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.

How to set parental controls 

You can use the PlayStation Family app to set parental controls from your mobile device.

  1. Sign in to Account Management and select Family Management.
  2. Select a child and then select Edit to set a parental control.
  1. Go to Settings > Family and Parental Controls > Family Management.

  2. Select a child and select a parental control to set.

  1. Go to Settings > Parental Controls/Family Management > Family Management.
  2. Select a child and select a parental control to set.

  • To make sure parental controls are effective, make sure your child has completed email verification and is signed in on their console.
  • Change your console settings to prevent a child from changing parental controls.
  • 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 accounts. 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.

How to manage games and content 

You can use the PlayStation Family app to manage your child’s access to games and content from your mobile device.

  1. Sign in to Account Management and select Family Management.
  2. Select a child and Edit parental controls to manage access to games and content.

  1. Go to Settings > Family and Parental Controls > Family Management.

  2. Select a child and change parental controls to manage access to games and content.

  1. Go to Settings > Parental Controls/Family Management > Family Management.
  2. Select a child and change parental controls to manage access to games and content.

How to restrict communication and user-generated content

You can use the PlayStation Family app to manage your child’s communication from your mobile device.

When you select Communication and User-Generated Content > Restrict, from parental controls, 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

A child can request an exception to use communication features in a specific game.

How to manage who can change your child's privacy settings 

You can use the PlayStation Family app to manage your child’s privacy settings from your mobile device.

  1. Go to Account Management and select Family Management.
  2. Select a child and then scroll down to the Privacy Settings section.

  3. Select Edit.

  4. Select Parent/Guardian or Child.
  • To manage your child’s privacy settings, select Privacy Settings from parental controls.
  • If you select Parent/Guardian, the family manager, parents or guardians can change the child’s privacy settings using parental controls.

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

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

  • If you select 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.

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.

You can use the PlayStation Family app to manage your child’s spending limit from your mobile device.

  1. Sign in to Account Management and select Family Management.

  2. Select the child 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 the child 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 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

  • Time Zone

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

  • 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.

  • Reset Password
  • Deactivate [Sign In with Passkey]

*This applies to only some countries or regions.

  • Change Playtime for Today

  • Playtime Settings

  • 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

  • Reset Password

*This applies to only some countries or regions.

  • Change Playtime for Today

  • Playtime Settings

  • Time Zone

  • Age Level for Games

  • 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

  • Reset Password

*This applies to only some countries or regions.

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 on the PlayStation Family app.

  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.

How to make an exception for in-game communication features

When 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.

As the family manager, or an appointed parent or guardian, you can allow the request on the PlayStation Family app.

  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.

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
    Don't Restrict

  • Use of PlayStation VR2 and PlayStation VR
    Don't Restrict

  • Web Browsing
    Don't Restrict

  • Communication and User-Generated Content
    Don't Restrict

  • Age Filtering for Online Content*
    Don't Restrict

  • 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

  • Use of PlayStation VR2 and PlayStation VR
    Don't Restrict

  • Web Browsing
    Restrict

  • Communication and User-Generated Content
    Restrict

  • Age Filtering for Online Content*
    Restrict

  • 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

  • Use of PlayStation VR2 and PlayStation VR
    Restrict

  • Web Browsing
    Restrict

  • Communication and User-Generated Content
    Restrict

  • Age Filtering for Online Content*
    Restrict

  • Monthly Spending Limit
    0

*This applies to only some countries or regions.

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