Unable to launch a 2K game on your console? Or, are you experiencing issues with not getting the latest updates? Our general troubleshooting guide for consoles covers how to diagnose and resolve issues revolving around game launch, DLC, network connections and more.
Restart your console
Classic, but a great step at resolving a lot of basic issues. Be sure to let your console shut down completely during its restart. This allows the console time to re-sync and process any updates for the game or for the system. If you often leave your console in stand-by mode or put it to sleep, it’s recommended to shut down the console every once in a while so it can update.
XBOX: Removing Quick Resume on your console
Especially in multiplayer games, there are times Quick Resume for the XBOX can line up with errors or issues. Luckily Microsoft makes it easy to disable this feature on a per-game basis
To disable or enable a game from using Quick Resume:
- Highlight the game box art anywhere in the console experience (Home, My Games & Apps, Pins, etc)
- Then press the Menu button
- Go to Manage game and add-ons Quick Resume settings Disable Quick Resume
That's all it takes. You can read more about Quick Resume here.
Updating your console
The first step for troubleshooting on your console is to ensure your device is on the latest updates. Most consoles are set to automatically update their systems when offline, but if you’ve disabled this feature or often leave your console on rest/standby mode without fully turning it off, you can check for updates manually.
Ensure your console is connected to the internet.
Press the XBOX button to open the guide.
Go to Profile & system Settings System Updates.
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Under Updates, you’ll see:
Console update available. Select this to begin your update, or
No console update available. This means your console is up to date.
For PlayStation 5:
Ensure your console is connected to the internet.
Go to Settings System.
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Select System Software System Software Update and Settings.
Update Available appears if a newer version is available.
Select Update System Software to update.
For PlayStation 4:
Ensure your console is connected to the internet.
Go to Settings.
Select System Software Update.
If there is an update file for a later version, it automatically downloads.
Ensure your console is connected to the internet.
Go to System Settings.
Select Settings and then System Updates.
Re-downloading the game and cloud saves
Games may become corrupted during the download process. A complete re-installation is recommended to help flush out any back end files that may have become corrupted. To back up your save data, ensure you have the cloud enabled for your respective console:
PlayStation 5:
PlayStation Plus is required to access cloud saves.
Head to Settings then to Saved Data and Game/App Settings
Select Saved Data (PS5) or Saved Data (PS4).
From here you can upload or download data from your storage.
For more information on PlayStation 5’s cloud storage, check out their article here.
For PlayStation 4:
PlayStation Plus is required to access cloud saves.
Head to Settings then to Application Data Management
Select Saved Data in System Storage.
From here you can upload or download data from your storage.
For more information on PlayStation 4’s cloud storage, check out their article here.
A Nintendo Switch Online membership is required to access cloud saves
From the HOME Menu, hi-light the game icon.
- Press the+or– Buttonto open the software menu.
- Select Save Data Cloud, then select your user.
- Select Download Save Data.
Testing your network connection
A faulty connection can prevent a game from connecting to its servers. If your game is not launching properly, performing a network connectivity test can verify if it’s a connection related problem
Press the XBOX button to open the guide.
Select Profile & system Settings General Network settings
On the Network settings screen, select Test network connection. If the connection test is successful, your console will connect to the XBOX service.
To further troubleshoot issues with your network connection, check out this article from XBOX.
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Select Settings menu:
On PlayStation 5 the Settings menu is in the upper right next to your profile.
On PlayStation 4 the Settings menu is located in the far right of the main screen.
Select Network.
Click Test Internet Connection.
To further troubleshoot issues with your network connection, check out this article from PlayStation.
Go to System Settings.
Select Internet and then Test Connection.
To further troubleshoot issues with your network connection, check out this article from Nintendo.
Using a different profile
User profiles can become corrupted, which can cause issues when playing or launching games. To see if a profile is corrupted, try playing the same game on a different or new profile.
Press the XBOX button.
Select Profile & system, then select Add or switch.
Select a different profile or create a new one.
For PlayStation 4:
Press the PlayStation button.
