Published 7 November 2026
Sony has released another PS5 system update, the second in under a fortnight. It is small and it is mainly about security, but it matters more than the one-line patch note suggests. Here is what has been confirmed, what is only reported, and what to do if the update will not install.
What Sony released
Version 26.07-14.22.00 went out for PS5 and PS5 Pro on 2 November 2026. PlayStation's system software page lists a single change: security fixes to the system software. Sony has not said what those fixes are. Push Square notes that it follows version 14.20 by less than two weeks and links the pace of patches to Sony's efforts to stop hacked consoles running pirated software. ComicBook.com reported the same release on 2 November and described it as a very small update. That connection to jailbreaks is the outlets' reading of the timing, not something Sony has stated.
Notebookcheck reported on 4 November that a jailbreak in development for firmware 14.00 and 14.10 is now in doubt, and that Sony requires at least 14.10 to sign in to PSN. We found no reports of the update itself causing problems at the time of writing.
The GTA 6 connection
Several outlets, including God is a Geek, report that tracker data now lists 14.22 as the minimum firmware for Grand Theft Auto VI, up from 14.10. Neither Rockstar nor Sony has confirmed this, and the figure could move again if another patch arrives before the game's 19 November launch. Even so, it is a good reason not to leave the update until launch day, when you will want the console ready to go.
Should you install it?
Yes, for almost everyone. If your console is online with automatic updates on, it may already be done. To check, go to Settings, then System, then System Software, then System Software Update and Settings, and choose Update System Software. Sony's own warning is worth taking seriously: do not turn the console off during installation, because interrupting it can damage the console. Sony also advises against installing around a power cut, so a stormy evening is a poor time to start.
If the update fails or gets stuck
Work through these in order. They come from Sony's PS5 update instructions.
- Retry the download. Press the PS button, open Downloads/Uploads, highlight the update, choose View Error Info and then Try Again.
- Use Safe Mode. Turn the console off fully. Hold the power button and let go after the second beep, about seven seconds after the first. Connect the controller by USB cable and press the PS button, then choose Update System Software.
- Update from USB. On a PC or Mac, format a USB drive as FAT32 or exFAT, create a folder called PS5 with a folder called UPDATE inside it, and save Sony's file there as PS5UPDATE.PUP. Use capital letters for all three names, as the console will not recognise the file otherwise. In Safe Mode, choose Update System Software, then Update from USB Storage Device.
- Try Repair Console Storage. Sony says this Safe Mode option does not erase data, and Clear Cache and Rebuild Database is also listed without any data warning.
Stop before the two Reset PS5 options. Both delete all user data, and that includes any saves you have not backed up to cloud storage or USB. If your saves matter and the steps above have not worked, get the console looked at first.
When it may be a hardware fault
One failed download is usually a network problem. It is worth suspecting the hardware if the console fails the same way from a USB file too, freezes partway through every attempt, restarts itself, or will not reach Safe Mode at all. Those signs point away from a bad download and towards the console itself, though only a proper diagnosis can confirm the cause. Our PS5 repair service covers this kind of fault, and we cover older models through our PlayStation repair page.
Buying a second-hand PS5?
With jailbreaks in the news, be wary of a used console that is being kept on old firmware, or one where the seller will not let you update it. Before you pay, ask to see it updated to the current version and signed in to PSN. A console that cannot do both is not one to buy on trust.
Need a hand?
If your PS5 will not update, walk in to 80 Willow Walk, London SE1 5SY, Monday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm, or call 020 7237 6805. We agree the price before any work starts, and repairs come with a 90-day warranty. You can also find directions on our contact page.