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A padlock beside a PS5 game usually means the console cannot currently verify that the signed-in account has access to launch it. PlayStation describes it as a possible game-license problem—not proof that a purchase disappeared or that a PlayStation Plus subscription expired. If the lock covers the whole game image, family-manager restrictions may also be involved.
Why is there a lock on my PS5 game?
The icon is a signal that access needs checking, not a diagnosis of the cause. Digital games are tied to the account that bought them; subscription games depend on an active membership and the title remaining available; and a game owned by someone else may require Console Sharing and Offline Play to be enabled on your PS5. PlayStation also identifies parental controls as a possible reason when the lock covers the entire game image. PlayStation’s game-start troubleshooting guidance describes a padlock as a possible license issue.
How to unlock a locked game on PS5
1. Check the account and purchase
Make sure you are signed into the PlayStation account that purchased the digital game. Review that account’s transaction history to confirm the purchase completed successfully. If another person owns the game, ask them to check whether sharing is enabled on this console. Do not purchase the game again until you have confirmed which account owns it and whether that account can share access.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2. Check PlayStation Plus access
If you accessed the game through PlayStation Plus, check that the membership is active and the game is still available through the relevant PlayStation Plus offering. A lock alone does not establish that a membership expired; PlayStation says a padlock is not necessarily related to a PlayStation Plus expiration.
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3. Check Console Sharing and Offline Play
On the PS5 being used for sharing, open Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Console Sharing and Offline Play. The account that owns the game must have this feature enabled on that console. PlayStation says it is automatically allowed on the first PS5 used to sign in and can be enabled on one PS5 at a time. When enabled, other users on that console can play the enabling account’s purchased and downloaded games and media offline, and receive some PlayStation Plus benefits.
If the owner has moved to a new PS5, PlayStation advises disabling sharing on the previous console first. If that console is inaccessible, remote deactivation is available through Account Management; PlayStation limits remote deactivation of all devices to once every six months. See PlayStation’s Console Sharing and Offline Play instructions for the current account steps.
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4. Check service, connection, and system software
Check the PlayStation service status for an outage or alert, confirm the console has current system software, and check its internet connection. If appropriate, restart the console and router. These checks can address a service or network problem, but they do not change which account owns a game.
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On PS5, go to Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Restore Licenses, then select the relevant license. You can also highlight the game on the home screen or in the library, press the Options button, and choose Restore License. PlayStation lists a padlock as a reason to try this and says restoring licenses will not affect your data. Follow PlayStation’s license-restoration instructions.
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6. Use Safe Mode or contact support if the lock remains
If the account, entitlement, sharing, service, and license checks do not resolve the issue, PlayStation’s download troubleshooting recommends trying Safe Mode > Clear Cache and Rebuild Database. If the game still will not start, contact PlayStation Support. Include any error code, the steps you tried and their results, the date and time of the attempt, and a screenshot or video if possible.
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Match the lock to the likely check
- You bought the digital game: Confirm the purchasing account is signed in and the transaction succeeded.
- You accessed it through PlayStation Plus: Check both membership status and the game’s current availability.
- Another account owns it: Confirm that account enabled Console Sharing and Offline Play on this PS5.
- The lock covers the whole game image: Ask the family manager to review parental controls.
- Your access looks correct: Check PlayStation services and system software, then restore the license.
- The lock persists: Try the official Safe Mode step and send PlayStation Support reproducible details.
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