To remove games from your PlayStation collection, you must first navigate to your game library, select the game, and then choose the option to delete it from the collection.
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by your digital PlayStation game library? Perhaps you finished a title and want to declutter. Knowing how to remove games from playstation collection is useful, especially when you need to free up space or organize your digital titles. Let’s quickly address this simple yet common question.
How to Remove Games from Your PlayStation Collection
Okay, so you’ve got a bunch of games on your PlayStation. Maybe you’ve finished them, or maybe they’re just not your cup of tea anymore. That’s totally fine! Just like toys you might grow out of, you might want to clean up your PlayStation game list. It’s like tidying your room, but for your digital games. This article is going to guide you step-by-step through the different ways you can remove games from your PlayStation collection. Let’s get started!
Understanding Your PlayStation Game Library
Before we dive into removing games, let’s take a quick look at your PlayStation game library. It’s like a big shelf holding all the games you own. But instead of actual shelves, it’s all digital! You have games you purchased from the PlayStation Store, games you got through PlayStation Plus, and even games from physical discs you’ve played. Knowing how these are all stored helps you understand what you can and cannot fully delete from your list. We will go through each type and how to remove them in details.
Digital Games Purchased from the PlayStation Store
These are games you bought directly from the PlayStation Store. They’re linked to your account, so you’ll always have access to them as long as your account is active. Think of it like buying a book from an online bookstore; you get to keep it forever, even if you don’t always read it. You can download and install them anytime you want as long as you bought it on your account. But what if you don’t want to see them on the game list anymore?
PlayStation Plus Games
PlayStation Plus games are a bit different. They are games you can “claim” when you have a PlayStation Plus subscription. It’s like borrowing a book from the library. You can play them while you’re still a member, but once your subscription ends, the access goes away. When you claim PlayStation Plus games, they’re added to your library, but you won’t be able to play them if your subscription expires unless you buy them. Even when you’re not paying for PlayStation Plus, these games are still present on your account’s game list.
Games from Physical Discs
These are the games you buy as a disc that you put in your PlayStation. Once you insert the disc and play the game, your console will register the game and place it on your game list. If you no longer have the disc, you can still see that game on your game list. You might be looking to get them off the list to stop the temptation to purchase them again. These are added to your library when you put the disc in for the first time.
Removing Games From Your PlayStation 4 Collection
Let’s start with the PlayStation 4. The process is pretty straightforward, but there are some key differences depending on the type of game.
Hiding Games on the PS4 Game Library
On the PS4, you can’t completely remove games from your purchase history, but you can hide them from your main library view. This is a great option if you don’t want to see the game every time you scroll through your library. It’s like putting something in a closet so you don’t have to look at it all the time. Here’s how to hide a game:
- Go to your PlayStation 4’s main menu (the home screen).
- Scroll to the “Library” section and select it.
- Find the game you want to hide.
- Press the Options button on your controller.
- From the options menu, select “Do not show content item in [Games].”
- The game will now be moved to a hidden section of your library.
Accessing hidden games: To see the hidden games again, you need to press the Options button on the library menu and enable the ‘show hidden content’ option. Then they will all show and you can unhide a specific game using same options and selecting ‘show content item in [Games]’.
Important Note: Hiding a game doesn’t remove it from your account. You can still download it and play it if you choose to. It just keeps your library less cluttered and easier to navigate.
Deleting Game Data (Installations)
While hiding games makes your library look cleaner, it doesn’t free up storage space. If you want to free up space on your PlayStation 4’s hard drive, you’ll need to delete the game’s installation data. This means that the game will be uninstalled, and you will need to download it again if you want to play. Here’s how you do it:
- Go to your PlayStation 4’s main menu (the home screen).
- Go to Settings.
- Go to Storage
- Select Applications.
- Choose the game that you want to delete the installation of.
- Press the Options button and select “Delete.”
- Confirm you want to delete the game.
Important Note: This only deletes the game data stored on your PS4. The game will still be in your library, ready to download again if needed. If it is a disc-based game, you can put the disc in and the game will install the game data once again.
Removing Games From Your PlayStation 5 Collection
The PlayStation 5 also lets you manage your games, but it’s slightly different from the PS4. Let’s see how to handle this on the newer system.
