CE-100096-6 usually means that a PS5 game or app closed unexpectedly or could not start. It is not a confirmed High on Life-specific diagnosis, and it does not by itself prove that your save, console, or SSD is damaged. Try these four fixes in order: update and restart, restore licenses, clear the PS5 cache/rebuild its database, then delete and reinstall the game.
Before you begin
- Launch another game. If only High on Life fails, concentrate on that installation and its account entitlement. If several games fail, treat the problem as console-wide and plan to contact PlayStation Support.
- Note whether your copy is digital or disc-based, and whether it is installed on console storage, USB extended storage, or an added SSD.
- Back up your save where possible before storage troubleshooting. Deleting the installed game is different from deleting saved data, but manually deleting the save can permanently remove progress.
- Do not choose Reset PS5 or Reset PS5 (Reinstall System Software) in Safe Mode as a routine fix; those options can erase user data.
Sony’s currently surfaced error page is for CE-120706-6, a different code. The steps below follow Sony and publisher guidance for PS5 launch and crash failures without claiming a guaranteed CE-100096-6 cure.
Fix 1: Update the PS5 and High on Life, then restart
Install any PS5 system update
- Open Settings.
- Select System.
- Choose System Software, then System Software Update and Settings.
- Choose the option to check for and install an available update.
Check the game update
- Highlight High on Life on the home screen.
- Press the controller’s Options button.
- Select Check for Update and install anything offered.
Restart cleanly
- Press the PS button.
- Select Power, then Restart PS5.
Updating and restarting can clear a temporary process or memory fault. If the console is frozen, hold its power button until it turns off, wait for the power indicator to stop flashing, and start it normally. Do not unplug it while the indicator is flashing. General PS5 troubleshooting guidance is available from Focus Entertainment and Square Enix.
Fix 2: Restore licenses
Use this primarily for a digital purchase, missing entitlement, or an account-recognition problem.
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- Heighten Your Senses. Discover Deeper, highly immersive gaming experiences.
- Feel your in-game actions and environment simulated through haptic feedback
- Chat online through the built-in microphone or connect a headset directly via the 3.5mm jack
- Play on more devices Connect using a USB Type-C cable or Bluetooth wireless technology so you can easily play on more devices including Windows PC and Mac computers, Android and iOS mobile phones.
- Elevate PC gaming with advanced features like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers in a range titles
- Open Settings.
- Select Users and Accounts.
- Select Other.
- Choose Restore Licenses, then Restore.
Sign in to the account that bought High on Life or provides access through console sharing. Restoring licenses normally leaves installed games and saves intact, but it cannot repair damaged game files. It is less likely to help a disc installation whose local data is faulty. Sony documents this option at its PS5 support page.
Fix 3: Clear the cache and rebuild the PS5 database
These are non-destructive maintenance options for recurring launch failures, but they take time and are not a guaranteed fix for a damaged save or failing hardware. Menu wording varies slightly by system-software version; select the equivalent labels shown on your console.
Enter Safe Mode
- Turn the PS5 off completely.
- Press and hold the console power button again. Release it after the second beep, roughly seven seconds after the first.
- Connect the DualSense to the PS5 with a USB data cable; Bluetooth does not work in Safe Mode.
- Press the controller’s PS button.
Clear system cache
- Select Clear Cache and Rebuild Database.
- Choose Clear System Software Cache (some versions shorten this to Clear Cache).
- Confirm and let the console restart.
Rebuild the database
- Enter Safe Mode again if needed.
- Select Clear Cache and Rebuild Database.
- Choose Rebuild Database.
A rebuild scans and reorganizes the content database and may take longer when the console contains more data. Do not interrupt it. Guides from Activision and Square Enix describe these Safe Mode operations. Do not select either reset option unless you fully understand its data-erasure consequences.
Rank #2
- Haptic feedback - Feel physically responsive feedback to your in-game actions with dual actuators which replace traditional rumble motors. In your hands, these dynamic vibrations can simulate the feeling of everything from environments to the recoil of different weapons. .Operating temperature : 41 °F to 95 °F (5 °C to 35 °C)
- Adaptive triggers - Experience varying levels of force and tension as you interact with your in-game gear and environments. From pulling back an increasingly tight bowstring to hitting the brakes on a speeding car, feel physically connected to your on-screen actions.
- Built-in microphone and headset jack - Chat with friends online using the built-in microphone or by connecting a headset to the 3.5mm jack. Easily switch voice capture on and off at a moment’s notice with the dedicated mute button. Internet and account for PlayStation Network required.
- DualSense Controller PS5 and PC compatible. Not compatible with PS4.
- PS Remote Play requires Remote Play App connected to Wi-Fi, PS4 or PS5 console with the latest system software and compatible game. A PS4 or PS5 console with a wired connection via a LAN cable is recommended. Version 4.0 of the Remote Play App on iOS and iPadOS or version 4.1 on macOS is required for games to be playable with the controller over Bluetooth.
Fix 4: Delete and reinstall High on Life
Use this after the lower-risk fixes fail, especially when other games work normally.
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From the home screen, highlight High on Life, press Options, and select Delete. Alternatively use Settings → Storage → Console Storage → Games and Apps, select the game, and choose Delete.
