Why Are My Games Locked on PS5? Unlocking the Mystery

Seeing a lock icon on your PS5 games can be incredibly frustrating. It often means you’re prevented from launching and enjoying titles you believe you own. The core reason boils down to licensing issues. Your PS5 needs to verify that you have the right to play a particular game. This verification process can fail for a number of reasons, ranging from simple account glitches to more complex subscription problems. Understanding these reasons is the first step to getting back in the game!

Here’s a breakdown of the most common culprits:

• License Ownership Verification Failure: The most fundamental reason. Your PS5 can’t confirm you own the game. This could be a temporary server issue on Sony’s end, or a problem with your account.

• PlayStation Plus Subscription Lapse: Many games acquired through PlayStation Plus are only accessible as long as your subscription is active. Let your subscription expire, and those games will become locked. The lock icon will usually feature a PlayStation Plus logo to indicate this.

• Parental Controls: If parental controls are enabled, they might be restricting access based on age ratings. A padlock will appear in place of the game’s usual artwork if this is the case.

• Account Issues: Problems with your PlayStation Network (PSN) account, such as being logged in to the wrong account or account corruption, can prevent license verification.

• Primary Console Activation: If your PS5 isn’t activated as your primary console, it can sometimes lead to lockouts, especially for digital games.

• Software Glitches: Occasionally, a software glitch or bug within the PS5 system software itself can cause licensing errors.

• Game Sharing Issues: If you’re game sharing with a friend or family member, a change in their account or console settings can impact your access to shared games.

• Restore Licenses Needed: Sometimes, your PS5 simply needs to re-sync with the PlayStation Network to verify your game licenses.

• External Storage Problems: While you can store PS5 games on an external hard drive, you can’t play them directly from there. If you try to launch a game stored externally, it might appear locked or give you an error.

Troubleshooting Steps to Unlock Your Games

Before diving into complex solutions, try these quick fixes first:

1. Restart Your PS5: A simple restart can often resolve temporary glitches.
2. Check Your Internet Connection: A stable internet connection is essential for license verification.
3. Sign Out and Back In: Log out of your PSN account and then log back in.
4. Check PlayStation Network Status: Sometimes, the PlayStation Network experiences outages. Check the official PlayStation Network Service Status page.

If these don’t work, try these more advanced solutions:

1. Restore Licenses: Go to Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Restore Licenses to resync your game library with Sony’s servers.
2. Activate as Primary PS5: Go to Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Console Sharing and Offline Play and ensure “Console Sharing and Offline Play” is enabled.
3. Update System Software: Ensure your PS5 is running the latest system software by going to Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings.
4. Deactivate and Reactivate PS5: Deactivate your PS5 and then reactivate it as your primary console. You can do this from the same menu as “Console Sharing and Offline Play”. This is especially helpful if you’ve recently purchased a new PS5.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 FAQs to further clarify the reasons behind locked games on PS5 and how to fix them:

1. What does the lock symbol on a PS5 game mean?

The lock symbol indicates that your PS5 is unable to verify your license to play the game. This could be due to a variety of reasons, including issues with your PlayStation Plus subscription, account problems, or temporary server issues.

2. How do I know if a game is locked because of PlayStation Plus?

If the lock icon has a PlayStation Plus logo next to it, it means the game requires an active PlayStation Plus subscription to play. Renew your subscription to regain access.

3. Can parental controls cause games to be locked?

Yes. If parental controls are enabled and the game’s age rating exceeds the set restrictions, a padlock will appear on the game’s icon, preventing access. Ask the account holder to adjust the parental control settings.

4. How do I restore my game licenses on PS5?

Go to Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Restore Licenses and select “Restore.” This will resync your game library with Sony’s servers.

5. Why can’t I play my PS5 games from an external hard drive?

While you can store PS5 games on an external hard drive, you cannot play them directly from there. You need to copy the game data back to the PS5’s internal SSD storage before playing. This is because the internal SSD has much faster read/write speeds.

6. My PS5 says “Cannot start the game or application.” What does that mean?

This error message can indicate several problems, including corrupted game files, system software issues, or storage device problems. Try restarting your PS5, updating the system software, or reinstalling the game.

7. What if restoring licenses doesn’t work?

If restoring licenses doesn’t solve the issue, try deactivating and reactivating your PS5 as your primary console. You can also try rebuilding the database in safe mode, but be careful when using safe mode options.

8. How do I set my PS5 as my primary console?

Go to Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Console Sharing and Offline Play and ensure “Console Sharing and Offline Play” is enabled. If it’s already enabled, try disabling it, waiting a few minutes, and then re-enabling it.

9. I’m game sharing with a friend. Could that be the problem?

Yes, if your friend changes their account settings, disables console sharing, or has their account suspended, it can affect your access to games you were sharing.

10. What should I do if I’m still having trouble after trying everything?

If you’ve exhausted all troubleshooting steps, contact PlayStation Support directly. They may be able to provide further assistance or identify any account-specific issues.

11. Can a corrupted game file cause a game to lock?

Potentially, yes. Although it might not always display as a “locked” game, corrupted data can prevent the game from launching. Reinstalling the game is often the best solution.

12. I recently bought a new PS5. Do I need to do anything special?

Yes, you need to activate the new PS5 as your primary console. This ensures that you have access to your digital games and subscriptions.

13. How often should I restore licenses on my PS5?

You generally only need to restore licenses when you experience issues with accessing your digital games. There’s no need to do it regularly unless you’re frequently switching between consoles or experiencing problems.

14. Can I play my PS4 games on my PS5?

Yes, the PS5 is backwards compatible with the vast majority of PS4 games. However, there are a few exceptions. Check the PlayStation Store for compatibility information.

15. Is there any risk of losing my game progress when restoring licenses?

No, restoring licenses doesn’t affect your game progress or save data. It only resyncs your license information with the PlayStation Network.

The Power of Games in Learning

Understanding how games work, both in terms of gameplay and the technology behind them, can be a valuable skill. The Games Learning Society is dedicated to exploring the intersection of games and education. For more information, visit GamesLearningSociety.org. These organizations recognize the potential of games to enhance learning and development across various domains.

Hopefully, this article has helped you understand why your games are locked on your PS5 and provided you with the necessary steps to unlock them and get back to gaming.