Why doesn’t the PS5 read discs? In this quick guide we will list a whole series of solutions to the most probable causes for such a problem: from cleaning to software problems, let’s see them together
Despite being a relatively new hardware, Sony’s PS5 could run into a series of errors, glitches and problems that could annoy most gamers, such as its turning on and off by itself or some unexplained system freeze. Here we want to tell you about the optical disc reader (which we remind you is absent in the Digital version of the console) and why, sometimes, it seems not to work. The problems can be many, from the simplest to solve to others that require disassembling the console. Let’s see together all the various solutions!
Let’s start with the basics | Why doesn’t the PS5 read discs?
The first thing to check is, of course, whether you are inserting the disc the right way round. Let’s start from the console: to be positioned correctly, if your PS5 is in a horizontal position you should have the logo on the upper side and the disc player on the lower left. In this case, you should insert the disc with the printed side facing up. If, on the other hand, your console is positioned vertically, you will have to insert the disc with the printed side facing left. Also check that there are no other discs inside the player by pressing the eject button on the front of the console.
Having eliminated the obvious, let’s move on to some slightly more complex issues. One of the main ones could be a PS5 system software glitch. To remedy this, you will have to open the console’s safe mode by holding down the power button until you hear two consecutive beeps. Then connect the DualSense controller via cable (mandatory in this case) and, from the safe mode menu, select the first option: restart the console. If the problem still persists, run a console hard reset. Turn off the PS5, unplug all the cables connected to it (power, HDMI and devices), wait about 30 minutes and then restart the console.
Dirt | Why doesn’t the PS5 read discs?
Before moving on to system reset your console later, we advise you to check that neither the disc to be inserted nor the PS5 reader are dirty. The player’s laser cannot read dirty or damaged discs, so the disc you insert must be completely clean: remove dirt and fingerprints with a soft cloth, then try again. If the disc still doesn’t work, try inserting another one: we remind you that the system only reads PS4 and PS5, Blu-Ray and DVD discs. If other discs also fail, then the problem is with the player. Use a can of compressed air to clean the dirt in the player.
If that doesn’t work either, then you’ll need to reset your PS5. To do this, press and hold the power button until you hear the two beeps above to boot into safe mode. Connect the DualSense via cable and, from the menu, select the seventh option “Reset PS5 (Reinstall System Software)”then follow the on-screen instructions. Attention: resetting the system means deleting every single data present in the console memory. Make backups on the Cloud or on an external SSD if you don’t want to lose everything!
And that’s it!
And that’s it: if your PS5 won’t read discs, you should easily find out why in this article. Let us know if we’ve solved your problem below in the comments, and stay tuned with us at techgameworld.com for all the videogame and tech news, guides and reviews!