This does not automatically delete saved data. Do not choose a saved-data deletion menu by mistake. Bandai Namco’s PS5 guidance distinguishes game data from save data and recommends backing up progress when possible.
Rank #3
- Bring gaming worlds to life - Feel your in-game actions and environment simulated through haptic feedback*. Experience varying force and tension at your fingertips with adaptive triggers*
- Find your voice, share your passion - Chat online through the built-in microphone. Connect a headset directly via the 3.5mm jack. Record and broadcast your epic gaming moments with the create button
- A gaming icon in your hands - Enjoy a comfortable, evolved design with an iconic layout and enhanced sticks. Hear higher-fidelity** sound effects through the built-in speaker in supported games
- Multi-device connectivity - Connect using a USB Type-C cable or Bluetooth technology and easily play on more devices including Windows PC and Mac computers.
- Elevate PC gaming with advanced features like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers in a range of blockbuster PC titles.
Install it again
- Digital copy: Open Game Library, find High on Life in the purchasing account’s collection, and download it again.
- Disc copy: Insert the disc into a PS5 model with a disc drive and allow the base installation to complete. Keep the disc inserted when launching.
- Install required patches and add-ons after the base game is installed.
Installation and patching can require more temporary free space than the final game size. If the download or install fails, check Settings → Storage and temporarily remove unneeded games or media. Do not assume a stated storage number applies to every edition, region, or patch.
Optional storage test
If the game is on USB extended storage or an added SSD, move or reinstall it on the PS5’s internal storage and test again. If practical, test without the external drive connected, but never disconnect storage while data is being accessed. This is a diagnostic comparison, not a confirmed CE-100096-6-specific remedy.
Choose the next step based on the symptom
| Fix | Best use case | Downside | What it cannot establish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Update and restart | First occurrence or outdated software | Minimal | It does not repair damaged installation files. |
| Restore licenses | Digital entitlement or account-recognition issue | Minimal | It does not repair game data. |
| Clear cache / rebuild database | Repeated launches failures or database irregularities | Safe Mode and waiting time | It cannot prove a save or SSD is healthy. |
| Delete and reinstall | Only High on Life fails and installation data is suspected | Download time and storage use | It does not fix a developer-side bug or failing console. |
If CE-100096-6 still appears
Contact PlayStation Support instead of factory-resetting the console when multiple games fail, a clean reinstall does not help, Safe Mode operations produce additional errors, or the PS5 overheats, shuts down, reports storage faults, or cannot install other games. Also escalate if the game works on another account or console, which points toward an entitlement or installation-specific issue.
Rank #4
- Ultra Customizable Controls
- Mappable Back Buttons
- DualSense Wireless Controller Features Built In
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Provide the exact code and these details:
- Whether the failure affects only High on Life.
- Digital or disc edition and the account used.
- Internal, USB, or added-SSD installation.
- PS5 system-software version.
- Whether the error occurs at launch or at a repeatable scene.
- Which of the four fixes you completed.
For a disc copy, also check that the disc is clean and that the intended regional edition is being installed. For a digital copy, confirm the purchasing account, restore licenses, and download from Game Library rather than an old home-screen entry.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Does CE-100096-6 mean my PS5 is broken?
No. The code describes a failed game or app operation, not a confirmed hardware diagnosis. Hardware or system trouble becomes more plausible when several games fail or the console shows overheating, shutdown, storage, or installation errors.
Will reinstalling High on Life delete my save?
Deleting the application and deleting saved data are separate actions. Reinstall the game without selecting a saved-data deletion option, and back up the save first when possible.
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- Enjoy precise, comfortable control over 10,000+ supported Steam games.
- Easily pair the controller directly to your Windows PC via Bluetooth or play as you charge with the included USB Type-C cable
- Stay paired with up to four different Bluetooth devices, making it easy to enjoy the controller across Windows PC, Mac, PS5 consoles and smartphones. Discover more connection tips and tricks at playstation.com/pair-dualsense
- Access the latest available controller firmware directly from your PC with the free-todownload PlayStation Accessories app
- Play games streamed from your PS5 or PS4 console to your PC via the PS Remote Play App
Does rebuilding the PS5 database delete games?
The Rebuild Database option reorganizes the content index; it is different from Reset PS5. Follow the on-screen wording carefully and do not interrupt the operation.
Should I delete saved data?
Not as a routine fix. A damaged local save is only a possibility when the game alone still fails after a clean reinstall. Back it up first and treat deletion as a last resort.
Why does the error affect only High on Life?
A game-specific installation problem, entitlement issue, repeatable bug, or save-state problem is possible. The code alone cannot distinguish among them, so updating, restoring licenses, and reinstalling are the appropriate tests.
Should I factory-reset the PS5?
No, not for a first-line CE-100096-6 fix. Reset options can erase personal data and should be considered only with PlayStation Support after less destructive troubleshooting has failed.
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The Bottom Line
Start with updates and a restart, then restore licenses, clear the cache/rebuild the database, and reinstall High on Life only if necessary. If other games fail or all four steps fail, stop deleting data and contact PlayStation Support with the console and error details.
Quick Recap
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