A PS5 that will not read a disc has a short ladder from Sony: reinsert the disc after each step, wipe it with a soft clean cloth from the center outward, try a different disc, and remember the console cannot play burned discs or audio CDs. If that fails, Safe Mode's Clear Cache and Rebuild Database comes next, and Reset PS5 is the last resort because it deletes everything. A stuck disc is a separate job: a #1 Phillips screw on the underside releases it. A Slim's drive is a detachable module, so check it is seated before blaming the disc.
Differential
Likely causes of “PlayStation 5 (launch, Slim and Digital models) will not read discs”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A dirty or fingerprinted disc
What separates it One disc will not read but other discs work, and the disc looks smudged
How to confirm Wipe from the center to the edge with a soft, clean, lint-free cloth and reinsert it; Sony recommends this first
- 2
The disc is not a type the PS5 plays
What separates it A burned disc or an audio CD is rejected while commercial game and movie discs read fine
How to confirm Sony says the PS5 cannot play burned discs or audio CDs, so try a commercial PS5, PS4 or Ultra HD Blu-ray disc
- 3
The disc was inserted the wrong way round
What separates it The console spits the disc out or ignores it, especially after standing it on the stand
How to confirm With the console upright on the stand, the label side of the disc faces left as you insert it
- 4
A detachable disc drive on a Slim or Pro that is not seated
What separates it No disc is read at all and the console acts as if it has no drive, after moving or cleaning the console
How to confirm Turn off, unplug and press the drive module firmly onto the console until it clicks, then try a disc again
- 5
A corrupted system database
What separates it Several discs fail, game icons look wrong, or the console behaves oddly after a crash
How to confirm Start Safe Mode and choose Clear Cache and Rebuild Database, which Sony lists before any reset
- 6
A disc drive that has failed on a Slim or Pro
What separates it No disc is accepted or read on any disc, and the drive does not load, even after Sony's steps
How to confirm iFixit shows the Slim and Pro drive is a separate module behind a clip-on cover, held by hooks and one socket, so Sony or a repair shop can swap it as a unit
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether the disc is a PS5 game, a PS4 game, a movie disc or a burned disc
- Whether the console is a launch model with a built-in drive or a Slim or Pro with a detachable one
- Whether more than one disc fails, and whether the disc has scratches or fingerprints
- Whether the console is standing or lying flat, since the label side faces left when standing
Try in this order
0 of 8 completedInspect and clean the disc
ReversibleHold the disc by the edges, look for scratches and dirt, and wipe it from the center to the edge with a soft lint-free cloth made for Blu-ray or DVD discs. Reinsert it after each step in this list; Sony asks for a fresh insertion after every check.
Try a second disc
ReversibleUse a different commercial game, Blu-ray or DVD. Sony says burned discs and audio CDs are not supported, so a rejected homemade disc is not a fault. If a second disc reads, the first disc is the problem.
Check how you are inserting it
ReversibleIf the console is standing, the label side of the disc faces left. Insert it gently until the drive takes it. If the disc is rejected in one position but reads in the other, note which.
Reseat the drive on a Slim or Pro
ReversibleTurn the console off, unplug it and check that the disc drive module is attached firmly. A Slim or Pro with a drive that has come loose reads nothing. The launch model's drive is built in, so this step does not apply to it.
Rebuild the database in Safe Mode
ReversibleHold the power button until the second beep, connect the controller with its USB cable, press the PS button, then choose Clear Cache and Rebuild Database. Sony offers this as the step after cleaning. It does not erase your games.
Reinstall system software only as a last resort
ReversibleIf disc reading still fails, Safe Mode's Reset PS5 (Reinstall System Software) is the last step and it deletes all information on the console. Back up saved data to a USB drive or cloud storage before you choose it.
Release a stuck disc with a screwdriver
ReversibleTurn the console off, unplug everything, lay it on a soft cloth, remove the base, lift the drive cover, and turn the exposed screw clockwise with a #1 Phillips screwdriver until the disc is almost fully out. Do not turn the console on with the cover off.
