GTA VI: how to restart a stalled PS5 preload

The Grand Theft Auto VI preload has been available on PS5 since November 10. To determine whether it actually started, open Game Library, select GTA VI and enter the countdown: from there, you can verify the download or start it manually. The console must have 212 GB available. Even after every file is downloaded, the game will remain locked until its UK release at local midnight on November 19, 2026.

This guide focuses on diagnosing the transfer—especially when it does not start or stops progressing—rather than merely announcing the preload.

What the 212 GB figure means

The PlayStation UK support page instructs players to ensure that 212 GB of storage is available on the PS5. It presents that figure as the capacity needed to prepare the console; it does not say that every stage will display a transfer of exactly the same size.

To check free space, go to Settings > Storage. If capacity is insufficient, PlayStation advises deleting existing data or moving it to another storage device. Check the official page before removing content because requirements and conditions may change.

It is also worth updating the system under Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings. Automatic downloading and installation of update files can be enabled there.

How to verify the transfer

First, check that the preorder was registered to the account used for the purchase. Open the order history and confirm that GTA VI is listed as successfully purchased.

On the console, go to Game Library > Your Collection and select the preorder. The PS5 should display a countdown to release. Open it and make sure the box beside GTA VI is checked, enabling automatic downloading.

Because preload is already available, the same countdown lets you verify whether the download has started. If it has not, select the option to download manually. The transfer should also appear in Downloads/Uploads, available through the control center.

These indicators serve different purposes: the countdown confirms that the product is associated with the account and awaiting release, while Downloads/Uploads shows whether the files are actually being transferred.

How to prepare Rest Mode

To allow downloading while the console is not in active use, open Settings > System > Power Saving > Features Available in Rest Mode and enable Stay Connected to the Internet. Then use Power > Enter Rest Mode in the control center.

These options help the PS5 receive the transfer but do not alter the release date. If the console is shared, support also recommends checking Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Console Sharing and Offline Play and enabling it so other accounts on that console can play after release.

How to restart a stalled preload

If GTA VI appears in Downloads/Uploads but the progress bar is not moving, follow the official sequence:

1. Open Downloads/Uploads from the control center.

2. Select the GTA VI transfer.

3. Choose Pause.

4. Select Resume.

If it still does not begin, select the transfer again, use Cancel and Delete, return to Game Library, open GTA VI and re-enable automatic downloading. This removes the download attempt so it can be started again; it does not cancel the preorder.

If the problem continues, verify that you are signed in to the account that bought the game or redeemed the code, that the console is connected to the internet, that 212 GB is free and that the system software is current. PlayStation directs account, code, download and installation problems to its support service.

The boxed edition does not contain a disc

The edition labeled Physical (Code-In-Box) contains only a game download code and no disc. The code can be redeemed as soon as the box arrives, allowing preload to begin. If it is missing or unreadable, the official guidance is to contact the retailer.

The PlayStation announcement confirms that buyers of this edition can also redeem the code and download the files early. That does not turn the boxed product into an early-access edition.

Why the lock remains visible

Preloading and unlocking are separate stages. The first stores files ahead of release; the second grants permission to run the game. According to PlayStation, the launch rolls across countries as each reaches midnight on November 19.

For UK players, the territorial support page specifically confirms a release at local midnight on November 19, 2026. A running countdown or lock icon after the download finishes therefore does not, by itself, indicate a problem.

The practical check combines four signals: the purchase is registered, the countdown is visible, the transfer has started or finished, and the required storage is available. Players outside the UK should consult their local PlayStation page rather than applying the British release time to another territory.