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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallA PlayStation game that will not preload, download, or install usually has a specific cause: the release window has not opened, the wrong account is signed in, PlayStation services or your network are unavailable, the queue is stalled, storage is insufficient, or the console needs a license or database repair. Identify the symptom and whether you are using PS5 or PS4, then work through the reversible checks below before rebuilding a database or reinstalling system software.
Start by identifying the failure
Note the exact message and any error code before changing settings. The correct fix depends on which of these situations you have:
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- A pre-ordered game has not started preloading.
- A download is queued but will not start.
- A download is stuck or repeatedly fails.
- The download finishes but installation fails.
- A purchased game is missing, shows a padlock, or cannot be launched.
- A game installed successfully but will not start.
Also identify the console. PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 use different menu paths and have different storage behavior. If an error code appears, use the exact code in PlayStation’s error-code list rather than applying a generic fix.
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Take a screenshot of the queue or error if possible. Write down whether the title was bought directly, redeemed with a code, or obtained through a subscription. That distinction determines whether the next step is a queue retry, an account check, or a license and entitlement check.
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How to pre-order and auto-download games
Preloading begins only when the release timing and auto-download settings allow it. The Store page shows the release date beneath the game title; verify that date and time before treating a missing preload as an error. A timer can count down to a release while individual bundle items remain separately selectable.
PS5: check the pre-order timer and auto-download
- Open Game Library on the PS5 home screen.
- Select the pre-ordered game.
- Select the countdown timer.
- Review the content listed in the timer and enable auto-download for the edition or add-on you want.
- Open Settings > System > Power Saving > Features Available in Rest Mode and enable Stay Connected to the Internet.
The timer is also where you can see the contents of a bundle that includes both PS5 and PS4 versions. Check each intended item rather than assuming every bundle component has the same download selection. If the timer lists a bonus item or add-on separately, enable it separately when you want it installed.
PS4: activate the primary console and set automatic downloads
- Enable automatic downloads in the PS4 system settings.
- Activate the console as the purchasing account’s primary PS4. A pre-order will not auto-download correctly if this requirement is not met.
- Open Library > Purchased.
- Select the pre-ordered game, then select its timer to review or adjust auto-download content.
These steps are summarized in PlayStation’s pre-order and automatic-download guide. Console menus can change with system software, so use the labels shown on your current system if they differ slightly.
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On either console, leave the system powered in a state that permits automatic downloads and keep it connected to the internet. If the console was fully shut down, disconnected, or signed out of the purchasing account at the scheduled time, check the timer and start the download manually from the library after signing in.
If the release has passed but nothing downloaded
First confirm that the release date and time have actually arrived in your region and that the timer lists the content you expected. If content has not started downloading, PlayStation’s Canada-localized policy says a pre-order can be cancelled before release. That page also says that after release, a customer may cancel and request a refund within 14 days of placing the pre-order when the content has not started downloading. This is a Canada-specific policy statement, not a worldwide guarantee; check the refund terms for your account’s country before relying on that option.
Do not cancel a pre-order merely because a download is delayed during a service outage or because the console is low on storage. Check status, account, connection, and capacity first so you do not mistake a temporary technical issue for an entitlement problem.
Game download won’t start on your PS5 console?
Use this order because each check is quick and reversible:
- Check service status. Open PlayStation Network Service Status. If the relevant service has an alert, wait for recovery before repeatedly deleting the queue item.
- Confirm the account. Make sure the PS5 is signed in to the account that bought or redeemed the game. A title purchased by another account may require console sharing and offline play to be enabled by that owner.
- Install pending system updates. An out-of-date system can prevent a download or installation from completing.
- Test the connection. In Settings > Network > Connection Status, run the console’s internet connection test. Correct a disconnected Wi-Fi or wired connection and retry.
- Inspect the download queue. Open Downloads/Uploads. If the item is paused, resume it. If it does not progress, cancel or delete the item and start it again from Game Library.
- Check free space against the game’s requirement. Open the game’s Store product page and note the minimum space shown for that title. Then open Settings > Storage and compare that requirement with available console or compatible M.2 space.
Do not buy a storage drive until the storage check shows that space is actually the problem. A license, service outage, account mismatch, or network failure will not be repaired by adding capacity.
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If several downloads fail at once, suspect service status, network connectivity, or system software before blaming one game. If only one title fails while other downloads work, record its exact code and product edition, then follow the title’s code-specific guidance.
Game download stuck on a PS5 console?
Pause and resume before deleting
Open Downloads/Uploads, pause the stalled item, wait briefly, and resume it. If the progress remains unchanged or the queue reports an error, cancel or delete that download and begin a fresh download from the library. A re-download is less disruptive than Safe Mode operations and should come first.
Make sure another large game, update, or media item is not occupying the queue. A queued item can appear stuck when an earlier transfer is still active. Resume the intended item only after checking which item is currently transferring.
