The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →To share digital PS5 games with another account in your household, enable Console Sharing and Offline Play on the PS5 they use: Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Console Sharing and Offline Play > Enable. Other users on that console can then play the owner’s purchased and downloaded games. PS4 uses a separate primary-console setting; joining a PlayStation family group does not enable game sharing.
Share digital games on PS5
- Sign in on the PS5 where other household members will play, using the account that purchased the games.
- Open Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Console Sharing and Offline Play.
- Select Enable. Sony says the feature is automatically allowed on the first PS5 used to sign in. If it is enabled on another PS5, disable it there before enabling it on this one.
- Download the purchased games on that PS5. Other people can use their own user profiles on the console to play the owner’s purchased and downloaded games and media, including when the console is offline. Sony’s PS5 Console Sharing and Offline Play guide explains the setting.
The setting can be enabled on one PS5 at a time. Sony allows remote deactivation of all devices only once every six months, so use that option when you cannot access a console where sharing is still active.
Share digital games on PS4
- Sign in on the PS4 with the account that purchased the games.
- Go to Settings > Account Management > Activate as Your Primary PlayStation 4.
- Select Activate. Other users on that primary PS4 can access the account owner’s eligible purchased content.
Each player can have one PS4 activated as primary for their account. If a different PS4 is already primary, deactivate it before activating the new one. Sony also documents remote deactivation for owners without access to the old console; remote deactivation of all devices is limited to once every six months. See Sony’s PS4 primary-console instructions.
What the two console settings share
| Console | Setting and activation model | What other users can access | Offline access |
|---|---|---|---|
| PS5 | Console Sharing and Offline Play; enabled on one PS5 at a time. | Games and media the owner purchased and downloaded, plus selected PlayStation Plus benefits. | Yes, on the enabled console. |
| PS4 | Activate as Your Primary PlayStation 4; one primary PS4 per player. | Eligible purchased content and selected PlayStation Plus benefits. | Sony’s linked PS4 activation guide does not state the offline-access detail. |
These are console-level settings tied to the purchasing account, not a transfer of ownership: the other player uses the enabled console, while the game remains associated with the account that bought it. The content must be purchased by that account and, on PS5, downloaded to the sharing console.
#1 Best Overall
- Feel physically responsive feedback to your in-game actions through haptic feedback
- Experience varying levels of force and tension at your fingertips with adaptive triggers
- Chat online through the built-in microphone and connect a headset directly through the 3.5mm jack
- Switch voice capture on and off using the dedicated mute button
- Play on more devices using the USB Type-C cable or Bluetooth to connect easily to Windows PC and Mac computers, Android and iOS mobile phones as well as your PlayStation 5
Which PlayStation Plus benefits can be shared?
Sony says selected PlayStation Plus benefits can be shared on a primary PS4 and on one PS5 with Console Sharing and Offline Play enabled. Do not assume that every membership benefit, cloud feature, catalog entitlement, or account right is available to other users. Check Sony’s current PlayStation Plus sharing benefits list for the benefit in question.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Console sharing is not Share Play
Console sharing lets other users play eligible content locally on the designated console. Share Play instead invites a visitor into a remote session. Depending on the session, the visitor can watch, take control, or play together. Sony’s PS5 Share Play guide says a PlayStation Plus membership is required to start Share Play, only one visitor can join at a time, and a session ends after one hour. Those are Share Play rules, not requirements for enabling local console sharing.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Heighten Your Senses. Discover Deeper, highly immersive gaming experiences.
- Feel your in-game actions and environment simulated through haptic feedback
- Chat online through the built-in microphone or connect a headset directly via the 3.5mm jack
- Play on more devices Connect using a USB Type-C cable or Bluetooth wireless technology so you can easily play on more devices including Windows PC and Mac computers, Android and iOS mobile phones.
- Elevate PC gaming with advanced features like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers in a range titles
Rank #4
- Ultra Customizable Controls
- Mappable Back Buttons
- DualSense Wireless Controller Features Built In
- Replaceable Stick Modules and Caps
Rank #3
- Haptic feedback - Feel physically responsive feedback to your in-game actions with dual actuators which replace traditional rumble motors. In your hands, these dynamic vibrations can simulate the feeling of everything from environments to the recoil of different weapons. .Operating temperature : 41 °F to 95 °F (5 °C to 35 °C)
- Adaptive triggers - Experience varying levels of force and tension as you interact with your in-game gear and environments. From pulling back an increasingly tight bowstring to hitting the brakes on a speeding car, feel physically connected to your on-screen actions.
- Built-in microphone and headset jack - Chat with friends online using the built-in microphone or by connecting a headset to the 3.5mm jack. Easily switch voice capture on and off at a moment’s notice with the dedicated mute button. Internet and account for PlayStation Network required.
- DualSense Controller PS5 and PC compatible. Not compatible with PS4.
- PS Remote Play requires Remote Play App connected to Wi-Fi, PS4 or PS5 console with the latest system software and compatible game. A PS4 or PS5 console with a wired connection via a LAN cable is recommended. Version 4.0 of the Remote Play App on iOS and iPadOS or version 4.1 on macOS is required for games to be playable with the controller over Bluetooth.
Rank #2
- Bring gaming worlds to life - Feel your in-game actions and environment simulated through haptic feedback*. Experience varying force and tension at your fingertips with adaptive triggers*
- Find your voice, share your passion - Chat online through the built-in microphone. Connect a headset directly via the 3.5mm jack. Record and broadcast your epic gaming moments with the create button
- A gaming icon in your hands - Enjoy a comfortable, evolved design with an iconic layout and enhanced sticks. Hear higher-fidelity** sound effects through the built-in speaker in supported games
- Multi-device connectivity - Connect using a USB Type-C cable or Bluetooth technology and easily play on more devices including Windows PC and Mac computers.
- Elevate PC gaming with advanced features like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers in a range of blockbuster PC titles.
If a shared game does not appear or start
- Confirm the purchasing account owns it. Sign in with the account that bought the game; a game owned by another account will not become yours simply because you use the same console.
- Check the console setting. Verify Console Sharing and Offline Play is enabled on the PS5 in use, or that the PS4 is activated as primary for the purchasing account.
- Check the content is downloaded. On PS5, the other users’ access applies to games and media the owner purchased and downloaded.
- Check subscription status and entitlement. If access depends on PlayStation Plus, confirm the subscription is active and that the specific benefit is one Sony permits to be shared.
- Update and reconnect if needed. Make sure the console software is current and the console can connect to the network to refresh account or subscription access.
- Resolve an old activation. If the setting remains assigned to a console you cannot reach, use Sony’s remote deactivation instructions, keeping the once-every-six-months all-device limit in mind.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
