How to Fix a PS4 That Won't Take, Read, or Eject a Disc GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Gaming > Consoles & PCs

How to Fix a PS4 That Won't Take, Read, or Eject a Disc

PlayStation 4 ate your disc or won't play games? Let's fix it

By Jeremy Laukkonen Jeremy Laukkonen Writer Shoreline Community College Jeremy Laukkonen is automotive and tech writer for numerous major trade publications. When not researching and testing computers, game consoles or smartphones, he stays up-to-date on the myriad complex systems that power battery electric vehicles . lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on January 29, 2022 Reviewed by Michael Barton Heine Jr Reviewed by Michael Barton Heine Jr Michael Heine is a CompTIA-certified writer, editor, and Network Engineer with 25+ years' experience working in the television, defense, ISP, telecommunications, and education industries. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Consoles & PCs Xbox Buyer's Guide While the PlayStation 4 lets you download and play games digitally, there's a good chance that a significant portion of your game and movie libraries are still on discs. When the PS4 disc drive malfunctions in any way, you may find that it won't take new discs, won't read discs, or will refuse to eject your discs. Here's how to get your drive working again. Jeremy Laukkonen These instructions pertain to all versions of the PS4 hardware, including the original PlayStation 4, the PS4 Slim, and the PS4 Pro.

What Causes PS4 Disc Handling Errors

When a PlayStation 4 has trouble handling discs, it's due to physical hardware, the console firmware that controls everything, or damaged discs. The disc drive mechanism itself may be broken, the disc sensor or eject button may be broken, or there may be a bug or corruption in the firmware that prevents the system from accepting, reading, or ejecting discs, or any combination of those problems. To figure out why your PS4 is having disc handling issues, you first need to narrow down the specific problem.

PS4 Won' t Accept Discs

This problem happens when there is already a disc in the system, when the disc you're trying to insert is dirty or damaged, or the system doesn't recognize that you're trying to insert a disc.

PS4 Won' t Read Discs

Reading issues are usually because the disc is dirty or damaged. The disc drive itself may also be damaged or have a firmware problem.

PS4 Won' t Eject Discs

This problem can be caused by dirty or contaminated internal components, a damaged ejection mechanism, and a handful of other issues. You can always eject the disc using the manual eject screw, but fixing the problem may be more difficult.

How to Fix It When a PS4 Won t Take Read or Eject a Disc

If you're having disc handling issues with your PS4 and it won't take, read, or eject a game or movie disc, use these troubleshooting steps to get it working again. Some of these steps pertain specifically to one issue, like a disc that won't eject. If a step isn't relevant to the problem you are experiencing, you can skip it. Make sure there isn't a disc in your PS4. If you can't insert a disc into your system, try pushing the eject button on the front of the console. You may have forgotten that you put a game or movie in, or someone might have put one in without your knowledge. If a game ejects, you should be able to insert the one you wanted to play. Reboot your PS4. There's a chance that you may be dealing with a minor temporary bug, in which case shutting down and restarting your PS4 might fix the problem. If your console starts accepting, reading, and ejecting discs after a reboot, you can use it like you usually would and only return to this list if it starts acting up again. Try using the manual eject screw. If you're trying to eject a disc from your PS4 and nothing happens, or you're unsure if there is a disc in the system, you can use the manual eject screw to remove anything currently in the drive and start fresh. To use a PS4 manual eject screw: Turn off the PS4, and unplug all of the cables.Remove the HDD cover or top panel if necessary.Locate the manual eject screw.Tighten the screw to eject the disc. Carefully holding the PS4 so that the disc slot points down may help the disc come free. Clean your video game disc or DVD. If you're sure there is no disc currently in the system, the disc you're trying to insert may be dirty or damaged. Physically examine the disc for dust, dirt, and other contaminants like food. If necessary, clean the disc with a microfiber cloth and insert it again. Wipe your disc in straight lines from the center to the outer edge, and only use a dry microfiber cloth. Try a different game or movie. If you're still unable to insert a disc, or the PS4 won't read your disc, set aside the disc you were working with and try a different one. Try a variety of PS4 game discs and DVD or Blu-Ray discs if you have them to see if the system will accept and read any of them. If it does, there's a good chance that you have one or more damaged discs. Rebuild your PS4 database from safe mode. There may be a problem with the firmware that runs your PS4 if it still can't accept or read discs. Try rebooting your console into safe mode and selecting the Rebuild Database option. If that doesn't work, try the Reinstall System Software option available in safe mode. Clean the interior of your PS4 disc drive. Using canned air or a blower, clean the dust from your PS4 drive. You may need to remove the top cover to remove all the dust. If too much dust has accumulated in the drive, or the rollers are dirty, it may refuse to take in new discs or read any disc currently in the system. Inspect your PS4 disc drive for damage. Remove the top cover of your PS4 and physically inspect the disc drive. If any foreign objects have been allowed to enter the disc slot, you may find them jammed inside the disc drive. Stickers, tape, and other things stuck on game or movie discs can also become trapped in the drive and prevent it from working correctly. If you find any foreign objects in the disc drive, carefully remove them. Exercise caution, and avoid touching any components that you can avoid. If possible, use tweezers or another similar tool to remove any foreign objects without disturbing the delicate parts of the drive. How to Fix a PS4 With Corrupted Data: Learn more

What If Your PS4 Still Won t Take Read or Eject Discs

If your console still has disc handling problems after going through all of the troubleshooting steps, then it's likely that you have a hardware failure that's best left to the professionals. Your disc drive will probably require repairs or replacement, and attempting to do so yourself could end up being a costly proposition if you repair or replace the wrong components. For additional help and assistance, contact Sony customer service. FAQ How do I reset my PS4 disc drive? To reset your PS4 disc drive, go to Settings > select PlayStation Network/Account Management > select Activate as Your Primary PS4 > Deactivate. Then, restart the console and sign in again. Once signed in, go to Settings > choose Initialization > Initialize PS4 > Full > select Initialize and Yes to confirm the reset. How do you replace a PS4 hard drive? To replace a PS4 hard drive, first go to the PlayStation website and download the latest PS4 update onto a USB drive. Next, on your compatible new hard drive, create a PS4 folder, then create an UPDATE folder in the new PS4 folder. Drag the PS4UPDATE.PUP file into the UPDATE folder. Finally, slide the back panel on the PS4 to remove the old drive and insert the new drive with metal pins facing inward. How do I format my external hard drive for a PS4? The PS4 will format the drive for you if you follow a few steps. First, plug your hard drive into the PS4 console, then go to Settings > Devices > USB Storage Devices > select Format the drive as extended storage. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Fix a PS4 That Keeps Ejecting Discs or Beeping How to Boot From a CD, DVD, or BD Disc How to Fix It When Your PS4 Won't Turn On How to Fix It When Your PS4 Wi-Fi Is Slow How to Fix it When Your PS4 Is Overheating How to Fix It When PS4 Won't Connect to Wi-Fi How to Fix It When a PS5 Won't Take, Read, or Eject a Disc How to Fix It When Xbox One Won't Read a Disc PS4 backwards compatibility: Can You Play PS1, PS2, and PS3 Games on PS4? How to use a System Repair Disc to Format the C Drive How to Sync a PS4 Controller How to Fix It When Your PS5 Won't Turn On How to Fix PS4 Controller Drift How to Fix a PS4 With Corrupted Data How to Fix the PS4 'Cannot Connect to the Wi-Fi Network' Error How to Fix a PS4 That Keeps Turning off by Itself Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies