Sony PlayStation 5 NP-34957-8 Fix

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What This Error Means

NP-34957-8 means your PS5 cannot verify the game license with PlayStation Network.

In plain English: your console cannot talk to Sony’s servers long enough to confirm you own this digital content, so it blocks the game or DLC from starting.

Official Fix

Do the boring Sony-approved steps first. Follow this order; skipping around just wastes time.

  • 1. Check PSN status. On your phone, open the official PlayStation Network Service Status page. If PSN or ‘Gaming and social’ is not green, the problem is on Sony’s side. Wait and try again later.
  • 2. Power-cycle your network and PS5.
    • Turn the PS5 off completely (press and hold the power button until it beeps and the light goes off).
    • Unplug your modem and router for 60 seconds.
    • Plug modem back in, wait until all lights are stable.
    • Plug router back in, wait until Wi‑Fi is up.
    • Turn PS5 back on and test again.
  • 3. Test your internet on the PS5. Go to Settings > Network > Connection Status > Test Internet Connection. If this fails or shows very high packet loss, fix your internet before blaming the console.
  • 4. Update the system software. Go to Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings > Update System Software. Install any update, then reboot.
  • 5. Restore licenses.
    • Go to Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Restore Licenses.
    • Hit Restore and wait for it to finish.
    • Reboot the PS5, then try launching the game again.
  • 6. Enable Console Sharing and Offline Play.
    • Go to Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Console Sharing and Offline Play.
    • Make sure it is Enabled on the PS5 you actually use.
    • If you own multiple PS5s, disable it on the others so licenses are not fighting each other.
  • 7. Re-download the problem game or DLC.
    • Find the game icon, press Options, and delete it (this does not delete your cloud saves).
    • Go to your Game Library, select the title, and download it fresh.
    • Try launching again.
  • 8. Still getting NP-34957-8? If the account definitely owns the content and none of this works, this is now a Sony account/licensing issue. Contact PlayStation Support and tell them the code and which titles fail; they can fix bad licenses on their end.

The Technician’s Trick

When the official dance does nothing, here is what someone who fixes these in the field actually tries.

Trick 1: Use a different internet just once

  • Grab a phone with a solid 4G/5G data plan.
  • Turn on mobile hotspot on the phone.
  • On the PS5, go to Settings > Network > Settings > Set Up Internet Connection and connect it to that hotspot Wi‑Fi.
  • Once connected, run Restore Licenses again (Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Restore Licenses).
  • Launch the problem game while still on the hotspot and let it get past the error once.
  • Shut the PS5 down, reconnect it to your normal home network, and try again. Often your ISP/router is the thing blocking the license server; this workaround forces a clean check and caches the license.

Trick 2: Safe Mode cache clear and database rebuild

  • Turn the PS5 off completely (no lights at all).
  • Hold the power button for about 7 seconds until you hear the second beep. This boots into Safe Mode.
  • Plug the controller in with a USB cable and press the PS button.
  • Select ‘Clear Cache and Rebuild Database’ (wording can vary slightly).
  • Choose Rebuild Database and let it finish. It can take several minutes if you have lots of games.
  • Once it boots back up, run Restore Licenses one more time, then try the game. Corrupt catalog entries and cache are a common, hidden cause of this code.

If you are game-sharing, do not forget: only one main PS5 should have Console Sharing and Offline Play enabled for that account. If both consoles claim to be primary, NP-34957-8 loves to show up.

Is It Worth Fixing? (The Financial Verdict)

  • ✅ Fix: Digital library on that account, console otherwise healthy, and your internet is stable or easily fixable (new cable, moving the router, etc.). This is almost always a software/account problem, not a dead PS5.
  • ⚠️ Debatable: The only way to keep PSN stable is buying new networking gear or changing ISP, and you rarely play online or digital titles. Weigh that cost against how much you actually use the console.
  • ❌ Replace: You are also seeing crashes, storage errors, overheating, or fan screaming, and the console is out of warranty. If NP-34957-8 is just one of many issues, putting money toward a newer PS5 model makes more sense than chasing repairs.

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