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If a PS5 game update will not start, is stuck, or fails to install, work through the fixes below in order. The cause may be a stalled download, a PlayStation Network issue, low storage, an account licence, the disc, or the game data—not necessarily the same problem every time. These steps cover game and app updates; a PS5 system-software update uses a different menu.
First, identify what is failing
For a game update, highlight the game on the home screen or in Game Library, press the Options button, and choose Check for Update. To update the PS5 itself, use Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings > Update System Software. Sony says games and apps normally update automatically when launched, but you can check manually from the game’s Options menu (Sony’s game and system software update guidance).
| What you see | First check |
|---|---|
| Update never starts or stays queued | Downloads/Uploads and PlayStation Status |
| Download stops at a percentage, “calculating,” or “preparing” | Connection test, then restart the PS5 |
| “Not enough space” | Settings > Storage |
| Padlock on the game | Purchasing account and licences |
| Download completes but installation fails | Error code, then cache/database steps |
| Disc game will not update | Disc readability and edition match |
| Several games fail at once | PSN, network, console storage, and system software |
Write down any error code before deleting or reinstalling anything. If the update is still failing, continue through these seven fixes.
1. Check for the update, then pause and resume it
- Highlight the game on the home screen or in Game Library.
- Press Options and select Check for Update.
- Open the control center and select Downloads/Uploads.
- Highlight the update, choose Pause, wait briefly, then choose Resume.
If it will not start, return to Downloads/Uploads, select the update, and choose Cancel and Delete. This removes the queued update download; it is not the same as deleting the installed game. Then find the game in Game Library and try again. Sony includes pause/resume and cancel-and-delete among its download troubleshooting steps.
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2. Test the connection and check PlayStation Network
- Go to Settings > Network > Connection Status.
- Select Test Internet Connection, then retry the update.
- Open the PlayStation Status page and check Gaming and Social, PlayStation Store, and any related service alerts.
A successful console connection test does not prove that the game’s update service is healthy. If PlayStation Status shows an issue, wait for service to recover instead of repeatedly deleting and reinstalling the game. If Wi-Fi is unstable, try a wired LAN connection, pause other downloads or streaming, and restart the router if other devices also have connection problems. Sony directs users to test the connection and check service status when downloads fail (update guidance; download troubleshooting).
3. Check storage and make room if needed
Go to Settings > Storage to see available space. To check a game’s stated minimum free-space requirement, open Game Library, highlight the game, press Options, choose View Product, and look at its product page.
The displayed patch download size is not necessarily the amount of free space needed to install it. There is no universal rule that every update needs twice its download size, so use the game’s stated requirement and the console’s available-space reading rather than a blanket multiplier.
- Delete an unused game or app, or remove old media captures.
- Move eligible games to USB extended storage or an installed M.2 SSD to free console storage.
- Before confirming a deletion, check that you are removing the game or media you intend to remove—not saved data.
Sony lists available storage as a download troubleshooting check (download troubleshooting).
4. Restart the PS5 and update its system software
Restart normally
Choose Power > Restart PS5. A normal restart can clear a temporary queue or system process without deleting installed games or saves. Retry the game update afterward.
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Install a console system-software update
- Go to Settings > System.
- Select System Software.
- Choose System Software Update and Settings.
- Select Update System Software.
Sony recommends restarting the console and checking that its system software is current when game or app updates fail (update guidance).
If the console itself cannot update normally
Connect the PS5 to the router by LAN if possible, turn it off, then hold the power button until the second beep to enter Safe Mode. Choose Update System Software. Sony says Safe Mode updating may be needed if the console has been offline for a long time or a system update has failed (Safe Mode system-software update instructions).
5. Restore licences if the game is locked or account access is in question
A padlock, missing purchase, or subscription entitlement points to account or licence verification rather than an ordinary stalled download. On the account that owns the game, go to Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Restore Licenses, then choose Restore.
