How to remove deleted games from your PS5 home screen

There is nothing quite as annoying as a perfectly curated home screen being ruined by a "ghost icon." You’ve uninstalled the game, deleted the save data, and yet, there it sits—cluttering up your UI like a digital phantom.

In 2026, with the sheer volume of games we swap in and out of our consoles, the PS5's database sometimes forgets to "take out the trash." If you’re staring at a game icon that shouldn't be there, don't worry. You don't have to factory reset your console to fix it. Usually, the system just needs a quick nudge to refresh its memory.

Is your home screen feeling cluttered?

Here is how to banish those icons for good.

Method 1: The "Restore licenses" trick

This is the fastest "soft fix." It forces your PS5 to check in with Sony's servers and verify exactly what should be on your screen. Often, this "sync" is enough to make ghost icons vanish.

  1. Go to Settings (the gear icon).
  2. Select Users and Accounts.
  3. Select Other.
  4. Select Restore Licenses.
  5. Select the game or games for which you want to restore licenses.
  6. Click Restore.

Tip: Your screen might flicker for a second while it updates—this is normal!

Method 2: The "Download" trick

It sounds crazy, but sometimes the best way to get rid of a game is to start downloading it again. This "re-links" the ghost icon to an actual file, which effectively "wakes up" the system so it can finally delete the icon properly. Think of it like re-opening a stuck door just so you can slam it shut.

  1. Start downloading the game.
  2. Back out of the download screen.
  3. Select the game.
  4. Press the Options button on your controller.
  5. Choose Delete.

Notes:

Method 3: The Game Library refresh

Sometimes the icon is stuck because it’s still being "tracked" in your library collections.

  1. Scroll to the far right of your home screen and open your Game Library.
  2. Go to the Your Collection tab.
  3. Find the "Ghost" game. Press the Options button on your controller.
  4. Select Hide.

While this doesn't technically "delete" the entry from your history, it removes the icon from your active sightline, effectively cleaning up your home screen instantly.

Method 4: The Deep Clean (Rebuild Database)

If Method 1, 2, and 3 didn't work, your PS5's internal "filing cabinet" is likely corrupted. This is a very common issue in 2026 for consoles that haven't had a maintenance check-up in a while.

To fix this, you need to Rebuild your Database. This forces the PS5 to scan the entire SSD and delete any icons that don't have actual game files attached to them.

  1. Make sure the PlayStation 5 is completely powered off — no white or blue lights should be visible.
  2. Press and hold the PS5 power button for 6–8 seconds until you hear a second beep.
  3. Once Safe Mode appears, plug your controller into the PS5 with a USB cable.
  4. Press the PS button (PlayStation logo) on your controller.
  5. Choose Clear Cache and Rebuild Database.
  6. Choose Rebuild Database.

Note: It says it might take a few hours to rebuild the database, but in my experience, it only takes a minute or two.

  1. Click OK.

The PS5 will rebuild the database and restart automatically; wait until the login screen appears.

A Note on "Disc Ghosts"

If the game you deleted was a physical disc, the icon may stay on your screen as long as the disc is still in the drive. Even if you deleted the 100GB of data, the PS5 will show the icon as "Ready to Copy" as long as it detects the hardware.

Related:

How to fix PS5 problems: 2026 troubleshooting guide

How to rebuild PS5 database: Fix lag & crashing (2026 guide)

How to clear the cache on your PS5 (step by step)

How to restore licenses on your PS5 (step by step)

Fix PS5 padlock icons, missing games & buy again errors

How to stop your PS5 from turning on and off with your TV

PS5 going into rest mode by itself? Here's how to stop it!

PlayStation 5

References:

https://www.playstation.com/en-us/support/hardware/safe-mode-playstation/