To let someone play on your PS5, choose between a temporary guest login and a regular PlayStation account. At the user-selection screen, select the guest option for a one-off local session. Choose Add User when the player needs their own identity, saved progress, settings, friends, trophies, or parental-control profile. If Guest is missing, a console or family manager must enable Settings > Family and Parental Controls > PS5 Console Restrictions > User Creation and Guest Login > Allow.
That choice controls access to the console, not whether a particular game supports split-screen, online multiplayer, or a specific number of players. Game support, PlayStation Plus requirements, age ratings, and child-account restrictions must be checked separately.
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Guest login or a regular account: which should you use?
A guest session is designed for a visitor who needs temporary access to the console. It avoids creating a permanent PlayStation account, but it does not provide the same persistent identity or account-level controls. A regular account is the better fit for a family member, a recurring visitor, or anyone who wants their own settings and progress.
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| Consideration | Temporary guest login | Regular PlayStation account |
|---|---|---|
| Identity and saved progress | Temporary console session; what is retained after the session depends on the game. | Persistent identity with account-specific settings and a place for the player’s own progress. |
| Parental controls | Controlled mainly by the console’s guest and new-user restrictions. | Can be added to a family and managed with age, spending, playtime, communication, and game restrictions. |
| Access to the owner’s games | Can use eligible content on a PS5 where Console Sharing and Offline Play is enabled. | Can also use eligible shared content on that console, while retaining a separate account identity. |
| Online multiplayer | Not guaranteed; the game’s requirements and console restrictions still apply. | Not guaranteed; the game may require PlayStation Plus, and child access remains subject to parental controls. |
| Controllers and game support | Needs a compatible controller and a game that supports local or guest play. | Needs the same hardware and game support. |
Use Guest when the priority is speed and no lasting account is wanted. Use Add User when the player will return, needs a separate save identity, or needs individual family settings.
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Create a regular player account on PS5
A regular account gives the second player a continuing sign-in identity. The account-creation process is completed on the PS5 or through the on-screen PlayStation account flow.
- Sign in to the main profile on the PS5.
- From the home screen, select the profile icon in the top-right corner.
- Choose Switch User > Add User > Get Started.
- Select Create an Account.
- Complete the on-screen instructions for the new player.
- After creation, select that profile whenever the player wants to use their own account.
The new user can now be selected independently rather than relying on a temporary guest session. The exact progress, save, and multiplayer behavior still depends on the game, but a separate account is the appropriate foundation for a player who needs continuity.
Set up a child account
For a child, add the account to the family and configure the controls that match the child’s age and your household rules. Relevant settings include:
- Age and game restrictions.
- Spending limits.
- Allowed playtime.
- Communication and messaging permissions.
- Online access and other family controls.
Child online play and communication are governed by parental controls and age ratings. A child account may therefore be unable to use a game’s online features even when an adult account on the same PS5 can use them.
Allow guest login when the option is missing
If the user-selection screen does not show Guest, the PS5’s console restriction is blocking temporary users. A family or console manager must change it:
- Open Settings.
- Select Family and Parental Controls.
- Open PS5 Console Restrictions.
- Choose User Creation and Guest Login.
- Set it to Allow.
Return to the user-selection screen and check for the guest-login option. This same permission is required when a guest account is used with Share Play. If the setting is intentionally blocked for child-safety reasons, do not enable it merely to make the option appear; create and manage an appropriate child account instead.
Start a temporary guest session
- Wake the PS5 and wait for the user-selection screen.
- Choose the guest-login option.
- Follow the prompts shown by the console.
- Open the game and select its local multiplayer mode, if available.
- When the session is over, switch back to the main profile or another regular user.
A guest login is a console-access choice, not a universal multiplayer license. Some games do not support local multiplayer, some require each player to sign in separately, and some limit which modes a guest can use. Read the game’s own instructions before assuming that a guest can join.
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What happens to a guest’s progress?
Do not promise a visitor that their progress will follow them to another console or remain after the session. Retention and save behavior are controlled by the individual game. If the player needs reliable progress, trophies, settings, or a friend list, create a regular account before playing.
Prepare the PS5 for two local players
Each independent local player normally needs a controller supported by the game. PlayStation supports DualSense, DualSense Edge, and supported third-party controllers for PS5. An additional PlayStation DualSense Wireless Controller is the most direct hardware choice for a two-player setup, but the game must still list local multiplayer support.
Pair and assign the second controller
- Connect or pair the additional controller with the PS5.
- When the console asks who is using it, assign the controller to the intended regular user or guest session.
- Start the game and follow its prompt for joining a second player.
- If the game has a local multiplayer or split-screen menu, select it before trying to join.
PlayStation’s second-controller assistance feature requires two controllers paired to the console. That feature is separate from ordinary two-player support: a game may support two local players without using controller assistance, while a game that lacks local multiplayer cannot be made compatible by pairing another controller.
Check the game’s player limit
There is no single PS5-wide local-player maximum that applies to every title. The game’s product page, manual, or in-game multiplayer menu determines whether it supports two players, more players, split-screen, shared-screen play, or no local multiplayer at all.
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Sometimes, but guest status alone does not guarantee online access. Online multiplayer requirements are set by the individual game. PlayStation directs players to check the game’s PlayStation Store listing for whether PlayStation Plus is required.
- If the game requires PlayStation Plus, the console may need an account with the required membership and the game may impose additional sign-in rules.
- If the game does not require Plus for its online mode, it may still require a regular account, age approval, or a publisher account.
- A child account remains subject to family controls, age ratings, communication settings, and any approval requirements.
- A local guest session may work for an offline mode but fail when the same game switches to online play.
