What reinstating licenses means and why you might need to do it

Reinstating licenses on a PlayStation 4 restores your access to games and content you've purchased or downloaded. When you buy a game digitally through the PlayStation Store, you're buying a license to play it — not a physical copy. That license is tied to your PlayStation Network (PSN) account and the console itself.

You might need to reinstate licenses if you've recently changed your PSN account, transferred your console to someone else, restored your system software, or if your games suddenly became unplayable even though you own them. The reinstatement process tells your PS4 to recognize and reactivate all the licenses associated with your account.

Key Takeaways

  • Reinstating licenses reconnects your PS4 to the games and content you've purchased through your PSN account.
  • The process takes just a few minutes and requires you to go into Settings, then Account Management, then Restore Licenses.
  • Your PS4 must be connected to the internet for license reinstatement to work.
  • If reinstatement doesn't restore access to a game, the issue may be with your account, your console's set up, or a problem with the game itself.

Step-by-step: How to reinstate licenses on your PS4

Start by turning on your PS4 and signing in with the PSN account that purchased the games you want to restore. Make sure your console is connected to the internet — you'll need an active connection for this to work.

From the home screen, go to Settings (the wrench icon). Select Account Management, then Restore Licenses. Your PS4 will connect to PlayStation Network and scan for all licenses tied to your account. This usually takes one to three minutes. When it finishes, you'll see a confirmation message. Your games should now be playable.

If you don't see the Restore Licenses option, double-check that you're signed in with the correct account — the one that originally purchased the games. You must be logged in as that user for the option to appear.

When to use Restore Licenses versus set up as Your Primary Console

Restore Licenses and set up as Your Primary Console are two different things, and it helps to know which one you need. Restore Licenses reconnects your current account to games it has already purchased. set up as Your Primary Console is a separate setting that lets other users on that PS4 play your games, even if they're not signed in as you.

If you're the only person using your PS4 and you just want your own games to work again, Restore Licenses is what you need. If you want family members or roommates to play your games without signing into your account, you would also set that console as your primary console in Settings, then Account Management, then Set as Your Primary PS4.

You can do both at the same time — they're not mutually exclusive. Restoring licenses fixes access for your account; setting a primary console extends that access to other users on the same system.

Why your games might still not work after reinstating licenses

If you've reinstated licenses and a game still won't play, the problem usually falls into one of three categories: account issues, console issues, or game-specific problems.

Account issues happen when your PSN account has a restriction or hold on it. If your account was temporarily suspended, if there's a payment problem, or if your account was created by a parent with parental controls, you may not be able to play certain games even after reinstating licenses. Check your account status on the PlayStation website or contact PlayStation Support to see if there's a hold.

Console issues occur when your PS4 itself isn't properly linked to your account. If you've restored your system software, moved the console, or changed accounts, your console may need to be reactivated. Go to Settings, Account Management, set up as Your Primary PS4 with the account that owns the games. This tells the console to recognize that account's licenses.

Game-specific problems are less common but do happen. A game might be corrupted, the license itself might have expired (rare for purchased games, more common with subscriptions), or there might be a temporary issue with PlayStation Network. Try deleting the game and re-downloading it, or restart your PS4 and try again.

What to do if Restore Licenses doesn't appear in your menu

The Restore Licenses option only shows up when you're signed in as the account owner. If you're signed in as a child account, a guest account, or a different user, you won't see it. Sign out and sign back in as the PSN account that purchased the games.

If you're signed in as the correct account and still don't see Restore Licenses, your system software may be outdated. Go to Settings, System Software Update and install any available updates. After updating, restart your PS4 and try again.

In rare cases, the option may be temporarily unavailable due to a PlayStation Network outage. Check the PlayStation Network status page to see if there are any known issues in your region. If there are, wait a few hours and try again.

Reinstating licenses after buying a used PS4 or switching accounts

If you've bought a used PS4 and want to play games that came with it, you'll need the previous owner's PSN account to reinstate their licenses on that console. Ask the seller for their account credentials, or have them sign in once and run Restore Licenses themselves before handing the console over.

If the previous owner won't or can't help, you can still play their games if you set that console as your primary PS4 using their account (if you have access to it). Any user on that console can then play those games. However, you won't be able to play them on a different PS4 unless you own the licenses yourself.

If you're switching from one PSN account to another on your own console, sign in with your new account and run Restore Licenses. This reconnects all the games you've purchased under that new account. Games purchased under your old account will only be playable if that console is set as your old account's primary console.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need PlayStation Plus to reinstate licenses?

No. Reinstating licenses works whether or not you have a PlayStation Plus subscription. PlayStation Plus is a separate service that gives you access to online multiplayer and a monthly selection of free games. Licenses you've purchased are yours regardless of your subscription status.

Will reinstating licenses delete my game saves?

No. Reinstating licenses only reconnects your account to the games you own. Your saves, settings, and all other data on your console stay exactly where they are. The process doesn't touch any of your stored information.

How often do I need to reinstate licenses?

You typically only need to do it once after a major change — like restoring your system software, switching accounts, or moving to a new console. You shouldn't need to do it regularly. If you find yourself reinstating licenses frequently, there may be an underlying account or console issue worth investigating.

Can I reinstate licenses on multiple PS4 consoles?

Yes. You can sign into your PSN account on multiple PS4s and run Restore Licenses on each one. However, you can only set one console as your primary console at a time. On your primary console, any user can play your games. On other consoles, only you can play them when signed in as your account.

What if I forgot my PSN password?

You'll need to reset it before you can sign in and reinstate licenses. Go to the PlayStation website, select "Forgot Your Password," and follow the recovery steps. You'll need access to the email address associated with your account. Once you've reset your password, sign back into your PS4 and run Restore Licenses.