Play time controls for PlayStation®5 and PlayStation®4 consoles
How to set up play time controls for PlayStation®5 and PlayStation®4
Learn how to manage play time controls for child accounts using PS5™ and PS4™ consoles, and your mobile device.
Play time controls
Family managers can set limits on when, and for how long, each child can play on PS5 and PS4 consoles. Play time controls work alongside system restrictions and family management settings to help you manage your child's PlayStation experience.
Before you can set play time controls:
You need an account for PlayStation™Network.
Every child needs their own separate account, created using their details (name and date of birth).
Your account must either be the family manager or appointed "guardian" by the family manager. The child account you're managing must be a family member.
The time zone must be set for the child account before play time controls can be adjusted.
How does play time work?
Managing play time is based on three settings:
Restrict Play Time: 'Restrict' or 'Do Not Restrict'.
When Play Time Ends: 'Notify Only' or 'Log Out' child account.
Duration and Playable Hours: 'Play Time Duration' and 'Playable Hours' for every day or specific days of the week.
As young players near the end of their play time, notifications will appear at the top of the screen to let them know when they should save and quit. Family managers can also set the system to automatically log out child family members once play time is over.
On PS5 consoles, family managers can Change Play Time for Today to give a child account more time to play within the playable hours.
Please note, play time for offline child accounts only applies to the console on which they are set. Play time for online accounts will restrict a child on all connected PS5 and PS4 consoles.
Set play time controls
Web browser: set play time
- Go to Playstation.com/acct/family and sign in as the family manager or guardian account of the child account you'd like to manage.
- Click the child family account, then click Edit next to the play time limit.
- Choose Save to apply your changes.
- Sign in as the family manager or guardian account of the child account you'd like to manage.
- Go to Settings > Family and Parental Controls > Family Management and select the child account.
- Set a Time Zone, then select Play Time Settings.
- Once you have set your restrictions, select Save to apply the changes.
- Sign in as the family manager or guardian account of the child account you'd like to manage.
- Go to Settings > Parental Controls/Family Management > Family Management and select the child account .
- Set a Time Zone, then select Play Time Settings.
- Once you have set your restrictions, select Save to apply the changes.
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