How do you fix a scratched game disc? You take the game disc out to play it and there is a giant scratch going through the “read” side of the disc. You put the game in your console and it won’t start. The scratch or scratches on the game disc are preventing the console from reading the game. Therefore you cannot play the game. How do you fix the scratched game ASAP so you can play it? Below we have many tips and tricks to help you to fix your scratched game disc. These methods will work on ALL game discs including discs for the Xbox ONE, Xbox 360, PS2, PS3, and PS4.
Video game disc scratched – How to fix
Please note: A video game disc with major deep scratches will most likely need to be professionally resurfaced by a machine that buffs and fixes CD discs. If the game has a very deep and big scratch, it probably can’t be fixed at home.
All game consoles discs can be fixed using the scratch removing methods below
Here are a few methods to try to fix your scratched disc at home:
1. Rubbing Alcohol Method:
Get a lint free non scratching cloth. Put a small amount on the “read” side of the disc. Rub outward from the center lightly and gently. Do not rub with extreme force or this could damage the game further. Rub gently outward until the scratch either disappears or becomes less visible. Once clean and dry, put the disc in the gaming console and see if it worked. Repeat this method if necessary.
2. Toothpaste Method:
Use a small dab of the gritty type of toothpaste. The gritty toothpaste can act as a mild abrasive and will remove scratches from the disc. To use the toothpaste method, get your finger wet first. Slowly wipe and move the toothpaste into the scratch on the disc. Do this using an outward motion always in a straight line. From inner to outer. If you rub the toothpaste in big circles it can make more scratches. So always rub from in to out or out to in, never left to right or in circles. Rub the paste for about one minute. Once you have rubbed the scratch for 60 seconds, put the disc under the faucet and wash off all of the toothpaste. Use a clean soft lint free cloth to dry it once washed. After this method, try putting the game disc in your console and see if it fixed the issue. Repeat this method if necessary.
3. Banana Method:
Use a banana that is peeled and cut in half. Use a half of the banana and gently rub it into the disc scratch from inwards to outwards. Repeat many times. After you have rubbed the banana on the disc, run the disc under warm water and remove any banana residue. Dry off the disc and see if it plays in your console. Repeat this method if necessary.
4. Skip Scratch Fixer Method:
Purchase a small disc scratch remover machine that is made to clean and buff your game disc to remove a scratch. These inexpensive machines can be found online for cheap. This is a good investment as if you have this issue again you have the machine to clean the disc to remove the scratch.
Video game scratch fixer
5. Petroleum Jelly Method:
Rub a small amount of a product such as Vaseline into the scratch. Let sit for 60 seconds. Next gently rub the Vaseline off of disc by using an inward to outward motion in a straight line. Remove as much of the jelly as possible. Make sure disc is clean and dry and put it into console to see if the jelly method worked. Repeat this method if necessary.
Try The Professional Method:
Go either to a place like Gamestop or a professional disc scratch repair company. They will usually charge around $4 to 5 dollars to rebuff your game disc and remove the scratches. This will make it so the console can read the disc and you can then play your game.
Fix scratched disc
Do you have any other methods for fixing a scratched video game disc? Please let us know by leaving a comment below.
Tutlewax always works. Apply from center to edge then let dry to a haze. Remove with microfiber cloth
I have four Nintendo Wii Game Disc’ s that are scratched up what is the best way to clean them
Toothpaste and Rubbing alcohol worked perfect.
I used the tooth paste method and I think I used to much… my PS4 is now acting funny…
It works for ps4 too :D
Eyeglass cleaner worked like a charm for me, had scratches all over my resident evil game for the ps4 and after a while almost all of them were out, only has like 3 or 4 scratches
Using toothpaste (colgate)high speed Dremel with arbor and buffing pad (white stiched layered type)and fat pencil and ones knee and of coarse safety glasses seems to work damn good for deep scratches.
Practice on un wanted disc first to get talent.
Soap works every single time. Just clean the disk with hand soap and water. Been doing it for 18 years and it never failed once. Any console too!
Thank you for the Toothpaste info. I washed my GTA V CD and it went from freezing during install to installing with no trouble. You saved me from needing to buy the game again to replay!
The toothpaste worked for me – remember, only rub it in a straight line and also only do it from The centre outwards (outer Motion). Also I may only work on smaller scratches (which is what I had)
Thank you so much! When I first saw the toothpaste one I though,: “this isn’t going to work” but I tried t and it did! I honestly can’t thank you enough.
The toothpaste method actually worked for thx for the help( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Any methods on ps4 games
peanutbutter works just wash it with peanutbutter than wipe it
I attempted the toothpaste method on my Xbox 360 game that hadn’t worked in years and so far it works perfectly!
That’s what I did and it worked on my game disk or disc!
I used the vasoline way and I thought it would have broke my disc but I decided to try it anyways and it worked thanks
Use some sort of car polish or t-cut with a fluffy cloth and take 2 mins to buff with some pressure and it will be like new.
the whitening did it, your suppose to use basic toothpaste with no additives or crystals, beads etc.
I had a disk that got scratched and was unreadable, and since I already bought a replacement I decided to experiment on the scratched disk to see if I couldn’t bring it back to life. That brought me here. Already knowing the alcohol method wouldn’t work on these 2 big scratches and not having any bananas available I got to work with the toothpaste. I did exactly what this article told me and now instead of 2 big scratches I now have 2 big scratches and an area covered in tiny scratches where the toothpaste was applied. Alright, step 1 failed, let’s move on to the petroleum jelly. I gently applied some jelly over the needed area, waited 1 minute and gently wiped it off with a lint free LCD screen wipe. Although it didn’t fix the 2 original scratches well enough to fix the issue, it did mostly seem to get rid of all the finer scratches left by the toothpaste. So all in all, don’t use toothpaste, at least not Crest complete with whitening+. But give the petroleum a try, it might smooth over smaller scratches.
I can vouch for it! The Toothpaste Method works! I had to do it a couple of times but it worked! Vaseline Method just made it so my Wii couldn’t read the disk, but maybe that’s just me. Either way thank you so much!