Lock down PlayStation

THE WALKTHROUGH

Go down the list.

Tap a step’s number to check it off. Your progress stays on this device.

0 of 7 steps done

1. 01

   Create the family and child account

   Start from your own account. Adding your first family member makes you the family manager. On the web, open Account Management > Family Management > Set Up Now > Add a Child. In the PlayStation Family app, select Set Up Your Family. Use your child’s real birth date and have them complete email verification. Child members can’t be removed from a family.

2. 02

   Set the age level

   On PS5, go to Settings > Family and Parental Controls > Family Management, select your child, and pick a Restriction level: Child, Early Teens, or Late Teens or Older. Only the Child preset restricts VR; Sony says PlayStation VR and PlayStation VR2 are not for children under 12. Late Teens or Older allows Web Browsing. On PS4, set Age Level for Games under Settings > Parental Controls/Family Management > Family Management.

3. 03

   Restrict chat and shared content

   In your child’s parental controls, set Communication and User-Generated Content to Restrict. This blocks text and voice chat, sharing content your child creates, and seeing other players’ content. Pre-written in-game messages still work. Then go to Account Management > Family Management, select your child, and under Privacy Settings select Edit > Parent/Guardian so you decide who can contact them.

4. 04

   Keep spending at zero, or set a limit

   Child purchases come out of the family manager’s wallet. The Monthly Spending Limit starts at 0, which prevents purchases. To change it on PS5, go to Settings > Family and Parental Controls > Family Management, select your child, then Parental Controls > Monthly Spending Limit. Any parent or guardian you appoint can change it. Require Password at Checkout does not cover child accounts.

5. 05

   Set playtime

   On PS5, go to Settings > Family and Parental Controls > Family Management, select your child, set a Time Zone, then open Playtime Settings. Set Restrict Playtime to Restrict, and set Playtime Duration and Playable Hours for every day or specific days. Choose When Playtime Ends: Notify Only or Log Out. Your child can Ask for More Playtime; you can Change Playtime or Decline. Limits cover both PS5 and PS4.

6. 06

   Lock the console

   Signed in as the family manager, go to Settings > Family and Parental Controls > PS5 Console Restrictions. The passcode starts as 0000, so select Change Your Console Restriction Passcode and choose four digits only you know. Save it in your password manager: Sony says a forgotten passcode means resetting the console. Set User Creation and Guest Login to Not Allowed, and have every account holder set a login passcode under Settings > Users and Accounts > Login Settings.

7. 07

   Protect your account and find Block and Report

   Turn on 2-step verification for your own account: Account Management > Security > 2-step Verification Status > Edit. Choose Authenticator App or Text Message, then save your Backup Codes. With your child, find Block and Report on PS5: press the PS button, select Game Base, choose a player from Friends, then select … (More). Voice chats can be reported on PS5 only.