“An Unidentified Error Occurred” for PS5 [FIXED 2023]

“An unidentified error occurred” for PS5 is an issue that users have recently reported to pop up when making purchases in the PlayStation store.

Upon trying to buy a game, users are greeted with a blue screen with the following words: “An unidentified error occurred. Try again in a few moments” on the screen, and the only option is “Back to checkout.”

Since there isn’t an error code that ties into it, it is difficult to diagnose where the issue exactly lies. The wording isn’t too helpful either, and as the name implies, the error remains “unidentified.” This vague wording is the bane of any gamer’s existence since not much can be concluded about anything based on this.

Key Takeaways

• The “unidentified error occurred” typically indicates an issue with the PS servers and their networking systems with banks.
• The issue only occurs when the user purchases from the PS Store.
• To fix the error, use a standard email address, use PayPal, and check for PSN Server Issues. If that doesn’t work, then try to restart your internet.

Why does the error occur?

Though its core reason has not been identified yet, it may occur due to different reasons, such as:

• You try to purchase a game off the PS Store while using your credit card/debit card
• By using a non-standard email address
• PSN servers issue
• The payment region does not match your PSN region
• Repeatedly mashing the X button
• Connectivity issue
• Internal bugs

How To Fix “An unidentified error occurred” on PS5?

Before you continue, I recommend you give your console a power cycle in case of a temporary glitch. If that doesn’t fix the problem, here’s a list of all the fixes:

1. Using a disk.
2. Using a standard email address.
3. Adding funds to your PSN wallet.
4. Using PayPal.
5. Checking for PSN Server Issues.
6. Ensuring your payment region matches your PSN region.
7. Spamming the X button.
8. Contacting PS Support.

1. Use A Disk

One way I’ve found to deal with the issue is to use a disk instead of buying a digital copy of the game. This is because the error concerns licensing and the eligibility of your transactions on the PS servers, where they may have falsely been tagged as fraudulent.

2. Use A Standard Email Address

Some users have reported issues with using non-standard email addresses. These can include third-party emails, for example, proton mail. The issue is especially prevalent among emails not ending in “.com.”

To avoid facing the dreaded “An unidentified error occurred” for PS5, I suggest using a standard email address for your PS account, usually ending in “.com”. Any general email ending in “.com” or your usual Gmail, Hotmail, or Yahoo emails will suffice.

3. Add Funds To Your PSN Wallet.

The error usually occurs when the game is bought from the PS5 store using a credit/debit card. As such, I added funds first and then used them to fix the error. Several other users in the above-attached post have also vouched for the success of this method.

You can add funds to your PSN wallet using gift cards or PayPal/Credit or Debit Cards, which bypasses the credit card process entirely and allows you to purchase games using your funds.

Here is how you can do it:

1. Go to PS5 settings.

   

2. Next, go to “Users and Accounts” > “Payment and Subscriptions” > “Add funds.”

   

3. Add funds by using your credit/debit or voucher code.

   

4. Use PayPal

Alternatively, our team members found PayPal safe from this error. To link your PayPal to your account, follow these steps:

1. Go to the PlayStation website and sign in.
2. Under your account header, go to payment management
3. Click “Add a Payment Method.” > “Add PayPal” and fill in the details.

5. Check If The PSN Servers Are Live.

Sometimes, the issue may not lie on your end. PSN servers sometimes go down for maintenance, and store purchases do not go through then. I recommend checking the servers when you face this error.

6. Make Sure Your Payment Region Matches Your PSN Region

This common error might be overlooked since the payment will not go through if the billing information contradicts the PSN region. I was met with this error when using a friend’s account, and that’s how I figured this fix out!

Here’s how you can check your PSN region:

1. Open the PSN Store 
2. Scroll down to Payment Methods. You can add or edit payment methods or set your default payment method here.

   

3. Select Add Credit/Debit Card. Ensure that you have fewer than 3 cards on there.
4. Fill in the information. Put in the cardholder’s name, card number, expiration date, and card security code.

   

5. Here, at the bottom of the page, you can see your PSN region.

   

7. Spamming The X Button

Hold on, before you click off and dismiss this as non-serious, hear me out. This is an odd fix, oddly reminiscent of a habit that most, if not all of us, had as kids. However, many users have gotten rid of the issue on PS5 by repeatedly mashing the X button.

Nonetheless, be careful when approaching this since if you’re purchasing something, doing this might cause you to accidentally make the purchase repeatedly. I am not exactly sure why this worked either, but sometimes, returning to the methods you used as a kid is worth it.

8. Contact PS Support

If none of the aforementioned fixes worked, then the only option is to contact PS Support. This is a crucial step if nothing else works; otherwise, the error will persist.

I know that PS Support is unavailable in some regions, so I suggest you use a VPN in those cases.

Here’s a list of my other PS5 error-related guides:

• PS5 DNS Error NW-102311-8
• PS5 Error ce-10002-3
• PS5 touchpad not working