iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Most PlayStation Store problems can be isolated without deleting your games or buying storage. First identify whether the release date has arrived, then check the purchasing account, PlayStation service status, download queue, internet connection, free space and system software. Only after those reversible checks should you restore licenses, use Safe Mode or reinstall anything.
Start with the symptom and the console
PS5 and PS4 use different library screens and storage behavior. Before changing settings, note the console model, the account currently signed in, the exact wording of any message and any error code. A pre-order that has not reached its release window needs a different solution from a download that is stuck at a percentage or a game that installed but shows a padlock.
| What you see | Most useful first checks | Escalate only after |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-order has not started downloading | Release date, auto-download selection and internet-rest mode settings | Account, service and storage checks |
| Download will not start or remains queued | PlayStation service status, connection test, queue pause/resume and free space | Cancel and re-download, then Safe Mode if directed |
| Download finished but installation failed | Available space, system software and the exact error code | Code-specific recovery, database rebuild or Support |
| Purchased game is missing or padlocked | Purchasing account, transaction history, sharing or subscription eligibility | Restore licenses |
| Game will not launch after installation | License status, update status, storage location and system software | Code-specific support instructions |
Keep the console online while you work. Do not purchase an expansion drive until Settings shows that free space is below the game’s own requirement; extra storage cannot repair a service outage, account mismatch or damaged license.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
How to pre-order and auto-download games
Check the release window first
Open the game’s PlayStation Store page and read the release date shown beneath the title. A pre-order normally does not begin its game download before the publisher’s stated release window. A countdown timer in your library is a better reference than a retailer’s time-zone estimate, particularly for a digital deluxe edition or a bundle with multiple versions.
#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
Set up a pre-order on PS5
- Open Game Library and select the pre-ordered game.
- Select the countdown timer shown for the pre-order.
- Review the listed content and enable auto-download for the version or add-on you intend to receive. A bundle containing PS5 and PS4 versions lists its contents from the timer for either version.
- In the console’s power-saving settings, enable Stay Connected to the Internet. Without that option, the console cannot perform the scheduled pre-order download while in rest mode.
- Leave enough free space for the minimum shown on the game’s product page. If the timer reaches zero but storage is full, the download can fail even though the pre-order itself is valid.
If an individual item in the timer is unchecked, the console will not preload it. Selecting the PS5 version does not automatically select every PS4, language or bonus item in a bundle.
Set up a pre-order on PS4
- Enable automatic downloads in the PS4’s system settings.
- Activate the console as your primary PS4 for the purchasing account. Automatic pre-order downloads depend on this primary-console relationship.
- Open Library > Purchased, select the pre-ordered game and choose its countdown timer.
- Review and enable the content that should download automatically, then keep the PS4 connected to the internet.
If the PS4 is not the primary console for the account that placed the order, the timer can remain visible while automatic downloading does not occur. Activation is an account setting, so check which account actually paid for the order before changing it.
When a pre-order can be cancelled
PlayStation’s Canada-localized pre-order support page says a customer can cancel before release. It also states that, after release, a refund request may be made within 14 days of placing the pre-order if the content has not started downloading: PlayStation’s pre-order and auto-download guidance. That 14-day rule is stated for Canada; refund rights vary by country, storefront and whether downloading has begun. Check the policy for the account’s region rather than assuming the Canadian terms apply elsewhere.
Game download won’t start on your PS5 console?
1. Check for a PlayStation service incident
Open the current PlayStation service and error-code support pages and look for an alert affecting PlayStation Store, account management or downloads. If Sony reports an outage, leave the queued item intact and retry after service is restored. Repeatedly deleting a download during an outage can remove useful queue information without fixing the underlying problem.
2. Verify the account and the queue
Confirm that the signed-in profile is the one that bought or redeemed the game. Open the download or copy queue and, when the item is available, pause it and resume it once. A transient queue lock often clears with that reversible action. If the item still will not start, cancel or delete the queued download and start it again from Game Library or the game’s Store page.
