Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →If a PS5 game won’t start, first identify whether it’s a disc, a locked digital game, a download or installation, a game stored on USB extended storage, or an error-code problem. Then follow the matching steps below. For a general launch failure, restart the console, check the game’s license and installation, update the system software, and try Sony’s Safe Mode options before considering a reset.
Start with the symptom
Sony’s US PlayStation Support guidance separates launch failures by symptom rather than treating them as one problem. Use the route that matches what you see:
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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007 First Light - Specialist Edition - PlayStation 5 | $69.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Marvel's Wolverine PS5 | $69.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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MLB® The Show™ 26 – PS5™ | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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MARVEL’S SPIDER-MAN 2 – PS5 Standard Edition | $44.75 | Buy on Amazon |
- A padlock or locked-game message: check the account and license.
- A disc game won’t launch or read: follow the disc checks.
- A download or install is stuck: use the download troubleshooting steps.
- The game is on USB extended storage: move it to the console’s internal storage.
- An error code appears: look up that exact code first.
- None of those apply: use the general launch-failure sequence.
Sony’s game launch troubleshooting guide is the primary reference for these paths. Menu labels can change with system software, so check the current wording on your console.
Try the general launch-failure steps
Work through these in order for a game that fails to start without a more specific symptom. If only one game is affected, begin with that title’s license, installation, and updates. If several games fail, system software, storage, or a broader console issue are also reasonable avenues to investigate; Sony does not identify the number of affected games as proof of a particular cause.
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- Restart the PS5: press the PS button, select Power > Restart PS5, then try the game again.
- Restore licenses: open Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Restore Licenses and select Restore. Check the account and sharing settings as well if the game displays a padlock.
- Delete and redownload the game: select the game, press the options button, choose Delete, then download it again from your game library. Sony recommends a wired connection if possible.
- Update system software: check Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings and install an available update.
- Try Safe Mode’s cache and database options: enter Safe Mode using the steps below, then select Clear Cache and Rebuild Database. Follow the on-screen choices for clearing the cache and rebuilding the database.
- Leave system-software reinstallation as a last resort: back up your data before selecting Reset PS5 (Reinstall System Software) in Safe Mode. This option deletes user data.
Sony’s guide recommends this sequence, but no single step is guaranteed to fix every launch failure.
If a padlock appears on a digital game
A padlock can indicate a license problem. Check the following before deleting the game:
- Make sure you are signed in to the account that purchased the game, and confirm that the transaction completed.
- For a PlayStation Plus game, confirm the subscription is active and that the title is still available to you.
- If someone else owns the game, ask them to enable Console Sharing and Offline Play on your PS5.
- Check PlayStation Network service status, install any available system-software update, and restore licenses.
- If appropriate, enable Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Console Sharing and Offline Play on the console.
For a purchased game that is missing rather than locked, Sony also recommends checking transaction history, hidden items in the game library, Console Sharing and Offline Play, and licenses. See Sony’s game launch troubleshooting guide for the license checks.
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If the game is on USB extended storage
Move the game data from USB extended storage to the PS5’s internal console storage, then try launching it again. Sony lists this as a specific check for launch problems involving games stored on USB. The relevant steps are in its game launch troubleshooting guide.
If a download or installation will not finish
For a download that will not start or is stuck, Sony recommends trying these checks:
- Pause the download and resume it.
- If that does not help, cancel and delete it from the download list, then try again from the game library.
- Check PlayStation service status, confirm the PS5 system software is current, and make sure enough console storage is available.
- Test the internet connection if the download remains stuck.
- If needed, use Safe Mode to clear the cache and rebuild the database.
See Sony’s PlayStation Store download troubleshooting guide for its full download checks.
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If a disc game will not start
- Eject and reinsert the disc after each troubleshooting step.
- Check it for dirt or fingerprints. Clean it gently with a soft, clean cloth.
- Test another game disc, Blu-ray, or DVD to see whether the problem is limited to one disc.
- If the problem continues, try the Safe Mode cache and database options.
Sony notes that PS5 consoles cannot play burned discs or audio CDs. If rebuilding the database does not resolve a persistent disc problem, Sony lists Reset PS5 (Reinstall System Software) as a later option; back up first because it deletes user data. Follow Sony’s disc troubleshooting guidance for the full instructions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Enter Safe Mode carefully
Safe Mode starts the console with only basic functions active. You need a USB cable to connect the controller; Sony does not require a particular cable model.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems- Turn off the PS5 by holding the power button for three seconds.
- Once the console is off, hold the power button again. Release it after the second beep, about seven seconds after the first beep.
- Connect the controller to the console with a USB cable, then press the PS button.
- Choose the relevant Safe Mode option. For a launch issue, Sony recommends Clear Cache and Rebuild Database.
These options are not all equally destructive. Sony says Repair Console Storage does not erase data, and Restore Default Settings retains installed games, apps, captures, and saved data. Reset PS5 and Reset PS5 (Reinstall System Software) delete user data. Back up to USB or Cloud Storage before choosing a reset or system-software reinstallation. Sony describes rebuilding the database as scanning the drive and creating a new database of system content; it is not the same as resetting the console. See Sony’s Safe Mode guide for the available options and their effects.
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If an error code appears
Use Sony’s support page for the exact code rather than assuming the general checklist is sufficient. For example, Sony identifies CE-107857-8 as an error that can occur while loading or updating an application. Its recommended checks include restarting, updating both the game or app and the system software, deleting and reinstalling the game or app if the error persists, and rebuilding the database in Safe Mode. See Sony’s CE-107857-8 support page.
When to contact PlayStation Support
If the game still will not start after the relevant checks, contact PlayStation Support and provide details that help narrow down the fault:
- The exact error code or message, if shown.
- What happens when you try to start the game and the steps that reproduce the problem.
- A screenshot or video, if possible.
Do not choose a reset or system-software reinstallation simply to repeat earlier troubleshooting: those options can erase user data, and Sony’s instructions place reinstallation after less destructive checks.
Quick Recap
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