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Few things are more frustrating for a gamer than a scratched game disc that won’t play right. However, just because a disc is scratched doesn’t mean it’s lost for good! Mild scratches on the bottom of the disc can be fixed with just a few simple DIY tricks at home. Here, we’ll help you figure out whether your disc is still usable and walk you through each possible fix so you can find the one that works for you.
Things You Should Know
- Ensure a scratch is really the problem by playing a different game on your console. Then, clean the disc with mild dish soap or rubbing alcohol.
- Polish the game disc and fill in small scratches using oil-based substances like toothpaste , petroleum jelly , carnauba car wax , or banana.
- Use a disc scratch-repair machine to fix deeper scratches, or pay for your disc to be resurfaced professionally to ensure it is preserved correctly.
Steps
Community Q&A
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QuestionWhat if I dont have a microfiber cloth?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerYou can use a soft cotton cloth to wipe the disc (as long as it's clean). However, paper products like paper towels and tissues shouldn't be used.
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QuestionCan I use toothpaste instead of petroleum jelly?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerYes! Toothpaste and petroleum jelly are both oil-based substances that can fill in the scratches on a disc. You can use either one, try both, and try other oil-based substances like car wax, peanut butter, and lip balm.
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QuestionWill this method work for the front of the disc too?Community AnswerDo not use the above methods for the front of the disc, as that side is mostly for decorations.
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Tips
- Always examine the disc to ensure it’s repairable before trying to fix a scratch! Lighter scratches on the bottom side of the disc are usually fixable, even if there are several. However, a large and deep scratch, particularly a circular one, usually isn’t repairable.Thanks
- If the disc is scratched, but you haven't encountered any errors while using it, don't attempt to repair it. Repair efforts might end up damaging the disc instead.Thanks
- If the top of your disc is scratched, it also likely can’t be fixed and will need replacing.Thanks
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- Try a tiny bit of nail polish remover on a cotton swab if other DIY methods don't work. Gently rub it over scratches, then rinse it off. Be very careful not to use too much.
- Use distilled or purified water instead of tap water when rinsing discs. Tap water can leave mineral deposits that could further damage the disc surface.
- Handle discs carefully by their outer edge and store them in cases after use. Never touch the playable surface, which could leave oils and scratches.
- Install disc-based games to your console's hard drive when possible. Then you can play them without needing the disc, preventing future scratches.
- Bring severely scratched discs to a video game store and have them professionally resurfaced. This is inexpensive and less risky than DIY repairs.
- Some toothpaste brands work while others don't. Experiment to find one that effectively buffs out light scratches without ruining discs.
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Warnings
- Do not put toothpaste on the game, as it will damage the game or console.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://support.xbox.com/en-US/help/games-apps/troubleshooting/how-to-troubleshoot-problems-playing-disc-on-xbox-one
- ↑ https://osgamers.com/faq/does-alcohol-work-on-scratched-discs
- ↑ https://tomstek.us/how-to-fix-scratched-ps3-disc/
- ↑ https://www.dvd2dvd.org/how-to-fix-a-scratched-dvd/
- ↑ https://www.dvd2dvd.org/how-to-fix-a-scratched-dvd/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/zVVnjZywUCo?t=21
- ↑ https://youtu.be/Hkg7Bb_jVvc?t=17
- ↑ https://youtu.be/zVVnjZywUCo?t=99
- ↑ https://tomstek.us/how-to-fix-scratched-ps3-disc/
About This Article
Article Summary
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To fixed a scratched video game, rinse the disc with cold water to remove any surface-level dust or grit, then wave the disc back and forth until it’s dry. Once the disc is dry, lightly spray the surface with isopropyl alcohol and allow the alcohol to dry for 20-30 minutes. To coat the scratch, dip a microfiber cloth with petroleum jelly and wipe it onto the disc, working in circular movements from the inside of the disc outwards. Wipe away the excess jelly, then try the disc to see if it works. Read on to learn which types of scratches can’t be fixed!
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Reader Success Stories
- "I was ready to play Super Mario Galaxy and it wasn't working! The disk was scratched so I came here. I tried the banana thing and it worked! Thanks for letting me play my favorite game again!" ..." more
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"I was ready to play Super Mario Galaxy and it wasn't working! The disk was scratched so I came here. I tried the banana thing and it worked! Thanks for letting me play my favorite game again!"
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"This was amazing. I am really glad somebody knew how to fix it. I've been trying to play a game but it kept saying invalid disc."
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"My Terraria was scratched, so I did the toothpaste one and that helped a lot."
"I followed the advice, my game still has a few scratches but it works."
"I put toothpaste on my scratched COD3 game and that fixed it."
