If your PS5 system-software update is stuck, fails with an error, or will not download, work through these fixes in order. Start with PlayStation Network and download checks, then troubleshoot your internet connection and storage. Use Safe Mode only if the ordinary update path fails, and treat Reset PS5 (Reinstall System Software) as a last resort because it deletes all user data from the console.
For the standard update path, open Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings. Menu wording can vary slightly between system-software versions.
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Before you start: do not interrupt the installation
Do not turn off the PS5 while system software is installing. Do not begin an installation immediately before or after a known power outage, and do not use update files downloaded from unofficial websites. An incorrect or modified file can prevent the console from operating properly and may affect repair or warranty service.
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Try these fixes in order
1. Check PlayStation Network status and try again later
First, check the official PlayStation Network service-status page from a phone or computer. A maintenance window, server outage, or temporary communication failure can stop the PS5 from downloading or validating an update.
If PlayStation services are experiencing problems, do not keep changing local settings or repeatedly restarting the download. Wait until the incident is resolved, then try again from Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings.
This is especially important if the console reports a server-communication error, such as NP-104303-1. That code points toward checking PSN status, waiting, and restarting your network equipment rather than immediately resetting the console.
2. Restart the stalled update from Downloads/Uploads
If the update appears stuck during its download, restart that particular task before changing anything else:
- Press the PS button to open the control center.
- Select Downloads/Uploads.
- Highlight the system-software update.
- Choose View Error Info, if it is available.
- Select Try Again.
This is the least disruptive fix in the guide. It does not remove games, applications, or saved data. If the same download fails repeatedly, stop retrying indefinitely and move to the network, storage, or PC/USB methods below.
3. Restart the PS5 normally
A normal restart can clear a temporary update process or a transient system state without deleting your content.
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- Press the PS button.
- Open the power menu.
- Select Restart PS5.
After the console starts again, retry the update through Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings. Use a normal restart here—not Reset PS5 and not a Safe Mode reset.
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4. Use a wired connection or reconfigure the network
Unstable Wi-Fi is a common reason a large update fails or loses contact with Sony’s servers. If possible, connect the PS5 directly to your router with an Ethernet cable. A wired connection for the PS5 update is an optional troubleshooting aid, not a guarantee that the console itself is healthy.
For wired or wireless setup, open Settings > Network > Settings > Set Up Internet Connection. If you stay on Wi-Fi:
- Move the PS5 closer to the router.
- Reduce walls and other physical obstructions between the console and router.
- Temporarily disconnect devices that are using substantial bandwidth.
- Review the saved network settings and reconnect to the correct network.
Then run Settings > Network > Test Internet Connection and retry the system update.
5. Power-cycle the router and modem
Restart both pieces of network equipment, even if other devices in your home appear to be online:
- Turn off the modem and router. If you have one combined unit, turn off that unit.
- Leave the equipment powered off for at least five minutes.
- Turn it back on and wait for the normal internet connection lights or status indicators.
- On the PS5, open Settings > Network > Test Internet Connection.
- Retry the update.
This can clear a temporary router or DNS communication problem. If the PS5 still fails over Wi-Fi, combine this step with the wired-connection test in Fix 4.
6. Free space on the PS5’s internal storage
Open Settings > Storage and check the available console storage. Sony’s instructions call for approximately 1.1 GB of free space for the standard update file and approximately 1.2 GB for the reinstallation file. Keep more than the bare minimum available because the PS5 may need additional working room to download and stage update data.
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To make room, remove games or applications you no longer need. Deleting a purchased game does not remove your ownership: you can download it again from your game library. Be more careful with saved data, which should be backed up before any destructive troubleshooting.
If you already have compatible storage, games can be moved to USB extended storage or an installed compatible M.2 SSD. A PS5 USB extended storage drive or compatible M.2 SSD for PS5 can help manage space, but moving games will not repair corrupted system software. Follow Sony’s compatibility and installation requirements before buying or installing storage. Remember that PS5 games stored on ordinary USB extended storage must be moved back to the console’s internal storage or compatible M.2 storage before they can be played.
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7. Update with a PC or Mac using a USB flash drive
If repeated internet downloads fail, Sony provides an official PC/Mac update-file method. You will need a USB flash drive formatted as FAT32 or exFAT. A USB flash drive for the PS5 update is simply a compatible task-enabling accessory; no particular brand or premium model is required, and a USB drive does not guarantee that an underlying console fault will be fixed.
On a PC or Mac:
- Format the USB drive as FAT32 or exFAT. Formatting erases the drive, so copy off any files you need first.
- At the root of the drive, create a folder named
PS5. - Inside
PS5, create a folder namedUPDATE. - Download the official PS5 system-software update file from Sony’s PlayStation support site.
- Save the file inside the
UPDATEfolder. - Use the filename
PS5UPDATE.PUP.
The folder names and filename must use uppercase letters, and the file must be in exactly this location:
USB drive/PS5/UPDATE/PS5UPDATE.PUPInsert the drive into the PS5, start Safe Mode, and select Update System Software > Update from USB Storage Device. If the PS5 cannot find the file, check the format, spelling, capitalization, folder location, and filename before downloading the file again.
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8. Update directly from Safe Mode
Safe Mode starts the PS5 with only basic functions active. It can help when the console has been offline for a long time or lost its internet connection during an update.
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- Turn the PS5 off completely. It must not be in Rest Mode.
- Press and hold the power button again.
- Release it after the second beep, roughly seven seconds after the first beep.
- Connect the controller to the PS5 with a USB cable.
- Press the PS button.
- Select Update System Software.
- Choose the direct-download option, or choose the USB option if you prepared the official update file.
