- Gaming and consoles
- PlayStation 4
NP-34958-9
PlayStation 4 NP-34958-9 error: console game is padlocked
Risk level
Low
Usually safe to check without specialist tools.
Urgency
Medium
Quick answer
PS4 error NP-34958-9 means the PlayStation 4 game you are trying to play is padlocked because the console cannot validate its license. Turn off the PS4, unplug the power cable for a few minutes, reconnect and turn it on, then select Settings > Account Management > Restore Licenses.
Safety first
Stop and check this first
- Restoring licenses won't affect your data, but it will not unlock a game whose padlock icon is caused by an expired PlayStation Plus subscription.
- Always turn off your PS4 console completely before you disconnect the power cable from the power outlet during the NP-34958-9 procedure; never unplug a running PS4 console.
Safe checks you can perform
- Power-cycle the PS4 with the power cable unplugged and run Restore Licenses
- Check that you are signed in to the buying account and verify Transaction History
- Verify PlayStation Plus subscription validity, PlayStation status, and system software
Leave these tasks to a qualified professional
- Do not attempt this professional task: Contact PlayStation Customer Support when NP-34958-9 persists after restoring licenses
- Do not attempt this professional task: Back up PS4 data before running Safe Mode Rebuild Database or escalating for service
What a technician must be able to justify
Technician visit
These are the steps they must carry out and show you. Tick them as they work: if steps are skipped, do not accept a part swap.
These are not instructions for opening or handling the equipment yourself. They are the checks that should support a technical conclusion.
Contact PlayStation Customer Support when NP-34958-9 persists after restoring licenses
What they doIf the game stays padlocked with NP-34958-9 after turning off the PS4, unplugging the power cable for a few minutes, running Restore Licenses, and verifying purchase ownership, contact PlayStation Customer Support.
They must show youthe backend license record for the padlocked title on your account and the status of your primary PS4 activation.
In writingthe PlayStation Customer Support ticket number, the timestamped transaction verified, and the license fix applied.
Back up PS4 data before running Safe Mode Rebuild Database or escalating for service
What they doIf PlayStation Support recommends turning on the PS4 in Safe Mode and selecting Rebuild Database to create a new database of all content for a persistent locked-game issue, back up your saved data first and have support document the outcome.
They must show youwhether the padlock icon clears after Rebuild Database completes and Restore Licenses is run once more.
In writingthe steps completed in Safe Mode and the support escalation reference if the game license still fails to validate.
Before accepting a part or repair
Nothing has been shown yet. Do not accept a part swap based on the code alone.
Follow these steps
Note: Follow the documented order. An error code identifies the affected system, but it does not prove by itself which part has failed.
Power-cycle the PS4 with the power cable unplugged and run Restore Licenses
- Who:
- You can perform PlayStation's official NP-34958-9 procedure at the console.
- How:
- Turn off your PS4 console completely, disconnect the power cable from the power outlet, wait a few minutes, reconnect the power cable, turn on your PS4 console, and go to Settings > Account Management > Restore Licenses and select Restore.
- Result that matters:
- Whether the padlock icon disappears from the game tile and the game starts without NP-34958-9.
- If the padlock disappears and the game launches after selecting Restore, that confirms a temporary local license validation glitch caused NP-34958-9.
- If the game remains padlocked after the power cycle and Restore Licenses, that rules out a simple cached license glitch and points to account ownership, Primary PS4 activation, or PlayStation Plus status.
- Evidence to keep:
- Keep a photo of the padlocked game tile and note the time you ran Restore Licenses.
Evidence: How to restore licenses on PlayStation consoles · How to fix NP-34958-9 on PS4 consoles
Check that you are signed in to the buying account and verify Transaction History
- Who:
- You or the game purchaser can check the active account and purchase history.
- How:
- Make sure you are signed in to the exact account used to buy the game or redeem the voucher, check its transaction history to verify the purchase was successful, and if another user on the PS4 owns the game, check Settings > Account Management > Activate as Your Primary PlayStation 4 on their account.
- Result that matters:
- Whether the purchase is recorded on your account or on another user's account that needs Primary PS4 activation.
- If another household account bought the game and activates this unit as its primary PS4 console, that confirms why the game was padlocked on your profile.
- If the signed-in account shows the completed purchase and this console is already activated as its primary PS4, that rules out account mismatch and isolates the check to PlayStation Plus or network status.
