How to set parental controls on PlayStation consoles

How to set parental controls on PlayStation consoles

Parental controls and spending limits work alongside family management and playtime controls to help you manage your child's activity on PlayStation™Network.

Before setting parental controls, you need to create a family and add your child's account as a family member.

How to set up family on PSN

How to set parental controls online

  1. Sign in to Account Management > Family Management.
  2. Select the child family member you want to set restrictions for and select Edit to adjust each feature.
  1. Go to Settings > Family and Parental Controls > Family Management.
  2. Select the child family member you want to set restrictions for and select a feature to adjust.
  1. Go to Settings > Parental Controls/Family Management > Family Management.
  2. Select the child family member you want to set restrictions for and select a feature to adjust.
  • To make sure parental controls are effective, make sure your child has completed email verification and is signed in to PlayStation™Network (PSN) on their consoles.
  • Adjust your console settings to prevent child family members from changing parental controls.
How to prevent parental controls changes
  • If you change parental controls settings while your child is playing a game, have your child log out and log back in for the changes to take effect.
  • Parental control settings are not tied to any one device, but to an account. If you change a setting on one device, the change will be applied to other devices as well.

How to set who can change your child's privacy settings online

  1. Go to Account Management and select Family Management.
  2. Select a child family member and then scroll down to Privacy.
  3. Select Set by and then select your style from the dropdown.
  4. Select Save.

If you choose Set by Parent/Guardian, the family manager and parents/guardians can change the child’s privacy settings.

You can also select which settings (if any) you want to allow your child to change. If you do allow your child to change settings, you can also decide which options they can choose from for each setting.

You are notified each time the child adjusts their settings.

If you choose Set by Child, your child can change their privacy settings. The parents/guardians can only view the child’s privacy settings.

You are notified each time the child adjusts their settings.

Privacy settings guide

How to set a monthly spending limit

When your child buys content from PlayStation™Store on their account, payment is taken from the family manager's wallet.

As the family manager, or an appointed parent or guardian, you can decide how much your child is allowed to spend each month. By default, the monthly spending limit is set to 0. If your child is going to buy content on their account, be sure to change this setting.

Please note, if you’re a "parent or guardian" but not the family manager, let the family manager know if you make any changes to spending limits. If you’re the family manager, be aware that anyone you appoint as guardian can change the spending limits you’ve created.

  1. Sign in to Account Management > Family Management.
  2. Select the child account you want to set a spending limit for and select Edit to adjust the Monthly Spending Limit.
  1. Go to Settings > Family and Parental Controls > Family Management.
  2. Select your child's account and select Parental Controls > Monthly Spending Limit.
  1. Go to Settings > Parental Controls/Family Management > Family Management.
  2. You may need to re-enter your account password.
  3. Select the child account you want to set restrictions for and select Applications/Devices/Network Features > Monthly Spending Limit.

Which parental controls can I change?

You can change the following parental controls, depending on the device or console you’re using:

*This applies to only some countries or regions.

*This applies to only some countries or regions.

How to restrict communication and user-generated content

If Communication and User-Generated Content is set to Restrict or Not Allowed, the following features are affected:

  • Sending text messages and voice chatting with other players.
    Sending pre-written messages in game is allowed.
  • Sharing user-generated content.

  • Seeing another player's user-generated content such as screenshots, video clips (gameplay video), broadcasts, in-game content, and personal profiles.

Please note, child accounts can request an exception to use communication features in a specific game.

How to make an exception

Your child can make a request to use a feature that you've restricted.

If your child tries to start a restricted game, the game is blocked, and a screen appears. From here, your child can send a request for you to make an exception for the game. After they send a request, you, as the family manager, and appointed parents or guardians receive a notification as well as an email.

As the family manager, or an appointed parent or guardian, you can allow the request in the following ways:

  1. You receive your child's request in an email. As the family manager or an appointed parent or guardian, visit the website specified in the email and sign in to your account.
  2. Select your child from the list of family members, and then select Gameplay in the Allowed Games section to view their request.

