Share Play on PS4 consoles

How to use Share Play on PS4 consoles

Find out how to use Share Play to share your screen, pass over the controls, or play together with a friend.

What is Share Play?

You can use Share Play to play with a friend as if you're in the same room. It allows you to invite a visitor to view your screen for up to 60 minutes a session. Share Play allows you to hand over your controller to a visitor so they can play instead. You can also invite your visitor to play a local multiplayer session over the internet, even if the game doesn't support online multiplayer. The visitor doesn't need to own the game to use Share Play.

Who can use Share Play?

  • To start Share Play, you need to be a PlayStation®Plus member. 
  • You can use Share Play with players using a PS5™ console or a PS4™ console.

How to start Share Play on PS4 consoles

  1. From the PlayStation®4 console home screen, press up to reach the function screen and select Party
  2. Set up or join a party with the friend you want to Share Play with.
  1. From the party screen, select Share Play.
    A connection test will start.
  2. Select the Share Play visitor.
  3. Choose one of the following play modes:

Your game screen appears on the visitor's screen. The visitor can't operate your screen.

Your game screen appears on the visitor's screen, and the visitor plays as you. You need to be a PlayStation®Plus member to use this play mode. 

Your game screen appears on the visitor's screen, and you both play together while viewing the same screen. The host and the visitor must be PlayStation®Plus members.

  • A Share Play session lasts for one hour and automatically ends one hour after the visitor joins.
  • When you're the host, only you can earn trophies during Share Play. 
  • Only your game screen and audio are shared. Other screens and non-game app screens won't be visible to the visitor. 
  • Depending on the game, Share Play may not be available, or some scenes may not appear to the visitor.
  • If you are having issues, go to Settings > Parental Controls/Family Management > PS4 System Restrictions > New User Creation and Guest Login and then select Allow.

How to change Share Play mode

  • From the party screen, select Share Play > Change Play Mode.

Share Play minimum connection speed 

To get the best experience from Share Play, both you and your friend will need a high-speed internet connection. The conditions surrounding the home network of each player may also have an impact on internet connectivity. As a guide, a minimum connection speed of at least 2 Mbps is recommended. To check your upload speed, please ask your network service provider for details.

When can Share Play not be used?

  • If the game that you want to share isn’t available in PlayStation™Store of your visitor's country.
  • If the parental control level of the game that you want to share doesn't match the visitor's parental control settings.
  •  If the visitor's age is lower than the game's age rating on PlayStation Store.

Need help? 

Contact our support specialists