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To prepare for several PS5 game launches, enable Rest Mode internet access and automatic downloads, check storage before adding games, and decide whether updates should install automatically or wait until you resume play. If one game matters most, manage competing downloads cautiously in the queue; Sony’s published guidance does not establish a universal download-priority control.
Prepare the PS5 to download while it is in Rest Mode
- On the console, open Settings > System > Power Saving > Features Available in Rest Mode.
- Turn on Stay Connected to the Internet. Automatic downloads and updates while the PS5 is in Rest Mode depend on this setting. See PlayStation Support’s automatic-update instructions.
Once configured, leave the console connected to the internet in Rest Mode ahead of launch day. Rest Mode connectivity makes background downloading possible; it does not guarantee that every queued item will finish before you want to play.
Choose whether updates should only download or also install
- Open Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Automatic Updates.
- Turn on Auto-Download to fetch game and app updates while the console is idle.
- Turn on Auto-Install only if you want the PS5 to install updates in Rest Mode as well.
These are separate choices. PlayStation Support advises: “When you don’t want to close your suspended game, only turn on Auto-Download.” The download can happen in Rest Mode, while you choose whether to install after resuming the suspended game. Details are on PlayStation Support.
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Check for an update or start a game’s download manually
- Highlight the game on the PS5 home screen.
- Press the Options button on the controller.
- Select Check for Update.
Sony says games and apps also update to the newest available version when started. For a manual check, follow PlayStation Support’s game-update steps.
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Handle the queue when one launch matters most
Sony’s published support guidance does not document a universal PS5 control that assigns a game higher download priority, guarantees simultaneous downloads, or boosts a selected title’s speed. Queue controls and labels may vary with system software.
If the current download interface offers pause or defer controls, you can inspect the queue, pause or defer competing items, and leave the game you want first as the immediate task. Treat this as practical queue management, not a guaranteed priority feature. Check the queue on your own console rather than assuming every PS5 has the same controls.
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Check storage before adding several large games
- Open Settings > Storage to see available space.
- If you need room, delete unwanted data or move content to a supported storage location.
Deleting installed game data frees room but means installing that data again if you want to play it later. Moving content or using another supported storage location can preserve it, depending on what you need readily available. Sony’s PS5 storage guide covers storage management and options.
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Check whether a game supports selective installation
Some games may offer a choice of which mode or content to install first, or let you remove selected content. These choices depend on the game and its developer; they are not a console-wide feature. The official PlayStation FAQ describing these possibilities was published in 2020, so consult the specific game’s current install options rather than expecting the same controls in every title: PlayStation’s PS5 FAQ.
Use the PlayStation App to prepare remotely
After pairing the PlayStation App with your PS5, you can start a download remotely and check or delete games to make space. The app cannot move or copy games, and remote downloads require the console’s Rest Mode internet connection to be enabled. See PlayStation Support’s PlayStation App guide.
Keep PS5 system software updates separate
Game and app updates have their own automatic-update settings. System software updates are controlled separately under Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings. Sony notes that some system software updates may require approval. See PlayStation Support’s system software update instructions.
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