PlayStation Error Code NP-104636-5 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

NP-104636-5 means your PlayStation 5 cannot sign in to PlayStation Network. This can be caused by account issues, network problems, or a PSN outage. Most of the time this is temporary and fixes itself within minutes.

Affected Models

PlayStation 5
PlayStation 5 Digital Edition

Common Causes

PlayStation Network is down or experiencing issues on Sony's end
Your home internet connection is unstable or not working
Your PSN account credentials have changed and need to be re-entered
Your PS5's date and time settings are incorrect, causing authentication to fail
A DNS or router configuration issue is blocking access to PSN servers

How to Fix It

Check the PlayStation Network status at status.playstation.com. If any services show as having problems, the issue is on Sony's end. Wait 30 to 60 minutes and try again.

PSN outages are the most common cause of NP-104636-5. This requires no action on your part.
Restart your PS5 and network equipment. Turn off the PS5, then turn off your router and modem. Wait 2 minutes, power the router back on, wait for it to reconnect, then turn on the PS5.

This clears temporary network state that can block PSN connections.
Sign out of PSN on your PS5, then sign back in. Go to Settings > Users and Accounts > Other, select Sign Out. Then sign back in with your PSN email and password.

Re-authenticating can resolve account session issues that cause this error.
Check your PS5's date and time settings. Go to Settings > System > Date and Time, and make sure Set Automatically is turned on.

An incorrect system clock causes authentication certificates to fail, which can block PSN sign-in.
Try changing your DNS settings. Go to Settings > Network > Settings > Set Up Internet Connection, select your network, choose Advanced Settings, and set Primary DNS to 8.8.8.8 and Secondary DNS to 8.8.4.4.

Google's DNS servers are reliable and often resolve PSN connection problems.

When to Call a Professional

If you cannot sign in after trying all steps, contact PlayStation Support. There may be a block on your account that only Sony can remove. Have your PSN email address and account ID ready before you call.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I play my downloaded games if I cannot sign in to PSN?

It depends on whether your PS5 is set as your Primary Console. If it is, you can play downloaded games offline without signing in. If it is not your primary console, you need to be signed into PSN to play most games.

Could my PSN account be banned or suspended?

If you only see this error code and not a suspension message, your account is likely fine. Suspended accounts show a different, specific error message explaining the suspension. If you are unsure, log in to your PSN account at playstation.com to check its status.

Does this error mean my PSN subscription has expired?

Not usually — an expired PlayStation Plus subscription causes a different type of error. NP-104636-5 is specifically about being unable to connect to the network itself. You can check your subscription status at account.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com.