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How to Install a PS5 System or Game Update and Fix Download Problems

Follow the right steps for a PS5 system update, game update, or stalled download—including Safe Mode and Sony’s manual USB update option.
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To update PS5 system software, go to Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings. To update a game or app, highlight it on the Home screen, press the options button, and choose Check for Update. If a download is stuck, first identify whether it is a system update, a game update, or a new game download—the recovery steps differ.

First, identify what is being updated

A PS5 system software update changes the console’s software. A game or app update applies to one title, while a game download is the initial download of that content. Use the matching route below rather than treating every stalled item as a console update.

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  • System software: Open Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings.
  • Game or app: Highlight the title, press the options button, and select Check for Update.
  • Download in progress or waiting: Open Downloads/Uploads from the Control Center to manage the item.

Fix a PS5 system software update that is stuck or failed

Open Downloads/Uploads from the Control Center, highlight the system software update, choose View Error Info, then select Try Again. If the console is at the Home screen and the update has failed, Sony also advises connecting the PS5 to the router with a LAN cable and retrying from Settings. A wired connection is a troubleshooting step, not a guaranteed fix.

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For multiple failed system update downloads, use Sony’s manual update procedure below. Check Sony’s official system software update instructions for the current update guidance.

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Do not turn off the console while an update is installing. Sony warns: “Don’t turn off your console during the installation. Interrupting the installation can cause your console to be damaged.”

Fix a game download that will not start

  1. Open Downloads/Uploads from the Control Center, select the queued download, and choose Pause, then Resume.
  2. If it still will not start, select the download and choose Cancel and Delete.
  3. Open Game Library, find the game, and start the download again.
  4. Check PlayStation service status, confirm the console has current system software, and make sure enough storage is available.

Sony’s game download troubleshooting guidance covers these steps.

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Fix a game download stuck in progress

Check service and connection

Check the PlayStation service status first. If Sony reports an alert, wait for service to recover before repeatedly restarting the download. Then test the PS5 connection at Settings > Network > Connection Status > Test Internet Connection.

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Use Safe Mode if ordinary checks do not help

Sony’s next documented option for persistent download problems is Safe Mode > Clear Cache and Rebuild Database. To enter Safe Mode, turn off the PS5, then hold the power button and release it after the second beep. Connect the controller with a USB cable and choose the relevant Safe Mode option. Rebuild Database scans the drive and creates a new database; it is distinct from reinstalling system software.

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Follow the exact error-code guidance

If the download displays an error code, look up that code in PlayStation Support. For error CE-107928-7, Sony advises retrying the download and, if needed, turning off the modem or router for five minutes before restarting it. See Sony’s CE-107928-7 support page.

Fix a game or app update that fails

  1. Test the internet connection from Settings > Network > Connection Status > Test Internet Connection.
  2. Restart the console and check that system software is current.
  3. If the update still fails, delete and reinstall the affected game or app.
  4. If the problem persists, use Safe Mode to clear the cache and rebuild the database.

Deleting and reinstalling a game or app is not the same as reinstalling PS5 system software. It can take time and requires access to the content and the account or entitlement associated with it. Sony’s game and app update guidance provides its recommended troubleshooting steps.

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Install a system software update from a USB drive

Use this as a fallback when the normal system update fails. You need a PC or Mac with internet access, a USB drive formatted as FAT32 or exFAT, and a controller connected to the console with a USB cable. A suitable drive you already own will work; Sony does not require a particular brand.

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  1. On the USB drive, create a folder named PS5, then create a folder named UPDATE inside it.
  2. Download the official PS5 update file from Sony’s system software update page.
  3. Save the file in the UPDATE folder and name it PS5UPDATE.PUP.
  4. Turn off the PS5 and connect the USB drive.
  5. Start Safe Mode by holding the console’s power button and releasing it after the second beep. Connect the controller with a USB cable.
  6. Select Update System Software > Update from USB Storage Device and follow the on-screen instructions.

If the PS5 does not recognize the file, check that the folders and filename match exactly, including uppercase letters. Sony’s USB update instructions describe the official process.

Reinstall system software only as a last resort

Reinstalling is not the same as installing a manual update. Sony’s Reset PS5 (Reinstall System Software) procedure uses a reinstallation file and deletes all data on the console. Back up what you can before proceeding; see Sony’s PS5 backup and restore guidance. Try ordinary troubleshooting, Safe Mode recovery, and the manual update first. Sony’s reinstallation instructions explain the reset process. If updates still fail or you cannot access Safe Mode, contact PlayStation Support or use PlayStation Repairs.

When a lock icon is not a download problem

If a game shows a lock icon, the issue may be its license or ownership rather than a stalled download. Confirm you are signed in to the account that owns the game and check transaction history. For a PlayStation Plus title, verify the subscription and that the game is still available to you. If another user owns the game, check Console Sharing and Offline Play. Sony also recommends restoring licenses and checking service status and system software. See PlayStation’s locked-game troubleshooting.

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