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 (PSN).

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

Set up family on PSN

How to set parental controls online

  1. Sign in to Account Management and select 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 PSN on their console.

  • Adjust your console settings to prevent child family members from changing parental controls.

Prevent parental control changes
  • If you change parental controls while your child is playing a game, have your child sign out and sign back in for the changes to take effect.
  • Parental controls are tied to an account for PSN. If you change a setting on one device, this affects the other devices as well.
  • If your child links a third-party service or app to their account, you receive a notification. If you have PlayStation App installed, you can also receive a notification on your mobile device.

How to manage 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 the Privacy Settings section.

  3. Choose Edit.

  4. Select Parent/Guardian or Child > Save.

  • If you choose Parent/Guardian, the family manager, parents or guardians can change the child’s privacy settings using parental controls.

  • You can also choose to allow your child to change specific privacy settings themselves.

  • You’re notified each time the child adjusts their settings.

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

  • You’re notified each time the child adjusts their settings.

Privacy settings guide

How to set a monthly spending limit online

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

  1. Sign in to Account Management and select 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.
    Re-enter your account password, if prompted.

  2. Select the child account you want to set restrictions for, and select Applications/Devices/Network Features > Monthly Spending Limit.

  • As the family manager, 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, 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 a guardian can change the spending limits you’ve created.

Which parental controls can I change?

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

  • Playtime Settings

Set play time controls

  • Time Zone

  • Age Level for Games (PS5/PS4 and PS3)

Age ratings

  • Age Level for Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD Videos

  • Use of PlayStation VR and PlayStation VR2
    PlayStation®VR and PlayStation®VR2 are not for use by children under 12 years.

Privacy settings guide
  • Reset Password
  • Deactivate [Sign In with Passkey]

*This applies to only some countries or regions.

  • Change Playtime for Today

  • Playtime Settings

Set play time controls
Age ratings
  • Allowed Games
    View requests to allow specific games and a list of games that already have been allowed. You can also allow games based on the request from here.
  • Services and Apps
    View and manage your child's access to third-party services and apps that they've linked their accounts to.

  • Privacy Settings

Privacy settings guide

  • Reset Password

*This applies to only some countries or regions.

  • Change Playtime for Today

  • Playtime Settings

Set play time controls

  • Time Zone

  • Age Level for Games

Age ratings

  • Age Level for Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD Videos

  • Use of PlayStation VR
    PS VR is not for use by children under 12 years.

  • Use of Internet Browser

  • Communication and User-Generated Content

  • Age Filtering for Online Content*

  • Monthly Spending Limit
  • Services and Apps
    View and manage your child's access to third-party services and apps that they've linked their accounts to.

  • Privacy Settings

Privacy settings guide
  • Reset Password

*This applies to only some countries or regions.

How to restrict communication and user-generated content

When you select Communication and User-Generated Content > Restrict, the following are disabled:

  • Sending text messages and voice chatting with other players
  • Sending pre-written messages in-game is allowed
  • Sharing user-generated content created by your child
  • Seeing another player's user-generated content
  • Linking select third-party services and apps that provide communication and user-generated content features.

You can prevent your child from seeing content unsuitable for their age, as well as prevent information from being exchanged with others. You can block the following user-generated content:

  • Screenshots
  • Video clips (gameplay video)
  • Gameplay broadcasts
  • Another player's user-generated content in-game
  • Another player's personal description on their profile

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.

How to make an exception for a game (PS5 consoles only)

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.

Family Management online

  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. 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.

How to make an exception for in-game communication features

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.

Family Management online
  1. 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 Communication to view the request.

Preset restriction levels (PS5 consoles only)

Parental Controls are preset with age-appropriate levels of restrictions.

  • The same parental controls applied to your child's account online, using your PlayStation®4 console or PlayStation®Vita system, will carry over to your PlayStation®5 console too.

  • 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 the content if the age rating is 15 years and under.

  • Starting Blu-ray Disc
    Can play the disc if the age rating is 16 years and under.

  • Starting DVD
    Doesn't restrict.

  • Restrict use of PS VR and PS VR2
    Doesn't restrict.

  • Restrict web browsing
    Doesn't restrict.

  • Restrict communication and user-generated content
    Doesn't restrict.

  • Age filtering for online content*
    Does 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
    Doesn't restrict.

  • Restrict use of PS VR and PS VR2
    Doesn't restrict.

  • Web browsing
    Does restrict.

  • Restrict communication and user-generated content
    Does restrict.

  • Age filtering for online content*
    Does 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
    Doesn't Restrict.

  • Restrict use of PS VR and PS VR2
    Does restrict.

  • Web browsing
    Does restrict.

  • Restrict communication and user-generated content
    Does restrict.

  • Age filtering for online content*
    Does restrict.

  • Set monthly spending limit
    0.

*This applies to only some countries or regions.

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