How to Manage and Restore Licenses on Your PlayStation 5

The question of how to “change” your license on a PlayStation 5 isn’t quite accurate. You don’t actually change a license, but rather, you restore or refresh it. This process ensures that your PS5 recognizes the digital games and add-on content you’ve purchased from the PlayStation Store. Think of it as a verification process that confirms you are authorized to use the content. This article will provide you with a complete guide to understanding and managing your licenses on the PS5.

How Do I Restore Licenses on PS5?

The primary method for managing your licenses involves a simple restoration process. Here’s how to do it:

1. From your PlayStation 5’s home screen, navigate to the Settings menu. This is usually represented by a gear icon in the top-right corner.

2. Scroll down and select Users and Accounts.

3. Within the Users and Accounts menu, choose Other.

4. Finally, select Restore Licenses.

5. The system will then begin the restoration process. This may take a few moments, depending on the number of licenses.

6. Once complete, the system will notify you. Try re-downloading or accessing the content that had issues.

This process doesn’t delete any data or progress and is generally the first step to take when encountering issues accessing your purchased games or add-ons.

Why Would I Need to Restore Licenses?

There are several reasons why you might need to restore your licenses on the PS5. These include:

• Games and Add-Ons Locked: You may encounter situations where purchased games or downloadable content appear locked with a padlock icon. This often means your PS5 isn’t properly recognizing your license.

• Error Messages: Error messages related to licenses not being verified are common indicators that a license restore is needed. For example, you may receive a message stating “Cannot verify license.”

• Content Failing to Start: If downloaded content from the PlayStation Store fails to start, restoring your licenses should be your first troubleshooting step.

• General Glitches: Sometimes, minor glitches within the system can cause licensing conflicts, and restoration is a simple fix.

Troubleshooting License Issues

While restoring licenses can solve many issues, there are a few common errors you may encounter. If restoring your license does not fix your problem, consider these additional troubleshooting steps:

1. Check PlayStation Network Status

Before attempting anything else, verify the PlayStation Network (PSN) status. The PSN may be experiencing outages or scheduled maintenance.

• Visit the official PlayStation Network Status page to check for any reported server issues.
• If there is a service disruption, try again later after the issues are resolved.

2. Set Your PS5 as Primary Console

Confirm your PlayStation 5 is set as your Primary Console. This is crucial for licenses to work correctly, especially if you own multiple PlayStation consoles:

1. Navigate to Settings > Users and Accounts.
2. Go to Other and then Console Sharing and Offline Play.
3. Make sure the option is set to Enable. If the setting is enabled and you are experiencing an issue, turn it off and on again.

3. Restart Your PS5 and Network Equipment

Sometimes, a simple restart is all it takes.

1. Completely power off your PS5, not just put it in rest mode.
2. Also, restart your router and modem.
3. Wait for a few minutes, turn them all back on, and try restoring licenses again.

4. Software Updates

Make sure your PS5’s software is up to date. Outdated firmware can cause conflicts and licensing issues.

1. Go to the Settings menu.
2. Select System.
3. Then choose System Software.
4. Select System Software Update and follow the on-screen prompts to update.

5. Contact PlayStation Support

If the issue persists after following these steps, you may need to contact PlayStation Support for further assistance. They can provide personalized guidance specific to your account.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 Frequently Asked Questions to further expand your understanding of managing licenses on your PS5:

1. Does restoring licenses on PS5 delete everything?

No, restoring licenses won’t affect your data. It is a harmless process that only re-verifies your digital purchases. Your game saves, personal settings, and other data remain unchanged.

2. Can I restore licenses on the PlayStation app?

No, you cannot restore licenses directly through the PlayStation app. The restore license function is exclusively available on the console itself.

3. Why is my PSN restore license not working on PS5?

Several factors could cause this, including network issues, PSN server problems, or your console not being activated as the primary console. Follow the troubleshooting steps outlined above.

4. Why can’t my PS5 connect to the server to verify my license?

This typically indicates a connection problem. Check the PSN status, restart your console and router, and ensure your PS5 is connected to the internet.

5. How do I restore my license if I can’t connect to PlayStation Network?

Without a stable internet connection to PSN, license restoration won’t work. You must get your PS5 online to verify them.

6. Why are my games locked on PS5?

Games can be locked due to license issues (as covered in this article), or parental controls. If you see a padlock on the game icon, make sure your licenses are restored and parental control settings are correct.

7. Will I lose my games if I delete them on PS5?

No, you won’t lose access to your games if you delete them. You can re-download them from your game library at any time. Deleting games only removes the game files but not your license.

8. Will I lose my progress if I delete a game on PS5?

No, deleting a game will not delete your saved game data unless you explicitly choose to delete the save files. Your game saves are typically stored separately from the game installation.

9. How do I reset my PlayStation license?

You don’t reset it, you restore your license by navigating to Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Restore Licenses.

10. How many times can you change your online ID on PS5?

You can change your online ID as many times as you like. The first time is free, but subsequent changes incur a charge.

11. What does it mean by “license cannot be verified” on PS5?

This error indicates that your PS5 could not confirm your license with the PlayStation Network server. This can be due to network issues, PSN server problems, or needing a license restoration.

12. What to do if you can’t verify your PlayStation account?

If you can’t receive a 2SV verification code, or do not have backup codes, you need to contact PlayStation Support with your online ID (username) and sign-in ID (email address).

13. How do I bypass PS5 2-step verification?

You cannot bypass 2-step verification. You can disable it through your account settings, but this is not recommended for security purposes.

14. Why won’t my PS5 connect to PlayStation Network?

Common causes include internet connectivity issues, problems with PlayStation Network, or outdated system software. Troubleshoot your network and restart both the console and router.

15. Does changing my PSN ID affect anything?

Changing your PSN ID can cause issues with some games. It can potentially result in loss of game progress, in-game currency, or access to certain game content. PlayStation advises contacting support if you encounter any such issues.

By understanding how licenses work on your PS5, you can take the necessary steps to keep your gaming experience running smoothly. Remember, restoring licenses is a standard procedure and an essential tool for handling digital content issues on your console. If you continue to experience problems after taking these steps, it’s always best to reach out to PlayStation Support for more advanced troubleshooting help.