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On your PS5, open Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Restore Licenses, select the licenses, and then retry the game or add-on download. You can also highlight the game in the Home screen or Game Library, press the Options button, and choose Restore License. PlayStation says this refresh does not affect your saved data.
Restoring a license fixes an account-entitlement mismatch, but it cannot create a purchase, reactivate an expired subscription, repair a network outage, or make region-incompatible disc DLC work. Use the ownership and download checks below so you address the actual failure layer.
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What restoring a PS5 license actually does
A digital game, add-on, or subscription title is tied to an entitlement on a PlayStation account. The console checks that entitlement when it displays a padlock, starts a game, or begins a download. Restore Licenses asks PlayStation to refresh those entitlements on the console. It is useful when the account owns the content but the PS5 is not recognizing that fact.
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- A padlock icon appears beside a game.
- A purchased game or add-on is missing from the library.
- A game crashes because its entitlement cannot be confirmed.
A padlock is not proof that the license refresh is the only problem. It can also indicate that you are signed in to the wrong account, a purchase did not complete, a PlayStation Plus entitlement ended, or another user has not enabled Console Sharing and Offline Play. Check ownership before assuming the license record is damaged.
Restoring licenses does not delete games, add-ons, saves, screenshots, or other user data. It also does not download content by itself; after the refresh, you must retry the failed download or start the installation from your library.
Identify the failure before changing anything
The quickest route depends on what you see and who owns the content. Use this distinction before repeating the restore command.
| What you see | Most likely layer | First action |
|---|---|---|
| Padlock beside a game you bought | Account or entitlement recognition | Sign in to the purchasing account, verify the transaction, then restore licenses. |
| Game or DLC absent from the library | Wrong account, subscription status, or entitlement sync | Check the purchasing account or PlayStation Plus status and restore licenses. |
| Download stuck at waiting, queued, or an error | Download queue, service, network, storage, or system software | Check service status and storage, then pause/resume the item. |
| DLC purchased but not visible in the game | Add-on installation, account entitlement, or disc-region mismatch | Open the game’s Add-Ons section, check the download, and verify the disc and account regions. |
| Game starts and then crashes | License check or damaged installation | Restore licenses first; if it continues, use the later reinstall and Safe Mode steps. |
Confirm that your account is entitled to the content
Use the account that made the purchase
On the PS5, sign in to the PlayStation Network account that bought the game or DLC. A different local user can see the console but may not have the purchasing account’s entitlement. Open Transaction History for that account and confirm that the transaction shows as successful. A pending, reversed, or failed transaction cannot be repaired by restoring licenses.
If the transaction is not successful, resolve the purchase or payment issue first. Do not keep deleting and reinstalling a title that the account has not actually acquired.
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Check a PlayStation Plus entitlement
If access comes from PlayStation Plus rather than a standalone purchase, verify that the subscription is active and that the specific title is still available through the service. A license refresh can resynchronize an active benefit; it cannot restore a title that has left the catalog or an expired subscription.
Check Console Sharing and Offline Play
When another person owns the game, that owner’s account must enable Console Sharing and Offline Play on this PS5. Without that setting, other users on the console may see a padlock or be unable to launch the shared title. Have the owning account sign in and confirm the setting before troubleshooting the download itself.
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Look for a PlayStation service outage
A license server or PlayStation Store outage can prevent the PS5 from confirming ownership even when your account and purchase are correct. Check the official PlayStation status page before changing local settings. If the relevant service is unavailable, wait for it to recover and retry rather than repeatedly cancelling the download.
Install the latest PS5 system software
Open Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings and install any available update. The exact menu label can vary slightly by system release, but the requirement is the same: bring the console software up to date before escalating a license or download failure.
Confirm free storage
Check the PS5’s available storage before retrying. A game and its add-ons may require more space than the visible download size during installation. If storage is low, remove an unneeded game or add-on, then return to the failed item and retry. Do not assume a license problem when the console cannot allocate installation space.
