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How to set up parental controls on a PS5 console
Sony’s PlayStation 5 delivers thrilling next gen gaming as well as raising a question for parents: how can you put limits on your children’s play?
Setting up parental controls on your new PS5
If you have set up parental controls on your PS4, perhaps using our handy guide, then profiles carried over to the new console will see the same settings still apply. When you sign into the PlayStation Network (PSN) on the new machine you’ll be all set. If you want to set up new controls or tweak them, you’ll need to crack on with these steps below.
Whether you plan to get stuck into games yourself or not (who are you kidding?), you’ll need to set up a parent account from which to fix parental controls. The console always prompts you to do this anyway, when it first fires up.
This will be your child’s account so you might let them create their own username and avatar. It is worth remembering whatever name they pick will appear online if you allow that. To create a new account, press the PS button on your DualSense controller and select Switch User in the Control Centre, which will allow you to create a new user. The account will automatically default to a child account when you enter the age and link it to your first (parent) account.
Once the child account is set up (complete with Baby Yoda avatar), switch back to your account and access the Settings menu that you’ll find in the upper righthand corner of the Home screen. Then select Family and Parent Controls and set your instructions up.
What parental restrictions are available on PS5
Helpfully, there is a detailed list of settings you can amend and ponder over but if you don’t want to go to that level of detail there are three presets available. These are split into levels: Late Teens or Older, Early Teens, and Child:
This setting allows a player to start any game or app as long as it has the same (or lower) age rating as their given age, as well as any Blu-ray that is rated 16 or younger and any DVD. There are no restrictions on using the browser or the PS5’s various online communications and your child will not be able to make purchases.
With this age-group selection your child could play Blu-rays rated 12a or younger and there are restrictions on both internet browsing and communication, as well as an age filter for online content.
For younger kids, all the settings are scaled down. They would only be able to play Blu-rays with a PG or U rating, and all online content would be more heavily restricted.
Extra parental controls you can apply on PS5
If you really get under the hood with the child safety tools, here are some extra controls you can apply:
- Playtime restrictions – set limits on how long and when they can play on the console. Then negotiate bravely.
- Restrict online communications – decide if you want your child to be able to send messages or engage in video chat with other players online.
- Set spending limits – prevent potentially catastrophic damage to your bank balance by setting monthly spending limits or blocking your kids from spending at all. It’s worth remembering the PS5 generation of games can cost around £65 now!
For more information on setting controls across a range of devices, apps and platforms visit Internet Matters