How do I play my own music on PS4?
Most modern video games allow you to play your own custom music while you play, which can enhance the overall gaming experience and personalize gameplay. The PlayStation 4 (PS4) includes several built-in options for adding your favorite songs and custom playlists to create a soundtrack tailored to your taste.
This guide will provide an overview on multiple methods for playing your personal music library on a PS4 during gameplay, including using a USB drive, the PS4’s native Media Player app, connecting a Spotify account, and options for specific games that support custom soundtracks.
Methods for Playing Custom Music
There are a few different methods you can use to play your own music on your PS4:
Using a USB Drive
One way is to copy your music files onto a USB flash drive or external hard drive and connect it to your PS4 (Listening to music on a USB storage device). You’ll first need to format the drive to the FAT32 or exFAT file system so it’s compatible with the PS4. Once connected, navigate to the ‘Media Player’ on your home screen to find and play your music.
Through the Media Player
The PS4 Media Player app allows you stream music from USB as well as from devices on your home network if you have Media Server enabled (How To Put Music On PS4 YouTube). This gives you access to your music collection stored on things like PCs and NAS devices.
With Spotify
You can download the Spotify app on your PS4 and play music through there. However, you’ll need a premium subscription to be able to play your own playlists and access your full music library.
Using a USB Drive
One of the easiest ways to add your own music to your PS4 is using a USB drive. The PS4 supports playing MP3 files as well as AAC (M4A) files (Manuals PlayStation). To add your music to the PS4 using a USB drive, follow these steps:
- Use your computer to create a folder called "Music" on your USB drive
- Add your music files into the Music folder on your USB drive using your computer. Make sure they are MP3 or AAC/M4A files.
- Eject and remove the USB drive from your computer
- Connect the USB drive to your PS4 console
- On your PS4, go to the Library section in the content area
- Select USB Music Player
- Navigate to your Music folder on your USB drive to play your songs!
It’s that easy! Just make sure your files are in supported formats (MP3 & AAC/M4A) and in the "Music" folder on your USB drive for your PS4 to detect and play them.
Through the Media Player
The easiest way to play your own music collection on your PS4 is through the Media Player app. The Media Player comes pre-installed on all PS4 systems, but if you can’t find it you can download it for free from the PlayStation Store (Listening to music on a USB storage device).
To use the Media Player, first transfer your music files onto a USB storage device. Then plug the USB into an open port on your PS4. Open the Media Player app, select your USB device, and you’ll be able to browse all the music files stored on the drive.
The Media Player supports common audio formats like MP3, AAC, and WAV (How to PLAY MUSIC on PS4 while PLAYING GAMES (PS4 …)). Create playlists to organize your music library and use the options to shuffle songs or repeat playlists.
One of the best features of the Media Player is it keeps playing your music in the background while you use other apps and games on your PS4. So you can listen to your own tunes while playing your favorite games!
With Spotify
You can connect your Spotify account to your PlayStation 4 to play your Spotify music during gameplay for most games. This takes advantage of Spotify’s PlayStation 4 integration. To do this:
- On your PS4 go to Settings > Spotify.
- Select Link with Spotify. This will open a web page to connect your Spotify account.
- After connecting, you can select playlists and music from the Spotify app on your PS4.
Once connected, you can control playback using the Spotify app on your phone, thanks to Spotify’s Connect feature (1). The music will play directly from your PS4 into the game.
Some games may pause or mute Spotify playback during cutscenes or important dialogue. Check the audio settings of your specific game to customize Spotify integration.
During Gameplay
Many games allow you to play your own custom music during gameplay. This is usually done by enabling the custom soundtrack option in the game’s audio or settings menu. Games like Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 and the WWE 2K series include this feature. You can try to enable custom soundtracks in the settings of your favorite games to play music during gameplay.
Turning on custom soundtracks may overwrite a game’s default soundtrack. The Reddit user Fun_Stage_7236 explains how to enable custom music in various games on PS4: “If you want more great music you can go to Game Settings -> Audio and enable Volta Tracks.” (source)
With custom soundtracks enabled, you can play music files from a USB drive inserted into your PS4. This allows you to customize the background music while you play. Just note that some online multiplayer games disable the feature so all players hear the same music.
For Specific Games
Many popular games on PS4 allow you to play your own custom music soundtracks during gameplay. Some examples include:
- Grand Theft Auto series (PC & Xbox versions) – https://gamerant.com/games-play-own-music/ You can add songs to the in-game radio stations.
- Guitar Hero series – A rhythm game centered around playing along to your own songs. Also supports custom song imports.
- Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight – https://www.playstation.com/en-qa/editorial/this-month-on-playstation/the-best-rhythm-games-on-ps4-and-ps5/ – Japanese style rhythm game featuring J-pop and optional custom music.
Check if your favorite games support custom soundtracks or playlists, especially in music/rhythm focused games. There may be options built-in or through mods. Consult gaming forums and sites for compatibility details for specific titles.
Tips and Tricks
Here are some useful tips to ensure optimal audio quality and volume mixing when playing your custom music on your PS4:
To achieve the best possible sound quality:
- Use high-quality MP3 or WAV files. Low bitrate/compressed files may sound poor through the PS4’s audio system.
- Choose files that were originally ripped at 320kbps or CD quality for optimal fidelity.
Regarding volume mixing and levels:
- Adjust your system settings to reach a balance between your custom music and game audio/sound effects, ensuring neither overpowers the other.
- Use a sound editor to normalize custom tracks to between -1dB and -3dB peak volume. This will help prevent dramatic volume differences between songs or vs game audio.
- Within Spotify’s app, reduce the music volume slider to 70-80% while gaming, so gameplay sound effects remain clearly audible.
- Experiment to determine what volume balance works best for your preferences.
With high-quality audio files and balanced levels, you can seamlessly enjoy your own music library while gaming on PS4.
Troubleshooting
If you encounter issues playing your own music files on your PS4, try the following troubleshooting steps:
Music cuts out or skips
If your music cuts out or skips while playing, the file may be corrupted or there could be a connection issue with your USB drive. Try re-downloading the music file and copying it to your USB drive again. Also check that your USB drive is properly connected.
Music won’t play
If your music files won’t play at all, make sure they are a compatible file format such as MP3 or AAC. Your USB drive may also need to be formatted – go to Settings > Devices > USB Storage Devices and try reformatting it.
Can’t find or access music files
If you can’t find or access your music files on the PS4, make sure you have a folder called “Music” on the root of your USB drive and that your files are stored in this folder. If not, create a folder called “Music” and move your files there.
Music plays from my PS4 system storage
If music is playing from the PS4’s internal hard drive rather than your USB device, go to Settings > Storage and select your USB drive as the default location for music files.
Conclusion
In summary, there are a few main methods for playing your own custom music on a PS4. Connecting a USB drive loaded with your music files and accessing them through the Media Player app is one of the simplest approaches. You can also link a Spotify account to stream your personalized playlists. During gameplay, certain titles allow you to import custom soundtracks that will play in the background. Check each game’s audio options to enable this feature if available.
The key best practices are: use MP3 file formats for USB drives, create playlists in Spotify for seamless listening, and double check a game’s capacity for custom songs before attempting to integrate them. With the right setup, you can enhance your gaming experience with a soundtrack tailored to your personal musical tastes.