PS5 parental controls, set up properly
The PlayStation 5 has genuinely good parental controls once they are set up: age-based presets, play time limits, spending caps and communication restrictions, all manageable from the console or remotely. The catch is that none of it applies until you create a proper family account structure. Here is how.
Cost
Free, built into the PS5
Key controls
Age presets, play time, spending, communication
Set up on
The console, or PlayStation account online
Needs
An adult PSN account plus a child account per child
Set Up PS5 Family Management
Controls are attached to your child’s own account, managed by yours, rather than a single console PIN.
Steps:
- 1Create or sign in to your own adult PlayStation Network account on the PS5.
- 2Open Settings, then Family and Parental Controls, then Family Management.
- 3Add your child as a family member, creating a child account with their real date of birth.
- 4Choose a preset restriction level based on their age, or customise each setting yourself.
- 5Set a monthly spending limit for the PlayStation Store. The default for a child account is zero unless you raise it.
- 6Set play time rules: how long, at what times, and whether the console gives a warning or ends the session.
- 7Review communication settings to control who your child can chat and play with online.
Tip:
Use their real date of birth. It drives the age presets and store ratings, and it stops your child simply creating a fresh adult account later with the same details.
What it covers, and what it does not
Family Management covers everything your child does signed in to their own account: games by age rating, play time, spending and chat. It does not help if they play signed in to an adult’s account, so keep your own account passcode-protected on the console.
Worth knowing
You can manage the settings remotely from a browser or the PlayStation App, which means play time can be adjusted without a standoff at the console. There is also a console restriction passcode that stops settings being changed without you.
Frequently asked questions
Related guides
Last reviewed: August 2026. Providers and platforms change their settings screens often, so if a step looks different, the official help page linked above has the latest wording.