Troubleshooting

When something doesn't work, PC5 usually says why in a message. This page lists PC5's messages and common problems, grouped by what you were doing, with what to do about each. If your problem isn't here, or the steps don't help, report it with the game's log.

Installing games

PC5 says	What to do
No game folders found	Put each game's installed folder (the one with its .exe in it) at the top of a USB drive formatted as exFAT, or in a Games folder there. Plug the drive into the PS5 and press △ (Look again).
PC5 can't read that folder	Check that the USB drive is still plugged in, then try again.
There is no Windows program in this folder	The folder has no .exe PC5 can start, up to six folder levels deep. Copy the game as it is installed on a PC.
This folder only has installers and tools, not a game	The folder holds a setup program, not an installed game. Install the game on a PC first, then copy the installed folder.
Windows can't use the name "…"	Rename that file or folder on the USB drive. Windows doesn't accept < > : " | ? * \, names ending in a dot or a space, or names such as CON, NUL, COM1 or LPT1.
A path in the folder is too long, or The folder goes too many levels deep	Shorten the folder and file names, or move the game's folder up to the top of the drive.
The game's program is too deep in its folder for Windows	The path to the .exe is too long for Windows. Shorten the game's folder name.
Not enough space	PC5 needs the game's size plus about 1.5 GB free. Free up space on the console, or uninstall a game you don't play.
Not enough space for all of them	Go back and untick some games, then install the rest.
Nothing to install	None of the ticked folders has a game PC5 can install. Check each folder as above.
The copy of … doesn't match the USB drive	A file read back from the console differs from the USB drive. The drive or its cable may be failing. Nothing was kept: try again with another drive or USB port.
The USB drive stopped answering while PC5 copied …	The drive was unplugged or stopped working. Plug it in again and install again.
PC5's Windows template is missing from the app, or is damaged	The app's folder is incomplete. Copy the PPSA11018 folder to the console again. See Updating PC5.
A .NET program: it runs with Wine Mono, which PC5 sets up the first time a .NET game starts	Not a problem: a note on the review screen. See .NET games.

Starting a game

PC5 says	What to do
Game can't start: Its Windows folder is missing	The game's files are gone or incomplete. Uninstall it from its menu (△ › Manage › Uninstall) and install it again.
Game can't start: Its profile has a mistake	The game's prospero-win profile can't be read. If PC5 installed the game, uninstall it and install it again.
Game can't start: PC5's notes on this game are missing	Uninstall the game from its menu (△ › Manage › Uninstall) and install it again.
Game can't start: PC5 can't copy the .NET runtime (or make its folders, or finish its copy): is the console full?	Setting up .NET the first time needs about 300 MB free. Free up space on the console, then start the game again to finish setting it up.
Game can't start: PC5 can't read the app's .NET runtime	The app's folder is incomplete. Copy the PPSA11018 folder to the console again. See Updating PC5.
Game can't start: The app's .NET runtime has no file	The app's folder is incomplete: that file didn't arrive. Copy the PPSA11018 folder to the console again. PC5 1.6.1 and older said "is the console full?" here when the app had been unzipped on a Windows PC, however much space was free: update to 1.6.2 or newer.
Game didn't start: The console refused to start it	Try again. If it happens again, close PC5 and open it again.
Game closed before showing anything	PC5 may have started the wrong program: use △ › Manage › Change program. If you added launch options, try without them. Otherwise, report it.
Game stopped with an error	The game crashed. Try the newest PC5, then report it: △ on the message opens GitHub's issue form with a QR code; attach the zip PC5 names.
Game had to be closed	The game didn't close when asked, so PC5 ended it. It may not have saved.
PC5 ended unexpectedly last time	PC5 itself stopped. Report it with the log PC5 names.
PC5 1.8.2, 1.8.3 or 1.8.4 closes as soon as it opens, with error CE-108255-1	Update to 1.8.5 or newer by hand. Or open /data/prospero-win/pc5/settings.txt on the console, change the startup_sound = … line to startup_sound = off (add it if it isn't there), and open PC5: it opens, and can update itself.

Playing a game

Problem	What to do
The game doesn't react to the controller	Change its controller mode: △ › Controller. Try DualSense if Xbox controller doesn't work, or Keyboard & mouse for a game without controller support. See Controllers.
A Windows box appears before the game starts	With Xbox controller or DualSense, press ✕ to press its highlighted button, and use the D-pad to move between buttons. See Controllers.
A setting I changed did nothing	Settings and a game's controller, frame generation and launch options take effect the next time the game starts. Leave the game and start it again.
The game stops for seconds at a time, then carries on (or carries on after the PS button)	Turn on △ › Graphics › CPU sharing: the game's threads then take turns on the console's CPUs, as on a PC. See Graphics.
The game runs below 30 fps with frame generation on	Frame generation only makes frames in between while the game keeps 30 fps. Below that, frames are shown as they come. See Frame generation.
The overlay is missing a line	A line the console can't read is left out.
The overlay is too small to read	Settings › Overlay › Size › Large shows the lines twice the size, two at a time; Extra large every line at once, twice the size.
A Direct3D game crashes, shows black or draws wrongly	Try another △ › Graphics › Graphics API: WineD3D or WineD3D on Vulkan, or Wine's VKD3D for a Direct3D 12 game. See Graphics API.
The light bar or triggers don't follow PC5's settings	In DualSense mode, a game that sets its own light bar or trigger effects gets them instead.
The game stops or can't load a level, and its log says "Too many open files"	A console program can open only about 250 files at once. From 2.0.3 PC5 closes the files a game only reads while it isn't using them and opens them again when needed: update PC5. If it still happens, report it with the log.
Blurry, repeating textures, or no fog or lighting, in an older game	Some games build their shaders at start by running a shader compiler they ship (fxc.exe) as a second program, which the console can't start. From 2.0.3 PC5 does that compiler's work inside the game: update PC5.
A game says it's offline, or can't find a network	Games run offline on the console: PC5 shows them an unplugged wired network adapter, as a PC with its cable out has. Online play isn't supported.
I can't leave the game	Hold the touchpad and Options together for a full two seconds. The controller buzzes when the hold is taken.

Changing a game

PC5 says	What to do
This game has one program	There is no other program in its folder to start.
PC5 didn't install this game	The game was installed some other way. Its program is set in its prospero-win profile, so PC5 can't change it.
PC5 can't read the game's folder	Its files may be missing: uninstall it and install it again.
Game wasn't fully uninstalled	PC5 finishes deleting it the next time it starts.

Covers

Problem	What to do
The wrong cover was found	When installing, press L1 / R1 on the review screen to choose another. For an installed game, use your own picture.
My own cover isn't used	Check the folder (/data/prospero-win/covers/), the name (the game's folder name, its name in PC5 or its id) and the extension (.jpg, .jpeg or .png). The picture must be newer than the game's current cover. Then close PC5 and open it again.
A game has a plain card as its cover	No source had the game, or the console was offline when it was installed. Use your own picture.
The home screen tile shows the old cover	Turn the tile off and on again: △ › Appearance › Home screen tile.

See also Home screen tiles for problems with tiles.

PC5 on the home screen

Problem	What to do
The PS5's home screen shows no background for PC5	Delete PC5 from the home screen (Options › Delete), then reload ShadowMountPlus to install it again: that brings the new background. Your games and settings stay. See The home screen background.