Activate a primary PS4 console

How to activate a primary PS4 console

Find out how to activate your primary PlayStation®4 console and the activation limits for your PlayStation consoles.

If you’d like to share games and subscription benefits on a PlayStation®5 console, please visit the console sharing and offline play guide.

PS5 console sharing and offline play

What is a primary PS4 console?

Activating a primary PS4™ console links the console to your account and enables these features: 

  • Anyone who uses your primary PS4 console can use applications you purchase from PlayStation™Store. 
  • Anyone who uses your primary PS4 console can enjoy some of the benefits of your PlayStation®Plus subscription.
  • Your PS4 console can automatically download content you pre-ordered, or content you've purchased on PlayStation App.
  • You can connect to your PS4 console via the Internet using Remote Play on another device. 
  • Anyone who uses your primary PS4 console can use the themes that you purchase from PlayStation Store.

For more information about activating a primary PS4 console, visit the Online User Guide.

Online User Guide: Activate PS4 consoles

PlayStation activation limits

You can activate the following consoles on your account:

  • 1 primary PS4 console
  • 2 PS3 consoles
  • 2 portable PlayStation systems (PSP or PS Vita/TV)
PS5 console sharing and offline play
Share PlayStation Plus benefits

How to change PlayStation console activation

To change a console activation, follow the guide below to manually deactivate your previous console before activating a new console.

Deactivate a console
Activate a new console

If you find that you can't manually deactivate a PlayStation console, follow the guide below to perform a remote deactivation of all PlayStation devices. This action can only be performed once every 6 months.

Remotely deactivate all devices

How to activate a primary PS4 console

Each player can have one PS4 console activated as the primary PS4 console for their account.
  1. Go to Settings > Account Management > Activate as Your Primary PlayStation 4. 
  2. Select Activate.

There are no primary activations on PS3 consoles.

  1. Select your local user account and go to PlayStation Network > Sign-in > Account Management.
  2. Go to System Activation and highlight "PS3".
  3. Select the type of content you want to activate your PlayStation 3 console to use.
  4. Select Activate System.
  5. You will see a message to confirm that your device is now activated or to let you know that you have already reached your activation limit for the content type.

There are no primary activations on PS Vita/TV.

  1. On your PS Vita system tap Settings > PlayStation Network > System Activation.
  2. Select the type of content you want your PS Vita to use - Games or Video.
  3. Tap Activate > OK.
  4. You will see a message to confirm that your device is now activated or to let you know that you have already reached your activation limit for the content type.

Need help? 

Contact our support specialists

Contact PlayStation Support