When a PS5 game freezes or crashes, Sony splits the fix by how the game is delivered. For a disc game: wipe the disc, check for a game update, update the system software, start a new game without your save to see whether the save is corrupt, and delete and reinstall from the disc. For a digital game: check that it fully downloaded, update it, and reinstall. If more than one game fails, the console may need attention, and a full reset erases everything, so back up first.
Differential
Likely causes of “PlayStation 5 games crash, freeze or close”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A game that is out of date
What separates it The crash happens at the same point each time and the game has not been updated recently
How to confirm Highlight the game, press Options and choose Check for Update, as Sony directs
- 2
A corrupted saved game
What separates it The game crashes only when it loads your save and starts fine with a new game
How to confirm Play from the beginning without an existing save; Sony lists this as the test for a corrupted save
- 3
A dirty or damaged disc, or an incomplete download
What separates it One disc game crashes on its own, or a digital game was interrupted while downloading
How to confirm Wipe the disc with a soft cloth or check the game's Download Status under Options, Information
- 4
Outdated system software or a damaged database
What separates it Several games crash after a system update or a failed one
How to confirm Update the system software and use Safe Mode, Clear Cache and Rebuild Database
- 5
A game installed on USB extended storage
What separates it A PS5 game will not start or freezes and it is stored on a USB drive
How to confirm Sony says to move the game data to the console's internal storage, since PS5 games are not played from USB extended storage
- 6
HDMI Device Link switching the PS5 off
What separates it The console turns off when the TV turns off or goes to another input, not when the game freezes
How to confirm iFixit lists this as a cause of a PS5 that shuts off by itself: open Settings, System, HDMI, HDMI Device Link and switch it off, then see whether the shutdowns stop
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The game's name, whether it is a disc or a digital game, and the exact moment it crashes
- Whether it happens in single-player, online play, or both
- Whether other games crash too on the console
- Entries in Settings, System, System Software, Error History
Try in this order
0 of 9 completedRestart the console fully
ReversiblePress the PS button and choose Power, Restart PS5. Sony lists a plain restart first when a game will not start, and a restart clears memory that a long session filled.
Update the game
ReversibleHighlight the game, press the Options button and choose Check for Update. A crash that always occurs at the same place is often fixed by a patch.
Update the system software
ReversibleGo to Settings, System, System Software, System Software Update and Settings and install any update. Sony includes the latest system software in both the disc and digital game steps.
Test for a corrupt save
ReversibleStart a new game without loading your existing save. If the game runs, the saved game is the likely cause; Sony lists this test in its crash guide.
For a disc game, clean the disc and reinstall
ReversibleWipe the disc with a clean soft cloth, delete the game from the console and reinstall it from the disc. Try another disc; if only one disc fails, contact the retailer for a replacement.
For a digital game, check the download and reinstall
ReversibleHighlight the game, press Options, choose Information, then Download Status to confirm it fully downloaded. If in doubt, delete it and download it again, preferably over a wired connection.
Rebuild the database in Safe Mode
ReversibleStart Safe Mode by holding the power button until the second beep with the controller on a USB cable, then choose Clear Cache and Rebuild Database. It does not erase your data.
Check the error history
ReversibleGo to Settings, System, System Software, Error History to see what the console recorded; selecting an entry can show details and sometimes a fix. Then reset only as a last resort, after backing up.
Rule out HDMI Device Link
ReversibleIf the console powers off rather than freezes, turn off HDMI Device Link (Settings, System, HDMI, HDMI Device Link). iFixit lists it as a known cause of unexpected shutdowns, because it ties the console's power state to the TV.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Disc games and digital consoles
- A Digital Edition has no drive, so only Sony's digital-game steps apply unless you have added the detachable drive on a Slim Digital or a Pro. The launch Digital Edition cannot take a drive.
- PS5 Pro extras
- Sony's Pro has extra options such as Enhance PSSR Image Quality and Enhance Image Quality for PS4 Games. If a PS4 game misbehaves on a Pro, Sony says to turn Enhance Image Quality for PS4 Games off.
- Tools and supplies
- A soft, clean cloth for the disc, a USB drive for backing up saved data, a USB cable for the controller in Safe Mode, and a towel to set the disc on.
- What to tell Sony support
- The game's name, whether it is disc or digital, the model number and the entries from Error History; a part number is not needed.
- Repair cost
- For this fault a fan and thermal service is about $99 and a liquid metal reapplication about $149. These are BadgerLayer's 2026 PS5 independent-shop prices; Sony's own out-of-warranty service is a higher flat fee with a longer wait.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If more than one game crashes after a reinstall, update and cache rebuild, contact Sony repair
- !If only one game crashes, contact the game publisher; if Sony published it, contact PlayStation Support
- !If you must reset the console, back up first and do not power off during the reset
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Where the manufacturer's article stops. The HDMI Device Link point comes from an iFixit troubleshooting page; it is third-party.
HDMI Device Link and rest mode causes.
Sony's separate steps for disc, digital and online games.
Restart, restore licenses, reinstall and Safe Mode steps.
Where the console lists its errors.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why does my PS5 game keep freezing?+
Follow Sony's steps for how you play: for a disc game, clean the disc and reinstall; for a digital game, confirm the download finished and reinstall. Update the game and the system software in both cases.
How do I tell whether my saved game is corrupt?+
Start the game from the beginning without loading a save. If it runs normally, Sony's guide treats the save as the likely cause.
Will reinstalling the game delete my saves?+
Deleting a game does not necessarily delete its saved data, but back up saves to a USB drive or PlayStation Plus cloud storage before any console reset, which does erase everything.
What if only one game crashes online?+
Try other online games. If several fail, follow the connection troubleshooting. If only one fails, Sony says to contact the game publisher, or PlayStation Support if Sony published it.
How do I reset the PS5 as a last resort?+
Back up your data, then in the PS5 choose System, System Software, Reset Options, Reset Your Console. Sony warns that it erases all data saved on the console storage.
Where can I see what went wrong?+
Settings, System, System Software, Error History lists the errors on the console, and selecting one may show details and how to fix it.
Does the model of PS5 change the fix?+
No, the steps are the same for the launch model, the Slim and the Pro, though a disc game only applies where a drive is fitted.
A padlock is on my game. Is that a crash?+
No. Sony says a padlock can mean a license problem; check the signed-in account, any PlayStation Plus status and restore licenses.