You can also view your child's request from the website below.

  1. Log in as the family manager or an appointed parent or guardian.
  2. Press the PS button to go to the control center and then select Notifications. 
  3. Select your child’s request, and then select Go to [Allowed Games]. 

You can also manage your child's request by going to Settings > Family and Parental Controls > Family Management, selecting your child, and then going to Allowed Games.

  1. You receive your child's request as a PlayStation®App notification.
    Tap the Notifications icon, and then tap the request from your child.
  2. Enter your password.
  3. Scroll down to the Allowed Games section, and then tap Gameplay to view their request.
  • When you want to allow communication features, follow the same directions as when you’re allowing games. Exceptions for games and communication features must be requested separately.
  • If you change the parental control restriction level, your child can continue playing games that were allowed.

As the family manager, parent or guardian, you can make an exception and allow the use of in-game communication features for a specific game, even if Communication and User-Generated Content is set to Restrict or Not Allowed. If your child tries to use the in-game communication features during a game, a screen appears. From here, your child can send a request for you to make an exception for the game.

  1. You receive your child's request in an email. As the family manager or an appointed parent or guardian, visit the website specified in the email and sign in to your account.
  2. Select your child from the list of family members, and then select Communication in the Allowed Games section to view their request.

You can also view your child's request from the website below.

  1. You receive your child's request as a PS App notification.
    Tap the Notifications icon, and then tap the request from your child.
  2. Enter your password.
  3. Scroll down to Allowed Games section, and then tap Communication to view the request.

Preset restriction levels (PS5 consoles only)

Parental Controls are preset with age-appropriate levels of restrictions. Selecting a level appropriate for your child's age allows you to set some features at a time for convenience.

  • If parental controls are set on your child's account on a PlayStation®4 console, a PlayStation®Vita system, or online, the most recent settings display on your PlayStation®5 console.
  • You can also change specific settings in a preset restriction level. When you do this, the restriction level changes to Customize.
  • Starting PS5 games and apps
    Can start content if the age rating is the same or lower than the child's age.
  • Starting PS4/PS3 games and apps
    Can start content if the age rating is 15 years and under.
  • Starting Blu-ray Disc
    Can play disc if the age rating is 16 years and under.
  • Starting DVD
    Don't Restrict.
  • Restrict use of PS VR and PS VR2
    Don't Restrict.
  • Restrict web browsing
    Don't Restrict.
  • Restrict communication and user-generated content
    Don't Restrict.
  • Age filtering for online content*
    Restrict.
  • Set monthly spending limit
    0.
  • Starting PS5 games and apps
    Can start content if the age rating is the same or lower than the child's age.
  • Starting PS4/PS3 games and apps
    Can start content if the age rating is 12 or 13 years and under.
  • Starting Blu-ray Disc
    Can play disc if the age rating is 13 years and under.
  • Starting DVD
    Don't Restrict.
  • Restrict use of PS VR and PS VR2
    Don't Restrict.
  • Web browsing
    Restrict.
  • Restrict communication and user-generated content
    Restrict.
  • Age filtering for online content*
    Restrict.
  • Set monthly spending limit
    0.
  • Starting PS5 games and apps
    Can start content if the age rating is the same or lower than the child's age.
  • Starting PS4/PS3 games and apps
    Can start content if the age rating is 6 or 7 years and under.
  • Starting Blu-ray Disc
    Can play disc if the age rating is 7 years and under.
  • Starting DVD
    Don't Restrict.
  • Restrict use of PS VR and PS VR2
    Restrict.
  • Web browsing
    Restrict.
  • Restrict communication and user-generated content
    Restrict.
  • Age filtering for online content*
    Restrict.
  • Set monthly spending limit
    0.

*This applies to only some countries or regions.

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