Contact Sony if the disc still will not read
ReversibleSony's final step is PlayStation Repairs. Give them the model number and say which steps you completed.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Built-in versus detachable drive
- The launch PS5 (CFI-1000, CFI-1100, CFI-1200) has a built-in Ultra HD Blu-ray drive that cannot be removed. The Slim (CFI-2000) and the Pro use a detachable drive module, which the Slim Digital and Pro can accept as an add-on.
- Launch Digital Edition
- The 2020 Digital Edition has no drive and cannot be given one, so this page does not apply to it.
- Tools and supplies
- A #1 Phillips or cross-hatch screwdriver, a small flashlight, a soft cloth to lay the console on, and a lint-free cloth for the disc.
- Model and serial number
- Sony repair asks for the model number and the serial number, not a part number; both are printed on the label on the console.
- Disc drive service (third-party)
- iFixit has a Slim disc drive replacement guide, a guide to adding a drive to a Pro, and a laser replacement guide for the original PS5. They are third-party procedures; Sony's own route for a failed drive is its repair service.
- Repair cost
- For this fault a disc drive repair starts at about $169. 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.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition slim, PlayStation 5 launch disc model, PlayStation 5 launch Digital Edition, PlayStation 5 Pro.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If a disc is stuck and will not eject, do not pry it; follow Sony's screw-release steps or contact Sony repair
- !If Clear Cache and Rebuild Database and a reinstall do not fix it, request a repair
- !If you hear grinding or scraping when a disc loads, stop using the drive and unplug the console
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Where the manufacturer's article stops. Sony writes them for the whole PS5 family. The drive type per model (built-in on the launch console, detachable on the Slim and the Pro) is recorded from Sony's product listings and safety guide, not from these support articles. The disc drive service points come from two iFixit guides; they are third-party.
Detachable drive, pairing over the internet.
Adding a drive to a Pro.
Sony's disc reading ladder and the manual eject steps.
Screwdriver-based manual eject.
Clear Cache and Rebuild Database and Reset PS5.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why won't my PS5 read a disc?+
Start with the disc. Sony's ladder is to clean it with a soft cloth, try another disc, check the orientation, then use Safe Mode's Clear Cache and Rebuild Database, and a console reset only after all of those.
Can a PS5 play burned discs or CDs?+
No. Sony says PS5 consoles cannot play burned discs or audio CDs. Commercial PS5 and PS4 discs, Blu-ray movies and DVDs are supported.
Which way does the disc go in?+
With the console upright on its stand, Sony says the labeled side of the disc faces left as you insert it.
How do I get a stuck disc out of a PS5?+
Turn the console off, unplug it, remove the base and the drive cover, and turn the release screw clockwise with a #1 Phillips screwdriver until the disc is almost fully visible. Then remove it gently.
Is it safe to play the console with the cover off?+
No. Sony says not to turn on or play the console with the cover off. Refit the cover until it clicks before you reconnect cables.
Does the PS5 Digital Edition have this problem?+
A digital console has no drive, so disc-reading symptoms only apply if you added a drive. The launch Digital Edition cannot take one, while the Slim Digital and the Pro accept Sony's detachable drive.
Will Rebuild Database delete my saves?+
No. Sony describes Clear Cache and Rebuild Database as a way to fix system feature issues. Reset PS5, on the other hand, deletes all information on the console.
Why does my disc game ask for the disc when it is installed?+
A disc game needs its disc in the drive to play even after it installs. If the drive cannot read the disc, follow the steps above; the install itself is not the issue.
When should I stop and call Sony?+
When the disc is stuck and the screw will not free it, when the drive grinds, or when Rebuild Database and a reinstall do not help.
Can a PS5 Slim or Pro disc drive be replaced or added?+
iFixit's guides show the drive attaches with hooks on one edge and a socket at the bottom right corner, behind a cover held by hooks and three clips. It also says an internet connection is needed to set up and pair a new drive, and that a console with no drive needs a cover that fits over one.
Why does a replacement drive need the internet?+
iFixit states the new drive must be paired with the console over an internet connection; the reason is not given, so check Sony's own instructions before buying a drive.