A padlock beside a PS5 game usually signals a license or network problem, but the right fix depends on how you access the game. First check the purchasing account, PlayStation Plus eligibility, or sharing settings; then check PlayStation Network and restore licenses. If the lock remains, rebuild the PS5 database in Safe Mode.
What the padlock means
Sony says a padlock next to a PS5 game can indicate a license problem, and license or network issues are both possible causes. The icon alone does not identify which one applies, so start by checking the account and entitlement that should grant access.
If the padlock covers the entire game image, parental controls may also be involved. Sony says the Family Manager can amend that restriction; check this separately rather than treating every lock as a license error. See Sony’s game-start troubleshooting guidance and its Console Sharing and Offline Play guidance.
Check how you are entitled to play the game
If you bought the game
Sign in to the PlayStation account used to purchase it, then check that account’s transaction history to confirm the purchase completed. Sony specifically recommends checking transaction history after a recent purchase or voucher redemption. If you are using a different account, switch to the purchasing account and see whether the game unlocks.
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If you access it through PlayStation Plus
Confirm that the membership is active and that the game is still included or otherwise available to you. A PlayStation Plus title has a separate subscription and availability requirement: restoring licenses does not renew an expired membership or make a game available after it leaves the applicable catalogue.
If another account owns the game
The owner must enable Console Sharing and Offline Play on this PS5. The setting can be active on only one PS5 at a time. If it is enabled on the owner’s previous console, turn it off there before enabling it on this one. Once enabled, other users of this PS5 can play the owner’s purchased and downloaded games and media, including offline.
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- Sign in to the account that owns the game.
- On the PS5, open Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Console Sharing and Offline Play.
- Select the option to enable Console Sharing and Offline Play. If the console reports that it is already enabled on another PS5, deactivate it on that console first.
Check PlayStation Network and system software
Check the PlayStation Network status page for service alerts. If Sony reports an outage, wait for service to resume and try the game again. Also check whether the PS5 has the latest system software installed, following Sony’s system-software and game-start instructions.
Restore the PS5 game licenses
License restoration is Sony’s recommended fix for a padlocked game. It does not affect saved data or other data on the console.
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- On the PS5, go to Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Restore Licenses.
- Select the licenses you want to restore and choose Restore.
- Alternatively, highlight the game on Home or in Game Library, press the Options button, and select Restore License.
See Sony’s instructions for restoring licenses for the console steps.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If the game is still locked
Rebuild the database in Safe Mode
Sony recommends rebuilding the database if the locked-game checks do not solve the problem. Start the PS5 in Safe Mode and select Rebuild Database. Follow Sony’s Safe Mode game troubleshooting instructions.
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Use broader game-start troubleshooting only if needed
If the game still will not start, Sony’s general launch guidance includes restarting the console and deleting and redownloading the game; a wired connection may be preferable for the download if available. Reinstalling system software is a more disruptive later step, so back up your data before taking it. These are broader game-start remedies, not the first checks for a license or sharing lock.
Contact PlayStation Support
If none of the steps works, contact PlayStation Support. Include any error code or message, what happens when you try to open the game, the steps needed to reproduce the problem, and a screenshot or video if possible.
Quick Recap
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