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Freedom251 › Blog › Game updates

How to Keep PS5 Games and Updates Downloading in Rest Mode

By Freedom251 Team · · 11 min read

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Turn on Settings > System > Power Saving > Features Available in Rest Mode > Stay Connected to the Internet. Then enable the update switches for the content you want: game and app updates under Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Automatic Updates, and PS5 system software under Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings. Finally, choose Power > Enter Rest Mode from the control center; do not choose Turn Off PS5.

PlayStation Support states that automatic downloads and updates in Rest Mode require the console to stay connected to the internet. These settings make unattended downloading possible, but an update can still require approval, a working network connection, or enough free storage.

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What must be enabled for Rest Mode downloads

Rest Mode is the PS5’s power-saving state. It can perform background tasks while the console is not fully shut down, including downloads and some updates. The critical prerequisite is the internet connection setting, not the Rest Mode command itself.

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Open PlayStation Support’s automatic-download guide for the same requirement Sony summarizes as: “If you want automatic downloads or updates to happen while in rest mode, set your PS5 console to Stay Connected to the Internet.”

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  • Internet prerequisite: Stay Connected to the Internet must be on.
  • Game and app updates: Auto-Download must be on; Auto-Install in Rest Mode is optional.
  • System software: Download Update Files Automatically and Install Update Files Automatically are separate switches.
  • Power state: Enter Rest Mode, rather than turning the PS5 off completely.
  • Practical limits: approval prompts, connection failures, or insufficient storage can prevent completion.

Set up the PS5 step by step

1. Keep the console online in Rest Mode

  1. From the PS5 home screen, select Settings (the gear icon).
  2. Open System.
  3. Select Power Saving.
  4. Open Features Available in Rest Mode.
  5. Turn on Stay Connected to the Internet.

Without this switch, the PS5 disconnects when it enters Rest Mode, so automatic downloads and updates cannot proceed. If the option is already enabled but downloads stop, check it again after a system restart; a setting change, system reset, or profile change can leave it disabled.

2. Enable automatic game and app downloads

  1. Return to Settings.
  2. Open Saved Data and Game/App Settings.
  3. Select Automatic Updates.
  4. Turn on Auto-Download.
  5. Decide whether to turn on Auto-Install in Rest Mode.

Auto-Download and Auto-Install in Rest Mode perform different jobs. Auto-Download retrieves the update files. Auto-Install applies them automatically while the console is resting. Sony advises using Auto-Download alone when you want a suspended game to remain open: the update can download in Rest Mode, and you can choose when to install it after resuming the game. The distinction is especially useful when you are in the middle of a game and do not want an automatic installation to close or restart it.

Setting What it does When to use it
Auto-Download Downloads available game or app update files. Use this when you want files ready while retaining control over installation.
Auto-Install in Rest Mode Installs eligible downloaded updates while the PS5 is in Rest Mode. Use this for the most hands-off updating, when closing a suspended game is acceptable.

These controls cover game and application updates. They do not replace the separate system-software controls described next.

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3. Enable automatic PS5 system software updates

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Go to System.
  3. Select System Software.
  4. Open System Software Update and Settings.
  5. Turn on Download Update Files Automatically.
  6. Turn on Install Update Files Automatically if you want installation to occur without starting it yourself.

System software updates and game updates use different menus. Enabling automatic game updates alone does not enable automatic PS5 firmware downloads, and enabling firmware downloads does not update individual games. If your goal is to have both ready, configure both groups of switches.

4. Enter Rest Mode correctly

  1. Press the PS button to open the control center.
  2. Select Power.
  3. Choose Enter Rest Mode.

Do not select Turn Off PS5. A fully powered-off console cannot perform the Rest Mode background tasks described above. The screen turns off and the console’s power indicator changes to show Rest Mode; leave the console connected to power and avoid unplugging it while downloads or installations are in progress.

Choose download-only or automatic installation

The right combination depends on whether preserving an open game matters more than having an entirely unattended update process.

Your priority Game/app setting Result
Keep a suspended game available Auto-Download on; Auto-Install in Rest Mode off Files download in Rest Mode, but you decide when installation occurs after returning to the console.
Finish updates without intervention Auto-Download on; Auto-Install in Rest Mode on The PS5 can download and install eligible updates during Rest Mode.
Only prepare files for later Auto-Download on; install switch off Downloaded files wait for you to start installation.

In every row, Stay Connected to the Internet must remain enabled. If it is off, neither download preference can make Rest Mode retrieve files.