Safe Mode requires a wired controller connection. If you cannot enter the menu because the controller will not connect, a USB data cable for the PS5 controller may be needed; use a cable capable of data transfer rather than one intended only for charging.
Do not choose a reset option simply because you entered Safe Mode. Several Safe Mode choices are non-destructive, but Reset PS5 and Reset PS5 (Reinstall System Software) can erase data.
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9. Use Safe Mode’s storage-repair and database options
If the failed update is accompanied by storage warnings, missing content, system-feature problems, crashes, or other abnormal behavior, Safe Mode has less destructive maintenance options.
Try Repair Console Storage first
Repair Console Storage is intended to address storage-related problems and, according to Sony, does not erase data. It is the more conservative choice when the symptoms point to the console’s storage structure.
Then consider Clear Cache and Rebuild Database
From Safe Mode, Clear Cache and Rebuild Database provides two different operations:
- Clear System Software Cache can help with system-feature problems or performance drops.
- Rebuild Database scans the drive and creates a new database of the content on the console. It is not the same as reinstalling the system software.
These operations may take time, particularly on a console with a large amount of content. Do not turn the PS5 off while the operation is running. Back up important data before using any Safe Mode option that warns about possible data loss, and do not confuse these maintenance tools with Reset PS5 (Reinstall System Software).
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Use this only after the ordinary update, network, storage, USB, and non-destructive Safe Mode procedures have failed. Reinstalling the system software deletes all user data on the PS5. It is not a routine update and should not be your first response to an error code.
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Back up what you can before proceeding. Depending on your setup, this may include saved data, screenshots, video clips, and other personal content. Confirm that you know your PlayStation Network sign-in details and that you can redownload your games and applications afterward.
On a PC or Mac:
- Format a USB drive as FAT32 or exFAT.
- Create the folders
PS5and thenUPDATEat the drive’s root. - Download Sony’s official PS5 reinstallation file, not merely the ordinary update file.
- Save it as
PS5UPDATE.PUPinsidePS5/UPDATE. - Insert the USB drive into the PS5.
- Start Safe Mode by holding the power button until the second beep.
- Connect the controller by USB and press the PS button.
- Select Reset PS5 (Reinstall System Software).
This process removes the PS5 system software before installing it again and deletes the console’s user data. Follow the on-screen instructions and do not interrupt the process.
If the PS5 still cannot update after a correctly prepared official reinstallation attempt, stop repeating resets. Contact official PlayStation Support or use Sony’s repair-diagnostic route. Continued failure after the correct network, USB, Safe Mode, and reinstallation procedures may indicate a storage or hardware problem that general troubleshooting cannot safely diagnose.
Error-code quick guide
| Error code | What to try |
|---|---|
| WS-116522-7 | The latest system software was not recognized or the update failed. Try a wired connection, restart the router, and use the official USB method. Check the USB format, folder structure, capitalization, and filename. |
| CE-118446-4 | This concerns updating system-related applications or features. First confirm that the main system software is current, then check Settings > System > System Software > System Feature Updates. |
| CE-113338-9 | This is an error updating PS5 system software. Use the main system-software update and Safe Mode procedures rather than treating it only as a game-update problem. |
| NP-104303-1 | A server-communication problem. Check PSN status, wait if services are affected, and power-cycle the modem and router for at least five minutes. |
| CE-100028-1 or CE-107872-5 | The console does not have enough free storage. Open Settings > Storage, remove or move content, and retry. |
Which fix should you try first?
- Update stuck in Downloads/Uploads: use Fix 2, then restart the PS5.
- Network or server error: check PSN status, power-cycle the router, and test a wired connection.
- Storage error: free internal space before attempting Safe Mode.
- Repeated download failure: use Sony’s official PC/Mac USB method.
- Features are malfunctioning as well as the update failing: try Repair Console Storage, then the cache/database options in Safe Mode.
- Nothing works: back up your data and consider official reinstallation only as the final software step.
What not to do
- Do not turn off the PS5 during an installation.
- Do not begin an update immediately before or after a power outage.
- Do not use unofficial firmware or update files.
- Do not put
PS5UPDATE.PUPoutside thePS5/UPDATEfolder structure. - Do not use the ordinary update file when Sony’s instructions call for the reinstallation file.
- Do not assume that deleting a purchased game removes your ownership.
- Do not select Reset PS5 (Reinstall System Software) without understanding that it deletes console data and without backing up what you can.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will updating PS5 system software delete my games or saved data?
A normal system-software update and a normal restart do not delete your games, applications, or saved data. However, Reset PS5 (Reinstall System Software) deletes all user data, so back up important content before using it.
How much free space does a PS5 update need?
Sony’s instructions specify approximately 1.1 GB for the standard update file and approximately 1.2 GB for the reinstallation file. Keep additional free space available because the console may need room to download and stage the update.
Why does my PS5 say it cannot find the update file on USB?
Format the drive as FAT32 or exFAT, create uppercase folders named PS5 and UPDATE at the drive’s root, and save the official file as PS5UPDATE.PUP inside the UPDATE folder. The full path should be PS5/UPDATE/PS5UPDATE.PUP.
What should I do if my PS5 still will not update after reinstalling the system software?
Stop repeating resets and contact official PlayStation Support or use Sony’s repair-diagnostic route. Persistent failure after the official network, USB, Safe Mode, and reinstallation procedures may indicate a storage or hardware fault.
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The Bottom Line
Most PS5 update failures can be addressed without deleting anything: check PSN status, retry the download, restart the console and router, improve the connection, free storage, or use Sony’s official USB update file. Safe Mode is the next escalation. Reserve Reset PS5 (Reinstall System Software) for the end, back up first, and seek official support if the console still fails afterward.
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