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Check the connection
Confirm that other online features work and that the PS5 is connected to the intended network. If possible, use a wired connection; PlayStation specifically recommends trying one when troubleshooting game-start and download problems. A wired test helps separate an entitlement issue from an unstable wireless connection.
Restore licenses from PS5 Settings
Use this method when a game, add-on, or padlock is affected and you want to refresh several licenses at once.
- Sign in to the PlayStation Network account that purchased the content or holds the relevant PlayStation Plus entitlement.
- From the PS5 Home screen, open Settings.
- Select Users and Accounts.
- Choose Other.
- Select Restore Licenses.
- Select the license or licenses you want to restore and confirm.
- After the process completes, open the game’s page or Game Library and retry the game or add-on download.
This operation refreshes account entitlements; it does not remove your data. If the item remains locked or absent, return to the account checks rather than treating the restore as proof that the purchase is valid.
Use the per-game Restore License shortcut
For a single title, you can start the same type of refresh without navigating through Settings:
- Highlight the game on the PS5 Home screen or in Game Library.
- Press the controller’s Options button.
- Choose Restore License.
- Retry the download or launch the title after the refresh.
The shortcut is convenient for one affected game. The Settings route is clearer when several games or add-ons are missing.
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Repair a stalled or waiting download
When the purchase is valid but the item says waiting to install, queued, or failed, work through the download queue before reinstalling the whole game.
- Open Downloads/Uploads from the PS5 control center.
- Highlight the affected game or add-on and choose Pause.
- Wait briefly, then choose Resume.
- If it still fails, choose Cancel and Delete for that download.
- Open Game Library, find the title, and start the download again.
Pause and resume addresses a transient queue failure. Cancel and Delete removes the failed download task so the library can create a fresh one; it does not change the account’s purchase record. If a new attempt fails immediately, check service status, software, storage, and network rather than repeating the same queue action.
Make missing DLC appear and install correctly
Find the add-on from the main game’s library page
- Open Game Library.
- Select Your collection.
- Choose the main game associated with the DLC.
- Open its Add-Ons section.
- Check whether the purchased item is listed and whether it is downloaded.
If the add-on is listed but not installed, start its download from this page. If it is absent, verify the purchasing account and Transaction History, then restore licenses while signed in to that account.
Restart and check the installation conditions
Restart the PS5 after a DLC purchase or after restoring licenses. Then check available storage and network status before trying the add-on again. A successful entitlement refresh cannot complete an installation when the console lacks space or cannot maintain a connection.
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If the DLC is owned, listed, and still unusable, delete and reinstall the game and the add-on. Reinstalling is a later step because it requires another download and does not correct a missing entitlement. Restore the license and verify the account before using it.
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- Advanced Cat6 Technology: Experience Cat6 performance with higher bandwidth at a Cat5e price. This network cable is future-proof, ready for 10-Gigabit Ethernet and backwards compatible with any existing Cat 5 cable network. It meets or exceeds Category 6 performance according to the TIA/EIA 568-C.2 standard
- Reliable Wired Network Solution: Known variously as a Cat6 network cable, ethernet cable Cat 6, or Cat 6 data/LAN cable, this RJ45 cable offers a more secure and reliable connection than wireless networks. It's ideal for internet connections that demand consistency and security
- Durable and Secure Design: The connectors of this ethernet cable feature gold-plated contacts and strain-relief boots for enhanced durability. Bare copper conductors not only improve cable performance but also comply with communication cable specifications
- High-Speed Data Transfer: With up to 550 MHz bandwidth, this ethernet cord is ideal for server applications, cloud computing, video surveillance, and streaming high-definition video. It also supports Power over Ethernet (PoE, PoE+, PoE++) for powering devices like IP cameras, VoIP phones, and wireless access points, ensuring fast and reliable network performance.
