Sony PlayStation 5 Error CE-33330-4 Fix (Fast Guide)

by

What This Error Means

CE-33330-4 means: the PS5 can’t upload a video clip or screenshot because the file is corrupt or invalid.

What’s really happening: the console tries to read the capture for sharing, hits bad data on storage, and cancels the upload.

Official Fix

Sony’s line: the clip or screenshot is damaged. Delete it and try again after basic checks.

  • 1. Hard reboot the PS5
    – Hold the PS button > Power > Turn Off PS5 (not Rest Mode).
    – Wait 30 seconds, power it back on.
    – Try recording a new short clip and upload that one.
  • 2. Check PSN and your connection
    – Make sure you’re signed in to PSN.
    – Test connection: Settings > Network > Connection Status > Test Internet Connection.
    – If PSN is down, you’ll just have to wait.
  • 3. Update the system software
    – Go to Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings.
    – Run Update System Software and install anything pending.
    – Retry the upload after the update.
  • 4. Delete the bad capture
    – Open Media Gallery (or Game Library > Captures, depending on your UI).
    – Find the clip/screenshot that always throws CE-33330-4.
    – Delete it. Don’t keep fighting that same file; it’s toast.
  • 5. Record fresh and test
    – Start any game, hit the Create button, record a 10–20 second clip.
    – Try sharing that new clip to the same service (YouTube, Twitter/X, etc.).
    – If only that one old clip was bad, problem’s basically solved.
  • 6. Check storage health
    – Go to Settings > Storage and make sure your console storage isn’t full or pegged at 99%.
    – Free up space if it’s packed: delete old games, captures, and demos.

If new clips upload fine and only a couple of old ones die with CE-33330-4, Sony’s answer is simple: the old captures are corrupted, delete them and move on.

The Technician’s Trick

If CE-33330-4 keeps popping up on lots of different clips, your capture database or storage index is messy. Here’s what a tech really does.

  • 1. Nuke the capture index: Rebuild Database
    – Fully power off the PS5 (no orange light, totally dead).
    – Hold the power button until you hear a second beep (about 7 seconds). That boots Safe Mode.
    – Plug the controller in via USB and hit the PS button.
    – Pick “Rebuild Database” (on some versions: “Clear Cache and Rebuild Database”, choose that).
    – Let it run. It can take several minutes. This re-maps where files live on the drive and cleans broken entries.
    – After reboot, record two or three fresh clips and test uploads again.
  • 2. Purge obviously bad captures in bulk
    – Go into Media Gallery.
    – Sort by Length or Date.
    – Delete anything that shows as 0:00, won’t preview, or always errors when opened or shared.
    – You’re cleaning out junk so the database doesn’t keep choking on the same bad entries.
  • 3. If you record to USB, isolate that drive
    – If captures are going to an external USB or M.2 drive, unplug it.
    – Record a short test clip to internal storage only and try uploading that.
    – If internal works and USB clips fail, your external drive or its file system is the problem. Back it up to a PC, then format it clean on the PS5: Settings > Storage > USB Extended Storage.
  • 4. Watch for broader storage issues
    – If you also see crashes, game data corruption, or other random CE-errors, treat this as an early warning on the SSD.
    – Back up saves to PS Plus cloud or USB now before it gets worse.

These steps don’t just band-aid one clip; they clean up how the PS5 tracks all your captures.

Is It Worth Fixing? (The Financial Verdict)

  • ✅ Fix: Error only on a few clips/screenshots, everything else runs fine. A database rebuild and deleting bad captures is all you need.
  • ⚠️ Debatable: CE-33330-4 shows up often plus occasional crashes or slow menus, but the console is still mostly usable. Worth a deep clean and maybe pro diagnostics before spending big.
  • ❌ Replace: You’re seeing CE-33330-4 alongside constant crashes, other data corruption errors, and repeated rebuilds don’t help. That points to a failing SSD or board; out-of-warranty repair vs. replacement usually isn’t worth it.

Parts You Might Need

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.