How to Fix PS4 Error CE-32809-2

The Error CE-32809-2 is encountered on PS4 when users attempt to launch certain games or applications conventionally. This problem is reported to occur with both digitally purchased games as well as with physical media.

As it turns out, there are several different causes that might end up causing this particular error code. Here are a few potential culprits that might end up causing this problem:

Method 1: Restarting your Console

When troubleshooting this particular issue, you should start by doing a simple restart on your Playstation 4 console. This operation was confirmed to be effective by a lot of affected users that were previously encountering the CE-32809-2.

If you are dealing with a license issue, restarting your console should force the OS to re-check the applications and games licenses during the next startup which should end up resolving the issue.

To trigger a restart on your PS4, simply press and hold the PS button on your controller and then choose Restart PS4 from the newly appeared Power Options menu.

After you initiate a restart, wait for the next startup to complete, then launch the game or application again and see if the problem is now resolved.

In case you are still encountering the same PS4 CE-32809-2 error, move down to the next potential fix below.

Method 2: Power Cycling your Console

As it turns out, most often than not, this problem can be caused by a fairly common OS inconsistency brought about by some type of corrupted temporary data that was created after an unexpected system interruption or by a bad update.

If this scenario is applicable, you should be able to fix the problem without having to initiate a more serious procedure. Several affected users have confirmed that the CE-32809-2 problem was resolved after they performed a power cycling procedure on their PlayStation 4 console.

Follow the instructions below to initiate a power-cycling procedure on your PS4 console:

1. Start by ensuring that your console is fully turned off and not in hibernation mode.
2. With your console turned on, press and hold on the power button (on your console) and keep it pressed until you can hear the back fans of your console shutting down completely (typically happens in about 10 seconds).

   

3. Your console will make 2 short beep sounds during this process. Once you hear the second beep, release the power button.
4. Once your console is fully shud down, remove the power cable from the power outlet that’s currently connected to and wait for 30 seconds or more before plugging it back in. This is done in order to ensure that the power capacitors are completely drained.
5. After this period has passed, boot your console back up normally and wait for the next startup to complete.
6. Repeat the action that was previously causing the CE-32809-2 error code and see if the problem is now resolved.

In case the same problem is still occurring, move down to the next potential fix below.

Method 3: Setting the Console as the Primary PS4

One of the most common causes that will ultimately spawn the CE-32809-2 Error is an instance in which your console suspects that you don’t have the right to play the game or application that’s triggering the error. This is most likely reported to occur with digitally purchased media.

If this scenario is applicable, you should be able to fix this problem by accessing the Settings menu of your console and activating this device as the primary PS4 from the Account Management settings of your account.

In case your console is not acting as your primary PS4, follow the instructions below to resolve the CE-32809-2 Error by setting this console as the primary PS4:

1. One the main dashboard of your PS4, access the Settings via the menu at the top.

   

2. Inside the Settings menu, go ahead and access the Account Management entry.

   

3. Inside the Account Management menu, select Activate as Your Primary PS4 and choose to activate at the final confirmation menu to initiate the procedure.

   

   Note: If your console is already activated as your primary PS4, deactivate it, restart your computer and then return to this menu and activate it again.

4. Once the operation is complete, restart your computer and see if the problem is fixed once the next startup is complete.

In case the same problem is still occurring, move down to the next potential fix below.

Method 4: Restoring Licenses

Are the first 2 potential fixes didn’t work in your case, it’s very likely that you’re actually dealing with some kind of persisting licensing issue. Several affected users facing the same problem have managed to get the issue resolved by initiating a licensing restore procedure on their PS4 console.

This particular fix is known to be effective in instances where the problem only occurs for digitally purchased media. If this scenario is applicable, follow the instructions below to restore the licenses of your PS4 console and resolve the PS4 CE-32809-2 error:

1. From the main dashboard of your PS4, you can use the menu at the top to navigate all the way to the left-hand side and select Settings.
2. Once you’re inside the Settings menu, select the Account Management menu and press the X button to access it.

   

3. Once you’re inside the Account Management menu, select Restore License and press X to access the menu.

   

4. At the final confirmation prompt, use the Restore button and wait for the operation to complete and the licenses to be restored.

   

5. After the operation is complete, restart your console and see if the problem is resolved once the next startup is complete.

In case you’re still encountering the same PS4 CE-32809-2 error, move down to the next potential fix below.

Method 5: Rebuilding the Database

If none of the fixes above have worked for you, one last result you have left is to rebuild your PS4 database. Several affected users have confirmed that this operation has finally allowed them to access their purchases without seeing the PS4 CE-32809-2 error.

