How to fix the Modern Warfare 2 status installing glitch

Modern Warfare 2 status installing
(Image credit: Activision)

The Modern Warfare 2 status installing glitch can be quickly fixed by opening the quick menu options and then backing out if you get stuck. It's causing issues for early access players, particularly those on PlayStation, as it's preventing access to the single player campaign. It seems that since the 1.03 update some players are receiving Modern Warfare 2 error codes stating that their data is corrupt or didn't download properly, before being presented with a MW2 status installing progress bar that never moves or completes. Clearly this is a problem if you want to reach the Campaign Early Access in Modern Warfare 2, but don't stress as there's a simple solution at hand. If you're stuck on Modern Warfare 2 status installing on PS5 or a different console, here's what you need to do to fix it.

How to fix the MW2 status installing issue

Modern Warfare 2 status installing

(Image credit: Activision)

If your Modern Warfare 2 is stuck on status installing indefinitely, then there is a simple fix which should resolve this issue. As posted by Infinity Ward, "PlayStation players encountering a locked game tile or issue accessing campaign early access should open QUICK SETTINGS (options button) — and then back out. This will trigger a return to the correct menu. This will be addressed in an upcoming update." So, to confirm those steps:

  1. Press the Options button when you see Modern Warfare 2 status installing to pop up the side menu, as shown above.
  2. Select any menu option – QUICK SETTINGS is at the top so easiest to pick.
  3. Back out of the menu and you'll be taken to the Campaign Early Access screen.
  4. Continue, and you'll go through a few more notifications before reaching the single player campaign.

This should bypass the problematic screen and prevent you from being stuck on the Modern Warfare 2 status installing progress bar, however if that doesn't work there are a couple more options you can try. First, quit out of the game and confirm that it's been completely exited, then reload it to see if you can progress any further this time. If that doesn't help, try completely powering down your console (turn off rather than enter rest mode), wait a few minutes, then reboot and give it another go. Whatever the outcome is for you, know that Infinity Ward are working on a permanent fix to be confirmed in future Modern Warfare 2 patch notes, so the MW2 status installing problem won't persist for long.

Assuming you get it all working, keep hold of these Modern Warfare 2 safe codes. You'll want them when you can't open the safes you find!

Iain Wilson
Guides Editor

Iain originally joined Future in 2012 to write guides for CVG, PSM3, and Xbox World, before moving on to join GamesRadar in 2013 as Guides Editor. His words have also appeared in OPM, OXM, PC Gamer, GamesMaster, and SFX. He is better known to many as ‘Mr Trophy’, due to his slightly unhealthy obsession with amassing intangible PlayStation silverware, and he now has over 750 Platinum pots weighing down the shelves of his virtual award cabinet. He does not care for Xbox Achievements.

Read more
Marvel Rival error codes
Marvel Rivals error codes and known fixes
Two Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 players using omnimovement to dive past each other on the Skyline map
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Season 2 brings back a beloved game mode fans have been begging for, but all I care about is a practically meaningless bug fix
Destiny 2 Guardian in Taken energy
Bungie yanked Destiny 2 servers offline for emergency maintenance as Episode 3: Heresy got off to a rocky start, but it looks like we're back in business
God of War Ragnarok
The PlayStation Network has been down for 17 hours - and PSN players say even single-player games and disc drives aren't working
Helldivers 2 Ultimatum
Sweet liberty, a Helldivers 2 update "is breaking the Galactic War" so now the whole thing is paused, but good news: "We are not going to revert any of the damage done by this"
Helldivers 2 intro cutscene helldiver thumbs up
Helldivers 2's Galactic War resumes as Arrowhead fixes its broken liberation rates, and High Command insists anyone who saw anything weird "may be suffering from Illuminate mind-influence"
Latest in Call of Duty
A player wearing a gasmask and holding a gun during the shooter, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
Call of Duty season 2 brings back Gun Game and a fan-favorite Zombies weapon we haven't seen in 10 years
A player wearing a gasmask and holding a gun during the shooter, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
136,000 Call of Duty accounts have gotten banned since ranked launched for Black Ops 6: "We’re not slowing down in our mission to shut down cheaters"
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War reportedly surpasses Red Dead Redemption 2's huge development costs, with a massive $700 million budget
Black Ops 6
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 makes headshots deadlier while cutting back on weapon sway and recoil: "We will be keeping a close eye on sniper balance after this change"
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 movement.
Black Ops 6 player spent nearly 20 hours grinding to Prestige without getting a single kill, all by spamming Spy Cams
Black Ops 6 Zombies
Call of Duty hacker says "I had my fun" after reportedly getting thousands of Warzone and Modern Warfare 3 players falsely banned
Latest in Guides
Assassin's Creed Shadows Nishinomiya Shrine
All Nishinomiya Shrine locations in Assassin's Creed Shadows
Assassin's Creed Shadows riddles Naoe answers
All Assassin's Creed Shadows riddle answers for NPC encounters
Fortnite Henchmen Walkie Talkies
Fortnite Henchmen Walkie Talkies: How to eavesdrop on Kane
Assassin's Creed Shadows Makino Kurumazuka Kofun
How to get in the Makino Kurumazuka Kofun in Assassin's Creed Shadows
Assassin's Creed Shadows Naoe looking at map
Assassin's Creed Shadows map size and all regions
Assassin's Creed Shadows Naoe wearing black kosode
How to acquire a kosode in Assassin's Creed Shadows and should you choose red or black?