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You need a PlayStation account and an internet connection. Your sign-in ID is normally the email address registered to the account—not your public online ID.
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What signing in to PlayStation Network lets you do
Your PlayStation account is used for PSN services such as online game features, PlayStation Store purchases and downloads, friends and messaging, profiles, trophies, PlayStation Plus benefits, and some entertainment apps. It also connects your console with the PlayStation App and other account features. See PlayStation’s account overview for the services available in your region.
Signing in does not automatically require PlayStation Plus. Some games and services require a membership, while many free-to-play games can be played online without one. Check the requirements for the specific game.
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Before you sign in
- A PlayStation account. If you do not have one, create an account and verify its email address.
- The account’s sign-in ID, usually its registered email address.
- The account password, or a passkey already configured for the account.
- An active internet connection.
- Access to your phone or authenticator app if two-step verification is enabled.
Install available system software updates if the console has been offline for a long time. Menu wording can vary slightly by region and software version.
How to sign in on PS5
- From the PS5 home screen, open Settings.
- Select Users and Accounts.
- Select Account.
- Select Sign In.
- Enter your sign-in ID and password, or follow the displayed passkey or QR-code instructions.
- Enter your two-step verification code if prompted.
Some PS5 sign-in screens offer QR-code sign-in through the PlayStation App. The option is not necessarily displayed for every account or console configuration.
After successful sign-in, the account is active on that console and its available online features should load. PlayStation generally keeps you signed in until you sign out, although a system software update or network outage can sometimes sign you out.
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How to sign in on PS4
- Open Settings.
- Select Account Management.
- Select Sign In.
- Enter your sign-in ID and password.
- Complete two-step verification if requested.
A PS4 may ask whether to activate it as your primary PS4. This is separate from signing in. Select Yes only if this is the account’s primary PS4; otherwise choose Do Not Activate. If another PS4 is already activated as primary, you may need to deactivate it before activating a different console. PlayStation’s online Deactivate All Devices action is limited to once every six months; see the guidance for PS4 activation and deactivation.
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Sign in with a passkey instead of a password
If you have configured a passkey, follow the passkey prompt and authenticate with your device’s fingerprint, face recognition, or screen-lock PIN. Passkeys replace typing the PlayStation account password and are designed to resist phishing and password-reuse attacks. Read PlayStation’s passkey instructions before setting one up.
If passkey sign-in fails, choose Can’t Sign In with Passkey when available and use password, email, or QR-code sign-in instead. PlayStation notes that outdated browsers, some Android-and-Windows combinations, and Remote Play on Mac can cause passkey problems. Keep access to your account email and another recovery method even if you use a passkey.
Complete two-step verification
With two-step verification enabled, the normal sequence is:
- Enter your sign-in ID and password.
- Enter the code sent by SMS or generated by your authenticator app.
- Finish sign-in before the code expires.
PlayStation says a two-step verification code remains valid for 10 minutes after the sign-in attempt. If it expires, select Resend Code. When enabling two-step verification, record the backup codes somewhere safe. The setup paths are:
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- Online: Account Management > Security > Edit beside Two-Step Verification Status.
- PS5: Settings > Users and Accounts > Security > 2-Step Verification.
- PS4: Settings > Account Management > Account Information > Security > 2-Step Verification.
SMS is convenient but depends on access to the registered phone number. An authenticator app avoids dependence on text delivery but requires access to the device containing the app. Either way, save the backup codes.
If you have lost your phone or verification method
- Use a backup code at the sign-in prompt.
- If the authenticator or phone number is available on another device, use that device and then update your account security settings.
- If you have lost access to the phone number, authenticator, email address, and backup codes, use PlayStation’s account-recovery and support process. You may need to verify your identity.
If you forgot your PlayStation password
Use PlayStation’s password-reset instructions:
- Open Account Management.
- Select Trouble Signing in?
- Choose Recover Your Account or the password-reset option shown.
- Enter the account’s sign-in ID.
- Open the secure link sent by email.
- Follow the instructions to create a new password.
On PS5, you can start recovery from Settings > Users and Accounts > Account > Sign In. On PS4, start at Settings > Account Management > Sign In and follow the recovery prompts.
If you have forgotten the sign-in ID itself, or can no longer access that email account, a normal password reset may not help. Use PlayStation’s account-recovery route instead.
Child accounts
A child signs in with their own PlayStation account, but a family manager resets the child’s password:
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- PS5: Settings > Family and Parental Controls > Family Management > select the child account > Reset Password.
- PS4: Settings > Parental Controls/Family Management > Family Management > select the child account > Reset Password.
When PlayStation Network sign-in fails
“There was an issue signing in”
On PS5, try Settings > Users and Accounts > Sign In again. If you are already signed in, go to Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Sign Out, then sign in again. Restart the console. These are PlayStation’s recommended steps for this type of sign-in error.
The console cannot connect to PSN
- Check the official PlayStation Network status page.
- On the console, run Settings > Network > Test Internet Connection.
- Restart the console.
- If possible, test with a wired connection.
- Restart the router. PlayStation’s relevant guidance recommends turning it off and waiting at least five minutes before turning it back on.
- If you use Wi-Fi, move the console closer to the router and reduce sources of wireless interference.
Check the service status before changing your password repeatedly: an outage or maintenance window can look like a local account problem.
You see an unfamiliar account change
If the sign-in ID, password, online ID, or another account detail has changed without your permission, treat it as possible suspicious activity. Stop repeatedly trying old credentials and use PlayStation’s account-recovery process.
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For this specific error, PlayStation says the IP address may have been blocked for activity that violates its terms. Do not assume that every failed sign-in is an IP block; use this explanation only when the corresponding error appears and follow PlayStation’s error-code guidance.
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How to sign out
- PS5: Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Sign Out.
- PS4: Settings > Account Management > Sign Out.
If you no longer have access to the console, sign in to online Account Management, open Security, and select Sign Out on All Devices. This is particularly important after using a borrowed, shared, public, or second-hand console. Do not save your credentials on a console other people can access; PlayStation also recommends keeping account details private in its security guidance.
When to contact PlayStation Support
Use PlayStation’s recovery or support process when you:
- Do not know the account’s sign-in ID.
- Cannot access the registered email account.
- Cannot access the registered phone, authenticator app, or backup codes.
- See an unrecognized password, email, online ID, or other account change.
- Continue receiving a specific account or network error after checking service status and testing the console connection.
Use official PlayStation pages rather than third-party “account recovery” services. Your account credentials and verification codes should never be shared with anyone claiming they can bypass the official recovery process.
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