Before inviting a visitor, open the game’s PlayStation Store listing and review its multiplayer and Plus requirements. Treat the game’s stated requirements as authoritative rather than assuming that a guest inherits every online entitlement.
Share the owner’s games and selected PlayStation Plus benefits
Console Sharing and Offline Play lets other users on one designated PS5 use games and media purchased and downloaded by the owner. It also provides some PlayStation Plus benefits on that console. Enable it on the PS5 that should receive the sharing:
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- 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.
- Sign in with the account that purchased the games or holds the relevant membership.
- Open Settings.
- Choose Users and Accounts > Other.
- Select Console Sharing and Offline Play.
- Choose Enable.
PlayStation allows Console Sharing and Offline Play on one PS5 at a time for an account. Anyone using the enabled console can play eligible downloaded purchases while the console is offline, along with some shared Plus benefits. This setting does not turn every game into an online multiplayer game and does not override a child’s family restrictions.
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First check that the purchasing account is signed in and that Console Sharing and Offline Play is enabled on this particular PS5. If sharing is enabled on a different PS5, the guest may not be able to launch the owner’s downloaded copy from this console. After correcting the setting, return to the game and test it with the intended user.
Share Play is not the same as adding a local guest
Share Play lets a remote friend join through the party voice-chat card. The host needs PlayStation Plus, and only one visitor can connect at a time. The visitor joins remotely rather than signing a second local user into the console.
When the visitor is represented as a guest account, User Creation and Guest Login must be allowed under PS5 Console Restrictions. This is why Share Play can fail even when an ordinary local guest session worked previously: the console restriction applies to both uses.
Use a local guest or regular account for someone physically playing at the PS5. Use Share Play when the other person is joining over the internet. The host’s game and the Share Play session determine what the visitor can control and which modes are available.
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Switch back to the owner
When the visitor is finished, open the profile menu and choose the owner’s profile or another regular user. Switching profiles ends the visitor’s active console session without changing the owner’s account settings.
Keep recurring players separate
If the same friend or family member visits repeatedly, create a regular account rather than continuing to use Guest. A separate profile prevents the household from having to recreate a temporary identity each time and gives that player an account-specific place for settings and progress.
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- Easily pair the controller directly to your Windows PC via Bluetooth or play as you charge with the included USB Type-C cable
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- Play games streamed from your PS5 or PS4 console to your PC via the PS Remote Play App
Review family controls and passcodes
For a child’s console, review family settings after adding the account. PlayStation advises using parental controls and account passcodes. If a child can create unrestricted users or launch a guest session that bypasses your household rules, review the console restriction for new-user creation and guest login and disable access that you do not want available.
Decide whether guests should be available at all
Allowing guest login is convenient for visitors, but it also makes a temporary console session available without the granularity of a managed child account. Families that need strict control can leave guest login and unrestricted new-user creation disabled and provide children with supervised accounts instead.
Troubleshooting guest and multiplayer problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Guest is not listed at sign-in | The console restriction blocks guest login. | Go to Settings > Family and Parental Controls > PS5 Console Restrictions > User Creation and Guest Login and select Allow, if the family rules permit it. |
| Share Play will not accept the visitor | Guest login is disabled, or the host lacks the required Plus membership. | Allow User Creation and Guest Login, confirm the host has PlayStation Plus, and remember that only one visitor can connect at a time. |
| The downloaded game is locked for the guest | The purchasing account has not enabled sharing on this PS5. | Sign in as the purchaser and enable Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Console Sharing and Offline Play. |
| The guest can play offline but not online | The game has an online Plus requirement or the user is restricted by family controls. | Check the game’s PlayStation Store listing and review the child or family account’s online permissions. |
| The second player cannot control the game | The controller is not paired or assigned, or the game does not support local multiplayer. | Pair the additional controller, assign it to the intended user, and check the game’s local-player support. |
| Progress is missing later | The game does not retain guest progress in the way the player expected. | Use a regular account for future sessions and consult the game’s own save and guest-play instructions. |
| A child can bypass the intended restrictions | Unrestricted guest or new-user creation remains available, or family settings are too permissive. | Review parental controls, family membership, account passcodes, and the User Creation and Guest Login restriction. |
A practical setup checklist
- For a one-time visitor, confirm Guest appears on the user-selection screen.
- For a recurring player, create a regular account through Switch User > Add User > Get Started > Create an Account.
- For a child, add the account to the family and set age, spending, playtime, communication, and game controls.
- Pair a compatible controller for every independent local player.
- Check the game’s local-player support and maximum before starting.
- Check the game’s PlayStation Store listing for a PlayStation Plus requirement before promising online play.
- Enable Console Sharing and Offline Play on the PS5 that should share the owner’s downloaded games.
- Use Share Play only for remote participation; it is not a replacement for a second local user.
- When finished, switch back to the owner’s profile and review restrictions if children use the console.
Best choice for common situations
A friend is visiting for one match
Use Guest, pair a second controller, and select the game’s local multiplayer mode. If Guest is unavailable, a console manager must allow it first.
A sibling needs their own saves and settings
Create a regular account with Add User. This avoids treating every visit as a new temporary session and gives the sibling a distinct identity.
A child needs online access
Create or use the child’s family account, apply the appropriate controls, and check the game’s Plus and age requirements. Do not rely on an unmanaged guest session for a child’s regular play.
A remote friend wants to join
Use Share Play through the party voice-chat card. Confirm the host’s PlayStation Plus requirement, allow guest login if needed, and remember that one visitor can connect at a time.
The reliable rule is simple: Guest is for temporary console access; Add User is for a lasting player identity. Controllers, game support, Console Sharing and Offline Play, PlayStation Plus, and family controls determine what that identity can actually do in each game.
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