Games being locked on your PlayStation 5 (PS5) can be a frustrating experience for gamers. Imagine eagerly wanting to play a game you’ve purchased, only to find it inaccessible with a lock symbol next to it. In this blog post, we will delve into the reasons behind why games may be locked on your PS5 and provide you with practical solutions to unlock them.
Let’s explore the common issues that lead to locked games on the PS5 and how you can resolve them effectively.
How to Unlock Games on PS5
Restoring Licenses (Step-by-Step Guide)
If you encounter locked games on your PS5, you can follow these step-by-step instructions to restore licenses and unlock your digital content:
Navigate to Settings
- From the PS5 home screen, move up to access the main menu.
- Select “Settings” to enter the system settings menu.
Access Users and Accounts
- Within the settings menu, scroll down and choose “Users and Accounts.”
Select Other
- Under Users and Accounts, locate and select the “Other” option.
Choose Restore Licenses
- Within the Other settings, you will find the “Restore Licenses” option.
- Click on “Restore Licenses” to initiate the process.
Wait for Completion
- Depending on the number of games and content you have, the restoration process may take some time.
- Allow the system to complete the license restoration for all your downloaded content.
Restart the Console
- After restoring licenses, it is recommended to restart your PS5 console.
- This step helps ensure that the changes take effect and your games are unlocked.
Verify Game Access
- Once the console restarts, check the games that were previously locked to confirm that they are now accessible for gameplay.
By following these steps to restore licenses on your PS5, you can effectively unlock games that were previously showing as locked. This process helps synchronize the licensing information and permissions, allowing you to enjoy your digital content without any restrictions.
Signing In and Out of Accounts
If you are still experiencing locked games on your PS5 after restoring licenses, you can try signing in and out of your accounts to potentially resolve the issue. Follow these step-by-step instructions to unlock games by signing in and out of accounts:
Sign Out of Your Account
- From the PS5 home screen, navigate to the top menu.
- Select your profile icon and choose the option to sign out of your account.
Sign Back In
- After signing out, you will be prompted to sign back in.
- Enter your email address and password to log back into your PlayStation 5 account.
Check Game Access
- Once you have signed back in, verify if the previously locked games are now accessible for gameplay.
- Navigate to the games that were locked and attempt to launch them to confirm successful unlocking.
Restart the Console (if needed)
- If the games remain locked after signing in and out, consider restarting your PS5 console.
- Restarting the console can help apply any changes made during the sign-in process.
Test Game Accessibility
- After restarting the console, check the locked games again to ensure that they are now unlocked and playable without restrictions.
By signing in and out of your accounts on the PS5, you may troubleshoot locking issues related to account authentication and access permissions. This method can help refresh your account status and potentially unlock games that were previously inaccessible.
Additional Steps to Unlock Games on PS5
If restoring licenses and signing in and out of accounts did not resolve the locking issues for your games on the PS5, you can consider the following additional steps to unlock them:
Delete and Re-download the Game
- Highlight the locked game on the PS5 home screen.
- Press the OPTIONS button on your controller.
- Select “Delete” to remove the game from your console.
- Navigate to the Game Library and find the game in “Your Collection.”
- Download the game again to reinstall it on your PS5.
- This process does not affect saved data, ensuring you do not lose any game progress.
Enable Console Sharing and Offline Play
- Go to Settings on your PS5.
- Select “Users and Accounts.”
- Scroll to “Other” and choose “Console Sharing and Offline Play.”
- Enable this feature to allow shared access to games and applications.
- After enabling Console Sharing, try restoring licenses again to ensure proper access to your digital content.
Contact Sony Support
- If the locking issue persists despite trying the above methods, consider reaching out to Sony’s support team for further assistance.
- Sony’s support can provide guidance and troubleshooting steps tailored to your specific situation to help unlock the games on your PS5.
By following these additional steps, you can further troubleshoot and address locking issues with games on your PlayStation 5. These methods aim to resolve any underlying issues causing games to remain locked and restore access to your digital content for uninterrupted gameplay.
Reasons for Games Being Locked on PS5
Console Sharing Settings
One common reason for games being locked on your PS5 is related to console sharing settings. When console sharing is disabled on your PS5, it can result in games appearing as locked for certain users. Console sharing allows multiple users on the same console to access games purchased by one user.
However, if console sharing is turned off, other users may encounter locked games on their profiles. This setting is crucial for ensuring seamless access to purchased games across different user accounts on the console.
Licensing Issues
Another factor that can lead to games being locked on your PS5 is licensing issues. This issue often arises when the PlayStation 5 encounters difficulties in recognizing the ownership of games. In situations where the console is unsure about the ownership status of certain games, it may display them as locked.
This can happen when there are changes in user accounts or if there are discrepancies in the licensing information stored on the console. Resolving licensing issues is essential to ensure that you can freely access and play your purchased games without any restrictions.
PlayStation Plus Games
Games obtained through PlayStation Plus subscriptions can also be subject to locking issues on the PS5. Users may find that certain PlayStation Plus games, such as “Beyond Two Souls,” “Fall Guys,” or “God of War,” are locked and inaccessible for gameplay. This can be particularly frustrating, especially when other purchased games are not affected by the locking problem.
Resolving issues with locked PlayStation Plus games requires specific actions, such as restoring licenses associated with these games. By addressing these issues, you can regain access to your PlayStation Plus titles and enjoy uninterrupted gaming experiences on your PS5.
Conclusion
In conclusion, unlocking games on your PS5 can be achieved through various methods such as restoring licenses, signing in and out of accounts, deleting and re-downloading games, enabling Console Sharing, and seeking assistance from Sony Support if needed.
By following these steps, you can troubleshoot and resolve locking issues to ensure seamless access to your digital content on the PlayStation 5. If you encounter persistent locking issues, exploring these solutions can help you enjoy your games without restrictions.
