How to set play time controls on PlayStation 

Learn how to manage play time controls on PlayStation®5 consoles, PlayStation®4 consoles, and mobile devices.

What are play time controls? 

Family managers can set limits on when, and for how long, each child can play on PS5™ consoles and PS4™ consoles. 

Before you can set play time controls:

  • You need an account for PlayStation™Network.

  • Every child needs their own separate account, created using their details (name and date of birth). 

  • Your account must either be the family manager or appointed “guardian” by the family manager. The child account you're managing must be a family member.

  • The time zone must be set for the child account before play time controls can be adjusted.

Set up family on PSN

How does play time work?

Managing play time is based on three settings:

  • Restrict Play Time: ‘Restrict’ or ‘Do Not Restrict’.

  • When Play Time Ends: ‘Notify Only’ or ‘Log Out’ child account.

  • Duration and Playable Hours: ‘Play Time Duration’ and ‘Playable Hours’ for every day or specific days of the week. 

As young players near the end of their play time, notifications will appear at the top of the screen to let them know when they should save and quit. Family managers can also set the system to automatically log out child family members once play time is over.

On PS5 consoles, family managers can Change Play Time for Today to give a child account more time to play within the playable hours.

If your child is using both a PS5 console and PS4 console, playtime restrictions apply to both consoles.

PS5 console parental controls

How to set play time controls

Web browser: Set play time

  1. Go to Account Management and sign in as the family manager or guardian account of the child account you’d like to manage. 
  2. Go to Family Management and select the child account.
  3. Select Edit next to the play time limit and Save to apply your changes.
  1. Sign in as the family manager or guardian account of the child account you’d like to manage. 
  2. Go to Settings > Family and Parental Controls > Family Management and select the child account 
  3. Set a Time Zone then select Play Time Settings.
  4. Once you have set your restrictions, select Save to apply the changes.
  1. Sign in as the family manager or guardian account of the child account you’d like to manage. 
  2. Go to Settings > Parental Controls/Family Management > Family Management and select the child account . 
  3. Set a Time Zone then select Play Time Settings. 
  4. Once you have set your restrictions, select Save to apply the changes.

Need help? 

Contact our support specialists

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