PS5 Not Reading Disc? Here’s How to Troubleshoot [2024]

Many people prefer the PlayStation 5 Disc Edition to the Digital Edition and for a good reason. Physical copies allow you to play offline, rent or lend your PS5 games without worrying about DRMs.

Unfortunately, like any other mass-produced product, some users have been facing issues with PS5’s disc drive. Whether the game disc isn’t spinning or PS5 isn’t reading disc drives, simply follow this troubleshooting guide & you’ll be back on track in no time.

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Why is PS5 Not Reading Disc?

The PS5 is not reading discs mainly for one of the following reasons: you are trying to insert a disc that is damaged or dirty, your console firmware is not updated to the latest version, or hardware issues with the console, like a damaged drive mechanism or maybe just corrupted data or software.

One of the common reasons for PS5 not accepting disc drives is a software glitch, which hinders the process of the optical drive. Another cause could be the condition of the disc, especially if it is scratched or damaged in any way.

Additionally, older game discs, like PS3 discs, may not be compatible with PS5 due to the difference in technology. Corrupted game files may also contribute to the issue, leading to the console displaying an error message or not playing at all.

How to Fix PS5 Disc Reading Issue

The standard edition of the PlayStation 5 comes with a disc drive. Hence, you can play physical games, 4K Blu-ray, and DVDs in it. But in case you face any trouble with PS5’s DVD drive, here’s what you need to do to fix it:

Clean the Game Disc.
Restart Your PS5 console from Safe Mode.
Check if you are inserting the disc the correct way.
Check the PS5 disc drive for compatibility.
Update your PS5 firmware/Reset Your PS5 disc version.
Contact Playstation 5 Support Center.

These troubleshooting methods should help you solve some issues with the PlayStation accepting, reading, or recognizing a disc. Wondering how to apply these methods?

I got you covered. Read the following section to find step-by-step instructions to follow the solutions given.

Here are the steps to fix your ps5 not reading disc:

1. Clean The Disc

Discs are physical devices that are very sensitive to dirt and smudges. We often time don’t remember and take into account cleaning them. And that leads to PS5 DVD drive issues like reading, copying, or recognizing the game disc.

If PS5 is not accepting the disc, the first thing you should do is clean it properly with a microfiber cloth.

Here are the steps to clean your disc properly:

Eject the disc from your PS5 by pressing the eject button. Alternatively, press the Option (On the right of the touchpad with three horizontal lines) button on the DualSense controller, then navigate to the bottom of the menu and select the Eject Disc.
Take the disc out of the console by holding it at the edges. Make sure you don’t touch the surface.
Take a clean, soft cloth and wipe the disc surface with it.
Avoid using any kind of liquid to do this.
Insert the disc by slowly pushing it into the slot in the correct orientation.

On an important note, It’s best to clean the disc every time before inserting it into the console, computer, or DVD player.

2. Insert the Disc in the Correct Alignment

Inserting the disc incorrectly can be the reason behind the console not reading or accepting the disc.

Here are the steps to check your disc orientation:

Eject the inserted disc from your PS5 by pressing the eject button.
Check for any dirt or smudges and clean the surface.
Reinsert it properly in the following way. If your PS5 is positioned vertically on the console stand, make sure you insert the disc with the labeled side on the left.
Credit: playstation.com
And, if your PS5 is placed horizontally, the labeled side of the disc should be on top.
Check if the console is reading the disc now.

Note that the upside of the disc should always face the power and eject buttons.

Interestingly, some users have reported that it doesn’t read the disc when their consoles are placed vertically. Repositioning the console horizontally solved the issue for them.

So, if your PS5 is placed vertically, you can try this and see if it resolves the issue for you.

3. Restart Your PS5 from Safe Mode

Before rebooting your console from Safe Mode, try performing a simple reboot.

Turn off your console by holding the power button down for several seconds. Keep it off for at least 1 minute. Turn it on again by pressing the power button and check if your issue is resolved.

If the issue is persistent, then try booting it from the Safe Mode.

