Restore licenses directly from your PS5 settings

The fastest way to restore licenses on your PS5 is through the console itself. Go to Settings, then Users and Accounts, then Other, then Restore Licenses. The system will connect to PlayStation Network and re-read the rights to any games or content tied to your account. This usually takes a few minutes and does not erase your save files or game data.

You need an active internet connection and your PSN account must be signed in. If you own games on multiple accounts on the same PS5, you may need to restore licenses for each account separately. The console will show you a confirmation message when the process is complete.

Key Takeaways

  • Restoring licenses through Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Restore Licenses takes a few minutes and reconnects your account to your game rights.
  • Your save files and downloaded games stay on the console — restoring licenses does not delete anything.
  • You must be signed into your PSN account and connected to the internet for the restore to work.
  • If games still show as locked after restoring, sign out completely, restart the console, and sign back in.
  • Games purchased on a different PSN account require that account to restore its own licenses on the console.

Why licenses become locked or unavailable

Licenses lock when your PS5 loses connection to PlayStation Network or when your account signs out unexpectedly. This can happen after a network outage, a system update, or if you switch between user accounts. The game files remain on your console, but the system cannot verify that you own the right to play them.

Licenses also lock if you change your PSN password, if your account is temporarily restricted, or if you are playing on a console that is not set as your account's primary PS5. Restoring licenses re-establishes that connection without affecting the games themselves.

What to do if restoring licenses does not work

If games still show as locked after you restore licenses, sign out of your PSN account completely. Go to Settings, then Users and Accounts, then Other, then Sign Out. Wait 30 seconds, then sign back in and try restoring licenses again.

If that does not work, restart your PS5 entirely. Hold the power button on the console for 10 seconds until it shuts down completely, then turn it back on. Once it boots up, sign in and restore licenses a second time. This clears temporary connection issues that a straightforward sign-out may not fix.

Games purchased on different accounts

If someone else on your household bought a game using their PSN account, that account must restore its own licenses for the game to work on your profile. Each account's licenses are separate. You can play games bought by other accounts on your profile only if their account restores licenses on the console.

The account that made the purchase should go to Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Restore Licenses while signed in. After that, any user on the console can play the game. If the purchasing account is no longer available, the game will remain locked for other profiles.

Checking your internet connection

Restoring licenses requires a stable connection to PlayStation Network. If your PS5 is connected to Wi-Fi, move closer to your router or switch to a wired ethernet connection if possible. Wired connections are more reliable for this process.

You can test your connection by going to Settings > Network > Connection Status. The console will show whether it can reach PlayStation Network. If the test fails, restart your router and try again. If your internet is down, wait until service is restored before attempting to restore licenses.

When to contact PlayStation Support

If you have restored licenses multiple times, restarted the console, and games still show as locked, your account may have a restriction or a billing issue. This is rare, but it can happen if a payment method failed or if your account was flagged for unusual activity.

Contact PlayStation Support through the official PlayStation website. Have your PSN username and the names of the locked games ready. Support can check your account status and, if needed, manually restore your licenses or lift any temporary restrictions. Response times vary, but most issues are resolved within 24 hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will restoring licenses delete my game saves?

No. Restoring licenses only reconnects your account to your game rights. Your save files, screenshots, and all downloaded games stay on the console. The process does not touch any of your data.

Do I need to restore licenses after every system update?

Not usually. Most updates do not affect licenses. You only need to restore if games suddenly show as locked or unavailable after an update or network issue.

Can I restore licenses on a PS5 I do not own?

Yes, but only for your own account. You can sign into your PSN account on any PS5 and restore your licenses. However, if you set that console as your primary PS5, other accounts on that console can play your games — so be careful with shared consoles.

How long does restoring licenses take?

Usually two to five minutes, depending on how many games you own and your internet speed. The console will show a progress screen while it reconnects to PlayStation Network.

What if the restore licenses option is grayed out?

This means you are not signed into a PSN account. Go back to Users and Accounts, make sure you are signed in, and try again. You must be logged in to your account for the option to appear.