Fix Cannot Start the Application (CE-30005-8) Error on PS4

Cannot start the application CE-30005-8 means that either the game’s disc is corrupt or your PS4 console “thinks” that its hard disk drive is corrupt (e.g., if a PS4 update is installing and you try to install a game through the disc, then it may show the error at hand).

The user encounters the issue when he tries to install a game through the disc but encounters the following message:

Cannot start the application.

(CE-30005-8)

Some users encountered the same error code while connecting an external drive to the PS4. In some cases, the error code was also shown when creating a backup of the PS4 console.

You can fix the error code CE 30005 8 on PS4 by trying the solutions below but before that, check if your PS4 has enough space available (e.g., if the game needs 20GB space, then make sure your PS4 has 40GB space available). Moreover, check if replacing the cable that connects the PS4 and hard drive solves the issue. If the issue is with an external device, then check if formatting the drive in the exFat file system on the PC and creating a single MBR partition of the whole drive solves the issue.

If the issue is linked to a game’s disc (you can check the disc on other consoles), check if cleaning the disc thoroughly solves the issue. Following methods of cleaning the disc (multiple tries) are reported by the users to solve the issue:

1. Restart the PS4 Console, Clean Disk, and re-plug its Power Cable

A temporary glitch of the PS4 Console may cause it to show the error code CE 30005 8 and restarting the PS4 station may solve the problem.

1. Power off your PS4 and when its lights are off, unplug the power cable of the PS4.

   

2. Now wait for 2 minutes and plug back the console’s power cable.
3. Meanwhile, take out the disk from the PS4 and clean it using a smooth cloth. Make sure not to apply too much pressure.
4. Then power on the console, insert the disk again and check if it is clear of the error CE-30005-8.

2. Reinstall the Problematic Game

A partial install of the game may force the PS4 to “think” that the game is installed and thus cause the error CE-30005-8 even though all the files will not available for operation. In this context, removing the partial install and reinstalling the game may solve the problem.

1. Open Library on the Home screen of your PS4 and in the left pane, head to the Games tab.

   

2. Then select the problematic game (e.g., FIFA) and press the Options key.

   

3. Now select Delete and confirm to delete the problematic game.

   

4. Once the game is deleted, reboot your PS4 and upon reboot, check if reinstalling the game resolves the PS4 issue.

   

3. Update the System Software of PS4 to the Latest Built

An outdated system software of PS4 may cause the PS4 error code CE-30005-8 and you can fix the “cannot start the application CE 30005 8” error by updating the system software of PS4.

1. Firstly, uninstall the problematic game as discussed earlier but do not reinstall and make sure no disc (DVD, Blu-ray, etc.) is present in the disc drive of PS4.
2. Now launch the Settings of PS4 and open System Software Update.

   

3. If an update is available, select the Next button and then click on Update.

   

4. Then let the system software update installed and once updated, check if the PS4 error code CE 30005 8 is cleared (you may have to reinstall the game).

   

If the issue persists, check if using a different network solves the PS4 issue.

4. Rebuild the Database of the PS4 Console

Your PS4 may show the error code CE-30005-8 if its database is corrupt. In this context, rebuilding the database of your PS4 console may solve the problem. Before proceeding, make sure you have backed up the essential data of the PS4 console and remove any disc present in the disc drive of PS4.

1. Firstly, boot your PS4 into the Safe Mode and when asked to, connect the controller to the PS4.

   

2. Then scroll down and select option no. 5 of Rebuild Database.

   

3. Now confirm to rebuild the database by clicking on the OK button and let the rebuild process complete (this might take some time to complete).

   

4. Once the rebuild of the database is completed, press the PS button on the controller and select your PS4 account on the screen.
5. Now open Settings and select Storage.

   

6. Then open System Storage and select Saved Data.

   

7. Now select the problematic game (e.g., Red Dead Redemption) and press the Options key.

   

8. Then select Delete and repeat the same to remove all the entries of the game (if there is more than one entry of the game, delete all the entries one by one).

   

9. Now try again to install the game and check if it is clear of the error code CE 30005 8.

If that did not work, enable the debug mode of the console and open Debug Settings. Then navigate to Game > Add Content Manager > Entitlement Control > Game and delete Disabled Entitlement. Then check if the PS4 error code CE 30005 8 is cleared.

5. Reset the PS4 Console

The corrupt firmware of your PS4 may cause the error CE 30005 8 and initializing it which will reset the PS4 console to the defaults may solve the PS4 problem. Before proceeding, make sure to back up the essential data to a USB device (or create an online backup).

1. Launch the Settings of your PS4 and select Initialization.

   

2. Now select Initialize PS4 and click on Full.

   

3. Then wait till the PS4 reset process is complete and make sure the PS4 does not power off during the process.

   

4. Once the reset process is complete, check if its error CE 30005 8 is cleared.

6. Reinstall the System Software of the PS4 Console

If initializing the PS4 did not do the trick for you, then you are left with no other choice but to reinstall the System Software of the PS4 console. Before proceeding, make sure to back up the essential data (as all PS4 data will be erased) on the PS4 console.

1. Firstly, connect a USB to a desktop PC (Windows, Mac, etc.) and format it in the FAT32 file system.
2. Now create a new folder in the USB and name it PS4 (name it in all caps).
3. Then open the PS4 folder, create another folder in it and name it as UPDATE (name it in all caps).
4. Now launch a web browser on the PC and navigate to the official PS4 system software download page.
5. Then download the PS4 Console Reinstallation File and rename the downloaded file as PS4UPDATE.PUP (name it in all caps).

   

6. Now copy the renamed file to the Update folder of the USB (created at step 3) and plug the USB device into the PS4 console.

   

7. Then boot the PS4 console into the safe mode and select option 7 of Initialize PS4 (Reinstall System Software).

   

8. Now select the option of Update from USB Storage Device and click OK.

   

9. Once the System Software of the PS4 console is reinstalled, set it up and hopefully, the error code CE 30005 8 is cleared.

If none of the solutions did the trick for you, you may get a new game’s disc (if encountering the issue with a disc) or get your PS4 checked for a hardware issue.