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How to confirm that downloading is working

Check the queue before entering Rest Mode

Start a known download or update from the game library, then press the PS button and open Downloads/Uploads. Confirm that the item is active rather than paused, waiting for approval, or reporting an error. Enter Rest Mode only after verifying the console is online and the download has begun.

If the queue shows a required action, complete that action while the PS5 is awake. Rest Mode can continue an eligible transfer, but it cannot answer every prompt on your behalf. This is why a download that appears configured correctly can still remain unchanged overnight.

Check after waking the console

Press the PS button to resume the PS5 and open Downloads/Uploads again. A completed file should show as installed or ready to install, depending on your Auto-Install choice. If the item is still queued, note whether the queue reports a network error, a storage error, or a required action; each points to a different fix.

Understand the power indicator

The PS5’s display and indicator change when it enters Rest Mode. If the console is fully off, it was not left in the state required for background work. Re-enter Rest Mode through Power > Enter Rest Mode instead of pressing the power-off command.

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Why an update may not finish unattended

Automatic settings improve convenience but do not guarantee that every update completes without interaction. PlayStation Support notes that an update may sometimes require approval. A prompt or other confirmation can leave the item waiting until you respond.

  • The console is offline: Stay Connected to the Internet may be disabled, the network may have dropped, or the PS5 may not have a valid connection.
  • The console was turned off: Turn Off PS5 is not the same as Rest Mode.
  • Storage is full: The update cannot be downloaded or unpacked until enough space is available.
  • The update is waiting for approval: Automatic behavior cannot bypass every confirmation request.
  • The title’s files are damaged: A single game or app can fail even while other downloads work.
  • System software is out of date: Updating the console itself can resolve compatibility or download problems.

Troubleshoot a PS5 download that stops in Rest Mode

1. Verify the internet setting and connection

  1. Open Settings > System > Power Saving > Features Available in Rest Mode.
  2. Confirm Stay Connected to the Internet is on.
  3. Open Settings > Network.
  4. Select Test Internet Connection.

The network test identifies whether the PS5 can reach the internet at all. If it fails, fix the connection before changing update settings. A successful test does not guarantee that every server request will complete, but it rules out the most basic offline condition.

2. Restart and check system software

Restart the PS5, then check whether the console itself has a pending system-software update. PlayStation’s system-software update guidance recommends keeping the console software current when troubleshooting update failures. After restarting, retry the download and enter Rest Mode again.

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3. Check available storage

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Select Storage.
  3. Review the available space on the console and any installed M.2 SSD.

Updates need room for the downloaded package and the installation process. If space is low, delete games or applications you no longer use, or move eligible content to another storage location. Sony’s PS5 storage-management instructions cover those operations.

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There is an important distinction for USB extended storage: PS5 games stored there must be moved to console storage or an M.2 SSD before they can be played. USB storage can therefore be useful for holding content, but it is not a substitute for the required playable storage location. Check the internal and M.2 locations first when an update reports a capacity problem.

4. Repair a problem limited to one game or app

If other downloads work but one title repeatedly fails, use the title-specific escalation in PlayStation Support’s troubleshooting guidance. Delete and reinstall the affected game or app when its local files appear damaged. This removes the installed copy, so confirm that saved data is synchronized or otherwise backed up before deleting anything.

If reinstalling does not resolve the failure, start the PS5 in Safe Mode and select Clear Cache and Rebuild Database. Use this as an escalation step for a persistent title-specific problem, not as part of ordinary Rest Mode setup. Safe Mode changes how the console maintains its storage index; follow the on-screen warnings and do not interrupt the process.

5. Recover a repeated system-software download failure

For a system-software update that repeatedly fails, first retry the update from Downloads/Uploads. If the normal download continues to fail, Sony documents a manual USB update method. That method requires a USB drive formatted as FAT32 or exFAT and uses Safe Mode. Follow the current PlayStation instructions for the exact folder and file names before copying anything to the drive; an incorrectly named file or folder will not be recognized.

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Do not remove power during a system-software installation. If the manual method also fails, contact PlayStation Support rather than repeatedly interrupting the console’s update process.

Network and power practices that prevent interruptions

  • Leave the PS5 connected to power while it is in Rest Mode.
  • Use a stable home network and avoid disabling the console’s internet connection overnight.
  • Keep the PS5’s network credentials current if you changed the router password or wireless network.
  • Check the download queue before assuming Rest Mode is the cause; a paused or approval-required item will not progress simply because the console is resting.
  • Keep enough free storage for both the downloaded package and installation work.
  • When troubleshooting, change one variable at a time so you can tell whether the connection, storage, title files, or system software caused the failure.

