System software updates on your PS5 can, on rare occasions, get stuck, or at the very least, seem to be taking an interminable length of time to complete. Despite this, they are an important means of fixing bugs and improving performance. Sony recommend always keeping your console updated with the latest software to ensure the best experience.
But what can you do if your experience is that the update is so slow it feels like it will never end? Or indeed, if it seems stuck? We'll tell you how long an update should typically take, and whether there is anything you can do to try and speed things up.
How long does the PS5 system software update take?
There are a few factors that will dictate exactly how long a software update should take:
- Internet speed
- Size of the file
- Any other apps or devices trying to use bandwidth at the same time
Given these variables, it isn't easy to give a definitive answer as to how long a download should take. But having said that, there are some guidelines. The last couple of software updates have been around the 900MB range in size. So with a half decent internet connection, and assuming you aren't downloading multiple other games and streaming a 4K movie at the same time, this should only take your PS5 a few minutes to download and install.
So if you find yourself coming back to your console after, say, half an hour, and the update doesn't seem to be going anywhere, what then? We'll cover your options next.
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How to fix slow PS5 download
There are a number of indicators that will tell you if your update is just running really slowly, or if it has in fact, become stuck. Signs to look out for include:
- Error messages (obviously)
- If your PS5 stops responding during the update
- Your PS5 won't go online
The solutions to try are as follows:
- Check the PSN service status in case the server has gone down. If that's the case, you will need to wait for them to fix the issue before reattempting your update.
- Reboot your PS5, and power cycle your router. These will often resolve any issues with the connection, which might be slowing down your update.
- You can also try restarting the update if it has become stuck, or try downloading the update to a USB drive and installing it that way. Sony provide guidance on this here.
- Make sure you don't have other devices online at the same time, and pause any other downloads you may have going on at the same time. These will compete for bandwidth with your update. The less traffic on the road, the faster you will be.
- If you are on WiFi, try using an ethernet connection instead, if you can.
- And finally, arguably the easiest way to speed things up, is to change your service plan so you can access higher download speeds. This might not be for everyone, especially because higher speeds generally equate to higher costs. But it is worth shopping around to try to get the best speeds for the best price. The faster you can download, the faster your update will be.
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