DVDneXtCOPY
Can PS4 Play 4K Blu-ray? PS4, Slim & Pro Explained
Summary: No PS4 model—including PS4 Pro—can play a physical 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc. PS4, Slim, and Pro can play standard Blu-ray movies, while PS4 Pro separately supports 2160p output for compatible games and video content. Use hardware that explicitly supports Ultra HD Blu-ray for physical 4K discs, and check Sony’s container, video-codec, and audio-codec requirements when playing files from USB.
Table of Contents
No PS4 model can play a physical 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc. That includes the original PS4, PS4 Slim, and PS4 Pro. All three can play standard Blu-ray movies, while PS4 Pro separately supports 4K output for compatible games and video content.
The important distinction is that 4K output and 4K Blu-ray playback are separate capabilities. A PS4 Pro can send a 2160p signal to a compatible 4K display, but its optical drive still cannot read the Ultra HD Blu-ray movie format.
Can PS4 Play 4K Blu-ray?
No. Buying a PS4 Pro instead of a standard PS4 does not add Ultra HD Blu-ray movie support.
| PS4 Model | Standard Blu-ray | 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray | 4K Output |
| Original PS4 | Yes | No | No |
| PS4 Slim | Yes | No | No |
| PS4 Pro | Yes | No | Yes, for supported games and video content |
Sony lists standard Blu-ray Disc formats such as BD-ROM and BD-R/RE for PS4 consoles, but not Ultra HD Blu-ray. PS4 Pro's 4K output does not change the capabilities of its Blu-ray drive.
Can PS4 Play Regular Blu-ray Discs?
Yes. If the disc is a standard Blu-ray rather than a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, PS4 consoles can play it directly through the built-in disc drive. Sony lists BD-ROM and BD-R/RE in BDAV or BDMV format among supported Blu-ray types.
DVD playback is also supported. If you need the DVD-specific setup and compatibility details, see the guide to playing DVDs on PS4.
Format support does not mean every damaged or unusually authored disc will play. If one Blu-ray fails, inspect the disc surface and test another supported Blu-ray before assuming the drive itself is the problem.
First-Time Blu-ray Playback Requires an Internet Connection
A PS4 must connect to the Internet once to enable Blu-ray and DVD disc playback. After that activation, the console normally does not need to stay online whenever you watch a standard Blu-ray or DVD.
Protected Blu-ray movies can also require the AACS encryption key to be renewed later. Connecting the PS4 to the Internet allows that key to update. This requirement cannot add Ultra HD Blu-ray support; it only affects disc formats the console already supports.
Why PS4 Pro 4K Does Not Mean 4K Blu-ray
PS4 Pro supports 4K video output, which is why its specifications can look like they imply 4K movie-disc playback. Sony separately states that the PS4 Pro internal Blu-ray drive does not support Ultra HD Blu-ray and uses the same Blu-ray Disc specifications as the standard PS4.
What PS4 Pro Can Output in 4K
With a compatible 4K display, PS4 Pro can output resolutions up to 2160p. The console's 4K settings are found under Settings > Sound and Screen > Video Output Settings, where compatible setups can use 2160P - YUV420 or 2160p - RGB.
This 4K capability applies to compatible games and video streaming content. A compatible 4K TV, the correct HDMI input, and a suitable HDMI connection matter when troubleshooting PS4 Pro 4K output, but none of those items change which physical disc formats the optical drive can read.
What the PS4 Pro Disc Drive Cannot Read
The PS4 Pro drive cannot read the Ultra HD Blu-ray movie format. Changing the resolution to 2160p, installing a system update, using a different HDMI cable, or connecting the console to a newer 4K TV cannot turn the drive into a 4K Blu-ray player.
The original Sony PS4 Pro FAQ makes this distinction explicit: PS4 Pro supports 4K output while retaining the standard PS4 Blu-ray Disc specifications.
Which Video Files Can PS4 Play from USB?
PS4 can play compatible video files from a USB drive through Media Player. Sony requires FAT32 or exFAT storage and supported combinations of container, video codec, profile level, and audio codec. A file ending in .mp4 or .mkv is not automatically compatible.
| Container | Selected PS4 Video Support | Listed Audio Support |
| MKV | H.264/MPEG-4 AVC High Profile Level 4.2 | MP3, AAC LC, AC-3 |
| MP4 | H.264/MPEG-4 AVC High Profile Level 4.2; Level 5.2 also listed for PS4 Pro | AAC LC, AC-3, LPCM |
| AVI | MPEG-4 ASP or H.264/MPEG-4 AVC High Profile Level 4.2 | MP3, AAC LC, AC-3 |
| MPEG-2 TS | H.264/MPEG-4 AVC High Profile Level 4.2 or MPEG-2 Visual | MP2, AAC LC, AC-3 |
Sony also lists AVCHD and XAVC S among supported PS4 video formats. DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby Atmos are not listed as supported audio codecs for MKV or MP4 playback through the PS4 USB Media Player, so those tracks should not be assumed to work simply because the container is supported.
If an existing video file will not play, check the video codec, profile level, audio codec, USB file system, and folder placement separately before changing the container.
What Should You Use for a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc?
If you want to watch the physical 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray itself, use playback hardware that explicitly supports Ultra HD Blu-ray. Changing PS4 settings cannot add that capability.
Use Hardware That Supports Ultra HD Blu-ray
Sony's current media-support documentation lists Ultra HD Blu-ray among supported disc formats for PS5 consoles with compatible disc-drive hardware. The same support page lists standard Blu-ray and DVD formats for PS4 consoles but does not list Ultra HD Blu-ray for PS4.
When physical UHD Blu-ray playback is the requirement, check the hardware specification for Ultra HD Blu-ray support rather than relying on a general 4K or HDR label.
Use PS4 Pro Only When Your Goal Is 4K Games or Streaming
PS4 Pro is the PS4 model to use when the goal is compatible 4K gaming or 4K video streaming. Its 2160p output remains separate from physical UHD Blu-ray playback.
- Standard Blu-ray movie: PS4, PS4 Slim, or PS4 Pro can play it.
- Physical 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray: no PS4 model can play it.
- Compatible 4K game or streaming video: PS4 Pro can provide 4K output.
- Existing USB video file: PS4 Media Player can play it when the container and codecs meet Sony's supported specifications.
FAQs
No. A 4K TV can display a 4K signal from PS4 Pro when the content and setup support it, but it cannot change the disc formats that the PS4 optical drive can read.
No. HDR output and Ultra HD Blu-ray disc support are separate features. PS4 consoles can output HDR-compatible content, but the PS4 Blu-ray drive still lacks Ultra HD Blu-ray movie support.
Make sure disc playback has been activated online at least once, connect to the Internet if the AACS key needs renewal, clean the disc, and test another supported Blu-ray. If multiple supported discs fail, use Sony's PS4 disc-reading troubleshooting steps.
Conclusion
Use the PS4 built-in drive for standard Blu-ray movies and complete the one-time Internet activation if disc playback has never been enabled. If your goal is compatible 4K gaming or streaming, PS4 Pro is the PS4 model designed for 2160p output.
For a physical 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, changing PS4 settings will not solve the hardware limitation. Use a player or console that explicitly supports Ultra HD Blu-ray rather than treating PS4 Pro's 4K output as proof of UHD disc compatibility.
