How to Fix a Cracked PlayStation 3 Game Disk

How to Fix a Cracked PlayStation 3 Game Disk
Published: Aug 3, 2011
Updated: Feb 23, 2021
2 minute read

The PlayStation 3 uses Blu-Ray discs to hold its games. Blu-Rays hold a lot more information than standard DVD discs, but that doesn't make them any less fragile. Even a small crack in your PS3 game disc will make it unreadable by the console's laser and therefore unplayable. There's a simple fix for minor cracks and scratches, but be warned that these solutions may not work if the damage is too severe.

Things You'll Need:

Things You Will Need

  • Transparent Scotch Tape
  • Scissors
  • Microfiber Cloth
  • Toothpaste (Non-Gelled)
  • Cracks

    Wipe the disc down gently with a clean cloth. This is to remove any small plastic shards that may have resulted from when the disc cracked.

    Apply a small piece of transparent scotch tape along crack on the labeled side of the disc. This will hopefully hold the cracked seam in place.

    Trim off any excess tape that goes over the edge of the disc. The excess could cause the disc to not spin properly.

    Scratches

    Squeeze a teaspoon of gritty toothpaste on to the microfiber cloth. Do not use gelled toothpaste, as it does not have the abrasiveness to buff out the scratches.

    Rub the scratched portion of the PS3 game disc in gentle circular motions with the toothpaste. You should begin to see the minor scratches fade away as you wear them down. Continue until the scratches have been removed to your satisfaction.

    Advertisement

    Rinse the toothpaste off the disc under cold water and dry it with a clean towel. Test the game out to see if your fix worked.

    Brenton Shields

    Brenton Shields began writing professionally in 2009. His work includes film reviews that appear for the online magazine Los Angeles Chronicle. He received a Bachelor of Science in social science and history from Radford University.

    Sponsored
    Our Pastimes Logo

    A destination for the avid collector and weekend hobbyist alike, Our Pastimes features articles and tips about your favorite cards and games, hobbies and more.

    Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2026 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

    Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.