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To stop a PS5 from automatically downloading and installing system software, open Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings, then turn off both Download Update Files Automatically and Install Update Files Automatically. They are separate controls: switching off only installation can still leave update files downloading in the background.
This changes system firmware behavior, not game and app patch settings. If your concern is overnight downloads, you may also need to adjust rest-mode internet access or the separate game-update controls below.
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How do I stop automatic system updates on a PS5?
Turn off both system-software update switches in Settings. The menu path is the same whether you want to stop downloads, prevent automatic installation, or both; the two switches determine which of those actions the console can perform automatically.
- Open Settings. From the PS5 home screen, select the gear icon in the upper-right corner.
- Open the system software controls. Select System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings.
- Disable automatic downloads. Set Download Update Files Automatically to off. This prevents the console from automatically fetching system-update files.
- Disable automatic installation. Set Install Update Files Automatically to off. This prevents automatic installation of system updates.
- Check both settings before leaving. If only the install option is off, the PS5 may still download files. If only the download option is off, it will not automatically fetch new update files, but an update file already downloaded may still be present.
Sony’s public instructions describe enabling the switches to update automatically; disabling them means changing those same controls to off. On the menu, use the controller’s confirm button to toggle a highlighted setting and the back button to return. Menu wording can vary slightly with software version, language, and region; look for the two labels above if the path is presented differently.
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What each switch controls
| Setting | What it allows when on | What turning it off changes |
|---|---|---|
| Download Update Files Automatically | The console can download system-software update files automatically. | Stops automatic system-update downloads. |
| Install Update Files Automatically | The console can install system-software updates automatically. | Stops automatic system-update installation. |
If you want the files fetched but want to decide when to install, leave automatic downloads on and turn automatic installation off. If the aim is to stop automatic firmware fetching altogether, switch both off. These options govern system software; they do not uninstall a version already installed or remove a downloaded update file.
Can the PS5 still download updates in rest mode?
Yes, if the console is in rest mode, connected to the internet, and the relevant automatic-update controls permit downloading. Turning off rest-mode internet is an additional way to prevent background downloads overnight, but it also interrupts other network features that rely on the console being online in rest mode.
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Turn off rest-mode internet access
- Open Settings > System > Power Saving > Features Available in Rest Mode.
- Set Stay Connected to the Internet to off.
Sony says automatic system-software updates in rest mode require Stay Connected to the Internet. This option is broader than the system-update switches: rest-mode downloads for games and apps also need an internet connection, and network-dependent functions such as waking the console remotely may be affected.
If you want the console to remain online for other rest-mode functions, leave this setting on and rely on the two system-update switches instead. Rest mode can still supply power to USB ports for supported charging even when rest-mode internet is off, depending on the USB power setting.
Use full shutdown for the strongest pause
A fully powered-off PS5 cannot perform background downloads or installs. Open the Control Center by pressing the PS button, select Power > Turn Off PS5. You can also press and hold the console’s power button until it beeps. This is different from Enter Rest Mode, which leaves the console in a low-power state.
Rest mode is the normal overnight update route because the console can stay connected while idle. The factory setting also puts the PS5 into rest mode after a period of inactivity. To change that timer, go to Settings > System > Power Saving > Set Time Until PS5 Enters Rest Mode. Choosing Don’t Put in Rest Mode keeps the console running instead, which uses more power; it is not the same as shutting down.
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For power context, Sony Interactive Entertainment says that enabling any feature under Features Available in Rest Mode means the PS5 does not automatically reduce rest-mode consumption below 0.5 W; enabling more features increases consumption. That is Sony’s stated floor for consoles with rest-mode features enabled, not a measurement of every PS5’s actual consumption.
How do I stop game and app updates separately?
System firmware and game or app patches have different controls. Disabling system-software downloads does not disable game patches; if games are the source of overnight traffic, change the separate automatic-update settings.
- Go to Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Automatic Updates.
- Turn off Auto-Download to stop automatic downloads of game and app update files.
- Turn off Auto-Install in Rest Mode to stop those files being automatically installed while the console is in rest mode.
Sony recommends a useful middle ground for a suspended game: leave Auto-Download on but turn off automatic installation. Sony explains that only the download then happens automatically in rest mode; when you resume the game, you can choose whether to install the update. This can help preserve a suspended session, although it does not guarantee that every game will behave the same way when its update is eventually applied.
There is another limit: Sony says that when you start a game or app, it automatically updates to the newest version available. So disabling rest-mode auto-install does not necessarily mean a title can be launched indefinitely without applying a waiting patch. A disc game can also need updates; the disc requirement concerns playing that title, not whether update files can download for an installed game.
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What happens if an update is already downloaded or installing?
Turning off automatic downloads does not erase update files already on the PS5. If a queued system update has not started installing, check its entry in Downloads/Uploads for a Cancel and Delete option; the option may not be available once installation begins.
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To view an update’s error or retry a failed system download, press the PS button, open the Control Center, select Downloads/Uploads, highlight the system-software update, choose View Error Info, then select Try Again. That sequence is for troubleshooting and retrying, not cancelling an update.
