A padlock beside a PS5 game usually points to a license or network problem, but it can also mean the account you’re using does not currently have access. First check which account or subscription provides the game; then check sharing, PlayStation Network status, and licenses. If the lock covers the whole game image, also check parental controls.
What the padlock means
Sony says a lock next to a PS5 game can indicate a license problem, and license or network issues are possible causes. The right fix depends on how you got the game: a direct purchase, a PlayStation Plus benefit, or sharing from another account. A padlock covering the entire game image may instead involve parental controls; Sony says the Family Manager can amend those settings.
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Check that your account is entitled to play
For a game you bought
Sign in to the PlayStation account used to buy the game. Check that the purchase completed by reviewing that account’s transaction history. Sony specifically recommends checking transaction history after a recent purchase or voucher redemption. Sony’s game-start troubleshooting guide covers this check.
For a PlayStation Plus game
Confirm that the PlayStation Plus membership is active and that the game remains included or otherwise available to you. Subscription status and game availability are separate entitlement checks. Sony notes that restoring a license for a padlocked game is not a fix for an expired PlayStation Plus subscription.
#1 Best Overall
- Feel physically responsive feedback to your in-game actions through haptic feedback
- Experience varying levels of force and tension at your fingertips with adaptive triggers
- Chat online through the built-in microphone and connect a headset directly through the 3.5mm jack
- Switch voice capture on and off using the dedicated mute button
- Play on more devices using the USB Type-C cable or Bluetooth to connect easily to Windows PC and Mac computers, Android and iOS mobile phones as well as your PlayStation 5
For a game owned by another account
The account that owns the game must enable Console Sharing and Offline Play on this PS5. The setting can be enabled on only one PS5 at a time. If it is still enabled on an older console, turn it off there before enabling it on this one. Once enabled, other users of this PS5 can play the owner’s purchased and downloaded games and media, including while offline.
On the owner’s account, open Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Console Sharing and Offline Play, then enable the setting. See Sony’s Console Sharing and Offline Play instructions for details.
Rank #2
- 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.
Check PlayStation Network and system software
Check PlayStation Network service status for an outage or alert. If services are disrupted, wait for them to return and try the game again. Also check that the PS5 has the latest system software. Sony includes both checks in its game-start troubleshooting steps.
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Restore the game’s licenses
Restoring licenses is Sony’s recommended step for a padlock icon. On PS5, go to Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Restore Licenses, select the relevant licenses, and restore them. Alternatively, highlight the game on the Home screen or in Game Library, press the Options button, and choose Restore License.
Rank #3
- 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.
Sony says restoring licenses will not affect your data. The steps are also listed in its license restoration guide.
If the game is still locked
Rebuild the database in Safe Mode
If the entitlement checks and license restoration do not resolve the lock, Sony’s locked-game guidance recommends starting the PS5 in Safe Mode and selecting Rebuild Database. Follow the console’s Safe Mode prompts, and make sure you select Rebuild Database rather than a more disruptive reset option.
Rank #4
- Ultra Customizable Controls
- Mappable Back Buttons
- DualSense Wireless Controller Features Built In
- Replaceable Stick Modules and Caps
Try broader game-start troubleshooting only if needed
Sony’s general guidance for games that will not start also includes restarting the console, then deleting and redownloading the game. A wired connection may be preferable for the download if available. Reinstalling system software is a later, more disruptive option; back up your data before taking that step. These are broader launch-problem measures, not the first checks for a license padlock.
Contact PlayStation Support
If the icon remains after these steps, contact PlayStation Support. Include any error code or message, what happens when you try to open the game, and the steps that reproduce the problem. A screenshot or video can help show exactly where the padlock appears. Sony lists these details in its support guidance.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 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
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