Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsIf a digital game shows a padlock on your PlayStation, restore its license before reinstalling anything. On PS5, go to Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Restore Licenses, select the license, and try the game again. You can also highlight the game, press the Options button, and choose Restore License. On PS4, go to Settings > Account Management > Restore Licenses, then select Restore.
Sony says restoring licenses does not affect your saved data. If the padlock remains, the cause may be the purchasing account, a PlayStation Plus entitlement, console-sharing or primary-console activation, a service or system-software problem, or parental controls. Work through those checks in order rather than assuming the license refresh is the entire fix.
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What a padlock on a digital PlayStation game means
A padlock means the console cannot currently validate your right to start that digital item. License data can become out of sync after changing consoles, using a different user account, restoring a system, or experiencing a network or PlayStation service interruption. Restoring the license asks PlayStation to check the entitlement again, but it cannot create a purchase that was never completed or extend access that has ended.
The icon alone does not identify the cause. Check the account, purchase or subscription, sharing configuration, service status, system software, and parental controls if the first restore attempt fails. Sony’s license-restoration guidance specifically lists a padlock unrelated to PlayStation Plus expiration as one reason to restore licenses. Sony’s separate downloaded-game troubleshooting flow still tells you to verify an active subscription and catalog availability when the game came from PlayStation Plus.
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There is no separate repair device, disc, cable, storage accessory, or paid utility that performs this fix. The restore command is already part of the PS5 and PS4 software. The important question is which account and entitlement should authorize the game, and whether that authorization is available to the user currently trying to launch it.
Before you start: identify the situation
Note whether the lock affects one title or several. A single locked game points first toward that game’s account, transaction, subscription, or license record. Several locked games at once make a PlayStation Network, sign-in, or broader account problem more likely. Also determine whether the title was purchased outright, claimed as a PlayStation Plus monthly benefit, or downloaded from a PlayStation Plus catalog. Those entitlements do not have identical access conditions.
Check which console you are using before following the menu path. PS5 and PS4 put the restore command in different settings areas, and the sharing check also has a different name on each platform. If another household member owns the game, use the owner’s account for the authorization checks even if a different user normally plays the title.
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Use the system-wide restore option
- Sign in to the PlayStation Network account that purchased the game or claimed the entitlement.
- From the PS5 home screen, open Settings.
- Select Users and Accounts.
- Choose Other.
- Select Restore Licenses.
- Choose the locked game or the licenses you want to refresh, then wait for the process to finish.
Return to the game and start it again. License restoration is a software account check; it does not delete the installation or saved data. Sony’s official wording is: “Please note, restoring licenses won’t affect your data.” You do not need to uninstall the game first, and repeating an installation will not correct an account that lacks the entitlement.
Use the per-game shortcut
When only one title is locked, highlight it on the home screen or in your game library, press the controller’s Options button, and select Restore License. This route is quicker than opening the account settings and targets the selected game. After it completes, launch that same title while signed in to the account that owns it, or test it from another user only after confirming Console Sharing and Offline Play.
If the shortcut does not solve it
Run the system-wide restore while signed in to the owning account. Then move to the entitlement checks below instead of repeatedly selecting restore. A successful refresh only confirms that PlayStation processed the request; it does not confirm that the purchase completed, that a subscription is current, or that another user is authorized to share the game.
Restore a license on PS4
- Sign in with the account that bought the game or owns the relevant subscription entitlement.
- Open Settings from the PS4 function screen.
- Select Account Management.
- Choose Restore Licenses.
- Select Restore and wait for the confirmation process to complete.
Launch the game again after the restore finishes. As on PS5, this operation refreshes license information and does not affect your saved data. If the title remains locked, leave the game installed and check the account, transaction, subscription, primary-console activation, service, software, and parental-control conditions.
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Check the entitlement before trying more repairs
Confirm the purchasing account
Make sure the active user is the account that bought the game. A title can be installed on a console while the signed-in user lacks the entitlement that permits it to launch. Sign out of any incorrect user and sign in to the owner’s account, then check the game again. If the owner’s account can launch the game but another user cannot, the problem is probably console authorization rather than a missing purchase.
Do not assume that the account shown on the console is the account that paid. Families may use several PlayStation Network accounts, and a game may have been claimed by a different adult or by a different account on a previous console. Use the account that appears in the purchase record when restoring and verifying the license.
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Verify the transaction
Open the purchasing account’s transaction history and confirm that the purchase completed. A failed, canceled, or incomplete transaction cannot be repaired by restoring licenses. If the transaction is missing, use the account that actually placed the order and check whether the game was obtained through a different account.
An installed download is not proof of a completed purchase. Files can remain on a console after an order fails, after a user changes accounts, or after a subscription entitlement ends. The transaction record is the useful test of whether the account ever acquired the right to launch the title.
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If the game was supplied through PlayStation Plus, confirm that the account’s subscription is active. For a catalog title, also confirm that the game is still included in the current catalog; a title can remain installed after its catalog availability ends. This check is separate from the license-refresh step and explains why a restore may succeed without restoring access.