Separate a download problem from an installation problem
If the progress bar never completes, treat it as a service, network, queue, or storage issue. If the download reaches completion but installation fails, verify free space again: installation can need additional working space beyond what you expected from the initial download. Check for a current system-software update, then retry the installation. Record the exact message if it fails again.
Do not repeatedly delete a completed installation if the error is actually a license or account problem. A game that installs but displays a padlock or refuses to launch should be handled as an entitlement issue: verify the purchasing account, transaction, subscription status, sharing arrangement, and licenses.
Use Safe Mode only after the basic checks
For general PS5 download failures, PlayStation’s troubleshooting guidance includes Safe Mode’s Clear Cache and Rebuild Database tools. The database rebuild is not the same as reinstalling system software and should be attempted first when the official guidance points to it. Follow the current console-specific Safe Mode instructions and do not interrupt the console while it is rebuilding.
Safe Mode is an escalation, not a substitute for checking the queue, free space, service status, and account. Reinstalling system software is more disruptive and should be reserved for a later step in the official troubleshooting path, after less destructive options have failed.
PS4 download and installation failures
On PS4, begin with the same sequence: check service status, install current system software, test the internet connection, review Notifications > Downloads, pause and resume the item, and cancel or delete it before starting the download again from Library > Purchased.
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For storage, open the game’s Store page and check the minimum space in its Details section, then compare it with Settings > Storage. Free space below the displayed requirement can stop either the download or the later installation. If a normal retry does not resolve the failure, PS4 Safe Mode provides Rebuild Database. Treat that as an escalation after account, service, network, software, queue, and storage checks.
If the title belongs to another user, confirm that the purchasing account has activated this console as its primary PS4. If it came from a subscription, check that the subscription remains active and that the title is still included. A primary-console or subscription mismatch can look like a failed installation when the files themselves are intact.
What to do with error CE-106487-6 on PS5
CE-106487-6 has a specific PlayStation procedure. Do not assume it is the correct sequence for every other code.
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- Restore licenses for the account that obtained the game.
- Delete the failed download and try downloading it again.
- Start the PS5 in Safe Mode and choose Clear Cache and Rebuild Database > Rebuild Database.
- If the error continues, try the download again later and consult the code-specific guidance at PlayStation’s CE-106487-6 page.
Keep the code, the full message, and the time of each attempt. Those details are more useful to support than a description such as “the game is broken.” Other CE codes can have different causes and different recommended actions, so look up the exact code before changing licenses, deleting files, or entering Safe Mode.
Can’t find purchased content on a PS5 console?
A missing or padlocked game is often an account or license issue rather than a corrupt download.
Verify the purchasing account and transaction
- Sign in to the account that bought or redeemed the item. Check Settings > Users and Accounts > Account > Payment and Subscriptions > Transaction History (menu wording can vary by system version) to confirm the transaction.
- Check the game in Game Library while that same account is active.
- If the item came from a subscription, confirm that the subscription is active and that the game is still available in that catalog.
- If another account owns it, check that the owner has enabled console sharing and offline play on this PS5.
Also check PlayStation service status and install any pending system-software update. If the purchase is valid but the game remains missing or padlocked, restore licenses. PlayStation’s support page states: “Please note, restoring licenses won’t affect your data.” Use Restore licenses on PlayStation consoles for the current menu path and console instructions.
Restoring licenses does not turn a subscription entitlement into a permanent purchase, and it cannot restore a title that has been removed from a catalog or obtained on a different account. Confirm the entitlement first so you know what the license repair is meant to fix.
PS4 account and sharing checks
On PS4, confirm the purchasing account in Library > Purchased, verify the transaction and any subscription eligibility, and make sure the owner account has activated that console as its primary PS4. Restore licenses from the account-management settings if the game is still padlocked. A license repair does not erase saved data.
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Storage: clear space before buying hardware
Open Settings > Storage and remove or move unneeded games, captures, and applications only after confirming what can be safely deleted. Recheck the game’s displayed minimum requirement on its Store page. If available space is sufficient, storage is not the first explanation for a stalled download; return to service, account, network, software, and queue checks.
Do not compare a drive’s advertised capacity with the game’s download size alone. The console must also have room to install and manage the title, updates, and temporary working data. If the Store page’s minimum requirement is not available, free space or move content before retrying.
PS5 M.2 SSD requirements
A compatible internal M.2 SSD can receive PlayStation Store downloads and run PS5 games directly. Sony’s requirements include:
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- Capacity from 250 GB to 8 TB.
- A supported form factor that fits the PS5 expansion bay.
- Maximum width of 22 mm for the drive; total width with a cooling structure must not exceed 25 mm.
- Total thickness, including the heatsink or other heat-dissipation structure, up to 11.25 mm in the specified locations.
- Sequential read speed of 5,500 MB/s or faster is recommended.
- Effective heat dissipation is required. M.2 SATA drives are not supported.
