • Select Option 5: Rebuild Database.
    • Let it finish; the console will reboot. Test the game.
  6. Reinstall the problem game/app
    • Go to the game tile > press Options > Delete.
    • This removes the game itself, not your cloud saves.
    • Reinstall from disc or from your Library/PlayStation Store.
    • Apply updates again and test.
  7. Move off flaky external storage (if used)
    • If the game is on a USB extended storage drive, move it: Settings > Storage > Extended Storage.
    • Copy or move the game to Console Storage.
    • Run it from internal SSD only and see if CE-34878-0 disappears.
  8. Last resort: Reset the PS5 (Initialize)
    • Back up saves first: Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > back up to cloud (PS Plus) or USB.
    • Then go to Settings > System > System Software > Reset Options > Reset Your Console.
    • This wipes apps and system settings and reinstalls system software.
    • Reinstall only the problem game first and test before loading everything back.
  9. If it still throws CE-34878-0 after a full reset
    • Now you are likely looking at a failing SSD or deeper hardware issue.
    • Contact Sony support, especially if the console is still under warranty.

The Technician’s Trick

Here is the stuff techs try to avoid a full factory reset and hours of downloads.

  • 1. Hard power-cycle to clear junk cache
    • Turn the PS5 off completely.
    • Unplug the power cable from the wall.
    • Hold the power button on the console for 10 seconds to dump residual charge.
    • Wait 60 seconds, plug back in, boot, and try the same game.
    • This sometimes cleans up random CE-34878-0 crashes without touching your data.
  • 2. Delete only the corrupted save, not the whole system
    • If one game always crashes at the same spot, suspect the save file.
    • Go to Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Saved Data (PS5 or PS4) > Console Storage.
    • Pick the crashing game > Delete the local saves.
    • Warning: you lose that in-game progress, but often the game runs perfectly afterward.
    • If you have PS Plus cloud saves, you can test with a fresh local save, then later try pulling down an older cloud save, not the latest one.
  • 3. Ditch sketchy external drives
    • CE-34878-0 shows up a lot when games live on old or cheap USB drives.
    • Move the game to Console Storage and run it from there only.
    • If the error vanishes, retire that external drive or only use it for media, not games.
  • 4. Roll back problem add-ons or DLC
    • If crashes started right after new DLC, skins, or an expansion, remove them.
    • Highlight the game > Options > Manage Game Content and uncheck the last add-on you installed.
    • Test the base game. If it stops crashing, wait for a patch before reinstalling that DLC.

Is It Worth Fixing? (The Financial Verdict)

  • ✅ Fix: Error only hits one or two games, the console runs cool and quiet, and you have not done a full reinstall/reset yet. Time is cheaper than buying a new PS5.
  • ⚠️ Debatable: CE-34878-0 pops up across several games even after a reset, and you are out of warranty. Compare the cost of a pro data backup plus SSD replacement to a sale-priced new console.
  • ❌ Replace: Crashes hit almost everything, resets do nothing, and the console also shows other hardware symptoms (overheating, beeps, or boot issues). At that point, money is better spent on a new or refurb PS5.

Parts You Might Need

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.