Buzz
Although the PS5 is Sony's newest console, many of us are still enjoying our PS4s—until, of course, the system won’t read our discs. It’s frustrating when your PS4 won’t play the $60 game you’ve just inserted. If you're encountering this problem, these tips might be the solution.
Personally, I tend to buy most of my games digitally, so I’ve never faced this issue on my PS4. However, I learned about it through this Reddit thread, where the user explained that their PS4 could only read their Elden Ring disc, while ignoring others—no Dark Souls 3, no Sekiro, and none of their older PS4 titles. While some joked that the PS4 was now exclusively an Elden Ring machine, it led to a larger discussion about troubleshooting steps to get the PS4 to read all discs again.
Power off your PS4
Could this step fail? Absolutely. However, it’s essential to attempt the simplest solution before trying more complex ones. Also, the PS4’s “rest” mode often leaves the system in a state where it’s never fully powered off. Every tech device benefits from a power cycle now and then, and your PlayStation is no different.
If you haven't powered down your PS4 since 2013, you can do so by holding down the power button on your controller, then selecting Power > Turn Off PS4. Alternatively, you can hold the power button on the PS4 for three seconds to turn it off completely.
Give your PS4 a tap
Yes, tapping your PS4 is actually a legitimate workaround, at least based on personal accounts. To try this, insert your disc into the PS4, then gently tap the console above the disc drive while the system begins reading the disc. Many users in this Reddit thread say this trick works for them, though there’s some debate about whether the PS4 should be flat or upright when tapping. Some believe it works only when the PS4 is lying flat, while others think it needs to be in the upright position.
Test both positions for yourself and don’t give up if it doesn’t work immediately. If it doesn’t, eject the disc and try again. Some users report it can take as many as 10 attempts before the PS4 finally reads the disc.
Rebuild the PS4’s database
Unless your PS4 is equipped with an SSD, it uses a traditional hard drive to store your files. As the system saves new files, it fills up available space without considering where each file is stored. Over time, this randomness can slow down memory access, as the system spends extra time searching the entire drive for related files. This issue can also affect disc reading performance in the long run.
This is where rebuilding the database comes in. Rebuilding the PS4’s database organizes all the files into a logical order. As a result, the system no longer needs to search all over the drive for related files, since they’re now grouped together in one location. Rebuilding the database can even be beneficial if your PS4 isn’t having issues reading discs, making it a helpful maintenance step that tackles multiple problems at once.
To rebuild the database, you’ll need to boot your PS4 into safe mode. Start by turning off your PS4, then connect your controller to the console via USB instead of wirelessly. Hold the PS4’s power button until you hear two beeps: the first will be the standard startup tone, and the second will occur about seven seconds later.
When prompted, press the power button on your controller. You’ll then see a list of options. Select “Rebuild Database,” sit back, and let the process complete. It can take anywhere from three to 20 hours, so be prepared to be patient during this time.
Restore your PS4 to its original factory settings
The final software solution to consider is a factory reset, the ultimate option for addressing software-related issues. If the problem with your PS4’s ability to read discs is tied to the operating system, wiping everything and installing a fresh version of the software should solve it.
To begin, navigate to Settings > Initialization > Initialize PS4. Alternatively, you can enter safe mode once again and select “Reinstall System Software” to completely reset your PS4.
Repair the PS4's disc drive
If you’ve eliminated software issues, the likely cause is the disc drive itself. The good news is that these drives are often easy to repair, whether you choose to fix it yourself or have it serviced professionally.
TronicsFix has an excellent video that demonstrates exactly how to remove the disc drive and examine it for problems. It's possible that your issue mirrors the one shown in the video, where one of the rollers detached from the drive. TronicsFix provides clear instructions, showing which screws to remove, what to look for, how to fix it, and how to reassemble everything afterward.
