If your child has a PS5, you know how exciting gaming can be. But as a parent, you might also be concerned about screen time, online interactions, and access to age-appropriate content.
The good news is that Sony offers a comprehensive set of parental controls, allowing you to manage what your child plays, how long they play, and who they can communicate with online.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to set up and customize these settings, giving you peace of mind while ensuring your child has a fun and safe gaming experience.
Also Read: A Complete Guide to Connecting Your PS5 Controller
Why Do PS5 Parental Controls Matter?
The PS5 offers a range of parental controls to help you manage their gaming experience effectively.
Here’s how you can take control:
Block Mature Content – Restrict access to games, movies, and apps based on age ratings.
Set Playtime Limits – Prevent excessive gaming sessions by setting daily or weekly time restrictions.
Manage Online Interactions – Decide who your child can chat or play with online.
Control Spending – Set limits on in-game purchases and prevent unauthorized transactions.
Restrict Web Browsing – Block internet access if necessary.
Let’s now go over how to set them up.
How to Set Up Parental Controls on the PS5?
To set up parental controls on your PS5, start by accessing Family Management. Turn on your PS5 and navigate to Settings (the gear icon in the top-right corner). Scroll down to Family and Parental Controls, then select Family Management.
Next, you’ll need to add a child account. Choose Add Family Member, then select Child and enter your child’s date of birth. Follow the on-screen prompts to create their PlayStation Network (PSN) account.
Once the setup is complete, their account will be linked to your Family Management system, allowing you to monitor and manage their gaming activity.
Tip: If your child doesn’t have an email address, you can use yours to manage their account.
How to Adjust Parental Control Settings?
Once the child account is set up, you can customize restrictions based on their age and gaming habits.
Set Age Restrictions for Games and Apps
To make sure your child only accesses age-appropriate content, go to Settings and select Family and Parental Controls.
From there, choose Parental Controls and select your child’s account. Next, navigate to Age Level for Games and Apps and set an appropriate restriction level based on ESRB ratings or your preferred age guidelines.
This will automatically block content that exceeds the selected age limit, helping you create a safer gaming environment for your child.
Here’s a table depicting what each ESRB rating means and which age group they are suitable for.
Set Playtime Limits
To manage your child's screen time, go to Settings > Family and Parental Controls > Playtime Settings.
Select your child’s account and set specific hours when gaming is allowed or limit their total daily playtime.
You can also enable notifications to warn them when time is almost up.
Once the limit is reached, the PS5 will automatically log them out, helping to encourage healthy gaming habits and a balanced routine.
Control Online Communication & User-Generated Content
Online gaming can expose kids to strangers, but you can limit or block their interactions. Go to Settings > User Accounts > Privacy > Customize Settings and select your child’s account.
From there, you can restrict voice and text chat, block messages from unknown players, and disable user-generated content like screenshots and videos.
If your child enjoys multiplayer games, consider allowing communication only with approved friends to push for a safer and more controlled gaming environment.
Manage Spending Limits
To prevent unexpected charges on your credit card, you can set spending limits for your child’s PS5 account.
Go to Settings > Family and Parental Controls > Monthly Spending Limit, then choose your child’s account.
From here, you can set a maximum amount they can spend on in-game purchases and enable purchase approval notifications.
Restrict the PS5 Web Browser
Lastly, if you don’t want your child to gain access to the internet, you can restrict the PS5 browser by tweaking a few settings.
Go to Settings > Family and Parental Controls, select Web Browser, and set it to Block. This prevents access to unwanted websites and helps keep their gaming experience focused and safe.
Lock Your Parental Controls on the PS5
For extra security, you can set up a PS5 Console Restriction Passcode to prevent your child from changing parental settings or switching accounts.
To do this, go to Settings > Family and Parental Controls > PS5 Console Restrictions, then enter a 4-digit passcode.
Final Thoughts
Parental controls on the PS5 make it easy to create a kid-friendly gaming environment.
Whether you want to limit playtime, control spending, or restrict online interactions, these tools help ensure your child plays safely.
By setting up clear rules and boundaries, you’re not just making gaming safer you’re also teaching responsible digital habits.
Also Read: Top 10 Best PS5 Games for 2025