Do not treat the wording about a padlock unrelated to PlayStation Plus expiration as a guarantee that every Plus lock is a license-sync fault. Sony’s separate locked-game troubleshooting sequence specifically directs players to verify the active subscription and continued catalog availability. If either condition is no longer true, restoring licenses cannot extend access.
Fix access when another account owns the game
PS5: Console Sharing and Offline Play
On the PS5, open Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Console Sharing and Offline Play on the owning account. Enable the setting on the PS5 that other household users are meant to use. Sony allows this setting on one PS5 at a time. When enabled, other users of that console can play the owner’s purchased and downloaded games and media while offline and can use some PlayStation Plus benefits.
If the owner enabled Console Sharing and Offline Play on another PS5, the current console may not be authorized for the other user. Move the setting to the intended console, then sign in on that console and restore the license again. Sony’s sharing guide describes the feature as allowing you to “Play your games and media even when the console is offline.”
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PS4: primary-console activation
On PS4, the account owner must have activated the console as that account’s primary PS4. Check the activation status while signed in as the owner. If a different PS4 is primary, users on the current console may see a padlock even though the game is installed. Correct the primary-console activation, sign in again, and run Restore Licenses.
As with PS5 sharing, the owner’s authorization is the relevant one. A non-owner user cannot solve a missing primary-console activation merely by restoring licenses from their own account.
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Rule out PlayStation service and system-software problems
Check service availability
A license check can fail during a PlayStation Network outage or service degradation. Review the current PlayStation service status, especially if several digital games become locked at the same time, the store will not load, or sign-in is failing. If Sony reports an incident, wait for service recovery and retry the license restore rather than repeatedly changing account settings.
The timing matters. If the same account worked earlier and multiple titles become unavailable together, record the incident and test again after service returns. A local reinstall cannot fix a service-side interruption.
Install current system software
Verify that the PS5 or PS4 is running the latest system software offered by the console. Sony includes software currency in its downloaded-game troubleshooting sequence because an outdated system can interfere with downloads, entitlement checks, or launching. Restart the console after an update, sign in to the owner account, and test the affected game.
Updating software is a separate check from restoring the license. Complete the update, then retry the game so you can tell whether the software change resolved the launch problem.
Check the local connection
License validation and account checks require a working connection to PlayStation services. If the console cannot sign in reliably, resolve that network or service problem first. A temporary connection failure can produce the same padlock symptom as a missing entitlement.
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When only one title is affected, a connection problem is still possible, but verify the title’s account and transaction first. When sign-in, the store, and several games fail together, prioritize service status and the console’s connection before changing ownership or sharing settings.
Use Safe Mode database maintenance only after entitlement checks
Sony places database maintenance after the account, subscription, sharing, service, software, and license checks. Use it when the game remains locked or will not launch after those checks, not as a substitute for proving ownership.
PS5 options
Start the PS5 in Safe Mode and follow Sony’s troubleshooting sequence for Clear Cache and Rebuild Database. Choose the option shown for the problem you are addressing, allow the process to finish, then restart normally and test the game. Do not interrupt the console while it is rebuilding.
Database maintenance is a later troubleshooting step because it addresses system indexing and software behavior, not the ownership record. If the transaction is absent or a Plus catalog title has left the catalog, rebuilding cannot restore access.
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PS4 option
Start the PS4 in Safe Mode and select Rebuild Database, following the on-screen instructions. After the console restarts, sign in to the owner account and try the game. Database maintenance addresses system indexing and software behavior; it does not replace a valid purchase, subscription, or sharing authorization.
When the padlock covers the entire game image
If the padlock covers the whole game image rather than appearing only during a particular launch attempt, review parental-control settings as well as licenses and account access. Sony’s game-launch troubleshooting guidance identifies parental controls as a possible reason for a padlock covering the entire image. Check the restrictions on the console and the account before deleting and reinstalling the game.
A parental-control restriction is different from an expired entitlement. Restoring a license will not remove a launch restriction imposed by the console or account. Include this check when the owner account, transaction, subscription, sharing, service, and software all appear correct.
Common mistakes that waste time
- Restoring from the wrong account: The command must be run while signed in to the account that bought or claimed the game when you are verifying that entitlement.
- Assuming an installed game is owned: Local game files can remain after a failed transaction or an ended Plus catalog entitlement.
- Ignoring the one-console sharing limit: PS5 Console Sharing and Offline Play can be enabled on one PS5 at a time, so another enabled console may explain the lock.
- Reinstalling before checking access: Reinstallation downloads files but does not create a purchase, renew a subscription, or change primary-console activation.
- Changing several settings during an outage: If PlayStation services are unavailable, wait for recovery so you do not confuse a service fault with an account-configuration change.
- Using Safe Mode first: Database maintenance comes after entitlement, sharing, service, software, and license checks in Sony’s troubleshooting order.
