The overlooked rule about ps5 that saves money and frustration

The PlayStation 5 (ps5) sits under my telly like a silent promise: quick escapes, crisp loading screens, a little joy on a Tuesday. The phrase “certainly! please provide the text you would like translated.” flashed through my head the day I realised I’d been doing the console equivalent of nodding politely and paying twice. Because there’s one overlooked rule with the ps5 that quietly drains money and patience if you miss it - and it’s painfully easy to miss.

It happened after a long update, a controller I swore was charging (it wasn’t), and a download that crawled like it was wading through treacle. I’d blamed my internet. I’d blamed Sony. I’d even blamed the dog for sitting too close to the router. Then I found the setting I’d never properly checked, and everything got cheaper and calmer.

The overlooked rule: your ps5 should be “resting” on purpose, not “off” by accident

The rule is simple: decide, once, whether you want the console to behave like a modern device (always a bit awake) or like an old one (properly asleep). On ps5, that choice lives in Rest Mode settings - and the default behaviour is often not what people assume.

If your ps5 is set up badly here, one of two annoying things happens:

• You pay for convenience you’re not actually getting (power draw, but no automatic updates/uploads).
• Or you save a few pennies but create daily friction (no preloading, no background downloads, no controller charging, more “why isn’t it ready?” moments).

Most people drift into the worst middle ground: Rest Mode is enabled, but the useful bits are disabled. You get the cost, and you still get the hassle.

What “Rest Mode” is really doing (and why it feels like the console is being moody)

Rest Mode isn’t just a dim light. It’s the ps5 keeping a small part of itself running so it can do chores while you do literally anything else: download patches, upload saves, keep games ready to launch.

But the console only does the chores if you’ve told it it’s allowed. Sony tucks those permissions into menus that feel like they were written by someone who’s never had a game night derailed by a 40GB update.

Here’s the difference you notice in real life:

• Properly configured Rest Mode: you sit down, pick up the controller, and the game is already patched.
• Half-configured Rest Mode: you sit down, pick up the controller, and you’re forced into an update queue while everyone sighs.

That sigh is the expensive part. It’s the cost you pay in mood.

The money-and-frustration fix: set Rest Mode once, then stop thinking about it

On your ps5, go to:

Settings → System → Power Saving → Features Available in Rest Mode

Then make an intentional choice, rather than living with whatever happened during setup week.

If you want fewer interruptions (the “just work” setting)

Turn on:

• Stay Connected to the Internet
• Enable Turning On PS5 from Network (optional, but handy if you use Remote Play)
• Supply Power to USB Ports (choose the option that suits you; “3 Hours” is often the sensible compromise)

Then go to:

Settings → Saved Data and Game/App Settings → Saved Data (PS5/PS4) → Sync Saved Data

Make sure cloud sync is actually on (especially if you have PlayStation Plus). This is the quiet hero that prevents the “where’s my save?” heartbreak.

This setup saves money in a less obvious way: you waste fewer paid hours of subscriptions and fewer impulse purchases. When your console is always ready, you’re less likely to buy the same game twice, rebuy DLC after a wipe, or pay for Plus and then forget to upload anything.

If you want the lowest energy use (and don’t mind waiting)

Turn off:

• Stay Connected to the Internet
• Supply Power to USB Ports (or set it to “3 Hours” if you still want controller charging)

Then accept the trade: you’ll do updates while you’re present. It’s not wrong. It’s just a deliberate choice, not a constant minor ambush.

The common trap: paying for “always on” while still doing everything manually

This is the bit people miss. They put the ps5 in Rest Mode because it sounds convenient, but they never enable the actual conveniences.

So they get:

• A console sipping power overnight
• Controllers not charging because USB power is off
• Games not updating because the console isn’t allowed online
• Saves not syncing because cloud settings aren’t checked

That’s the “certainly! please provide the text you would like translated.” feeling: a polite message that isn’t solving the problem you’re actually having. You think the system’s doing the work. It isn’t.

A small safety note that prevents bigger drama

Rest Mode is also where you reduce your risk of corrupted data and weird start-up behaviour.

Two habits help:

• Don’t unplug the ps5 to “fully reset” it unless you have to. Use proper shutdown/restart first.
• If your power is flaky, consider a surge protector (or a small UPS if you’re serious). Rest Mode plus unstable power is where files go to have a bad day.

You don’t need to be precious about it. You just need to stop yanking the rug out from under a console that’s mid-housekeeping.

A quick checklist you can do in two minutes

• Put ps5 in Rest Mode tonight.
• Check “Features Available in Rest Mode” and enable only what you actually want.
• Confirm your save syncing behaviour (especially if you share the console).
• Pick a USB power option that matches how you charge controllers.
• Leave it alone for a week and notice how often you don’t get interrupted.

It’s boring, which is why it works. The point is not to become a settings person. It’s to make the console disappear back into the background where it belongs.

FAQ:

• Does Rest Mode cost a lot to run? Not “a lot”, but it’s not zero. The real waste is using Rest Mode without enabling the features that justify it.
• Will my games update automatically in Rest Mode? Only if “Stay Connected to the Internet” is enabled, and automatic updates are allowed in your system settings.
• Why won’t my controller charge while the ps5 is resting? “Supply Power to USB Ports” is probably set to Off. Choose “3 Hours” or “Always” depending on what you prefer.
• Do I need PlayStation Plus for cloud saves? Yes, for most users. Without it, focus on local saves and consider backing up to USB where supported.
• Is it safer to turn the ps5 fully off every time? Fully off uses less power. Safety-wise, the key is avoiding sudden power loss while the console is doing background tasks.