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PS5 Game Sharing: Console Sharing vs. Account Sharing

Console Sharing and Offline Play lets other users of one PS5 access eligible downloaded games without using your PlayStation sign-in. Here’s how to enable it and how it differs from account sharing.
Length3 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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To let other people play your downloaded games on one PS5, enable Console Sharing and Offline Play on that console. It gives other users access to eligible purchases and selected PlayStation Plus benefits without giving them your sign-in details. Sony advises against sharing account credentials; it says doing so puts account security at risk and breaches its Terms of Service.

What PS5 Console Sharing and Offline Play does

With the feature enabled, anyone who uses that PS5 can play games and media the account holder has purchased and downloaded, including when the console is offline. Other users can also use some PlayStation Plus benefits. This shares access on the enabled console; it does not transfer game ownership or move purchases to another person’s account. PlayStation Support’s setup guide explains the feature and its limits.

Access depends on the purchase, subscription, and license remaining valid. A game or benefit may not be available if the account holder did not purchase it, a subscription is inactive, subscription catalog availability has changed, or there is a license or network problem.

How to enable game sharing on a PS5

  1. Sign in to the account that owns the downloaded games or subscription benefits.
  2. On the PS5, open Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Console Sharing and Offline Play.
  3. Select Enable. The first PS5 used to sign in has the feature enabled automatically, according to Sony.

To move the feature to another PS5, disable it on the currently enabled console first, then enable it on the other one. If activation fails, Sony recommends checking whether another PS5 already has sharing enabled, checking PlayStation service status, updating system software, restarting the console and router, and trying again.

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Console Sharing vs. sharing your PlayStation account

Question Console Sharing and Offline Play Giving someone your account details
What is shared? Access on the enabled PS5 to eligible purchased and downloaded games and media, plus selected PlayStation Plus benefits. Access to the account through its sign-in credentials; this is not the console-sharing feature.
Where does it work? For users of one PS5 with the feature enabled. Wherever the recipient can sign in; Sony does not endorse this practice.
Are credentials disclosed? No. Other local users use their own profiles on that PS5. Yes. The account holder gives another person sign-in information.
Offline play? Eligible downloaded games can be played on the enabled PS5 while it is offline. Not a separate offline-play entitlement; access depends on the account and the game’s requirements.
Limit or risk? Enabled on one PS5 at a time. Sony warns another person may change sign-in information and lock the owner out.

Sony’s security guidance says, “Never share your account details with anyone else,” and notes that sharing compromises account security and breaches its Terms of Service. Its security best practices advise keeping credentials private. PlayStation’s US Terms of Service also require users to safeguard sign-in and authentication information.

How many PS5 consoles can share games this way?

Console Sharing and Offline Play can be enabled on one PS5 at a time for an account. This is a feature-specific limit and does not change Sony’s other console activation limits. If you cannot access the old PS5, Sony allows remote deactivation of all devices through Account Management, but that all-device deactivation can be used only once every six months.

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Which PlayStation Plus benefits are shared?

Sony says selected PlayStation Plus benefits can be shared on a primary PS4 and one PS5 with Console Sharing and Offline Play enabled. Not every subscription benefit is shared. Check the current PlayStation Plus support list for the specific benefit and tier rather than assuming it applies to everyone using the console.

Is Share Play the same as game sharing?

No. Share Play is for remote sessions where players can play together or pass control, even when they are not on the same console. It is not the setting that makes your downloaded purchases available to other local users of your PS5.

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When to use Console Sharing—and what to check if a game is missing

For a household or a PS5 used by multiple people, enable Console Sharing and Offline Play on the console those users share. Keep each person on their own user profile and do not hand over the owner’s password or other authentication details.

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  • Confirm the game was purchased by the account with sharing enabled and is downloaded.
  • Check that any required PlayStation Plus subscription is active and that the item is still available through that subscription.
  • Check the console’s network and license status if a game or benefit does not appear or launch.
  • If the setting will not activate, verify it is disabled on any other PS5, then try Sony’s service-status, software-update, and restart checks.

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.

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