Also check that you are signed in to the purchasing account, the transaction completed, and—if the game comes through PlayStation Plus—that the entitlement is still available with your active subscription. If another account owns the game, check whether that account has enabled Console Sharing and Offline Play. Restoring licences refreshes entitlement verification; it does not download a missing patch or fix a network outage. Sony recommends licence restoration for locked games and licence-related access problems (download troubleshooting; error code CE-120706-6 guidance).
6. Clear the cache or rebuild the database in Safe Mode
Try this after the simpler network, storage, restart, and system-software checks. Safe Mode offers several options; choose only the one you intend to use.
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- Turn off the PS5 completely.
- Press and hold the power button again, releasing it after the second beep. Sony says the second beep occurs about seven seconds after the first.
- Connect the DualSense controller to the console with a USB cable and press the PS button.
- Select Clear Cache and Rebuild Database, then choose the appropriate option.
- Clear System Software Cache: a reasonable first choice for system-feature or performance problems.
- Rebuild Database: scans the drive and creates a new database of content. Sony lists it for system-feature issues and cases such as a deleted game icon remaining on the Home screen.
A database rebuild is not the same as Reset PS5. Do not choose Reset PS5 or Reset PS5 (Reinstall System Software) as routine update fixes: reset and reinstall options can erase user data. A rebuild may take time on a heavily populated drive, and it cannot restore an unavailable PSN service or repair a failing physical drive. See Sony’s PS5 Safe Mode and troubleshooting guidance.
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Reinstall only after the earlier steps have failed; it can take substantial time and bandwidth. Before removing the game, confirm you can access the account that owns it, have enough space for the game and update, and have backed up or synchronized saved data if you rely on PlayStation Plus cloud storage. Deleting the installed game is different from deleting saved data, but verify what the console is asking you to remove.
Digital game
- Highlight the game, press Options, and select Delete.
- Open Game Library, find the game, and select Download.
Disc game
- Delete the installed game and restart the PS5.
- Insert the original disc and reinstall the game.
- Allow the update to download after the base installation begins.
Check whether the installed game is the PS4 or PS5 version and whether it matches the disc or purchase edition. A PS4 disc or entitlement does not automatically mean the PS5 version is owned or included; upgrade terms vary by publisher and edition. Sony’s reinstall guidance covers both downloading again from Game Library and reinstalling from disc (game and app update troubleshooting).
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CE-120706-6
Sony identifies CE-120706-6 as an error that prevents a game update from installing. Its recommended sequence is to restore licences, restart the PS5, use Safe Mode to clear cache and rebuild the database, then delete and reinstall the game. If the error remains, contact PlayStation Support using Sony’s CE-120706-6 guidance.
CE-100009-0 or another code
Do not infer a specific fix from the number alone. Look it up in Sony’s PS5 error-code index and follow the instructions for that code.
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Game stored on USB extended storage
USB extended storage can hold PS5 games, but Sony says a PS5 game must be copied back to console storage to play. If installation or launch behavior appears tied to the external drive, move the game to console storage and try again. Do not format the drive casually: formatting erases its contents. Sony’s PS5 storage guidance explains the USB and M.2 storage options.
Disc will not read consistently
Check for dirt or visible damage and make sure the inserted disc matches the installed game’s edition and region. Try another game disc, Blu-ray, or DVD: if those also fail, the drive may be the issue; if they work, the original disc is a more likely cause. Sony recommends this comparison when troubleshooting disc-reading problems (disc troubleshooting).
Automatic updates in Rest Mode
You can enable automatic downloads and updates, but the PS5 must remain connected to the internet in Rest Mode. This can help with future updates; it will not repair a download that is already stuck. See Sony’s PS5 settings and support page.
When to contact PlayStation Support
Contact PlayStation Support or PlayStation Repairs if an update still fails after reinstalling, multiple games fail despite a working connection and available storage, Safe Mode will not work, or the console shows unusual storage or disc-drive behavior. Keep the error code and note which steps you have tried.
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