Before purchase, confirm the exact PS5 model and the current dimensions in Sony’s M.2 SSD installation and compatibility specifications. Sony does not guarantee that every third-party drive meeting the listed figures will work, so meeting the specification is necessary but not an absolute compatibility promise.
Capacity, interface, physical form factor, complete dimensions with the heatsink, read-speed recommendation, and heat dissipation all matter. A drive that fits electronically but exceeds the bay’s width or thickness can be unsuitable. Follow Sony’s installation instructions and the current specifications for your console model.
USB extended storage is different
| Use case | PS5 games | PS4 games |
|---|---|---|
| Store on USB extended storage | Yes | Yes |
| Play directly from USB extended storage | No. Copy the game back to console storage or a compatible M.2 SSD first. | Yes, games can be played directly from USB extended storage. |
| Receive PlayStation Store downloads | Not as a direct-play location; use console storage or compatible M.2 storage for PS5 installation. | USB storage can hold PS4 games according to the console’s supported format and setup. |
See PlayStation’s USB extended-storage guide for supported setup and transfer instructions. Calling a USB drive a “PS5 game drive” without explaining the copy-back requirement leads to an incorrect expectation. USB storage is useful for archiving PS5 games and playing PS4 games directly, but it is not equivalent to an installed M.2 SSD for PS5 play.
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| Symptom | First actions | Escalation |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-order has not preloaded | Verify release date, timer contents, auto-download, internet-in-rest-mode setting, and primary-PS4 status where applicable. | Check the region’s cancellation and refund policy. |
| Download will not start | Check service status, account, system software, connection, queue, and free space. | Cancel/delete and re-download. |
| Download is stuck | Pause/resume, then cancel/delete and retry. | Use the code-specific procedure or Safe Mode database rebuild. |
| Installation fails | Check software updates, free space, and the exact error message. | Re-download, then use the console’s Safe Mode guidance. |
| Game is missing or padlocked | Verify purchasing account, transaction, subscription, sharing or primary-console setup, and service status. | Restore licenses. |
This order keeps account and service checks ahead of operations that take longer or carry more risk. Reinstalling system software should not be a first response to an ordinary download error; it is a later, disruptive step for unresolved cases after the official troubleshooting path has been followed.
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Contact support when the title remains unavailable after the relevant official steps, when a transaction is present but the entitlement is not, or when the same error returns after a fresh download and database rebuild. Provide:
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- PS5 or PS4 model and current system-software version.
- The exact error code and complete on-screen wording.
- The account region and whether the title was purchased, redeemed, or obtained through a subscription.
- The steps that reproduce the failure and the timestamp of recent attempts.
- A screenshot or video showing the queue, padlock, or error when possible.
Use the official PlayStation game-download troubleshooting guide alongside the code-specific page. Service availability, refund rules, error remedies, and menu labels can change, so follow the current regional and console-specific instructions rather than an older checklist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has my PlayStation pre-order not started downloading?
Verify that the Store release date and time have arrived, then open the pre-order timer and confirm the intended content is enabled for auto-download. On PS5, enable Stay Connected to the Internet in Rest Mode. On PS4, enable automatic downloads and activate the purchasing account’s console as the primary PS4.
What should I do when a PS5 download is stuck?
Check PlayStation Network Service Status, confirm the purchasing account, install system updates, test the internet connection, and check free space. Pause and resume the item in Downloads/Uploads; if it still does not progress, cancel or delete it and download it again from Game Library.
Why is my purchased PlayStation game missing or padlocked?
Sign in to the account that purchased or redeemed it and check transaction history. For subscription titles, verify subscription and catalog eligibility. Check PS5 console sharing and offline play or PS4 primary-console activation, then restore licenses if the entitlement is valid.
Does restoring PlayStation licenses delete saved data?
No. PlayStation states that restoring licenses will not affect your data.
Can I play PS5 games directly from a USB extended-storage drive?
No. PS5 games can be stored on USB extended storage, but they must be copied back to console storage or a compatible M.2 SSD before playing. PS4 games can be played directly from supported USB extended storage.
What does error CE-106487-6 mean, and what should I try?
Follow the code-specific sequence: update system software, restore licenses, delete and retry the download, then use Safe Mode’s Clear Cache and Rebuild Database > Rebuild Database. If it continues, try again later and contact support with the exact code and message.
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Should I buy an SSD when a game will not download?
Only after checking the game’s displayed minimum space against Settings > Storage. Extra storage cannot fix an account, license, service, network, or software problem. For PS5 direct play, use a compatible M.2 NVMe SSD meeting Sony’s current capacity, dimensions, speed, and heat-dissipation requirements.
The Bottom Line
Check release timing, account ownership, service status, system software, network, queue, and free space in that order. Retry or re-download before using Safe Mode, and restore licenses for valid purchases that are missing or padlocked. Buy storage only when capacity is demonstrably the issue, and remember that PS5 games stored on USB must be copied back before play.
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