3. Test the connection
Run the PS5’s built-in internet connection test. A console can show as connected while DNS failure, packet loss or an unstable wireless signal prevents a large download from opening. If possible, retry on a wired connection or a different network, then return to the normal connection after establishing whether the network is the trigger. Do not treat a speed result as proof that the Store is healthy; the service-status check and the exact queue behavior are separate tests.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
4. Confirm free space against the game’s requirement
Read the game’s minimum space requirement on its PlayStation Store product page, then open Settings > Storage on PS5. The free-space number must exceed the requirement, and updates can need additional working space. Delete or move unneeded captures, applications or games only after checking that they are backed up or can be re-downloaded. A storage warning is a capacity problem, not evidence that the purchase is invalid.
Recommended Free Tools
5. Install current system software
Check for a PS5 system-software update and install it before repeating the download. Store compatibility and error remedies can change with system software, so an old console build can create a failure that disappears after updating.
Game download stuck on a PS5 console?
Distinguish a paused queue from a failed transfer
Open the queue and read its state. A paused item should respond to Resume; an item showing an error, an indefinitely unchanged percentage or a repeated retry prompt needs the recovery sequence below. Record the percentage, time and message before cancelling so you can give Support a reproducible description if necessary.
- Check PlayStation service status and wait if an alert covers downloads.
- Pause and resume the item once.
- Test the internet connection and, if practical, retry over a stable wired connection.
- Check Settings > Storage against the game’s Store-page requirement.
- Make sure PS5 system software is current.
- If the queue remains stuck, cancel or delete the download and start it again from the library or Store page.
Deleting the download is not the same as deleting a purchased license. You can start the content again from the account that owns it, provided the title is still available to that account.
When installation fails or an error code appears
Use the exact code, not a universal fix
Write down the complete code, including hyphens, and search it in Sony’s official error-code directory. Different codes can represent storage, licensing, network or system-database conditions. Applying a database rebuild or reinstall procedure intended for one code to an unrelated failure can add risk without addressing the cause.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsCE-106487-6 on PS5
For CE-106487-6, Sony’s published sequence is:
- Update PS5 system software.
- Restore licenses for the account that owns the game.
- Delete the failed download and try the download again.
- Start Safe Mode and choose Clear Cache and Rebuild Database > Rebuild Database.
If the code continues after that sequence, Sony advises trying again later. These steps are specific to CE-106487-6; they are not a guaranteed remedy for every installation error.
Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Safe Mode without reinstalling system software
Safe Mode offers maintenance choices that are less disruptive than a system-software reinstall. For PS5 download problems, Sony’s general troubleshooting guidance includes Clear Cache and Rebuild Database. On PS4, the corresponding maintenance choice is Rebuild Database. Follow the current console-specific instructions on Sony’s game-download troubleshooting page, and read each option’s warning before selecting it.
A database rebuild reorganizes console content; it is not a license purchase and it does not make an unsupported drive compatible. Reinstalling system software is a later, more disruptive option and should not be the first response to a normal queue or storage error. Back up important saves and follow Sony’s current instructions if Support directs you to reinstall.
Can’t find purchased content on a PS5 console?
Confirm the purchasing account and transaction
Sign in with the account that bought or redeemed the title. Check the account’s transaction history for a completed purchase rather than relying on a receipt forwarded from another profile. A family member’s purchase is not automatically owned by every local user.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Check eligibility for shared and subscription content
If the game came through a subscription, verify that the subscription is active and that the title remains available to that catalogue. If another user owns the game, check the PS5 console-sharing arrangement for the owner’s account. On PS4, the owner generally needs the console activated as that account’s primary PS4 for other users to access eligible purchases. A catalogue removal or an account that is no longer sharing can look like a missing download even when the installation files remain on the drive.
Restore licenses safely
After checking the account, transaction and eligibility, restore licenses from the console’s account or users settings. Then restart the console and check the library again. Sony explicitly states: “Please note, restoring licenses won’t affect your data.” The procedure repairs the account’s entitlement record; it does not delete saves, captures or installed games. Use the current steps in How to restore licenses on PlayStation consoles.
