Getting ready for your PS5 console

Get a headstart on setting up your PS5 console

Get ready for the next generation of gaming. Follow these easy steps now, on PlayStation™App or your web browser, and you’ll be able to get a headstart on setting up your PlayStation®5 console so you can get to your games quicker when your PS5® console arrives.

Don’t worry if you forget. You’ll also be prompted to complete these steps when you sign in on your PS5 console for the first time.

Install PlayStation App for easy sign-in 

We made it even easier for you to access PlayStation services. When you begin to set up your PS5 console, you can remotely sign in to your account for PlayStation on your PS5 console via PlayStation App or by using your mobile device’s camera. Just scan the QR code and you’ll instantly sign in.

PlayStation App support

Find new games to play 

Get ready for your PS5 console with new games to play. When you first turn on your PS5 console, you can download a digital game or install a game disc in the background to get into new adventures faster.

Browse PlayStation®Store via PlayStation App or playstation.com for both digital games and game discs to pre-order or purchase, so you can prepare for the arrival of your PS5 console. When you get your PS5 console, you can download purchased digital games onto your PS5 console’s internal console storage via PlayStation App as soon as you sign in to your account for PlayStation. Using PlayStation App, you can also manage your PS5 console’s internal storage if you run out of space while downloading a game. This will let you remotely free up more storage space to finish installing your game.

Find a new adventure

Install games on an extended storage drive 

Storing your PlayStation®4 games and playing them off an extended USB storage device is a great way to access your favourite PS4® games on your PS5 console. Your PS4 games will be at your fingertips without needing to use any of your PS5 console’s internal storage. We recommend doing this to save space on your internal console storage for PS5 games, which can’t be played off an extended storage drive.

You can use a USB 3.0 or later storage drive with 250 GB minimum and 8 TB maximum capacity. Devices with a faster specification may result in shorter load times.

Note: Not all devices work with your PS5 console. An extended storage drive can’t be used through a USB hub. Two or more extended storage drives can’t be connected at the same time.

If you want to use an extended storage drive you were previously using for your PS4 console, simply connect it to your PS5 console, make sure you’re signed in to the same account on your PS5 console, and you're ready to go. If you’re using a new drive that meets the above specifications, you can also format it as extended storage to store and play your PS4 games by following the steps below.

Be aware that formatting your storage device will delete all the data. If you want to keep the data, you should back it up on a different device.

  1. From your PS4 console, go to Settings > Devices > USB Storage Devices.

  2. Select your USB storage device, and select Format as Extended Storage.

  • Make sure your PS4 console's power indicator is completely off before disconnecting an extended drive from your console. If the extended drive isn’t disconnected properly, there may be data loss, corruption, or damage to your PS4 console or USB drive. If you want to disconnect a USB drive while your PS4 console is powered on, before you disconnect the cable, press and hold the PS button to display the quick menu, and then select Sound/Devices > Stop Using Extended Storage.

  • Do not turn off the power for your PS4 or PS5 console, or disconnect the USB drive while it's being formatted. Doing this may cause data loss, corruption, or damage to your console or USB drive.

PS4 extended storage guide

Edit your account settings and profile 

You’ll need to update your data privacy settings for your PS5 console. You can also choose to enable 2-step verification for an additional layer of security. To get to your games faster, you can make these updates directly from PlayStation App or Playstation.com.

You can update the following information in preparation for your PS5 console:

Update your password to set up security measures like enabling 2-step verification, or adding a mobile number to more easily and securely recover your account. From your web browser, follow these steps:

  1. Go to Account Management and sign in.
  2. Select Security > Edit and make your changes. You may need to re-enter your password to confirm it’s you.

Update your player profile information to reflect your personality. Other players you interact with on your PS5 console will see this information, too.

  • Name (shown only to your close friends)
  • Online ID*
  • Profile Picture
  • Avatar
  • About
  • Languages

*Fees may apply to change your online ID.

To make changes to your profile information, follow these steps:

  1. Go to Account Management and sign in.

  2. Select Profile > Edit and make your changes.

To change your payment methods, check your transaction history, and update your subscriptions, follow these steps:

  1. Go to Account Management and sign in.
  2. Select Payment Method or Subscription or Transaction History and make your changes.

Prepare to transfer your PS4 games and saved data 

Even before you get your PS5 console, you can prepare for the games you want to play.

If you already own a PS4 console and want to transfer your game progress to your PS5 console, you can do this via WiFi or an ethernet cable. Your PS5 console’s onboarding messages will guide you through this process, but in the meantime, you can make sure you’ve already downloaded and installed the PS4 games you want on your PS4’s internal console storage. You can also transfer your data with a pre-formatted extended storage drive by following the steps below.

With your formatted extended storage drive connected to your PS4 console, follow these steps:

  1. From your PS4 console, go to Settings > Storage.

  2. Select System Storage.

  3. Press the OPTIONS button and then select Move to Extended Storage.

  4. Check off the data you want to move and then select Move > OK.

  5. From the Quick Menu, select Sound/Devices > Stop Using Extended Storage > OK.

  6. Remove your USB drive from your PS4 console and then connect it to your PS5 console.

PS4 data transfer

Set up your family on PlayStation 

Share the PS5 console experience with your family. If you’re an adult with an account for PlayStation, you can become a family manager and create an account for your child. This can be done in the Family Management section of your account settings.

The family manager can:

  • Manage playtime.

  • Manage purchases from the family manager wallet.

  • Manage access to games, videos, and apps.

  • Disable messaging and voice chat.

  • Block videos, broadcasts, and pictures created by other players.

  • Appoint other adults in the family as “guardians.” This allows them to set and change controls, such as how much can be spent from your wallet, for all the child family members.

  1. Go to Account Management and sign in.
  2. Select Family Management.
  3. Select the child account you want to set restrictions for and select Edit to adjust each feature.
Set up family accounts

Graduation: Upgrade a child account to an adult account 

When you're old enough, you can upgrade your account to an adult account.

After you upgrade to an adult account, you can:

  • Control your own account. 
  • Keep your own online ID, trophies, and friends. 
  • Transfer all your games, videos, and subscriptions. 
  • Fund your own wallet.

When you’ve reached the appropriate age, you’ll be asked if you want to upgrade your account to an adult family member the next time you sign in to PlayStation.

If you selected Do This Later when first prompted, you can still upgrade by following these steps from your web browser:

  1. Go to Account Management and sign in.
  2. Select Upgrade Your Account and follow the on-screen instructions to confirm.
  3. You’ll need to sign out and then sign in again to PlayStation.
Edit your profile

Create an account 

Start playing games quicker. You can create your account for PlayStation on your web browser before you get your PS5 console. With an account, you'll be able to access PlayStation features like downloading content and communicating with your friends.

If you already have an account on your PS4 console, you can use the same account for your PS5 console. Your PlayStation Plus subscription, trophies, friends, and other information will sync to your PS5 console.

  1. Go to Account Management and select Create New Account.
  2. Follow the on-screen instructions.
  3. After you create your account, you'll receive a verification email. This can take up to a few minutes to arrive in your inbox. You can verify your account from the email by selecting Verify Now.
  4. You can now sign in to PlayStation via your web browser, PlayStation App, or console.