PlayStation 4 (PS4)

How to Set Up Parental Controls

Setting up parental controls helps protect your child while they game, watch content, and use online features.

To set up parental controls:

1. Step 1 – Sign in to your PlayStation 4 using your account. This account will become the Family Manager.

2. Step 2 – Press UP on the controller, then move right to the Settings icon (shaped like a briefcase). Press X to open it.

3. Step 3 – Scroll down and select Parental Controls/Family Management. From here, go into Family Management to create users and apply restrictions.

Where to Add Family Members

Family Management allows you to add both adult and child users to the system so you can set age-appropriate limits.

To add family members:

1. Step 1 – In the Family Management menu, highlight Family Management and press X.

2. Step 2 – Select Create User, then enter the user’s name and date of birth. Press Next to continue.

3. Step 3 – Set specific parental controls:

a. Age Level for Games – Choose the maximum game rating your child is allowed to access. They will only be able to play content at or below this age level.

b. Age Level for Blu-ray and DVD – Set restrictions for films or shows watched through Blu-ray or DVD.

c. Use of PlayStation VR – Since VR is recommended for ages 12+, restrict access for younger children if needed.

d. Use of Internet Browser – Turn this off if you don’t want your child browsing the web on the console.

4. Step 4 – Press Confirm to save your settings.

5. Step 5 – Choose whether your child can access the PlayStation Network (PSN). If enabled, make sure to adjust controls specifically for PSN.

You can also try the Press Start for PlayStation Safety quiz with your child to test their knowledge of online safety.

Customising User Permissions

Once all users are added, you can customise each one’s permissions to control what they can access and whether they can change settings.

To manage user permissions:

1. Step 1 – From the Parental Controls/Family Management section in Settings, go to Family Management.

2. Step 2 – Select the user you want to manage. Assign them as Parent/Guardian or review their Family Member Information.

3. Step 3 – For children’s profiles, set content filters and spending limits:

a. Viewing Content Created by Other Players – Disable this to stop your child from seeing shared videos, images or text that might be inappropriate.

b. Age Filtering for Online Content – This restricts access to online features and filters games shown in the PlayStation Store based on your child’s registered age.

c. Monthly Spending Limit – Limit how much your child can spend each month. All purchases come from the Family Manager’s wallet.

4. Step 4 – Track and manage screen time using Play Time Settings. This lets you set daily play limits and check how long your child plays each day.

5. Step 5 – Scroll to Reset Password if your child needs access to PlayStation Network and you want to maintain control over their login.

For more protection, see the PlayStation Network parental controls guide to add extra layers of security.