Also check PlayStation service status and system software before repeating the restore. A service outage can prevent the license check from completing, while outdated system software can leave a valid entitlement appearing unavailable.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
Padlock icons and games that will not launch
A padlock usually points to entitlement or sharing rather than a damaged download. First select the purchasing account, inspect its transaction history and confirm subscription or sharing eligibility. Check that the console is online, install any pending game or system update and restore licenses. If the title is on an external drive, make sure that drive is connected and recognized before treating the padlock as a license failure.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
If the game launches to an error after a successful install, capture the exact message and code. Do not delete the installation until you have checked whether the account owns it; deleting a working copy creates a new download task and can obscure the original symptom.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Storage: when expansion helps and when it does not
Buy or install storage only after the console reports insufficient capacity and you have compared free space with the game’s stated requirement. Expansion cannot solve a missing purchase, a PlayStation service outage, a failed internet connection or an account that lacks entitlement.
PS5 M.2 SSD requirements
An installed M.2 SSD can receive PlayStation Store downloads and run compatible PS5 games directly. Sony lists these requirements in Add an M.2 SSD to PS5:
- PCIe Gen4x4 M.2 NVMe drive with an M key; M.2 SATA is unsupported.
- Capacity from 250 GB through 8 TB.
- A supported listed form factor, no more than 25 mm wide and 11.25 mm total thick including the heat-dissipation structure.
- A sequential read speed of 5,500 MB/s or faster is recommended.
- Effective heat dissipation, such as a compatible heatsink, is required within the dimensional limits.
Sony does not guarantee that every third-party drive meeting the headline numbers will work. Check the current compatibility and installation specifications for your PS5 model before buying, and account for the heatsink in the total dimensions.
USB extended storage on PS5
USB extended storage is a different choice. According to Sony’s PS5 USB extended-storage guidance, PS5 games can be moved to USB storage but must be copied back to the console’s internal storage or a compatible M.2 SSD before they can be played. PS4 games can be played directly from USB extended storage.
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
| Characteristic | Compatible M.2 SSD installed in PS5 | USB extended storage |
|---|---|---|
| Can receive PS5 Store downloads | Yes, when the drive meets Sony’s specifications | Used primarily to move or store PS5 games; copy back before play |
| Play PS5 games directly | Yes | No; copy the game to console or compatible M.2 storage first |
| Play PS4 games directly | Yes | Yes |
| Key limits | PCIe Gen4x4 NVMe, 250 GB–8 TB, dimensions and heat dissipation must comply | Follow Sony’s supported USB capacity and connection requirements |
For a full drive, moving an older PS4 game to USB can free internal capacity immediately. Moving a PS5 game preserves the installation but does not make it playable from that USB drive.
PS4-specific download and installation checks
Queue, network and space
On PS4, check PlayStation service status, test the internet connection, pause and resume the queue, and cancel and restart a failed item from Library > Purchased. Check the Store page’s Details section for the game’s minimum space and compare it with Settings > Storage. Install current PS4 system software before retrying.
Rebuild the PS4 database
If Sony’s console-specific troubleshooting page directs you to Safe Mode, the PS4 maintenance option is Rebuild Database. Use it after service, network, account, storage and retry checks—not as a substitute for confirming that the purchasing account owns the game. Do not jump to a system-software reinstall for a normal download queue problem.
What to send PlayStation Support
Escalate when the official code-specific steps fail, the transaction is completed but the entitlement remains missing, or the same download fails after a clean retry with adequate space and a working connection. Provide:
- PS5 or PS4 model and current system-software version.
- Purchasing account identifier (never send your password), game edition and region.
- Exact error code and message, including punctuation and hyphens.
- Whether the item was pre-ordered, purchased, redeemed or obtained through a subscription.
- What happened after service, network, storage, update, license and retry checks.
- The approximate time of the failure and a screenshot or short video if the message is visible.
This record lets Support distinguish a release-timing issue from an account entitlement, service, storage or installation failure without asking you to repeat unrelated destructive steps.
Quick Recap
A low-risk order of operations
- Identify PS5 or PS4, symptom, account and exact code.
- For a pre-order, verify release date, timer content, auto-download settings and internet-in-rest-mode settings.
- Check PlayStation service status.
- Confirm the purchasing account, transaction or subscription eligibility.
- Test the internet connection and pause/resume the queue.
- Compare free space with the Store page’s minimum and clear only unnecessary data.
- Update system software.
- Cancel and re-download the failed item when Sony’s guide recommends it.
- Restore licenses for missing or padlocked purchases.
- Use the code-specific Safe Mode database option only after the reversible checks.
- Contact PlayStation Support with the complete error record before considering a system-software reinstall.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