- Evidence to keep:
- Save a redacted screenshot of the transaction history record and the Primary PS4 activation state.
Evidence: How to activate a primary PS4 console · How to troubleshoot game downloads from PlayStation Store
Verify PlayStation Plus subscription validity, PlayStation status, and system software
- Who:
- You can check your subscription and console software status from the PS4 menu.
- How:
- If the padlocked title is part of a PlayStation Plus benefit, verify that your subscription is active and the game is still in the PlayStation Plus game catalog, then check the PlayStation status page for alerts and check Settings > System Software Update.
- Result that matters:
- Whether the PlayStation Plus entitlement is still active, whether PSN has service alerts, and whether a PS4 system software update is pending.
- If your PlayStation Plus subscription expired or the PlayStation status page shows an active alert, that confirms why Restore Licenses could not clear the padlock icon.
- If the subscription is active, system software is up to date, and no PSN alerts exist while NP-34958-9 persists, that isolates the fault to a backend license issue requiring PlayStation Customer Support or a Safe Mode database rebuild.
- Evidence to keep:
- Capture a screenshot of the PlayStation status page and note your PS4 system software version.
Evidence: How to restore licenses on PlayStation consoles · How to troubleshoot game downloads from PlayStation Store
Still not solved
If the error persists, stop here. See what the technician must do and show you.
Where this code applies
A code is meaningful only inside the right product and version context.
Primary scope
- System
- Gaming and consoles
- Brand
- PlayStation
- Product type
- PlayStation 4
Known code variants
- code erreur PS4 NP-34958-9
- codice errore PS4 NP-34958-9
- error PS4 NP-34958-9
- PlayStation 4 NP-34958-9
- PlayStation NP-34958-9
- PS4 error code NP-34958-9
- PS4 Fehlercode NP-34958-9
- PS4 NP-34958-9
What it means
In PlayStation Support's official documentation, error code NP-34958-9 states 'The PlayStation 4 console game you're trying to play is padlocked.' A padlock icon next to a PS4 game indicates that the local PlayStation Store license check failed for the active account. PlayStation's official fix starts with a full power cycle (unplugging the AC power cable for a few minutes) followed by Settings > Account Management > Restore Licenses. Code NP-34958-9 alone does not prove a failed console drive or hardware defect, as unsynced licenses, inactive Primary PS4 sharing, or an expired PlayStation Plus subscription cause the same padlock.
Warnings and stop conditions
- Lowsource verified
Restoring licenses won't affect your data, but it will not unlock a game whose padlock icon is caused by an expired PlayStation Plus subscription.
Evidence: How to restore licenses on PlayStation consoles
- Mediumsource verified
Always turn off your PS4 console completely before you disconnect the power cable from the power outlet during the NP-34958-9 procedure; never unplug a running PS4 console.
Evidence: How to fix NP-34958-9 on PS4 consoles
Symptoms and causes
Probable causes · in order
- PlayStation Store game license needs restoring on the PS4 consoleCommon
PlayStation Support links NP-34958-9 directly to a padlocked PS4 game and instructs you to power-cycle the console and run Restore Licenses, which resolves padlock icons not caused by PlayStation Plus expiration.
Evidence: How to restore licenses on PlayStation consoles · How to fix NP-34958-9 on PS4 consoles
- Signed in to an account other than the one used to buy the gamePossible
PlayStation's locked-game troubleshooting guide notes that a padlock icon appears when you are not signed in to the correct account that was used to buy the game or redeem the voucher.
Evidence: How to troubleshoot game downloads from PlayStation Store
- Game shared by another user who has not activated this unit as their primary PS4Possible
When a game is owned by someone else who shares the PS4 console, other users see a padlock icon unless the owner has activated the console as their primary PS4 console.
Evidence: How to activate a primary PS4 console · How to troubleshoot game downloads from PlayStation Store
- PlayStation Plus subscription expired or title removed from the catalogPossible
Restoring licenses does not remove a padlock icon related to the expiration of a PlayStation Plus subscription or a game that is no longer available in the PlayStation Plus game catalog.
Evidence: How to restore licenses on PlayStation consoles · How to troubleshoot game downloads from PlayStation Store
Virtual technician
Does NP-34958-9 still appear after these checks?
Answer a few questions to narrow down the likely cause and the safest next action. Guidance only - it never replaces a professional.
Sources and technical references
- 1
PlayStation Support · 2026 · official_doc
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