How to set up family accounts on PSN

Find out how to create your child's account and add them as a family member, how to add an adult account, and what the family manager can do.

To set up your family on PlayStation™Network (PSN), you need to create an adult account and then add child members or adult members.

Create an adult account

Once you have an adult account, add family members to become the family manager.

How to add child family members online

Please note, child accounts (members) cannot be deleted or removed from your family.

  1. Sign in to Account Management with your account, then select Family Management.
  2. If you’re adding a member for the first time, select Set Up Now > Add a Child.
    To add another child, select Add Family Member > Add a Child.
  3. Enter the child's date of birth, then click Next.
    Applicable legal terms may appear. Upon review, you can accept and then follow the on-screen instructions to set up parental controls.
Set parental controls
  1. Sign in with your account, then select your profile icon in the upper right on the home screen.

  2. Select Switch User > Add User > Get Started.
    Applicable legal terms may appear. Upon review, you can check on I Agree, then select Confirm.

  3. Select Create an Account. Enter the child's date of birth, then select Next.
    Follow the on-screen instructions to set up parental controls.
  1. Sign in with your account, then go to Settings > Parental Controls/Family Management > Family Management.

  2. If you're adding a member for the first time, select Set Up Now > Create User.
    To add another child, select Add Family Member > Create User.

  3. Enter the child's name and date of birth, then select Next.
    Applicable legal terms may appear. Upon review, you can accept and then follow the on-screen instructions to set up parental controls.

Families at a glance

The members that make up a family are:

  • Family manager
  • Child members
  • Parent or guardian
  • Adult members

Can

Can't

  • Add family members.
  • Set parental controls for child family members.
  • Set console restrictions.
  • Contact other players through PSN.
  • Add payment methods or wallet funds.
  • Purchase content from PlayStation™Store.
  • Accept the PSN terms of service for child family members.
  • Appoint other adult family members as “parent/guardian”.
  • Make an exception for a game (PS5 consoles only).
  • Make an exception for in-game communication features.
  • Reset a child account password.
  • Remove child family members.
  • Set account restrictions for other adult family members.
  • Leave the family.
  • If a child family member is eligible, they can upgrade to an adult account and leave the family.
  • There can only be one family manager in a family.

Can

Can't

  • Add/remove family members.
  • Add payment methods or wallet funds.
  • Leave the family.
  • Change their online ID.
These features depend on parental controls
  • Play games and content online, subject to age ratings and parental controls.
  • Purchase content from PlayStation Store, subject to spending limits.
  • Contact other players through PSN.
Add a child family member

Can

Can't

  • Set console restrictions.
  • Contact other players through PSN.
  • Add payment methods or wallet funds.
  • Purchase content from PlayStation Store.
  • Leave the family.
  • Add/remove family members.
  • Set parental controls for child family members.
  • Spend the family manager’s wallet funds.
Add an adult family member

Can

Can't

  • Set console restrictions.
  • Set parental controls for child family members.
  • Contact other players through PSN.
  • Add payment methods or wallet funds.
  • Purchase content from PlayStation Store.
  • Leave the family.
  • Make an exception for a game (PS5 console only).
  • Make an exception for in-game communication features.
  • Add/remove family members.
  • Spend the family manager’s wallet funds.
  • Reset their child's password.
Add a parent/guardian

How to add adult family members online

Please note, parental controls such as play time restriction can't be applied to adult family members.

  1. Sign in to Account Management with the family manager's account, then select Family Management > Add Family Member.

  2. If you're adding a member for the first time, select Set Up Now > Add an Adult.
    To add another adult, select Add Family Member > Add an Adult.

  3. Enter the adult account's Sign-in ID (email address) and click Next > Yes.

  4. A request to join your family member is sent to the email address entered.
    Read the notes then select OK.

  5. The user who received the request email should click View Family Request Now in the email to sign in, and then select Join Family.
  1. Sign in as the family manager and go to Settings > Family and Parental Controls > Family Management > Add Family Member.
  2. Scan the QR code on your mobile device.
  3. Follow the instructions from step 02 onwards in "How to add adult family members online" to add adult family members.
  1. Sign in as the family manager and go to Settings > Parental Controls/Family Management > Family Management.
  2. If you're adding a member for the first time, select Set Up Now > Enter Sign-in ID.
    To add another adult, select Add Family Member > Enter Sign-in ID.

  3. Enter the adult account's Sign-in ID (email address) and click Next > Send.

  4. A request to join your family member is sent to the email address entered.
    Read the notes then select OK.

  5. The user who received the request email should click View Family Request Now in the email to sign in, and then select Join Family.

How to remove adult family members online

  1. Sign in to Account Management with the family manager's account, then select Family Management.
  2. Select the adult family member.
  3. Select Remove from Your Family.
    Removing a family member who is a parent or guardian also removes their ability to set parental controls.
  1. Sign in as the family manager and go to Settings > Family and Parental Controls > Family Management.
  2. Select the adult family member.
  3. Select Remove from Your Family.
    Removing a family member who is a parent or guardian also removes their ability to set parental controls.
  1. Sign in as the family manager and go to Settings > Parental Controls/Family Management > Family Management.
  2. Select the adult family member.
  3. Select Remove from Your Family.
    Removing a family member who is a parent or guardian also removes their ability to set parental controls.

How to assign parent or guardian status to a family member online

  1. Sign in to Account Management with the family manager's account, then select Family Management.
  2. Select an adult family member and enable Parent/Guardian.

  1. Sign in as the family manager and go to Settings > Family and Parental Controls > Family Management.

  2. Select an adult family member and enable Parent/Guardian.
  1. Sign in as the family manager and go to Settings > Parental Controls/Family Management > Family Management.
  2. Select an adult family member and enable Parent/Guardian.

How to upgrade a child account to an adult account

When a child is eligible to upgrade to an adult account, they see a notification when signing in to PSN. They can then choose to follow the on-screen instructions to upgrade to an adult member or select Do This Later.

  • Upgrading the account isn’t required.
  • You can’t revert to a child account once upgraded.

To upgrade after selecting Do This Later, follow the steps below:

  1. Sign in to Account Management and select Upgrade Your Account.
  2. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the upgrade.
  3. Sign out and then sign back in.
  1. Go to Settings > Users and Accounts.
  2. Select Account > Upgrade Your Account.
    If you're signed in to an account that can't be upgraded yet, Upgrade Your Account won't appear.
  3. Select Next.
  4. Read the user agreement and privacy policy and select I Agree.
  5. Select Sign Out of PlayStation Network.
    When you sign back in, you can use your account as an adult account.
  1. Go to Settings > Account Management.
  2. Select Account Information, then Upgrade Your Account.
    Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the upgrade.

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