Cannot Download Game in Library on PS4 or PS5? Here’s The Fix!

Are you wondering why you cannot download games on your PS4 or PS5 library?

One of the most frustrating things about owning a console is that the games come in discs. As we all know, game discs don’t age well and could suffer damages no matter how careful you handle them.

A few wrong moves and bumps while taking it in and out of the case can render your newly purchased game useless. Thankfully, most console manufacturers, including Playstation, now offer digital copies of games.

This allows Playstation users to purchase games online through the Playstation Store and don’t need a physical disc to play them. 

However, Playstation consoles have a limited storage capacity, which means you can’t store all of your games at once. When your storage becomes full, you may experience download issues on your console. 

Some Playstation users even encounter downloading problems even if they have enough storage left. 

With this, we’ve decided to make a guide on what to do if you cannot download games on your PS4 or PS5 library. 

Let’s dive right in!

1. Check Playstation Servers. 

One of the most common reasons you cannot download games on your Playstation is that the servers are down. Since you are using an online service, PSN’s servers play a vital role in delivering digital copies of games to your console.

To check if the problem is server-related, you can visit PSN’s dedicated page, where you can view the current status of their services. 

Unfortunately, the only option you have if PSN’s servers are down is to wait for their team to fix the problem. 

On the other hand, you can proceed with the rest of the methods below if there’s nothing wrong with Playstation’s servers. 

2. Restore Your Licenses (Locked Games). 

There might be a problem with the licenses of the games you’ve purchased with your account. This often happens when you switch from an old console to a new one. If this is the case, try restoring your licenses before downloading your games. 

If you see a lock icon next to your purchased games, here’s what you need to do: 

1. First, open your PS4’s Settings and access Account Management. 
2. After that, click on Activate As Your Primary PS4 and follow the on-screen prompts. 
3. Now, go back to the previous page and select Restore Licenses. 
4. Lastly, click on Restore and wait for the process to complete. 

Once done, you should be able to download the games on your new Playstation without issues. 

3. Check the Status of Your Transaction. 

If you’ve just purchased a new game but don’t see it in your library, you can verify if the transaction actually pushed through. There are instances when your purchases on the PS Store fail for some unknown reason. 

In this case, follow the steps below to check your account’s transaction history: 

1. Access your PSN Account using any web browser. 
2. After that, go to Account Management and select Transaction History from the home screen. 
3. Choose an Account and select a Date Range that is within the date you purchased the game. 
4. Finally, check if your recent purchase successfully pushed through. 

Try making the purchase again or contact PSN’s customer support to let them know about your concern. 

4. Make Sure You Have Enough Storage. 

Another reason why you cannot download games on your PS4 or PS5 library is not having enough storage. Most PS4 or PS5 will have 500 GB to 1TB hard drives, which should be enough for 5-10 games, depending on their sizes. 

However, if you have a lot of games installed on your console, it may be worth considering removing games that you’ve finished to clear some storage space.

For the PS4 and PS5, you can delete unused games by doing the following: 

1. On your main screen, identify the games that you’ve finished or no longer playing. 
2. After that, highlight a game using your controller and press the Options button. 
3. Now, select the Delete option inside the Quick Menu. 
4. Finally, press the O or X button on your controller to confirm your action. 

Once done, go back to the PS Store and check if you can now download games to your library. 

5. Check Your Network Connection. 

If your game download fails or takes too much time, it may indicate that your network connection is slow or unstable. To verify this, use any browser to access Fast.com and run a speed test on your network. 

Restart your network router if the result indicates that your connection is the problem. Unplug your router’s power cable from the outlet and wait for 5 to 10 seconds before reconnecting the power chord. 

Once done, rerun the test to check if the problem is solved. Contact your internet service provider if you continue to experience network issues and ask them to address the problem with their service. 

6. Update Your PS4 or PS5. 

There’s a chance that the game you are trying to download is not compatible with the current version of your PS4 or PS5. In this case, check if there are pending updates for your system and install them to address compatibility issues. 

On the PS4, you can update its software version by doing the following: 

1. On your console, access the Settings and go to System Software Update. 

2. After that, select Update Now to download the latest software. 
3. Finally, follow the on-screen prompts to install the update on your PS4. 

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For the PS5, see the steps below to update its software: 

1. First, open the Settings of your console.
2. After that, navigate to Systems > System Software > System Software Update and Settings. 
3. Now, click on Update System Software. 
4. Lastly, select Update Using Internet. 

After updating your Playstation, go back to the PS Store and try downloading the game again. 

7. Change Your DNS. 

Your current DNS may be having technical issues or could be running slow. Whichever the case is, it could be interfering with your game download. To fix this, try using Google’s DNS, which is faster and much more stable. 

See the step-by-step guide below to change your console’s DNS settings: 

1. First, go to the Settings and access the Network tab. 

2. Now, open Internet Connection Setup and select Use Wi-Fi. 
3. Click on Custom and select Automatic under the IP Address tab. 
4. For the DHCP Host Name, select Do Not Specify. 
5. After that, set the DNS Settings to Manual and enter the following values: 

• Primary DNS - 8.8.8.8
• Secondary DNS - 8.8.4.4

6. Lastly, set the MTU Settings value to 1456 and choose Do Not Use for the Proxy Server. 

After setting up a new DNS, go back to the PS Store and try downloading a game to check if the problem is solved. 

8. Rebuild PS4 Database. 

If you’re unable to download games even if you have tons of free space, it may be a good time to rebuild your PS4’s database. This will help your console identify which portions of your drive are already occupied and still free. 

Here’s how you can rebuild your PS4’s database: 

1. First, boot your PS4 into Safe Mode by holding down the Power button for eight seconds while it is fully turned off. 
2. After that, plug in your controller using the charging cable and press the PS button. 
3. Lastly, select Rebuild Database and wait for the process to complete. 

Once done, go back to the PS Store and check if the problem is solved. 

9. Report the Problem to PSN Support. 

If none of the steps above worked out for you, we recommend that you leave the matter to the professionals. 

Go to Playstation’s support page and contact their customer service team to report the problem you’ve been experiencing. Provide your account details and the model of your console to make it easier for them to assess the situation. 

This sums up our guide on what you should do if you cannot download games on PS4 or PS5 library. If you have any questions or other concerns, please let us know in the comment section below, and we’ll do our best to answer them. 

If this guide helped you, please share it. 🙂