From the Power section, select Switch User.
Select a different profile or create a new one.
For PlayStation 5:
From the main menu, tab over to the profile icon.
Select Switch Users.
Select a different profile or create a new one.
To change to a different profile, hit Y from the home page and select a different profile.
To create a new user, from the main menu, select System Settings.
Select Users, then Add User.
Installing additional content and DLC
If you’ve encountered an issue with the DLC or additional content not appearing with your game, ensure it is properly installed on your console.
Insert the game disc into the console to begin downloading the base game.
If prompted, begin downloading all available patches as well.
Once the base game and all patches are installed, ensure that the game is closed. Not suspended, but actually closed and not running at all.
From here go to the console store and select the redeem code.
Input the Code(s) found in the paper insert of the game for the bundle or DLC you are downloading
Wait for the DLC to finish downloading.
Ensure that all DLC is finished downloading and start the application.
You should see messaging indicating the DLC content is present.
If you received a code to redeem with your copy of a game
Go to the console store and select redeem code.
After successfully inputting the code confirm that the base game and the appropriate DLC is present in the bundle.
Begin downloading the content.
You should also be prompted to download the latest patch for your game. Ensure that it is being downloaded as well.
Wait for all the content to be fully downloaded.
Start the application.
You should see messaging indicating the DLC content is present.
Go to your console's digital store and locate the game you are wanting to download for.
Select the version of the game you would like to purchase.
After successfully paying for the game you should be prompted to begin downloading the base game as well as the DLC.
Begin downloading the content.
You should also be prompted to download the latest patch for your game. Ensure that it is being downloaded as well.
Wait for all the content to be fully downloaded
Start the application.
You should see messaging indicating the DLC content is present.
In addition to the above steps if you've already downloaded content and are experiencing issues please try the following console specific options:
Ensure that the game is closed (not suspended but actually closed and quit out of)
Go the XBOX Marketplace and search for the DLC that appears to be missing
Once found, since you already have the license it should not cost any money, and instead of "buy" there should be an "install" option.
After manually downloading the content, start the game and it should be available.
For PlayStation 4
If you're experiencing issues with additional content it is recommended to "Restore Your Licenses"
Ensure that your game is not running and that it is closed.
Press the PS Button and go to Settings Account Management Restore Licenses
Start the game and the additional content should be available.
For PlayStation 5
Just like PS4 you will want to "Restore Your Licenses" - the only difference is where you will find that option for a PS5.
PS5 Restore Licenses location:
On the Main Menu select the Settings cog in the top right.
Select Users and Accounts.
Select Other.
Select Restore Licenses, and confirm.
Then you should be able to start the game and the additional content should be available
Here is how to redownload individual add-on content from the Nintendo Switch eShop:
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Access the Nintendo eShop with the Nintendo Account that purchased the content.
The content can only be redownloaded by the Nintendo Account that originally purchased it.
Search for the game title that the content is associated with.
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Select the game and scroll down to view all available Downloadable Content, below the game details.
If a DLC bundle was purchased (such as a season pass or expansion pass), you may first need to select the bundle to locate the individual add-on content it contains.
Select the previously purchased Downloadable Content. It will display "Purchased" instead of a cost.
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Select "Redownload" to redownload the content.
The download for the DLC will begin automatically. You can check the download status on the HOME Menu.
If that doesn't work, try this method to redownload content from the Nintendo Switch eShop:
Access the Nintendo Switch HOME Menu and verify whether an icon for the game appears there.
If the game has an icon, select it on the HOME Menu.
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Select “Download”.
The download will begin automatically. You can check the download status on the HOME Menu.
If you see an error message that says "The Nintendo Account used to purchase this software has been unlinked," you are not using the primary console for the Nintendo Account that purchased the game.
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If there is no icon, access the Nintendo eShop with the Nintendo Account that purchased the game.
The game can only be re-downloaded by the Nintendo Account that originally purchased the game.
Select the picture of your icon in the upper-right corner to access your Account Information.
