8 useful ways to repurpose an old PS4 in 2026 – Automated Home

A PS4 can still do far more than run older games, even as newer consoles dominate living rooms. With a few settings and apps, the aging hardware becomes a useful media and gaming hub for many rooms.

That makes an old PS4 surprisingly relevant for smart home setups, secondary televisions, bedrooms, and family rooms. It can stream local media and handle Remote Play, game sharing, and controller charging. It can also provide a practical test machine without much extra hardware.

These features are especially useful when the console is connected to a secondary TV or an older display. Instead of leaving the PS4 unused, owners can repurpose it for everyday entertainment and convenience. A few lesser-known settings can make navigation faster and improve storage management.

Turn the PS4 into a media player

The PS4 Media Player app can play supported movies, music, and photos from USB storage or compatible media servers on the same network. A USB drive can be connected directly to the console, making the PS4 useful when a television has limited media playback support.

For USB media playback, Sony says the drive should use the exFAT or FAT32 file system. Supported PS4 video formats include MKV, AVI, MP4, MPEG-2 PS, MPEG-2 TS, AVCHD, and XAVC S. Supported codecs vary by container and PS4 model, with H.264/MPEG-4 AVC and MPEG-2 among the supported formats.

The current Sony support list does not include MOV, VP8, VP9, WMA, DTS-HD, or TrueHD as standard PS4 Media Player formats. Some unsupported files may work after being converted to a supported video-and-audio combination.

Stream your library over the network

A PS4 Media Player can detect compatible media servers on the same home network, allowing media to remain stored on another device rather than on the console itself. A PC, Mac, or network-attached storage device can run compatible server software and make supported files available to the PS4.

Plex Media Server and Universal Media Server can organize personal media libraries for compatible playback. Transcoding can help when the playback device cannot handle a file’s original video or audio format, though the available features depend on the server software and hardware in use.

Network quality can affect the playback of high-bitrate media, especially on busy wireless networks. A wired Ethernet connection can provide a more consistent connection when streaming large files.

Little-known fact: Plex now charges a subscription or a $250 lifetime license just to unlock hardware-accelerated transcoding, a feature rival software like Jellyfin offers for free.

Remote Play still extends its life

Remote Play can help extend the usefulness of an older PS4 by streaming games and console controls to compatible phones, tablets, computers, Android TV devices, and other PlayStation consoles. This can let players use another screen without moving the PS4.

To set up Remote Play, enable it under Settings > Remote Play Connection Settings and activate the console as the account’s primary PS4. To use Remote Play while the console is in Rest Mode, enable Stay Connected to the Internet and Enable Turning On PS4 from Network.

Remote Play on a standard PS4 is limited to 720p, while a PS4 Pro can support up to 1080p depending on the device, hardware, and network conditions. Sony lists 5 Mbps as the minimum connection speed and recommends at least 15 Mbps for a better experience.

Can an old PS4 share games?

A spare PS4 can become a useful family console through Sony’s Primary PS4 system. The owner can activate another console as the primary device, allowing another local profile to access eligible digital purchases.

The basic arrangement involves signing in to the owner’s account on the second PS4 and setting it as the primary account. After games are downloaded, another user can switch profiles and play eligible titles.

Each account can have only one primary PS4 at a time, so this requires planning. The non-primary console generally needs internet access for license verification. Game-specific restrictions can still apply.

Little-known fact: Sony’s remote “Deactivate All Devices” option, used to free up a primary PS4 slot from afar, can only be used once every six months.

Use it as a streaming box

An old PS4 can replace a streaming stick on a secondary television as long as major video apps remain available. Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, and other services can be installed through the PlayStation Store.

Open the Store, find the desired app, install it, and launch it from the TV and Video area. This approach costs nothing extra when the console is already sitting unused near a television.

The trade-off is that older PS4 hardware cannot match newer streaming devices in support for every modern video format. Codec and HDR support can be more limited. Still, 1080p standard-dynamic-range streaming remains practical.

Make Remote Play part of cloud gaming

A PS4 can still fit into a broader Remote Play and cloud-gaming setup. Sony currently lists PlayStation Plus Premium cloud streaming as available on PS4 and PS5 consoles as well as PC, although game availability and streaming support vary by title and region.

Remote Play also lets compatible devices connect to a PS4 and stream games running on the console. That allows the PS4 to continue serving as a local gaming library and Remote Play host while other supported devices handle additional cloud-streaming features.

The result is a flexible setup that can keep older hardware useful without requiring every game to run directly on the PS4.

Keep controllers charged and ready

A PS4 can charge DualShock 4 controllers while the console is on or in Rest Mode. In Rest Mode, open Settings > Power Save Settings > Set Features Available in Rest Mode > Supply Power to USB Ports and choose the available charging setting.

The PS4 can supply USB power for 3 hours after entering Rest Mode, or remain available depending on the selected console setting. Automatic downloads and updates can also keep system software and installed games ready for occasional use.

This can make a secondary PS4 convenient for media playback, Remote Play, and occasional gaming sessions.

Turn the PS4 into a test machine

An unused PS4 can serve as a low-risk platform for testing network settings, peripherals, and account configurations. It offers a stable environment for experimenting without disrupting a primary console used every day.

Network enthusiasts can compare DNS, MTU, and quality-of-service settings when troubleshooting downloads, streaming, or Remote Play. Different controllers, headsets, and USB hubs can also be tested before being used elsewhere.

The console can also help with family management and secondary-account experiments. For smart home enthusiasts, its predictable software environment helps teach media servers, remote access, and home networking.

Know the PS4 limits in 2026

The biggest limitation is age. PS4 models use older wireless hardware and lack Wi-Fi 6 support. Their internal hard drives also feel slow beside modern solid-state storage.

Those limitations matter most with demanding media files, crowded networks, and large game installations. An external SSD can improve game loading, while Ethernet can make Remote Play and high-bitrate streaming more dependable.

Still, those drawbacks do not erase the console’s versatility. A base PS4, Slim, or Pro can serve as a gaming host, media player, or streaming box. It can also serve as a charging station or a network test device.

TL;DR

• An old PS4 can play supported movies, music, and photos from USB storage without requiring another media device.
• DLNA support lets the console stream compatible files from PCs and NAS devices, while server software can transcode unsupported formats.
• Remote Play can stream a PS4 to phones, computers, compatible televisions, and other PlayStation consoles across suitable network connections.
• Primary PS4 activation can make an unused console useful for sharing eligible digital games with another household member.
• Major streaming services can keep a PS4 useful as a secondary console beside a secondary television, although newer formats may favor modern streaming hardware.
• The PS4 can complement cloud gaming by serving as a local library and a Remote Play host for newer compatible devices.
• Rest Mode can charge DualShock 4 controllers and keep updates ready, making the console convenient between occasional gaming sessions.

This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.

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