How Do I Get My DLC Back on PS4?
Losing access to your downloadable content (DLC) on your PlayStation 4 can be frustrating, especially when you’ve spent your hard-earned money on it. The good news is that restoring your DLC is usually a straightforward process. In most cases, you can get your DLC back by redownloading it from the PlayStation Store, checking your add-ons list, or restoring your licenses. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the process and ensure you can get back to enjoying your games with all their added content.
Restoring Your DLC: A Step-by-Step Guide
The primary method for regaining access to your DLC involves navigating through the PlayStation’s library and store menus. Here’s how:
- Quit the Game: If the game for which you’re missing DLC is currently running, make sure to close it completely.
- Access Your Library: From the PS4 home screen, navigate to and select Library.
- Go to Purchased: Within your Library, choose Purchased. This area lists all the games you’ve bought digitally.
- Select the Game: Locate and select the game that the missing DLC is associated with.
- Navigate to PlayStation Store: Scroll down on the game’s page until you see PlayStation Store. Select it.
- Open My Add-Ons: In the PlayStation Store game page, you should find Your Add-Ons or My Add-ons. Select this option.
- Find and Download Your DLC: You will see a list of all DLC you own for the game. Find the content you want and select it to begin the download. If the download icon is not there, and the DLC says purchased, it is likely already downloaded.
- Install Your DLC: Once the download is complete, the system should automatically install the DLC. If not, restart your PS4 and go back to My Add-ons on the game’s PlayStation Store page. There should be an install option there.
- Restart Your Game: After installation, restart the game. Your DLC should now be accessible.
Alternative Method: Restore Licenses
If the above process doesn’t resolve the issue, restoring your licenses can often fix any problems with DLC access. Here’s how to do it:
- Go to Settings: From the PS4 home screen, go to Settings.
- Select Account Management: Scroll down and select Account Management.
- Choose Restore Licenses: Within Account Management, select Restore Licenses.
- Confirm the Restoration: Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the license restoration. This may take a few minutes.
- Restart Your Game: Once completed, restart the game to check if the DLC is accessible.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About PS4 DLC
Here are some common questions about accessing, managing, and troubleshooting DLC on the PlayStation 4:
1. Why is my DLC locked on PS4?
DLC can appear locked for several reasons. The most common cause is a license issue, where the system hasn’t correctly registered your ownership of the DLC. Other factors include corrupted data, software issues, and sometimes needing to completely restart the console. Try restoring your licenses first, followed by redownloading the content.
2. How do I know if my PS4 DLC is downloaded?
To check if your DLC is downloaded, go to the PlayStation Store, find your game, and navigate to Your Add-Ons. Look for an “Installed” marker next to each piece of DLC. If it shows as purchased, but no install option, it has already been installed.
3. What happens if I delete DLC?
If you delete DLC, you won’t lose anything until you save without the DLC installed. If you load a save where DLC content was present and overwrite it without having the DLC installed, the content from the DLC might be lost. However, if you re-download the DLC, the content from the save should return. It’s crucial to be mindful of your saves if you decide to delete DLC, so that if you choose to get the DLC again, your saves will work correctly.
4. Can I uninstall and reinstall DLC separately on PS4?
No, it is not possible to uninstall a DLC separately once it’s installed on the PS4. You’ll need to uninstall the full game and then reinstall it to remove the DLC. If that is your goal.
5. How do I fix corrupted add-ons on PS4?
To fix corrupted add-ons, you can try the following steps:
- Delete and reinstall the game.
- Delete corrupted downloads.
- Clean your game disc (if applicable).
- Update the system software.
- Restore your licenses.
- Start your PS4 in Safe Mode and rebuild the database.
- Initialize your PS4 (last resort).
- Hard reset your PS4.
6. Can I download DLC without owning the game?
You can purchase DLC without owning the base game, but you can’t access or download it until you install the game. The DLC will stay in your account, waiting for the game to be downloaded.
7. Does DLC transfer between PS4 accounts?
DLC is typically tied to the account that purchased it. However, if the accounts are both on the same console, any account should be able to access the installed DLC. However, re-downloads are limited to the specific profile that made the initial purchase. If you transfer that profile to another PS4 or delete it, you might lose access.
8. Does a used DLC code work on PS4?
If the DLC is on a disc, it will work the same as a used game. However, a used code that comes with a game will not work as it is a one-time use code.
9. What does a DLC code on PS4 mean?
A DLC code is a digital code that you can redeem on the PlayStation Store for extra game content. This includes expansions, maps, skins, etc. It requires you to own the base game. DLC codes are typically region locked to be the same as the region of the game.
10. Can I get a refund for DLC on PS4?
Yes, you can request a refund for DLC on PS4 within 14 days of purchase, if you haven’t started downloading, streaming or using the purchased content. If the base game is played for more than two hours after you have purchased a DLC, it might void your refund eligibility.
11. Will uninstalling a PS4 game delete the DLC?
No, uninstalling the game won’t delete the DLC. The DLC will remain on your account and will be re-downloaded when you install the game again. However, if you delete save data with DLC elements, that save data might be corrupted unless the DLC is installed before loading the save.
12. Can DLC codes expire on PS4?
If a DLC code doesn’t have an explicit expiration date, it generally doesn’t expire. However, if the content has been delisted from the store, the code may no longer work.
13. How do I redownload deleted games on PS4?
You can redownload deleted games by going to your Library, then Purchased, and selecting the game to download. Also, if you have saved your save data to cloud storage, you can restore the data to the system.
14. Why did my PS4 get corrupted?
Corrupted data on a PS4 can be caused by failed installations, software errors, or issues with the hard drive. This often occurs during the installation of game content. Often you can resolve this by restoring licenses, or starting the PS4 in safe mode to rebuild the database.
15. Does restoring licenses on PS4 delete everything?
Restoring licenses on PS4 does not delete anything. It simply re-verifies your content ownership with Sony’s servers. It can resolve issues when the DLC doesn’t seem to be registered properly.
Conclusion
Losing access to your purchased DLC can be an annoyance, but as you can see it is typically easily fixed. By following these steps, you should be able to get your DLC back and continue enjoying your games to the fullest. If you are still unable to restore your DLC, you should reach out to PlayStation support. With the right approach, you can get back to your gaming adventures in no time!