Highlight “Redownload” on the left side of the screen. A list of titles you’ve purchased will appear.
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Highlight the game you want to re-download and select the orange icon to begin the download.
This will redownload the game and any previously downloaded DLC for the game. If you only wish to redownload the game, hold down the L Button while selecting the orange icon.
The download will begin automatically. You can check the download status on the HOME Menu.
Managing your console storage
Game updates and new content can't be installed if you've completely used up your storage on your console. Be sure to manage your storage frequently, and leave some extra space for additional future updates.
To remove a game and make space on your internal drive:
- Press the XBOX button on your controller.
- Select Profile & system Settings System Storage devices.
- From here you can select View Contents, which will take you to your games and apps.
- Highlight the game you’d like to uninstall and press the menu button.
- Then, select either Uninstall to remove a whole game, or select Manage game and add-ons to uninstall add-ons.
If you’ve been having trouble with a game crashing, or have stored your games on an external drive, you can try moving it to your internal one. To manage your internal and external storage:
- Press the XBOX button on your controller and open the guide.
- Select Profile & System then go to Settings System Storage devices.
- Select Change install locations and select your internal drive.
Once complete, relaunch the game and see if the issue persists.
For more information on managing your XBOX storage, check out XBOX’s guide here.
To back up data to the Cloud*:
*PlayStation Plus is required to use Cloud storage.
Go to Settings Saved Data and Game/App Settings.
Select Saved Data (PS5) or Saved Data (PS4).
Select Upload or Delete from Console Storage.
To remove a game and make space on your internal drive:
Go to Settings Storage Console Storage Games and Apps.
Choose the data you want to get rid of, and select Delete or select Customize to uninstall add-ons.
For more information on managing your PlayStation storage, check out PlayStation's guide here.
Error codes
If you’ve encountered any system based error codes while playing, check out the articles below for each console to find tailored troubleshooting steps to help address them.
Any error codes that always appear after repeating the same steps several times can be submitted to us for further investigation. Check out our article here on what to submit for a bug report.
XBOX error codes are generated with a “0x” followed by 8 digits or letters.
The article here from XBOX provides the most commonly generated error codes and some troubleshooting to help address them.
PlayStation error codes are generated with a “CE” in the beginning
This article here from PlayStation provides the most commonly generated CE error codes and some troubleshooting to help address them
Switch error codes are generated as “XXXX-XXXX” with 8 digits.
This article here from Nintendo will provide access to their error code database and some troubleshooting to help address them.
PlayStation: Launching Your PlayStation in Safe Mode
PlayStation has a few options available in Safe Mode to help clear the cache, repair console storage, and update your system software To learn more about launching your PlayStation into Safe Mode and the selections available in this mode, check out the article here.
Repairing and Updating your PlayStation Software:
Before heading into Safe Mode, you’ll want to ensure you have a backup save of your data in the Storage Cloud or on a USB drive. You can review how to backup your storage here for PlayStation 5 and here for PlayStation 4.
Next, you’ll launch your PlayStation into Safe Mode:
- Turn off your console by holding the power button for three seconds.
- Once the console is off, press and hold the power button again.
- Release it after you hear the two beeps: one beep sounds when you first press, and another after seven seconds.
- Connect your controller with the USB cable and press the PS button on the controller.
Once you are in Safe Mode, select one of the options below:
- Repair Console Storage
- Update System Software
- Clear Cache and Rebuild Database
After the selection is completed, you will be sent to your Home screen. From there you can relaunch your game and determine if the issue persists
If the issue does persist, try one of the other selections from the list.
Changing your system language
Go to Settings
Select System
Select Language & Location
Select your preferred Language Region
Select your preferred Location
To change the language settings on your PlayStation 5:
Go to Settings
Select System
Select Language
Select your preferred Console Language
Select Input Language then press the + Add Language button and select your preferred language
To change the language settings on your PlayStation 4:
Go to Settings
Select Language
Select System Language
Select your preferred language
Go to the Home menu
Select System Settings
Scroll down to System
On the right select Language
Select your preferred language.