PlayStation Parental Controls Setup Guide

This guide walks you through setting up parental controls on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 consoles. Since Sony doesn't provide an API, these settings must be configured manually on the console.

Overview

PlayStation Family Management allows you to:

• Set play time limits
• Restrict games by age rating
• Control online communication
• Set spending limits on PlayStation Store

Important: SafeFamily uses DNS filtering and smart plugs to supplement these controls, providing network-level content filtering and physical power control for bedtime enforcement.

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Step 1: Create a Family Manager Account

On PS5:

1. Go to Settings > Users and Accounts > Users
2. Select Create User if you don't have an adult account
3. Sign in with your PlayStation Network (PSN) account
4. If you don't have a PSN account, create one at playstation.com

On PS4:

1. Go to Settings > Parental Controls/Family Management > Family Management
2. Sign in with your PSN account

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Step 2: Add Your Child to the Family

Create a Child Account:

1. Go to Settings > Users and Accounts > Family Management
2. Select Add Family Member
3. Choose Add a Child
4. Enter your child's date of birth
5. Create a PSN account for your child (or link existing)
6. Set their online ID and password

Note: Children under 7 cannot have a PSN account. For younger children, use supervised local accounts.

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Step 3: Set Play Time Limits

On PS5:

1. Go to Settings > Family Management > Select child's name
2. Choose Play Time Settings
3. Configure:
   • Restrict Play Time: On
   • When Playtime Ends: Choose "Log Out of PS5" or "Notify Only"
   • Duration: Set daily time limit (e.g., 2 hours)
   • Playable Hours: Set allowed time range (e.g., 3:00 PM - 9:00 PM)
   • Time Zone: Verify correct time zone

Recommended Settings by Age:

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Step 4: Set Content Restrictions

Game Age Ratings:

1. Go to Settings > Family Management > Select child
2. Choose Parental Controls
3. Select Age Level for Games
4. Choose the appropriate age level:
   • Ages 3+ (Everyone)
   • Ages 7+ (Everyone 10+)
   • Ages 12+ (Teen)
   • Ages 16+ (Mature)
   • Ages 18+ (Adults Only)

Recommended Ratings:

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Step 5: Control Online Features

Communication Settings:

1. Go to Settings > Family Management > Select child
2. Choose Communication and User-Generated Content
3. Configure:
   • Communicating with Other Players: Set to "Friends Only" or "No One"
   • Viewing Content Created by Other Players: "Allowed" or "Not Allowed"

Friend Requests:

1. Same menu as above
2. Sending/Receiving Friend Requests: Choose "Allowed" or "Not Allowed"

Recommended for Ages 12 and Under:

• Communication: Friends Only
• User-Generated Content: Not Allowed
• Friend Requests: Not Allowed

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Step 6: Set Spending Limits

1. Go to Settings > Family Management > Select child
2. Choose Parental Controls
3. Select Monthly Spending Limit
4. Set the amount (e.g., €20/month)

Tip: Set to €0 if you want to approve all purchases.

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Step 7: Disable the Web Browser

PlayStation has a hidden web browser that can bypass content filtering.

To Disable:

1. Go to Settings > Family Management > Select child
2. Choose Parental Controls
3. Select Use of PlayStation VR / Use of Internet Browser
4. Set Internet Browser to Not Allowed

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Step 8: Set Up SafeFamily Integration

Since PlayStation has no API, SafeFamily provides additional control through:

DNS Filtering

1. In SafeFamily dashboard, go to Settings > DNS
2. Note your NextDNS configuration ID
3. On PlayStation, go to Settings > Network > Set Up Internet Connection
4. Choose your connection and select Custom
5. For DNS, choose Manual
6. Enter NextDNS servers:
   • Primary: Your profile-specific IP from NextDNS
   • Secondary: 45.90.30.0

This blocks inappropriate websites accessed through the PlayStation browser or apps.

Smart Plug Control

1. Plug PlayStation power cable into a Kasa smart plug
2. Connect smart plug to WiFi via Kasa app
3. In SafeFamily, go to Devices > Add Device
4. Select Gaming Console > PlayStation
5. Click Add Smart Plug and select your Kasa plug
6. Set allowed hours (e.g., 3pm-9pm on school days)

The smart plug enforces bedtime by physically cutting power when time expires.

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Step 9: Test the Settings

1. Log in as your child
2. Try to access a restricted game - it should be blocked
3. Play until time limit approaches - notification should appear
4. Verify browser is inaccessible
5. Check that DNS filtering blocks inappropriate sites

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Troubleshooting

"My child bypassed the time limit"

• Ensure "When Playtime Ends" is set to "Log Out of PS5" not "Notify Only"
• Use smart plug for hard enforcement

"My child created their own account"

• Require password for creating new users
• Go to Settings > Users and Accounts > Login Settings
• Enable Require Password When Creating New User

"Games still play offline"

• PlayStation time limits only work when online
• Use smart plug to enforce offline time limits

"Child is watching YouTube/Netflix"

• DNS filtering can block these apps
• Or, block specific apps in Family Management under Content Restrictions

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Monthly Sync Reminder

SafeFamily will remind you when your policies change and PlayStation settings need to be updated. When you receive a notification:

1. Log into your PlayStation as Family Manager
2. Check the recommended changes in your SafeFamily notification
3. Update the settings as described above
4. Confirm in SafeFamily that sync is complete

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Quick Reference Card

Print this for easy reference:

PlayStation Parental Controls Quick Reference

Family Manager Login: _______________
Child's PSN: _______________

Time Limits:
  - Weekdays: _____ hours, _____ PM to _____ PM
  - Weekends: _____ hours, _____ AM to _____ PM

Game Rating: Ages _____+

Communication: □ Everyone □ Friends □ No One

Spending Limit: $_____ / month

Smart Plug Schedule: _____ PM off

DNS Settings:
  - Primary: ___.___.___.___
  - Secondary: 45.90.30.0

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Last updated: January 2026