PlayStation Error Code WS-116600-4 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

WS-116600-4 is a PlayStation 5 web service error — meaning your console encountered a problem communicating with Sony's online servers. This error typically appears when accessing the PlayStation Store, downloading content, or signing in to PSN. It is almost always caused by a temporary PSN issue or a dropped internet connection. Waiting a few minutes and trying again usually resolves it without any further action.

Affected Models

PlayStation 5
PlayStation 5 Digital Edition
PlayStation 5 Slim
PlayStation 5 Digital Edition Slim

Common Causes

PSN servers are temporarily overloaded or experiencing a service disruption
Your home internet connection briefly dropped during a PlayStation Network session
PlayStation Store maintenance or a backend server update in progress
Your PS5 session with PSN has expired and needs to be refreshed
Geographic or regional PSN routing issues affecting users in certain areas

How to Fix It

Wait 5 to 10 minutes and try again. PSN server errors are frequently brief and self-resolving. Many users find that simply waiting a few minutes and retrying clears WS-116600-4 without any troubleshooting.

Particularly during new game release days, PS5 launches, or major PSN sales, server load spikes cause temporary WS errors for large numbers of users simultaneously.
Check PSN status at status.playstation.com from your phone or computer. Look at the row for 'PlayStation Store' and 'Gaming and Social' — any issues there explain your WS-116600-4 error. Wait for the status to return to green before retrying.

Sony updates the status page within 15 to 30 minutes of identifying a service issue.
Sign out of PSN on your PS5 and sign back in. Go to Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Sign Out. Wait 30 seconds, then sign in again. This refreshes your authentication session with Sony's servers.

An expired or corrupted session token is a common cause of persistent WS errors when PSN itself is working fine.
Restart your PS5 completely. Hold the PlayStation button on your controller, go to Power, and select Restart PS5. After it restarts, try accessing the Store or PSN again.

A restart clears temporary system memory and reconnects with a fresh PSN session. This resolves the majority of WS-116600-4 cases that do not clear on their own.
Test your internet connection. Go to Settings > Network > Connection Status > Test Internet Connection. Verify that your download speed is above 5 Mbps and that the test shows successful PSN connectivity.

If your internet test shows 'Cannot connect to PSN' even with normal internet browsing working on other devices, check status.playstation.com — PSN itself may be having issues.

When to Call a Professional

WS-116600-4 is a server-side or network error. No technician or hardware repair is needed. If the error persists for more than 24 hours despite a working internet connection, contact PlayStation Support at playstation.com/support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is WS-116600-4 different from WS-116550-5?

Both are WS (web service) errors on PS5 and indicate a failure communicating with Sony's servers. The specific sub-code identifies which part of Sony's infrastructure had the issue. For practical purposes, the troubleshooting steps are identical for both codes — both are network or server errors that do not involve console hardware.

How do I know if the problem is PSN or my own internet?

Test on another device. If your phone can access websites and stream video normally, your internet is fine and PSN is likely the issue. If everything is slow or not loading on all devices, your home network or ISP is the problem.

Can I avoid WS errors in the future?

Not entirely — WS errors caused by PSN outages are outside your control. However, you can reduce errors caused by your home network by using a wired ethernet connection instead of Wi-Fi, ensuring your router is rebooted regularly, and keeping your internet subscription at a speed suitable for online gaming (at least 25 Mbps recommended for PS5).