Check the region of a disc-based game
Disc-linked add-ons require the disc’s country or region license to match the account region. A mismatch can make purchased DLC incompatible even though the transaction succeeded. If the disc and account regions differ, restoring licenses will not make that add-on work; you need content and a disc license that are compatible with the same region.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Escalate in the order that isolates the cause
Use this sequence when the basic restore and queue actions did not resolve the issue. Each stage targets a different failure layer, so skipping directly to a database rebuild can obscure an account or service problem.
| Stage | Use it when | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Entitlement check | The game is locked, missing, or tied to another user | Confirm the purchasing account, successful Transaction History entry, active PlayStation Plus access, and Console Sharing and Offline Play where applicable. |
| 2. Service and software check | Multiple downloads fail or the store behaves unusually | Check PlayStation service status and install the latest PS5 system software. |
| 3. Queue reset | One item is waiting, stuck, or marked failed | Pause and resume; if needed, Cancel and Delete, then redownload from Game Library. |
| 4. Connection and storage check | Downloads stop, time out, or cannot install | Free storage, verify the network, and try a wired connection if possible. |
| 5. Reinstallation | The entitlement is valid but the installed files or add-on remain unusable | Delete and redownload the game and its add-on. |
| 6. Safe Mode database rebuild | The game still will not start or download after the earlier checks | Open Safe Mode and choose Clear Cache and Rebuild Database > Rebuild Database. |
PlayStation places the Safe Mode database rebuild after checking updates, restoring licenses, trying a wired connection, and deleting and redownloading the game. Treat it as a later escalation, not the first response to a single padlock.
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This code indicates that the server connection failed and the license could not be confirmed. Follow these steps in order:
- Check PlayStation service status for an outage.
- Restart the PS5.
- Turn off the router and modem and leave them off for at least five minutes.
- Restart the networking equipment and wait for the connection to return.
- Restore licenses from Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Restore Licenses.
- Try the download or launch again later if the service is still recovering.
The error describes a failed server confirmation, so changing local game files before checking the service and network can waste time.
Fix error CE-112987-8
For this code, PlayStation recommends the following recovery sequence:
- Update the PS5 system software.
- Delete the failed download and retry it from Game Library.
- Sign out of the PlayStation Network account and sign back in.
- Restart the PS5.
- Restore licenses.
If CE-112987-8 appears during the purchase rather than during installation, review the registered payment method and billing details. A payment or billing failure must be corrected at the account level; restoring licenses only handles an entitlement that already exists.
Quick Recap
When a license restore is not the answer
- No successful transaction: There is no completed purchase for the signed-in account to restore.
- Expired or unavailable PlayStation Plus title: The subscription or catalog availability no longer grants access.
- Sharing disabled: Another user’s ownership is not shared with this PS5 until Console Sharing and Offline Play is enabled by the owner.
- Region mismatch: Disc-based DLC can be incompatible with the account region.
- Service outage: The console cannot validate licenses while the relevant service is unavailable.
- Insufficient storage or unstable network: The entitlement may be valid while installation still fails.
- Corrupted download or installation: Canceling the failed task, redownloading, or reinstalling is required.
A practical final checklist
- Identify whether the symptom is a padlock, missing library item, stalled download, or unusable DLC.
- Sign in to the account that owns the content and confirm a successful Transaction History entry.
- For PlayStation Plus content, confirm both an active subscription and current title availability.
- For another user’s purchase, confirm Console Sharing and Offline Play on this PS5.
- Check service status, system software, free storage, and network stability.
- Restore licenses through Settings, or use the game’s Options-menu shortcut.
- Pause and resume the download; if necessary, Cancel and Delete and redownload from Game Library.
- For DLC, inspect Game Library > Your collection > the main game > Add-Ons.
- For disc games, verify that the disc country or region matches the account region.
- If the failure persists, reinstall the game and add-on, then use Safe Mode’s Clear Cache and Rebuild Database > Rebuild Database option.
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