When a PS5 system software update fails, start with the exact code, check PlayStation Network status, and retry over a stable connection. If the download keeps failing, Sony’s supported fallback is a manual update through Safe Mode using either the internet or an official update file on a USB drive. The steps below explain the common codes and show how to avoid confusing an update with a factory reset.
Some codes often grouped together online describe different problems. PlayStation identifies WS-116522-7 as a system software update failure. CE-107857-8 refers to loading or updating a game or app, while WS-116520-5 is a server connection error. Check the code on your console before following code-specific advice.
| Error code | What PlayStation says | Best first move |
|---|---|---|
| WS-116522-7 | System software update failed; the console did not recognize the latest version. | Restart the PS5 and network, use a wired connection if possible, then retry or use the official USB update method. |
| NP-102944-0 | The console needs the latest system software. | Connect to the internet and update. If the update fails, restart the network equipment and console or try another update method. |
| NP-102946-2 | The latest update file needs to be installed. | Check that there is enough free space, and let an update already in progress finish. |
| WS-116520-5 | The console had an error connecting to the server. | Check service status, restart the console and router, and test with Ethernet if available. |
| CE-107857-8 | An error occurred while loading or updating an application. | Update the game or app and system software; if it continues, troubleshoot that app. |
| CE-117773-6 | A general PS5 error. PlayStation recommends checking the internet connection, sign-in, system software, and PS Plus subscription. | Confirm those items before retrying. It is not listed as a storage-space code. |
These definitions follow PlayStation’s WS-116522-7, NP-102944-0, NP-102946-2, WS-116520-5, CE-107857-8, and CE-117773-6 support pages.
Write down the full code, including every letter, number, and hyphen. Then check the PlayStation Network status page. If a relevant service is down or under maintenance, wait until it is restored before repeating the update. A server-side problem will not be fixed by changing DNS or resetting the console.
If the console is still installing an update, do not turn it off or unplug it. Otherwise, choose Power > Turn Off PS5, wait for the power indicator to go out, and restart the console. Restart the modem and router too; for WS-116522-7, PlayStation says to leave them off for at least five minutes before turning them back on. Connect the PS5 to the router with Ethernet if practical. On Wi-Fi, move the console closer to the router and clear obstructions.
Open Settings > Network > Connection Status > Test Internet Connection to check connectivity. If other devices also cannot reach the internet, contact your internet provider. If only the PS5 has trouble, reconnect it to the network and try the update again.
For NP-102946-2, check Settings > Storage and make room only if needed. Remove an unused game or app, or move captures you no longer need; avoid deleting saved data as a first step. PlayStation’s PS5 update instructions call for approximately 1.1 GB of free space on the USB drive when using the standard update file. The console may also need free internal storage to download and install an update, so follow the on-screen message rather than relying on a fixed “5 GB” rule.
If a system update is stuck, press the PS button, open Downloads/Uploads, highlight the system software update, choose View Error Info, and select Try Again. If the download fails repeatedly, move to the manual update steps instead of restarting the same download over and over.
Safe Mode lets you update system software outside the normal home screen. First turn the PS5 completely off. Press and hold the power button again; release it after the second beep, which comes about seven seconds after the first. Connect the controller with a USB cable and press the PS button. Choose Update System Software, then follow the on-screen instructions to update through the internet.
Use Sony’s Safe Mode guide if the console does not enter this menu or the labels differ.
Use this option when an internet update repeatedly fails or the console cannot download the file. On a PC or Mac, format a USB drive as FAT32 or exFAT. Create a folder named PS5, then a folder inside it named UPDATE. Download the standard PS5 console update file from PlayStation’s system software page and save it in that folder as PS5UPDATE.PUP. Use uppercase folder and file names, and make sure the file is inside PS5/UPDATE, not beside the folders.
Download the standard console update file from PlayStation, not the separate reinstallation file. Both downloads use the filename PS5UPDATE.PUP, but the reinstallation file is intended for a reset and erases user data. Do not use third-party firmware or interrupt installation; Sony warns that either can prevent the console from installing correctly.
If the update is installed but the PS5 still has system-feature glitches, Safe Mode also offers Clear Cache and Rebuild Database. Sony describes clearing the system software cache for system-feature issues or performance drops, and rebuilding the database for scanning and organizing console content. These are secondary troubleshooting options, not fixes for an internet outage. Read the on-screen warning carefully before choosing any Safe Mode item.
Update System Software and Reset PS5 (Reinstall System Software) are different choices. A normal update installs newer system software; the reinstall option deletes all user data and removes the system software before reinstalling it. Do not choose reset or reinstallation just to clear an update download. Back up important saves and data before any reset, and use reinstallation only when PlayStation Support specifically directs you to it or other recovery options have failed.
If the official USB update file is not recognized, the same code returns after a successful network restart, or the console cannot enter Safe Mode, contact PlayStation Support. Include the exact error code, whether you tried an internet or USB update, and what happened after each step. For a persistent server connection error such as WS-116520-5, check the status page again and wait a few hours if services are online; PlayStation lists temporary server issues as one possible cause.
The safest order is simple: identify the code, rule out a service or connection problem, retry the download, use Safe Mode or the official USB update file, and keep factory reset options as a last resort. That sequence addresses the common PS5 update errors while protecting saved data and avoiding unnecessary console resets.
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