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PS5 Rest Mode Not Downloading Game Updates? Quick Fixes

Fix PS5 game updates that will not download in Rest Mode: enable the two required settings, choose Auto-Download or Auto-Install, and troubleshoot stalled downloads.
Length2 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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If your PS5 is not downloading game updates in Rest Mode, check two separate settings: keep the console connected to the internet while resting, and enable automatic game updates. Go to Settings > System > Power Saving > Features Available in Rest Mode and turn on Stay Connected to the Internet. Then open Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Automatic Updates and enable Auto-Download or Auto-Install in Rest Mode. Sony’s automatic-update instructions cover both controls.

Choose how PS5 handles game updates

In Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Automatic Updates, choose the behavior that fits how you use the console. The options are distinct: Auto-Download gets the update file, while Auto-Install in Rest Mode lets the PS5 install updates while resting.

Option What it does When to choose it
Auto-Download Downloads available game or app updates while the console is in Rest Mode. You can decide whether to install after resuming the game. Choose this if you want the download ready but do not want to close a suspended game. Sony specifically recommends Auto-Download only for that situation. Sony’s guidance explains the setting.
Auto-Install in Rest Mode Allows eligible updates to be installed while the console is in Rest Mode. Choose this if you want updates installed automatically when possible. Some updates may still require your approval. Sony notes this limitation.

For either option to work in Rest Mode, Stay Connected to the Internet must also be enabled under Settings > System > Power Saving > Features Available in Rest Mode. Put the console in Rest Mode when you are finished using it.

If the settings are on but an update still will not download

Work through these checks in order, starting with the least disruptive:

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  1. Test the connection: Go to Settings > Network and select Test Internet Connection. If Wi-Fi is unreliable, try a wired connection as a diagnostic. Sony lists this as an option in its game-start troubleshooting guidance; it is not a fix for disabled Rest Mode settings or a PlayStation Network outage.
  2. Restart and check system software: Restart the PS5, then check that its system software is current. Sony includes both steps in its troubleshooting guidance.
  3. Resume a stalled download: Open Downloads/Uploads in the Control Center and choose Pause, then Resume. If it remains stuck, cancel and delete it from the queue, then try again from the Game Library. These are steps in Sony’s download troubleshooting guide.
  4. Check PlayStation Network status: If Sony’s service status page shows an alert, wait for the service to recover and try again.
  5. Escalate only if the problem persists: Sony’s guidance includes deleting and reinstalling the affected game or app, or starting the PS5 in Safe Mode and selecting Clear Cache and Rebuild Database. See the game-start troubleshooting and download troubleshooting steps before taking these more disruptive measures.
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Check for an update manually

To check a specific game or app, highlight it, press the controller’s Options button, and select Check for Update. Sony also says a game or app updates to the newest available version when you start it. See Sony’s instructions for checking game and app updates.

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