What restoring licenses means and when you need to do it

Restoring licenses on your PS5 tells the console to re-download the rights information for games you own. When you buy a game digitally or through PlayStation Plus, Sony stores a license tied to your account. Sometimes that license data gets corrupted or out of sync — your game shows as unplayable even though you own it, or you see a lock icon next to a title you should have access to.

This happens most often after you change your PlayStation Network password, move your account to a different console, or if your PS5 loses internet connection during a download. The game files are still on your console, but the license that proves you own them needs to be refreshed. Restoring licenses takes about five minutes and works for most cases where a game suddenly becomes unplayable.

Key Takeaways

  • Restoring licenses re-syncs your account's game ownership with your PS5 console, which fixes most cases where owned games show as locked.
  • The restore process is built into PS5 settings under Users and Accounts, and you do not need to delete or re-download your games.
  • You must be signed into the account that owns the games you want to restore — restoring licenses on one account does not unlock games for other accounts on the same console.
  • If restoring licenses does not work, the issue is usually a PlayStation Network connection problem or a license tied to a different account than the one you are using.

How to restore licenses on your PS5

Start from the PS5 home screen. Press the PlayStation button on your controller to open the control center, then scroll right to find Settings. Select it and scroll down to Users and Accounts.

Inside Users and Accounts, select Other, then Restore Licenses. The console will ask you to confirm — select Restore again. Your PS5 will connect to PlayStation Network and re-download the license data for every game tied to the account you are currently signed into. This usually takes one to three minutes. Do not turn off your console during this process.

Once the restore completes, go back to your game library. Games that were locked should now show as playable. If a game still shows a lock icon, try launching it directly — sometimes the library display does not update immediately and the game will start normally.

Why a game stays locked after restoring licenses

If restoring licenses did not work, the most common reason is that the game license is tied to a different account than the one you are signed into. On PS5, you can have multiple accounts on one console, and each account has its own library. If you bought a game on Account A but are trying to play it on Account B, that game will stay locked even after restoring licenses on Account B.

To fix this, sign into the account that originally purchased the game and restore licenses there. If you want other accounts on the console to play that game, you need to set the console as the primary PS5 for the account that owns the license. Go to Settings, Users and Accounts, Other, Console Sharing and Offline Play, and select Enable. This lets any account on that console play games owned by the primary account.

Another reason a game might stay locked is if your PlayStation Network connection dropped during the restore. Make sure your PS5 is connected to the internet with a strong signal, then try restoring licenses again. If you are using Wi-Fi and it keeps disconnecting, try connecting an ethernet cable directly to your console.

When restoring licenses does not fix the problem

If you have restored licenses, confirmed you are signed into the correct account, and the game still will not play, the issue may be with your PlayStation Plus subscription. Games included with PlayStation Plus are only playable while your subscription is active. If your subscription expired, those games will show as locked. Renew your subscription through the PlayStation Store or your account settings to regain access.

For games you purchased outright rather than through PlayStation Plus, a persistent lock after restoring licenses usually means the license data on PlayStation Network is corrupted. This is rare but does happen. In this case, you may need to contact PlayStation Support directly. Have your receipt or proof of purchase ready, and be prepared to explain when the game stopped working and what you have already tried.

Restoring licenses versus rebuilding your database

Restoring licenses and rebuilding your PS5 database are two different fixes for two different problems. Restoring licenses re-syncs your account ownership with the console. Rebuilding the database repairs the file system that stores information about all your games and apps — it is a deeper fix for console performance issues or corrupted game data.

If your games are locked, start with restoring licenses. If your console is running slowly, crashing, or games are freezing during play, rebuilding the database may help. To rebuild, go to Settings, System, System Software, System Software Update and Settings, then Rebuild Database. This process takes 10 to 30 minutes depending on how many games you have installed, and you cannot use your PS5 during the rebuild.

Preventing license problems in the future

Most license issues come from account or connection problems, not hardware failure. Keep your PlayStation Network password secure and change it only when necessary — each password change can temporarily desync your licenses. If you do change your password, restore licenses afterward to re-sync everything.

If you move your account to a different PS5 console, restore licenses on the new console as soon as you sign in. This re-establishes the connection between your account and the new hardware. Keep your PS5 connected to the internet regularly so license data stays current. If you plan to be offline for an extended period, make sure to restore licenses before you disconnect.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I lose my games when I restore licenses?

No. Restoring licenses does not delete, move, or change your game files. It only re-downloads the ownership information from PlayStation Network. Your games stay installed and your save data is not affected.

Why do I need to restore licenses if I own the game?

Your PS5 stores two things: the game files and a separate license file that proves you own it. The license file can get out of sync with PlayStation Network due to connection drops, account changes, or console updates. Restoring licenses re-syncs them so your console knows you still own the game.

Can I restore licenses for games on other people's accounts?

No. You can only restore licenses for the account you are currently signed into. If someone else on your console has locked games, they need to sign into their own account and restore licenses themselves, or the account that owns the games needs to set your console as its primary PS5.

How often should I restore licenses?

You only need to restore licenses when a game shows as locked or unplayable. There is no benefit to restoring licenses regularly if your games are working normally. Restore them only when you encounter a problem.

What if restoring licenses takes longer than a few minutes?

If the restore is taking more than five minutes, your internet connection may be slow or unstable. Wait for it to finish, but if it hangs for more than 10 minutes, cancel it and try again after checking your connection. If you are using Wi-Fi, move closer to your router or use an ethernet cable.