If you’ve turned on your PlayStation 3 (PS3) only to be greeted by the message:
“Connect the controller using a USB cable and then press the PS button.”
Then, you’ve found yourself in the PS3 Recovery Menu. Normally, this menu appears for one of three reasons:
You accidentally accessed it by holding the power button while turning on the console.
There is data or software corruption.
The console is experiencing a hardware failure.
Accessing the PS3 Recovery Menu
To intentionally enter the Recovery Menu, follow these steps:
Start with the PS3 turned off.
Press and hold the power button until the console turns on and then off again.
Release the power button, then press and hold it again.
Keep holding until you hear two beeps, then release the button.
The PS3 will now boot into the Recovery Menu.
Navigating the Recovery Menu
To navigate the menu, you must connect a DualShock 3 controller to the console using a USB cable. However, this cable must be a data cable, not just a charging cable. Additionally, the controller must be an original Sony PlayStation 3 DualShock controller—PS4 controllers or third-party knockoffs will not work.
What If You Don’t Have an Original PS3 Controller?
You could probably connect a normal PC keyboard and use the WIN (Super) button, but unfortunately even though Win button does act as PS button when booted into XMB (the PS3 interface), it does not replace PS button in recovery mode.
If you lack an original PS3 controller, you still have options:
Try a PlayStation Move Navigation Controller – The PlayStation Move had a secondary controller with a PS button that can work in the Recovery Menu.
Use Certain Licensed Racing Wheels – Some Speedlink racing wheels have a PS button and work with the menu.
Third-Party Controllers – Some unlicensed gamepads may still work if they have a functioning PS button.
Controller Converter Devices – Devices like the Brook Wingman Converter can allow you to use alternative controllers.
DIY Solution – Tech-savvy users have emulated the PS button using an Arduino connected to a laptop.
Exiting the Recovery Menu Without a Controller
If you entered the menu by accident and cannot exit, follow these steps:
Disconnect everything from wall power, including the PS3 and your TV.
Remove the PS3’s internal storage by locating and unscrewing the hard drive caddy.
Power on the PS3 without the hard drive installed.
After seeing the error message “Cannot start. The appropriate system storage was not found,” turn off the console.
Reinsert the hard drive, secure it, and reconnect everything.
Turn on the console, and if there are no storage issues, the PS3 should boot normally.
Replacing a Failing Hard Drive
If your hard drive is corrupted or failing (which is common in older consoles), you can replace it with any 2.5-inch SATA drive. The best option today is an SSD (solid-state drive), even though the PS3 only supports SATA 1.5 speeds. While an SSD won’t significantly improve boot times, it will enhance random access speeds, making in-game asset loading smoother.
Storage Limitations
The PS3 supports a maximum of 1.5TB of storage. If you use a larger drive, like a 2TB SSD, you may need to tinker with the settings, and only 1.5TB will be usable.
Final Thoughts
To properly use the PS3 Recovery Menu, you need a wired PlayStation 3-compatible controller with a working PS button. The only exception is if your console is running custom firmware, which allows the use of any controller.
If you’re having trouble, your best bet is to find an original PS3 DualShock controller, even if it has minor defects (such as faulty thumbsticks), as long as the PS button and D-pad work.