Sony PlayStation 5 CE-34878-2 Fix (Crash Error Guide)

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What This Error Means

CE-34878-2 means: the game or app on your PS5 just crashed hard.

The system hit a software error mid-game, couldn’t recover, and force-closed the application to protect itself and your data.

Official Fix

Do it in this order. Test the game after each step.

  • Full restart, not Rest Mode
    – Hold the PS button > Power > Turn Off PS5 (not Rest Mode).
    – Wait 30 seconds, then power it back on and retry the game.
  • Update the game
    – Highlight the game tile on the home screen.
    – Press Options on the controller > Check for Update > install anything it finds.
  • Update system software
    – Go to Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings.
    – Run Update System Software and let it finish.
  • Delete and reinstall the game
    – Back up your saves first (PS Plus cloud or USB).
    – Highlight the game > Options > Delete.
    – Reinstall from disc or re-download from your library, then test again.
  • Check storage location
    – Go to Settings > Storage.
    – If the game is on a USB extended drive, move it to Console Storage and run it from there.
  • Clear that game’s saved data (last resort before full reset)
    – Go to Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings.
    – Open Saved Data (PS5) or Saved Data (PS4) depending on the title.
    – Pick the problem game and delete its saves (they can be corrupted).
    – If you have PS Plus, you can re-download cloud saves later and test.
  • Factory reset (Initialize PS5) – nuclear option
    – Back up saves to cloud or USB first.
    – Go to Settings > System > System Software > Reset Options > Reset Your Console.
    – Choose Reset / Initialize PS5 and set it up fresh.
    – Reinstall the game and test before loading old saves.

The Technician’s Trick

When the official routine doesn’t kill CE-34878-2, this is the stuff working techs actually do.

  • Hard power cycle to clear weird glitches
    – Shut the PS5 down fully: Settings > Power > Turn Off PS5.
    – Unplug the power cable from the wall for 2–3 minutes.
    – While it’s unplugged, hold the power button on the console for 10 seconds to dump leftover charge.
    – Plug it back in and boot. This often kills random crash loops.
  • Safe Mode: Clear cache and rebuild database (this fixes a ton of crash issues)
    – Turn the PS5 off completely.
    – Hold the power button until you hear a second beep (about 7 seconds). That boots into Safe Mode.
    – Plug the controller in via USB and press the PS button.
    – Choose Option 5: Clear Cache and Rebuild Database.
    – Run Clear System Software Cache first, then run Rebuild Database.
    – Reboot and test the game again. This is the “secret sauce” for a lot of CE-34878 type errors.
  • Kill Rest Mode if crashes happen after sleep
    – Go to Settings > System > Power Saving.
    – Turn off auto Rest Mode, or set the console to fully power down instead of resting.
    – If the game only crashes after waking from Rest Mode, this often stops it.
  • Get games off sketchy USB drives
    – If this only happens with PS4 games on an external USB drive, that drive might be slow or dying.
    – Go to Settings > Storage > USB Extended Storage > Games and Apps.
    – Move the crashing game to Console Storage and run it from there.
    – If the problem disappears, retire or replace that USB drive.
  • Disc users: rule out a bad disc fast
    – Try another game disc. If only one title crashes and its disc has scratches or smudges, clean or replace it.
    – If multiple clean discs crash the same way, you’re back to software or internal hardware.
  • If crashes hit many games even after a reset
    – That points at hardware: SSD or mainboard.
    – At that stage, you’re talking board-level repair or console replacement, not DIY unless you’re advanced with tools and micro-soldering.

Is It Worth Fixing? (The Financial Verdict)

  • ✅ Fix: Error only hits one or two games, especially after a recent update or install; console is under warranty or less than ~4 years old; you haven’t tried a clean reinstall and Safe Mode cache/database rebuild yet.
  • ⚠️ Debatable: Crashes hit several games even after full reset and Safe Mode fixes; out of warranty; local repair quotes run in the $100–$200 range for diagnostics or SSD/board work.
  • ❌ Replace: Console has frequent crashes across many titles, plus freezes or graphical glitches; even a factory reset doesn’t help; shop says it needs a mainboard and the price is close to a used or new PS5.

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