Common questions about PS5 Rest Mode downloads

Will games download if the PS5 is completely turned off?

No. Automatic Rest Mode downloads depend on the console remaining in Rest Mode with Stay Connected to the Internet enabled. Turn Off PS5 is a separate power command and does not provide the same background functions.

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Do I need both Auto-Download and Auto-Install?

No. Auto-Download retrieves the update files. Auto-Install in Rest Mode is optional and applies eligible downloaded updates automatically. If you want to keep a suspended game open and decide when installation happens, use Auto-Download without Auto-Install.

Why did my game update download but not install?

That is expected when Auto-Download is on and Auto-Install in Rest Mode is off. Wake the console, open Downloads/Uploads, and start the installation yourself. An approval requirement can also leave an update waiting even when both automatic options are enabled.

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Why are game updates working but a PS5 system update is not?

They use separate controls. Check Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings, then enable Download Update Files Automatically and, if desired, Install Update Files Automatically. Game and app settings do not control firmware downloads.

Can a full drive stop an update?

Yes. Check Settings > Storage and free space by deleting or moving eligible games and applications. Remember that PS5 games on USB extended storage must be moved to console or M.2 SSD storage before they can be played.

Should I use Safe Mode every time a download pauses?

No. Safe Mode and Clear Cache and Rebuild Database are escalation steps for a persistent problem with a title after basic checks. First verify Rest Mode connectivity, test the internet connection, restart the console, check system software, and inspect storage.

What if the same system update keeps failing?

Retry it from Downloads/Uploads. If that continues to fail, use Sony’s manual USB method with a FAT32- or exFAT-formatted drive and Safe Mode, following the current folder and file-name instructions exactly. Contact PlayStation Support if the manual method does not work.

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What the settings can and cannot guarantee

With Stay Connected to the Internet enabled, the relevant Auto-Download switch on, and the console in Rest Mode, the PS5 is configured to retrieve eligible updates while you are away. Auto-Install adds unattended installation for game and app updates; it is a separate choice because installation can affect a suspended game.

These settings are not a promise that every update will be completed without interaction. Sony’s documentation allows for updates that require approval, and ordinary failures such as an unavailable network or insufficient storage still apply. Treat Rest Mode as an automated opportunity rather than a guarantee: verify the queue when you need a download ready by a particular time.

Quick configuration checklist

  • Settings > System > Power Saving > Features Available in Rest Mode > Stay Connected to the Internet: on.
  • Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Automatic Updates > Auto-Download: on.
  • Auto-Install in Rest Mode: on only if automatic installation is acceptable.
  • Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings: enable automatic download and, if wanted, automatic installation.
  • Control center > Power > Enter Rest Mode: use this command instead of Turn Off PS5.
  • Before troubleshooting: test the internet connection, restart, check system software, and inspect storage.

Official references

Frequently Asked Questions

Will games download if the PS5 is completely turned off?

No. The console must be in Rest Mode with Stay Connected to the Internet enabled.

Do I need both Auto-Download and Auto-Install?

No. Auto-Download retrieves files; Auto-Install applies eligible updates automatically. Use Auto-Download alone if you want to preserve control over a suspended game.

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Why did an update download but not install?

Auto-Install may be disabled, or the update may require approval. Check Downloads/Uploads after waking the console.

Why are game updates working but a system update is not?

Game/app and system-software updates have separate menus and switches. Configure both sets if you want both types handled automatically.

Can low storage stop an update?

Yes. Check Settings > Storage and free space by deleting or moving eligible content. PS5 games on USB extended storage must be moved to console or M.2 SSD storage to play.

Should I use Safe Mode for every paused download?

No. First check Rest Mode connectivity, test the internet connection, restart, update system software, and inspect storage. Use Clear Cache and Rebuild Database only for persistent title-specific failures.

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What should I do if a system update repeatedly fails?

Retry from Downloads/Uploads. If that fails again, Sony documents a manual USB update using a FAT32- or exFAT-formatted drive and Safe Mode. Follow the current folder and file-name instructions exactly.

The Bottom Line

Turn on Stay Connected to the Internet, enable Auto-Download for games and apps, configure the separate system-software switches, and select Power > Enter Rest Mode. Leave Auto-Install off if a suspended game must remain under your control; turn it on when unattended installation is more important. If a download stalls, check the connection, restart, verify system software, inspect storage, and escalate to reinstall, Safe Mode, or Sony’s USB method only when the basic checks do not resolve it.

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