There are a few reasons why your PS4 may say “Cannot start the PS4.” One reason could be that you have not initialized your console. To do this, you need to go to the PlayStation 4 Settings and click on the “System” tab. Under “System,” you will need to check the box that says “Activate by network.” If this box is unchecked, then your console will not be able to start up. To initialize your console, follow these steps:

  1. Log into PlayStation 4 using your account information or a new one.
  2. Select the " Playstation 4" icon in the top left corner of the main screen.
  3. Choose " System Settings ."
  4. On the left side of this screen, select " Activation by network ." If this box is unchecked, then it will not be possible for your console to start up.