Never interrupt an installation by powering off the console or pulling its AC power cord. Sony warns that interrupting a system-software installation can damage the console. Sony also says not to disconnect the AC cord while the power indicator is lit or blinking, because doing so can cause data loss, corruption, or damage. If the installation has begun, let it finish.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesHow can I check which system software version is installed?
Open Settings > System > System Software > Console Information. The installed system-software version appears there. Sony says the console has the latest version installed when Up to date appears under the version.
A notification that an update is available does not mean it has already been installed. To update manually later, open Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings. If a newer version is available, the menu shows Update Available; select Update System Software when you are ready.
As of Sony’s public information available on October 29, 2026, the listed PS5 system-software version was 26.07-14.20.00, with the note, “We’ve improved the messages and usability on some screens.” The preceding version, 26.06-14.10.00, listed security fixes. Firmware versions and release notes change, so check Console Information rather than relying on an older version number in an article.
If you share a picture of Console Information, obscure the IP address, MAC address, serial number, and other identifiers. The firmware version is generally the relevant detail for an update question.
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Can I update manually if the console download fails?
Sony supports using a USB drive to update the PS5 when an on-console download fails. This is a manual update method, not a way to downgrade firmware or a requirement for turning off automatic updates.
- Format a USB drive as FAT32 or exFAT and create the folders
PS5/UPDATE. - Download Sony’s official PS5 update file and save it in that folder as
PS5UPDATE.PUP. Sony’s 2026 instructions call for approximately 1.1 GB of free USB space for the update file. - Turn off the console, then start Safe Mode by pressing and holding the power button until the second beep.
- Select Update System Software > Update from USB Storage Device.
Use only Sony’s official update file and documented procedure. Sony warns that unofficial files or methods can prevent proper operation and may affect warranty or repair eligibility. A reinstall file is a different option: Sony’s 2026 instructions require approximately 1.2 GB of free USB space, and reinstalling system software deletes all data on the console. It is not a route to an older firmware version.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What do you give up by disabling automatic updates?
Disabling automatic updates gives you more control over timing, downloads, and installation, but it can leave the console behind on security fixes or software required by some applications and content. Sony recommends keeping system software current and warns that some applications or content may not work until the console is updated.
For example, Sony’s notes for version 26.06-14.10.00 list security fixes. Pausing updates postpones such fixes until you install a later version. If you depend on online play, store access, or a particular app, check that service’s current requirements before holding back firmware; the public support information cited here does not establish a universal minimum version for signing into PlayStation Network.
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BGR reported that the system-update settings affect the console rather than individual user profiles; Sony’s public auto-update instructions do not specify profile behavior. Treat that as a reported detail, not a setting-level guarantee from Sony. If several people use the same PS5, check the switches on the console instead of assuming each profile has independent controls.
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Which setup fits your reason for stopping updates?
The right combination depends on whether you want to stop firmware downloads, protect a suspended game, or keep the console offline overnight. These controls operate at different levels, so use the narrowest setting that solves the problem.
| Goal | System update settings | Game/app settings | Rest-mode internet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stop automatic firmware downloads and installs | Turn both system-update switches off | Unchanged | May remain on for other features |
| Download firmware but choose install timing | Downloads on; installs off | Unchanged | On if downloading in rest mode |
| Stop overnight downloads across firmware and games | Turn both system-update switches off, or disable rest-mode internet | Turn off Auto-Download if rest-mode internet remains on | Off prevents background network downloads in rest mode |
| Preserve a suspended game while allowing patch downloads | Choose system settings separately | Auto-Download on; Auto-Install in Rest Mode off | On for rest-mode downloads |
| Prevent all background activity while away | Does not matter while fully off | Does not matter while fully off | Fully turn off the PS5 |
Turning off Enable Turning On PS5 from Network can add isolation from app or Remote Play wake-ups, but it is not a replacement for disabling the two firmware switches. Likewise, turning off the rest-mode timer is not a low-power substitute for shutdown: it keeps the console running rather than entering rest mode.
What to remember before you leave the settings screen
- For system firmware, verify that both automatic-download and automatic-install settings are off if you want neither action to happen automatically.
- For game and app patches, use Automatic Updates under Saved Data and Game/App Settings; those controls are separate.
- Rest-mode downloads require internet access in rest mode. A full shutdown stops background downloads, but it also removes rest-mode functions.
- Do not interrupt a system-software installation, and do not disconnect power while the power indicator is lit or blinking.
- Check the installed version in Console Information when you want to know whether an update notice has actually been applied.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do automatic PS5 update settings apply to every account on the console?
BGR has reported that the system-update switches apply console-wide rather than separately to each user profile. Sony’s public instructions do not explicitly describe the profile scope, so check the settings on the shared console rather than assuming each account can choose independently.
Will turning off auto-install keep every game from updating when I open it?
No. Sony says a game or app automatically updates to the newest version available when you start it. If you need to postpone a patch, avoid launching that title until you are ready to handle its update.
Does factory resetting a PS5 let me go back to older firmware?
No. A factory reset or system-software reinstallation is not an official downgrade method. A reinstallation also deletes console data, so it should not be used as a way to reverse an update.
Can I keep charging a controller while rest-mode internet is off?
Yes, if USB power is enabled under Features Available in Rest Mode. USB charging and the Stay Connected to the Internet option are separate rest-mode controls.
