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Topics: PlayStation, PlayStation 5, Sony
PlayStation 5 users need to know about this simple trick that could fix all of their storage space problems.
Video games take up a lot of space nowadays, so it feels like we’re in a never-ending battle to clear our hard drives and make room for the next AAA RPG or massive online multiplayer game.
It doesn’t help when games like Crimson Desert receive a 30GB update as that can be an entire game in itself that you have to clear just to keep exploring Pywel.
Speaking of that update, my PlayStation 5 refused to download it last night as it claimed I didn’t have enough storage space in my internal hard drive.
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When checking my storage, it reported 130GB of free space, and yet it refused to install anything until something was deleted.
If you’ve been encountering a similar problem, keep reading as there’s a clever fix you probably aren’t aware of.
The PlayStation 5 always keeps a section of internal memory reserved for things like system updates but the Available Space section is what’s used when installing games, apps and captures.
If your PlayStation 5 is telling you there’s plenty of Available Space but is still giving you an error message when you’re trying to install something, try this.
Turn your console off completely by either holding down the power button or using your controller.
Once it’s switched off give it a minute and hold the power button down until it beeps, but keep holding it.
Your PlayStation 5 will then boot into Safe Mode, and you’ll be asked to connect a controller by USB-C. Note that only the D-Pad will work for navigating the menus here, the control stick will be inactive.
When you’ve got your controller plugged in go down the menu to Repair Storage and select it. Don’t worry, your save data and installed games will be fine.
Your console will then repair its internal storage and reboot, bringing you back to the PlayStation 5 home screen.
Now when you go to download a game it should work as normal provided you actually do have enough free space on your hard drive to install it.
This worked a treat for my console as my Crimson Desert update started downloading immediately, so if you’ve been having a similar issue give this a go.
The cause of this fault will likely vary from console to console but one of the main causes is improper shutdowns.
If your PlayStation 5 is in Rest Mode 24/7 and there’s a power cut or the plug gets knocked it can cause serious damage to your console.
Unless you need it to be in Rest Mode to install a game or charge a controller, it’s always best to keep it completely powered down.
The PlayStation 5’s Safe Mode is well-worth remembering though, if you ever encounter another fault with your console, as it can do a lot more than just repair your internal storage.
READ MORE: PS5 Drops New System Update, Adds Feature No One Asked For