Sharing your PS5 console can involve multiple methods, from allowing others to use your console locally to playing games together remotely. The primary ways to share your PlayStation 5 console include creating multiple user accounts, enabling digital game sharing, and utilizing the Share Play feature for online co-op or assistance.
1. Sharing Locally: Multiple User Accounts
The most straightforward way to share your PS5 console with others in your household is by setting up individual user accounts. Each user can have their own profile, saving their game progress, settings, and trophy data separately.
- Benefits:
- Personalized Experience: Each user has their own home screen layout, game library (for their owned games), and settings.
- Separate Save Data: No more overwriting someone else's game saves.
- Trophy Tracking: Individual trophy progress for each user.
- How to Add a User:
- From the home screen, select your profile picture at the top right.
- Select Switch User.
- Choose Add User.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to either Add a User to this PS5 (creating a new PlayStation Network account or signing in with an existing one) or Play as a Guest.
2. Sharing Digital Games and PS Plus Benefits
Your PS5 console allows you to share your digital games and PlayStation Plus subscription benefits with other users on the same console, provided it's set as your "Console Sharing and Offline Play" console. This is often referred to as primary console sharing.
- How to Enable Console Sharing and Offline Play:
- Go to Settings (the gear icon on the home screen).
- Select Users and Accounts.
- Choose Other.
- Select Console Sharing and Offline Play.
- Ensure it is Enabled. If it's already enabled, you're good to go. If it's disabled, select Enable.
- What You Can Share:
- Digital Games: Any digital games purchased on the primary account can be played by other users on that console, even if the primary account holder is offline.
- PlayStation Plus: Other users on the console can access online multiplayer and any free monthly games downloaded via the primary account's PS Plus subscription.
- Important Note: You can only have one PS5 console activated for "Console Sharing and Offline Play" at a time per account.
3. Remote Sharing: Using Share Play
Share Play is a fantastic feature that allows you to virtually "share" your game with a friend online, even if they don't own the game themselves. This is perfect for experiencing co-op games, demonstrating a game, or helping a friend past a tough level.
- Share Play Modes:
- Share Your Screen: Your friend watches your gameplay.
- Pass the Controller: Your friend takes control of your game for a short period.
- Play a Game Together: You and your friend can play local multiplayer games online, effectively turning a local co-op game into an online experience.
- Requirements:
- PlayStation Plus: The host (the person sharing their game) must have an active PlayStation Plus subscription to use the "Pass the Controller" or "Play a Game Together" modes. The visitor does not need PS Plus to play.
- Internet Connection: For the best performance, both the host and the visitor should have a high-speed internet connection, ideally at least 2Mbps.
- Enabling Guest Access for Share Play:
If you want to use Share Play with a guest account that isn't a full PlayStation Network account, you'll need to adjust your console's settings:- Go to Settings.
- Select Family and Parental Controls.
- Choose PS5 Console Restrictions.
- Select User Creation and Guest Login.
- Change this setting to Allow. This enables temporary guest profiles for Share Play sessions.
- How to Start a Share Play Session:
- Start a party chat with the friend you wish to share with.
- From the party chat card in the Control Center, select the Share Play icon.
- Choose Start Share Play.
- Select the desired Share Play mode.
Summary of PS5 Sharing Methods
Here's a quick overview of the different ways you can share your PS5 console:
| Sharing Method | What it Shares | Key Requirement(s) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple User Accounts | Console access, individual save data, settings | Separate PSN accounts (recommended) | Family or roommates sharing one physical console |
| Digital Game Sharing | Digital games, PS Plus benefits on the console | "Console Sharing and Offline Play" enabled on your PS5 | Household members accessing each other's games |
| Share Play | Live gameplay (screen sharing, remote controller) | PS Plus (host), high-speed internet (both users), adjusted console restrictions for guest accounts | Remote co-op, game demonstrations, online assistance |
