PlayStation Parental Controls: How to Set Up a Child Account on PS5

PlayStation’s parental controls are tied to your child’s account, so they follow your child to any PS5 or PS4 they sign in to. You can set them on the console, on the web, or with the PlayStation Family app. Checked October 25, 2026.

Step 1: Create a family and add your child

1. Set up your own PlayStation account. You become the family manager.
2. Add your child as a family member and make sure they verify their email and sign in on the console.
3. Change console settings so your child can’t change parental controls.

Where to find the settings:

• PS5: Settings > Family and Parental Controls > Family Management > select your child
• PS4: Settings > Parental Controls/Family Management > Family Management > select your child
• Web: Account Management > Family Management > select your child > Edit
• Phone: the PlayStation Family app

Step 2: Pick an age level

On PS5, choose a preset: Child, Early Teens, or Late Teens or Older. Each preset sets age limits for games and discs and restricts chat, and the Child preset also restricts web browsing and VR. You can adjust each setting afterward. Sony says PS VR headsets are not for children under 12.

Step 3: Chat and shared content

Under Communication and User-Generated Content, choose Restrict to block voice and text chat with other players and viewing other players’ content. You can also block sharing screenshots, clips and broadcasts. Your child can ask for an exception for a specific game, which you approve or decline.

Step 4: Spending

Set a Monthly Spending Limit. The default is 0, and purchases come from the family manager’s wallet. If you appoint another parent or guardian, they can change spending limits too, so agree on them together. See In-Game Spending and Loot Boxes.

Step 5: Playtime

Under Playtime Settings, set daily limits and the hours your child can play, and check the time zone is right. On PS5 you can also change today’s playtime when plans change.

Quick checklist

• Child plays on their own account in your family
• Age preset chosen and reviewed
• Chat restricted, with exceptions approved game by game
• Monthly spending limit set
• Daily playtime set

Frequently asked questions

Do these controls cover Fortnite and Roblox?
They control the console, chat and PlayStation Store spending. Those games also have their own settings. See Fortnite Parental Controls and Roblox Parental Controls.

Will my child know about the settings?
Yes. They’ll see when something is blocked and can send you requests. You’re notified if they change privacy settings you’ve let them manage.

I changed a setting and nothing happened.
Your child may need to sign out and back in for changes to apply.

Sources

• How to set parental controls on PlayStation consoles, PlayStation Support, accessed October 25, 2026
• How to set up family accounts on PlayStation, PlayStation Support, accessed October 25, 2026
• PlayStation Family App, PlayStation, accessed October 25, 2026