Hiding Games on the PS5 Game Library
Similar to PS4, the PS5 lets you hide games from your main library, giving your collection a clean appearance. Here’s the step by step guide:
- Go to your PlayStation 5’s home screen.
- Go to the “Game Library” section and select it.
- Find the game you’d like to hide.
- Press the Options button on your controller.
- From the options menu select ‘Hide’.
Accessing hidden games: To see the hidden games again, you will need to press the ‘…’ button in the Game Library section, and enable the ‘show hidden content’ option. This will make the hidden games visible and you can unhide the specific game using same steps.
Important Note: Like on the PS4, this action only hides the game from your main view. It does not remove it from your purchase history and you will still be able to access it.
Deleting Game Data (Installations) on PS5
If you want to free up storage on your PS5, you’ll need to delete the game’s installation files. The game will still be in your library but you’ll have to download it again if you want to play. Here’s how:
- Go to your PlayStation 5’s home screen.
- Go to the “Settings” menu.
- Go to “Storage”.
- Go to “Games and Apps”.
- Find the game you want to delete the installation of.
- Press the Options button on your controller.
- Select “Delete” and confirm the deletion.
Important Note: Just like on the PS4, deleting a game’s install doesn’t remove it from your account. The game will still be available for you to download again from your game library. If it is a disc-based game, you will need to put the disc back in the console to install it again.
Managing PlayStation Plus Games
Games that you have gotten from PlayStation Plus can be hidden like described above. However, you need to keep in mind that your access to these games is tied to your PlayStation Plus subscription. If you do not have an active subscription, you will not be able to play these games, even if you download them.
Removing PlayStation Plus Games From Your Library
You cannot permanently remove a PlayStation Plus game from your library, even if your subscription ends. The games will remain on your list unless you hide them. This makes it convenient for when you get a subscription again as they will be available in your library. The game can be hidden just like regular games in both the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.
Accessing PlayStation Plus Games After a Subscription Lapses
If you’ve let your PlayStation Plus subscription expire, you’ll see a small lock symbol next to PlayStation Plus games in your library. This means they are not playable. You will need to subscribe again to play those games. Once you start a subscription again, the game can be played once again if you have downloaded it, or you can download the game again from your library.
Managing Games from Physical Discs
Games you own on physical discs are a bit special. Even if you’ve uninstalled the game from your PlayStation, they’ll still appear in your library. This is because the console records that you’ve played the game before. Here’s how to deal with them.
Hiding Games From Physical Discs
The best way to get rid of a game from a physical disc from your library is to hide them, the same way you hide your digital games. The procedure to hide games that you own in physical format is exactly the same for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, as described above. Follow the steps as described above to hide them from the game library.
Uninstalling Games From Physical Discs
Uninstalling disc-based games is the same process as uninstalling digital games. When you delete the game data from the storage, the game will still be available on the library and can be installed again from the game disc when you insert it to the PlayStation. The process is similar on the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, as described in the above sections.
Important Considerations
Before removing games from your collection, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Save Data: When you uninstall a game, you do not delete your save data. Your save data is separate and stored on the console’s storage or in the cloud if you are a PlayStation Plus member. If you want to remove your save data as well, this will require additional steps.
- Re-downloading: Remember that hiding or uninstalling games does not remove the game from your account. You can download them anytime you want from the same account, as long as it is purchased on the same account.
- PlayStation Store: You can’t remove a game from your purchase history, so even if you don’t have it installed, it will always be linked to your account.
- Game Updates: Keep in mind that if the game is present in the game library, it can download game updates automatically, even if not installed. You will need to manage this through settings if you want to turn this off.
Removing games from your PlayStation collection is a way to keep your library organized and manage your storage. You cannot remove a game completely from your purchase history, but you can certainly hide them from view and uninstall them if needed. By following these simple steps, you can keep your game collection tidy and easy to navigate. Happy gaming!
How to DELETE Games from PlayStation Store Shopping Cart on PS5 (Only Buy One Game)
Final Thoughts
To remove games from your PlayStation collection, navigate to the game library on your console. Select the game you want to remove. Press the options button and choose “Delete” from the menu.
Confirm your selection, and the game will be removed from your collection. This process will not delete the game’s save data or your digital rights. This is how to remove games from playstation collection.