Rebuilding your PS4 databases will improve licensing inconsistencies that couldn’t be resolved with a licensing restore procedure and might also fix certain framerate issues related to corrupted data. Think of database rebuilding as a deep cleaning process. However, unless the files are corrupted, do not expect any data loss that might affect your personal files.

However, keep in mind that this operation can only be done from Safe mode, so you need to boot into Safe Mode first before you can initiate the rebuilding of your databases. If you decide to go forward with this operation, follow the instructions below:

1. If your PS4 console is turned on, power it off conventionally by holding the PS button on your console, accessing the Power Options from the guide menu, and choosing Turn Off PS4 from the context menu.

   

2. Wait for a full minute to ensure that your console is fully turned off.
3. Press and hold the power button down until you hear 2 consecutive two hips. These two beeps will alert you that you have successfully entered Safe Mode.

   

4. Next, go ahead and connect your DualShock 4 controller via a USB-A cable to the front of your PS4.
5. Once your controller is connected, scroll down through the list of available options, select options 5 (Rebuild Database), and press X to initiate the operation.

   

6. Wait until the operation to complete. Depending on your HDD space and if you’re using the newer SSD technology, this operation can end up taking minutes or hours.
   Note: What this procedure essentially does it’s it reorganizes your hard drive to make it easier and quicker for the _OS to access your files. This will resolve errors, decrease data load times, and discourage freezes or experienced frame drops.
7. Once the operation is complete, restart your console and repeat the action that was previously causing the error code CE-32809-2 to see if the problem is now fixed.

In case the same problem is still occurring, move down to the next potential fix below.

Method 6: Initialize your PS4

If none of the potential fixes above have worked for you, one last attempt at resolving the CE-32809-2 error code is to perform initialization on your PS4 console. This fix was confirmed to work by several affected users that were previously facing this problem.

But before you go through with this procedure, keep in mind that this operation will get rid of any data including game data & save data that you are currently storing on your PlayStation 4.

To ensure that you will not be dealing with any data loss at the end of this operation, we’ve included some steps that will ensure that the relevant data associated with your PSN account is safely backed up on the cloud.

Here’s a quick guide on initializing your PS4 and backing up your saved game data in advance:

1. First things first, make sure that you are logged in with the PSN account where you store your relevant game data.
2. Next, use the main dashboard to access the Settings menu.

   

3. From the insides of your Settings menu, access the Application Saved Data Management menu, and then choose Saved Data in System Storage.

   

   Note: Keep in mind that you’ll need an active PS Plus subscription in order to be able to back up your data on  Sony’s cloud servers. In this case, you can back up your data on a flash drive instead.

4. Once you get to the next menu, select Upload to Online Storage from the list of options and press X to access it. In case you don’t have an active PS Plus subscription, use the Copy to USB Storage Device option instead.

   

5. Once you get to the next screen, press the Options button on your controller, and select Choose Multiple Applications. Then, go ahead and select every relevant save game that you want to preserve. Once every relevant content is selected, click the Upload/Copy button to begin sending them to the cloud or copy them over to a flash drive respectively.

   

   Note: Keep in mind that in case you have more recent saves on the online storage, you will need to confirm the process one more time. If you have a lot of different conflicts of this kind, it’s a good idea to use the Apply to All box before choosing Yes, so you don’t get this prompt over and over again.

   

6.  Once the operation is complete, press the PS button on your controller to bring up the guide menu, then access the Power Menu. Then, from the insides of the Power menu, choose Turn Off PS4 and wait for your console to power off completely.

   

7. Once your console shows no signs of live, wait for 30 seconds or more, then press and hold the power button until you hear 2 consecutive beeps. This is the signal telling you that your PS4 console is about to enter the Recovery Menu.
8. From the inside of your Recovery menu, connect your controller via a USB-A cable, and then select option 6. Initialize PS4 before pressing X to initiate the procedure.

   

9. At the final confirmation prompt, confirm by selecting Yes, then wait until the operation is complete.
10. After the operation is finished, your console will restart in normal mode. When this happens, go to Settings > Application Saved Data Management and choose Saved Data in Online Storage. Then, follow the on-screen instructions to download the data that you have previously backed up on the cloud.
    Note: In case you have previously backed up the data on a flash drive, select Saved Data on USB Storage instead.
11. Re-download the game or application that you were previously encountering the CE-32809-2 error with and see if the problem is now resolved.