- Overlooking parental controls: A padlock covering the entire game image can indicate a restriction rather than a stale license.
A practical order for diagnosing the lock
| What you see | Check next | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| One purchased game is locked | Restore the individual license, then verify the purchasing account and transaction history. | The selected game may have stale license data or may belong to another account. |
| Several digital games are locked | Check PlayStation service status, network sign-in, and the account currently in use. | A service or account problem can affect multiple entitlements at once. |
| A PlayStation Plus game is locked | Confirm the subscription is active and that a catalog title remains available. | Installed files do not guarantee continuing subscription or catalog access. |
| Another user owns the game | Check PS5 Console Sharing and Offline Play or PS4 primary-console activation on the owner account. | Sharing authorization controls whether other users can launch the owner’s games. |
| The padlock covers the entire game image | Review parental-control restrictions in addition to license and account checks. | Sony identifies parental controls as a possible launch-blocking cause. |
| The lock remains after all checks | Run the applicable Safe Mode database maintenance, then contact PlayStation Support. | Database or account-service faults may require escalation after standard troubleshooting. |
What to send PlayStation Support
If the game is still locked after restoring the license, confirming the entitlement, correcting sharing or activation, checking service and software, and completing the relevant Safe Mode maintenance, contact PlayStation Support. Include:
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- The exact error message or wording shown beside the padlock.
- The console model, PS5 or PS4, and the account used to purchase or claim the game.
- The steps that reproduce the problem, including whether the lock affects one title or several.
- The approximate time you attempted the fix, so support can correlate service events.
- A screenshot or video of the lock and any error message, if possible.
These details let support distinguish an entitlement issue from a sharing, service, software, or launch restriction problem without making you repeat the same tests. Tell support which restore path you used and whether the owner account could launch the game, since those results narrow the diagnosis.
PS5 and PS4 license restoration at a glance
| Console | Restore path | Sharing or activation check |
|---|---|---|
| PS5 | Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Restore Licenses, or highlight the game, press Options, and choose Restore License. | Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Console Sharing and Offline Play; one PS5 can have the setting enabled at a time. |
| PS4 | Settings > Account Management > Restore Licenses > Restore. | Confirm that the owning account activated the console as its primary PS4. |
The shortest reliable fix is therefore platform-specific: restore the license first, then validate the entitlement and the console authorization that should grant access. A successful restore cannot override an expired subscription, an unavailable catalog title, an incomplete purchase, a different owning account, a disabled sharing setting, a service outage, or a parental-control restriction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will restoring a PlayStation license delete my saves or installed game?
No. Sony states that restoring licenses will not affect your data. It refreshes license information; it does not replace your saved data or require you to delete the installation.
Why is my PS5 game locked even after I restore the license?
Check that you are using the purchasing account, that the transaction completed, and that any PlayStation Plus subscription and catalog entitlement are current. If another account owns the game, verify Console Sharing and Offline Play. Then check PlayStation service status, system software, network access, parental controls, and the Safe Mode database-maintenance step.
Can I restore one license instead of every license on PS5?
Yes. Highlight the game on the home screen or in the library, press the controller’s Options button, and choose Restore License. The system-wide path under Settings also lets you select licenses.
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What is the PS4 restore-license path?
Sign in to the owning account, open Settings, choose Account Management, select Restore Licenses, and then choose Restore.
Does restoring a license renew PlayStation Plus?
No. If the game came from PlayStation Plus, verify that the subscription is active. For a catalog title, also verify that the title is still available in the current catalog. A license refresh cannot extend an expired subscription or a title that has left the catalog.
Can another user play a game purchased by someone else?
On PS5, the owner must enable Console Sharing and Offline Play on the intended console; that setting can be enabled on one PS5 at a time. On PS4, the owner must activate the console as that account’s primary PS4.
What if several digital games show padlocks?
Check PlayStation Network service status, the console’s connection, and the account currently signed in. A service or sign-in problem can affect multiple entitlements simultaneously.
What should I do if the padlock covers the whole game image?
Review parental-control settings as well as the license, account, subscription, and sharing checks. Sony identifies parental controls as a possible cause when the padlock covers the entire image.
Is there a paid accessory or repair tool for restoring licenses?
No. The restore function is built into the PS5 and PS4 menus. Accessories, discs, storage devices, and generic repair utilities do not create or renew the account entitlement.
When should I contact PlayStation Support?
Contact Support after the entitlement, sharing or activation, service, software, license, and applicable Safe Mode checks fail. Provide the exact message, console model, purchasing account, reproduction steps, approximate attempt time, and a screenshot or video if possible.
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The Bottom Line
Restore the license on the correct console and account first. If the lock remains, prove the purchase or current PlayStation Plus entitlement, correct PS5 sharing or PS4 primary-console activation, check service and system software, and review parental controls. Use Safe Mode database maintenance only after those checks, then give PlayStation Support the exact error and troubleshooting history.
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