Is the PS5 Capable of Playing 4K Blu-ray Discs?
The PlayStation 5 (PS5) can indeed play 4K Blu-ray discs and TV shows. However, it’s important to note that the PS5’s 4K Blu-ray player does not support 3D discs, SACDs, or DVD Audio discs. For those who enjoy immersive sound, the PS5 can play Dolby Atmos soundtracks from Blu-ray discs.
One significant feature of the PS5 is its built-in 4K Blu-ray player, which is a welcome inclusion compared to the PS4, which lacked a 4K Blu-ray option altogether. This omission had been attributed to Sony’s belief that streaming was the future of home video—a notion that seems reconsidered, given the current landscape.
First impressions of the PS5’s 4K Blu-ray playback reveal a picture that is detailed, clean, dynamic, and colorful. This marks a substantial upgrade over HD Blu-ray experiences, even devoid of Dolby Vision or HDR10+ enhancements on certain TVs like Samsung models.
Interestingly, the PS5’s playback of 4K Blu-ray is coupled with the ability to handle Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio into your sound system. However, while the PS5 provides a decent experience, it does not support Dolby Vision for 4K Blu-ray playback, making it an average player overall. If Dolby Vision is a must for you, consider opting for a dedicated Blu-ray player.
Moreover, while reports of the PS5 struggling with triple-layered Blu-rays are minimal, you might experience issues more frequently on an Xbox console. If you own a high-end TV, it’s recommended to look into a dedicated Blu-ray player for optimal performance.
To enable 4K at 120Hz on the PS5, navigate to General, then TV & display options. In the display section, adjust the Resolution to 4K UHD and the Refresh Rate to 120Hz.
Lastly, it’s worth mentioning that the PS5 disc drive version can play 4K Blu-ray discs directly, whereas the digital-only version can be equipped with a 4K Blu-ray drive attachment in the future.
Why Might Blu-ray Movies Fail to Play on PS5?
If your new PlayStation 5 just won’t spin those high-def discs, don’t fret. The problem likely lies in one of the following areas:
- Verify Disc and Console Cleanliness: According to recent polls on PlayStation online forums, up to 45% of PS5 owners reporting disc read errors were able to resolve the issue by thoroughly cleaning both the disc surface and console lens. Dust particles and microscopic debris can interfere with the blue laser tracking required for 4K optical media playback. Always handle discs by the edges and clean them in a straight line from the center outwards with a microfiber cloth. Isopropyl alcohol can be used for more stubborn smudges. For the PS5 itself, use a can of compressed air to blast out the dust from around the disc drive slot and external vents.
- Check Firmware Updates: Ensure that your PS5 firmware is up-to-date. Later updates have expanded Blu-ray functionality. Early models did not support seamless branching video features that some film releases utilize.
- Rebuild the Database in Safe Mode: Rebuilding the database essentially performs a spot-cleaning of your drive indexes. To initiate, first power down the console fully. Hold down the power button until you hear a second startup beep. This will launch the PS5 into safe mode where you can select Database Rebuild. The process runs automatically, taking 5-10 minutes before rebooting back to the main UI. Note that rebuilding databases has a minor risk of data loss or corruption in extremely rare cases, so backing up game saves is recommended.
- Adjust Video Output Settings: Incorrect video output adjustments in the PS5 settings menus could be preventing your console from properly passing the Blu-ray video signal to your television or home theater receiver. Under Settings > Screen and Video, browse through options for HDR, enable HDCP, toggle ALLM, and confirm resolutions. While auto-detection works perfectly in most configurations, manually adjusting the PS5 video output parameters can potentially correct any incompatibilities.
- Testing with Different Media: Clean the disc with a soft, clean cloth to remove any dirt or prints. Take care not to leave fingerprints on the disc’s surface when you insert it. PS5 consoles can’t play burned discs or audio CDs. You can try inserting another game, Blu-ray disc, or DVD.
- Resetting the PS5: If the Rebuild Database option doesn’t resolve the issue, access Safe Mode and select Reset PS5 (Reinstall System Software). Warning: This option deletes all information on the console.
- Restarting the Console: One simple solution to fix the ‘PS5 won’t read Blu-ray discs’ issue is to restart your console system. You can turn off PS5 normally and then disconnect the power source within 30 seconds. After that, turn it on again and check if the game disc is readable.
- Possible App Issues: It might be the case that the current PS5 Blu-ray app has a few issues that could get ironed out over time. Users have reported skipping issues, and it’s possible that this could relate to TV settings as well.
Can You Watch Any Region Blu-ray on PS5?
Yes, the PS5 can play region-free Blu-ray movies, but not region-locked discs.
The PS5 console itself along with Ultra HD 4K Blu-ray discs are completely region-free. You can play UHD Blu-rays from any country without issue. However, regular 1080p Blu-ray discs can still be region encoded, limiting playback on PS5 depending on where you purchased the console.
- Ultra HD 4K Blu-rays: These are completely region-free! Any UHD Blu-ray disc can be played on a PlayStation 5, regardless of where you bought the console.
- Region Assignment: Your PS5 console’s Blu-ray capabilities are determined by the region where you bought the hardware:
- PS5s sold in the Americas = Region A;
- PS5s sold in Europe/Australia = Region B;
- PS5s sold in Asia = Region C.
This means you can play Blu-ray discs from your PS5’s assigned region without any problems.
- Region Change: Unfortunately, there is no way to change your PlayStation’s Blu-ray region through settings once purchased. A hardware modification would be needed.
- Personal Experience: In one case, a user in the US successfully played European discs sent from eBay, confirming that they booted up without issues.
- Drive Capabilities: The drive’s region is hardcoded at the factory. To play Blu-rays from multiple regions, you’ll need a dedicated multi-region player or import discs matching your PS5’s locked region.
- Hardware Information: The PS5 hardware itself remains region-free. Any model can be used internationally or imported between regions with ease, except in China, which has exclusive government-approved consoles and some media playback limitations.
