How to Fix PS5 Error Code CE-108255-1 When Games Keep Crashing

Few things are more frustrating than a game closing in the middle of a boss fight, a race, or an online match. If your PlayStation 5 shows error code CE-108255-1, the console is telling you that something went wrong with the game or app you were using. The error can appear once in a while, or it can happen again and again with the same title. This guide explains what causes it and walks you through the fixes, from the quickest to the most thorough.

Quick Answer

PS5 error CE-108255-1 means a game or app crashed or failed to run correctly. Start by updating the game and your PS5 system software, then restart the console. If the error keeps happening with one game, delete and reinstall that game. If it happens with every game, rebuild the database in safe mode, and if that fails, reinstall the system software or contact PlayStation Support, as repeated errors on all titles can point to a hardware problem.

What Causes PS5 Error CE-108255-1?

This is a general application error. The console detected a problem serious enough that it had to close the game or app.

Common causes include corrupted game data, a bug in a specific game version, outdated system software, and problems with how the game is installed on your internal SSD or an external drive. In rarer cases, especially when the error appears across many different games, it can be linked to a hardware fault.

The pattern matters. If only one game triggers CE-108255-1, the problem is almost certainly that game’s data or a bug in that title. If every game and app crashes with the same code, the problem is more likely system software, storage, or hardware.

Note when the error started. If it began right after a game update, a system update, or installing a new external drive, that change is a strong clue.

Step 1: Restart Your PS5 and Update Everything

Always start with the basics. They fix this error more often than people expect.

1. Close the game completely. Press the PS button, highlight the game in the switcher, press Options, and choose Close Game.
2. Restart the console properly. Press the PS button, select Power, then Restart PS5. Avoid just using rest mode.
3. Update the game. Highlight the game icon, press Options, and choose Check for Update. Install any update available.
4. Update the system software. Go to Settings, then System, then System Software, then System Software Update and Settings, and select Update System Software.
5. Launch the game again and play for a while to see if the error returns.

If the error only happened once and does not return after these steps, it was probably a one-off glitch. Keep playing and do not worry about the deeper fixes below.

Step 2: Delete and Reinstall the Problem Game

If CE-108255-1 keeps appearing with the same game, its installed data may be corrupted. A clean reinstall replaces every file.

1. Back up your save data first if you can. PlayStation Plus members can upload saves to cloud storage from Settings, then Saved Data and Game/App Settings.
2. Go to Settings, then Storage, then Console Storage, then Games and Apps.
3. Select the problem game and delete it. Deleting the game does not delete your saved data, which is stored separately.
4. Restart the PS5 after the delete finishes.
5. Reinstall the game from your disc or download it again from your Game Library.
6. Install all updates for the game before launching it.

If you use an extended USB drive or an M.2 SSD, try installing the game on the internal console storage instead. A failing or slow external drive can cause repeated application errors, and moving the game rules that out.

For disc games, also inspect the disc. Fingerprints, dust, and scratches can cause read errors that look like software faults. Clean the disc gently with a soft, dry cloth, wiping from the centre outward.

Step 3: Rebuild the PS5 Database in Safe Mode

If several games trigger the error, or a reinstall did not help, rebuilding the database is the next step. This scans your storage and creates a fresh database of your content. It does not delete your games or saves.

1. Turn the PS5 off completely. Hold the power button until the console shuts down, not rest mode.
2. Press and hold the power button again. Release it after you hear the second beep, about seven seconds later.
3. Connect your DualSense controller with a USB cable and press the PS button.
4. Select Clear Cache and Rebuild Database from the safe mode menu.
5. Choose Rebuild Database and confirm. Wait for the process to finish, which can take a few minutes to much longer on a nearly full drive.
6. Start the console normally and test your games again.

You can read the full walkthrough in our guide on how to change your NAT type to open on a games console if connection errors appear alongside game crashes, since network and system issues are often fixed together during a full console health check. For database steps specifically, follow the safe mode instructions above carefully and do not turn the console off during the rebuild.

Step 4: Reinstall the System Software

If the error happens on every game even after a database rebuild, the system software itself may be damaged. Reinstalling it is the strongest software fix, but it deletes all users and data on the console, so treat it as a last resort before repair.

1. Back up anything you can, including saves to the cloud and screenshots or clips to a USB drive.
2. On a computer, download the PS5 reinstallation file from the official PlayStation website and save it to a USB drive in the correct folder structure.
3. Start the PS5 in safe mode using the two-beep method described above.
4. Select Reset PS5 (Reinstall System Software) and follow the on-screen instructions.
5. Set up the console again, sign in, and reinstall one game first to test before restoring everything.

The official steps and the download file are on the PlayStation guide to reinstalling PS5 system software. Follow that page exactly, because using the smaller update file instead of the reinstallation file will not work for this option.

When CE-108255-1 Means a Hardware Problem

Sony’s own guidance notes that if this error occurs with every game, or immediately after the console starts, there may be a problem with the console itself. Signs that point toward hardware include the error appearing during the first minutes of any title, crashes combined with graphical glitches or strange colours, the console overheating or shutting down, and the error returning after a full system software reinstall.

If you see those signs, stop repeating software fixes. Check your warranty status and contact support through the official PlayStation Support pages. Describe the steps you have already tried, as that speeds up the repair process.

Before sending the console away, remove any disc, disconnect external drives, and back up your saves if the console still runs long enough to do so.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Deleting saved data with the game. Saves are stored separately. Delete only the game from Games and Apps, and back up saves before any full reset.
• Skipping updates. Many CE-108255-1 cases are known game bugs fixed in a patch. Always update the game and system before deeper fixes.
• Using rest mode instead of a real restart. A proper restart clears temporary problems that rest mode can preserve.
• Rebuilding or resetting during a storm or unstable power. Losing power during a database rebuild or reinstall can make things worse. Use a stable power connection.
• Assuming one crash means broken hardware. A single occurrence is common and usually harmless. Hardware is a concern only when the error repeats across many games.
• Ignoring the external drive. Always test the game on internal storage before blaming the console itself.

Conclusion

Error CE-108255-1 means a PS5 game or app ran into a serious problem. Work through the fixes in order: update everything and restart, reinstall the one problem game, rebuild the database in safe mode, and reinstall the system software only if nothing else works. If the error appears on every title and survives a full reinstall, it is time to contact PlayStation Support about a possible hardware fault.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does CE-108255-1 delete my saved games?

No. The error itself does not delete saves. Your saved data is stored separately from game installs, and it stays safe when you delete and reinstall a game. Only a full console reset or system software reinstall removes local saves, so back them up first.

Why does CE-108255-1 happen with only one game?

That pattern usually means corrupted data or a bug in that specific game. Update it first. If the crashes continue, delete and reinstall that game. Other titles working fine is a good sign that your console hardware is healthy.

Will rebuilding the database delete my games?

No. Rebuilding the database reorganizes how the console indexes your content. Your games, apps, and saved data remain in place. It is one of the safest deeper fixes you can try.

How do I know if my PS5 needs repair for this error?

If CE-108255-1 appears with every game, starts soon after launch, or returns after reinstalling the system software, a hardware problem is likely. At that point, contact PlayStation Support rather than repeating software steps.

Can a scratched disc cause CE-108255-1?

Yes. A dirty or damaged disc can cause read errors that crash the game. Clean the disc with a soft cloth, test it, and if possible try installing and playing a digital game to see whether the error follows the disc or the console.