Direct Answer: What is PS5 Error CE-107938-8?
If you tried to update a PlayStation 5 game and the download stopped with PS5 Error Code CE-107938-8, the console is telling you it “Failed to update the application.” That is the wording on Sony’s official error code page, and Sony gives one known cause: turning off the PS5 while an update is still in progress.
Sony’s own fix list is short: restart the console, make sure the system software is current, check for the game update manually, and if none of that works, delete and reinstall the game. This guide walks through each of those steps in order, then covers the Safe Mode database rebuild as a last resort.
Key Takeaways for Fixing Error CE-107938-8
- Meaning: “Failed to update the application.” The game update did not finish installing.
- Known cause: Sony says turning off the PS5 during an update can trigger it.
- Sony’s fixes, in order: restart the console, update the system software, select the game and choose “Check for Update”, then delete and reinstall the game.
- Last resort: Safe Mode’s “Rebuild Database” rescans your storage without deleting games or saved data.
Step 1: Restart Your PS5 Console
Sony’s first recommendation is a full restart. Rest Mode is not the same thing: it keeps the console in a low-power state rather than shutting the system down and starting it fresh.
- Press the PS button on your controller to open the Control Center.
- Select the Power icon.
- Select Restart PS5.
When the console is back on, open the game’s update again and see whether it completes. And to avoid a repeat of the error, let updates finish before you turn the console off. If you are thinking about upgrading your hardware altogether, our PS5 Pro vs PS5 specs comparison covers the differences.
Step 2: Make Sure the PS5 System Software Is Up to Date
Sony lists updating the system software as the next step if your console is not on the latest version. If you want to know what the latest PS5 system software update actually changed, we track Sony’s release notes separately. To check:
- Go to Settings (the gear icon at the top right of the Home screen).
- Select System, then System Software.
- Select System Software Update and Settings, then Update System Software.
- Choose Update Using Internet.
If an update is found, let it download and install. The PS5 restarts during the process. Once it is back on, try the game update again.
Step 3: Check for the Game Update Manually
With the console restarted and on current firmware, ask the PS5 to fetch the game update again.
- On the Home screen, highlight the game that failed to update.
- Press the Options button on your DualSense controller (the small button with three lines, to the right of the touchpad).
- Select Check for Update.
If an update is available, the PS5 will start downloading it. You can follow its progress in Downloads/Uploads from the Control Center.
Step 4: Delete and Reinstall the Game
If the error keeps coming back, Sony’s final recommendation is to delete the game and reinstall it. A fresh install downloads the game again along with its latest update, replacing the partial update that failed.
- On the Home screen, highlight the game.
- Press the Options button.
- Select Delete and confirm.
- Open your Game Library, find the game, and download it again. Then let it update to the latest version.
Sony notes that you won’t lose access to a deleted game: you can re-download your purchases from your game library whenever you like. The PS5 treats game data and saved data as separate types of data. Before deleting anything, it is still worth backing up your saves. Sony’s storage guide lists PlayStation Plus cloud storage as the backup option for PS5 game saves.
A note on refunds: a failed update will not normally make a game refundable. Sony’s PlayStation Store policy excludes games you have already started downloading, unless the content itself is faulty. Our guide on how to return games on PS5 explains the rules in full.
Step 5 (Last Resort): Rebuild the Database in Safe Mode
Sony’s error page for CE-107938-8 does not mention Safe Mode, so treat this as an extra step rather than an official fix for this code. Sony describes Rebuild Database as a tool that “scan[s] the drive and create[s] a new database of all content on the system,” and it is useful when system features misbehave. It does not delete games or saved data.
These are Sony’s steps for starting Safe Mode on PS5:
- Turn the console off: hold the power button for about three seconds. The power indicator blinks for a moment and then goes off.
- Start Safe Mode: once the console is off, press and hold the power button again. Release it after the second beep. One beep sounds when you first press it and another about seven seconds later.
- Connect your controller: plug the DualSense in with a USB cable and press the PS button.
- Select Clear Cache and Rebuild Database: on current PS5 system software it is the sixth option, below Restart PS5, Change Video Output, Repair Console Storage, Update System Software and Restore Default Settings. Pick it by name. Do not choose Restore Default Settings, Reset PS5 or Reset PS5 (Reinstall System Software). The two Reset options delete all user data.
- Select Rebuild Database and confirm.
How long the rebuild takes depends on how much content is on your storage. When the console restarts, try the game update again.
| Fix | Source | Deletes Data? |
|---|---|---|
| Restart PS5 | Sony CE-107938-8 page | No |
| Update system software | Sony CE-107938-8 page | No |
| Check for Update | Sony CE-107938-8 page | No |
| Delete and reinstall the game | Sony CE-107938-8 page | Removes the game install (re-download from your library) |
| Safe Mode: Rebuild Database | Sony Safe Mode guide | No |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What causes PS5 error CE-107938-8?
Sony’s error page says it can happen if the PlayStation 5 is turned off during an update. Letting updates finish before you switch the console off is the simplest way to avoid it.
Will rebuilding the PS5 database delete my saved games?
No. Sony lists Rebuild Database among the Safe Mode options that scan the drive and recreate the content database. The options that delete data are Reset PS5 and Reset PS5 (Reinstall System Software). Restore Default Settings resets your settings but keeps games, saved data, screenshots and video clips.
What if none of these fixes work?
Check the PlayStation Network Service Status page in case PSN is having problems, then try again later. If the error continues after a reinstall, contact PlayStation Support.
If updates install correctly but gameplay stutters afterwards, that is a separate problem — see why your PS5 is lagging.
Sources & Reference Links
- PlayStation Support – PS5 Error Code CE-107938-8
- PlayStation Support – How to use Safe Mode on PS5 consoles and PS4 consoles
- PlayStation Support – How to manage storage space on your PS5 console
- PlayStation Store cancellation policy (US)
Updated September 15, 2026: corrected the Safe Mode start-up steps and option order, the refund guidance and the error’s cause, all against Sony’s official support pages. Removed unsourced claims and estimated fix times.