Here are the steps to restart PS5 from Safe Mode to fix the problem:

Press and hold the power button to turn it off.
Keep it off for at least 1 minute.
Hold the power button down until you hear two beeps to get into Safe Mode (you will hear the 2nd beep roughly 7 seconds after the first beep).
Connect the DualSense controller to your PS5 using a type-c cable and press the PS button to pair them.
From the Safe Mode menu, select the 1st option, which is Restart PS5.

After the PS5 boots up, insert your PS4/PS5 disc to check if the issue has been resolved. If not, move on to the next method.

Related article: PS5 not booting into Safe Mode.

4. Check the Disc for Compatibility

If the steps mentioned above didn’t work for you, then maybe your disc isn’t compatible with the PS5. Check the following criteria to make sure your disc is compatible with the PlayStation 5:

PS5 is backward compatible with only PS4 game discs. PS5 can’t read PS3 or older games.
PS5 can only read Ultra HD Blu-Ray discs and authorized DVDs.
Burned discs or any kind of CD won’t work on any PlayStation console.

So, if your disc isn’t compatible, there is no workaround for that.

On the other hand, if your disc checks out, but your console still isn’t reading it, you should try a different disc. If that works without any hassle, chances are the first one is physically damaged.

5. Update PS5 Firmware/Reset Your PS5

As a last resort, you can try updating the system software or resetting it. Sometimes these issues occur because of system glitches; hence resetting/updating the System should fix it. This fix is most effective in case your PS5 not reading PS4 discs.

An important thing to remember, the PS5 automatically updates its system software and all apps if you keep it connected to the internet. But if you don’t always play online or have disabled auto-updates, you have to update the firmware manually.

Here are the steps to update PS5 firmware:

Go to PS5’s Settings by selecting the gears icon.
Click on System.
Navigate to System Software Update & Settings > Update System Software > Update Using Internet.

Wait until the console downloads the update, rebuilds the database, and restarts itself.

However, if your system software is already updated to the latest version, you can try resetting it. Remember, resetting will wipe off all the game files from your internal storage. So, it’s highly recommended to back them up on an external drive or PS cloud. Here’s how:

Go to the Settings menu.
Navigate to System> System Software > Back Up and Restore > Back Up Your PS5.
Select your external drive and back up the data.

After you’ve backed up all your necessary files, follow these steps to reset your PS5:

Turn off your PS5.
Hold down the power button until you hear two beep sounds. You should hear the second beep after around 7 seconds. After the console enters Safe Mode, let go of the power button.
Connect the PS5 controller to the console using a type-c cable and press the PS button.
Select the 7th option Reset PS5 (Reinstall System Software).
Follow the on-screen instructions to reset your System.

If none of the solutions have helped you so far, you should take your PS5 to the local Sony service center. Or contact PlayStation support and let them know about the issue.

How to Fix Error Code CE-106485-4

Sometimes, when trying to copy or install a game from the physical disc into internal storage, it throws an error code CE-106485-4 with the message Something went wrong. The exact reason behind this error code or message is unknown.

So, first, try cleaning the disc and inserting it correctly. If it doesn’t help, follow these workarounds:

Eject the disk from your console.
Navigate to Settings > Storage > Games & Apps.
Find the particular game you were trying to copy and delete it.
Insert the disc you are trying to fix again.
Do not select copy. Wait for a while to start copying automatically.
Restart your PS5 if it doesn’t start copying automatically.

Upon restarting, it will start copying immediately. If you’re still having trouble with copying game files on your PlayStation 5 disc version, refer to the initial troubleshooting guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do PS4 discs work on PS5?

Yes. PS4 disc drives will work just fine on PS5 via backwards compatibility. Simply insert the physical disc of the PS4 game into your PS5 and play it as any other game. You can even download additional content files for that said game.

Is there any difference between PS4 disc and PS5 disc?

If a game is available on both PS4 and PS5, the PS5 disc will contain the native PS5 version, which usually has more/higher quality game assets than the PS4 disc. Furthermore, the PS4 disc will work on a PS5, but the PS5 disc will not work on a PS4.

Do PS3 discs work on PS5?

No. PS5 doesn’t have native backwards compatibility for PS3 discs. You’ll need to play your PS3 games digitally via PlayStation Now.