It’s been over a decade since the PlayStation 4 (PS4) was launched, but surprisingly, users are still asking the same question: Where is its power button? This question is still being searched for millions of times on Google in 2025.
There has been a sudden increase in searches for this question in recent days, indicating that new and old users are still confused by Sony’s design. This seemingly simple issue points to a major design flaw.
There are three main types of PS4: Original, Slim, and Pro. All of them have a simple and modern design, but the location and identification of the power button is very confusing, which is a constant problem for many users.
The original model, released in 2013, has touch-based buttons that are not visible, while the Slim and Pro models have small physical buttons that are hidden in the frame. This diversity creates new confusion.
In 2025, the purchase and sale of old consoles has increased, and most buyers are young or new users. For them, using the PS4 becomes complicated when even a simple button is difficult to find.
Also check global news 9
The position of the power button is different in each PS4 model: the touch button in the middle in the original, the small button on the right in the Slim, and the button in the front corner in the Pro.
New users and those who buy used consoles often cannot find the button, which creates the fear of turning off the device incorrectly.
Sony’s simple design is certainly beautiful, but it lacks the “user-friendly” element, which is why these questions are constantly being repeated on Google.
Questions like “Where is the power button on PS4” are still being searched in the thousands today, which shows the clear anxiety of users.
This situation shows that unless a simple interface is intelligently integrated, even beauty can become confusing. This is a big lesson for the future.
Technologists are calling this a “design failure” that is the result of Sony’s prioritizing aesthetic thinking over user needs.
Renowned UX expert Mark Ellis says:
If the user has to go to YouTube or Google to find the power button, then consider the design a failure.
Similarly, consumer reporting agency Consumer Reports has included the PS4’s power button in the “Top 10 Most Confusing Features” of the past decade, which shows the seriousness of the problem.
Expert Karen Lopez says:
“When a button is unlabeled and not even felt, it creates uncertainty for users. The PS4’s interface has become ineffective over time — much like what some passengers report about confusing seat controls in American 787 Business Class, where poor labeling can impact user experience.”
Behind this seemingly trivial question lies a big truth: how important clarity is in the design of technology.
Consumers who buy old or used PS4s:
Incorrectly turn off the console when the button is missing
Damage the hardware
Change consoles or brands in frustration
Retailers like GameStop have now started including an “instruction card” with the PS4, to clarify the location and use of the button.
It’s also a lesson that unless companies focus on user-friendly interfaces, their products can’t be “trusted.” That’s the principle that today’s consumers want.
The original model has a thin touch button below the disc slot, while the Slim and Pro models have a small physical button on the right side.
The original model has a touch-based button, while the Slim and Pro models have physical buttons.
Yes, you can turn on the console with the PS button on the controller or via the mobile app.
Sony emphasized aesthetic simplicity, which affected the user interface and made it difficult to find the power button.
Press the power button continuously for 7-10 seconds, after two beeps it will perform a safe shutdown.
Where is the power button on PS4 is still a popular search today, which is a sign that even simple and beautiful designs need clarity. The example of the PS4 shows that small shortcomings can cause long-term problems.
In the coming time, companies should strike a balance between aesthetic and easy-to-use design. Lest the next generation be confused by the same old questions.
24World Media does not take any responsibility of the information you see on this page. The content this page contains is from independent third-party content provider. If you have any concerns regarding the content, please free to write us here: contact@24worldmedia.com