To block mature games on a PS5, place the child in a separate PlayStation family account, set an age level under Settings > Family and Parental Controls > Family Management, and choose the child’s profile. To reduce sexual material and other player-created exposure, also set Communication and User-Generated Content to Restrict. PS5 does not provide a single sexual-content slider: you must combine the age-rating limit with the descriptors shown for each game.
What PS5 parental controls can and cannot block
PS5 parental controls use age levels and the rating categories assigned in your country or region. They are not built around a universal switch for “sexual content.” A lower age level blocks games in higher rating categories, which usually removes many mature titles, but it cannot identify every sexual scene on its own.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
For a sexual-content decision, use two layers:
- Age-level restriction: blocks games above the age or rating category you select.
- Rating-descriptor review: shows whether a particular game includes nudity, sexual themes, graphic sexual images, bad language, violence or other flagged material.
Communication and player-created material are controlled separately. Setting Communication and User-Generated Content to Restrict can prevent text messaging and voice chat, stop the child from sharing creations, hide other players’ user-generated content, and block links to certain third-party communication services. Depending on the feature, it can also prevent screenshots, video clips, broadcasts and similar player-created material. A game can therefore meet the selected age level while its online chat or community content remains unsuitable unless you restrict that setting too.
Recommended Free Tools
Set up a child account before changing restrictions
Sony’s controls are applied to children in a PlayStation family. Each child should have a separate account rather than using an adult account with a changed console setting. The family manager, or a guardian given the relevant authority, controls requests and exceptions.
#1 Best Overall
- Model Number CFI-2000
- Includes DualSense Wireless Controller, 1TB SSD, 2 Horizontal Stand Feet, HDMI Cable, AC power cord, USB cable, printed materials, ASTRO’s PLAYROOM (Pre-installed game)
- Vertical Stand sold seperately
Account checklist
- Create or add the child’s own PlayStation account to your family.
- Keep the child signed in to that account when playing. Restrictions follow the account, not just the physical console.
- Use an adult family-manager or appointed-guardian account for approvals.
- Protect the adult account and make sure the child cannot change its parental-control settings.
If several children use the console, create a profile for each one. Their ages, allowed games and exceptions can differ, and a single shared child profile makes it impossible to apply an accurate age threshold to each child.
Block mature games on the PS5: exact setup path
Use the following path on the console for the child’s profile:
- Open Settings from the PS5 home screen.
- Select Family and Parental Controls.
- Open Family Management.
- Select the child’s account.
- Open Parental Controls.
- Set Age Level for Games and Apps to the child’s age, or choose a stricter level.
In the United States, the choices correspond to ESRB rating categories. Selecting a younger age creates a tighter limit. The labels and rating authority can differ elsewhere, so use the age categories shown for your PlayStation store region rather than assuming the US labels apply.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →A blocked title presents a block screen when the child tries to start it. The child can send a request from that screen; the family manager or authorized guardian then decides whether to allow it.
Understand the preset levels
Sony supplies broad presets such as Child, Early Teens and Late Teens or Older. A preset changes more than game ratings: it can also affect communication, online-content filtering, spending and related features. Treat the preset as a starting point, then inspect each individual setting. If you alter one setting, the profile changes to Customize; that is expected and does not mean the other restrictions were removed.
| Setup choice | What it is useful for | What to check afterward |
|---|---|---|
| Child | A broad, strict starting point for younger players. | Confirm the game age level, chat status, online-content filtering and spending limit match your household rules. |
| Early Teens | A middle starting point when some older-rated games may be acceptable. | Read each game’s descriptors; the preset is not a sexual-content-only filter. |
| Late Teens or Older | A less restrictive starting point for older teenagers. | Decide separately whether chat, broadcasts, user-created videos and purchases should remain limited. |
| Customize | Fine control after you change one or more individual settings. | Review every category you care about, because age, communication, spending and online-content controls are separate. |
How the age threshold works in the US
ESRB’s PS5 guidance illustrates the effect with two examples. If you select age 9, the console automatically blocks games above E for Everyone. If you select age 11, it allows E and E10+ but blocks T for Teen and higher. These examples describe the US ESRB system; they are not a promise that every country uses the same letters or age numbers.
Choose the lowest level that fits the child’s maturity and the games you are prepared to review. A threshold is a category boundary, not a guarantee that every allowed title is free from sexual references or that every blocked title is unsuitable for your family.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Restrict chat, sharing and user-generated content
Age-level blocking does not automatically turn off online communication. To limit contact with other players and exposure to community material, return to the child’s Parental Controls and open Communication and User-Generated Content. Set it to Restrict.
Rank #2
- CPU: x86-64-AMD Ryzen Zen 8 Cores / 16 Threads at 3.5GHz.GPU: AMD Radeon RDNA 2-based graphics engine.
- 16GB GDDR6/256-bit Memory; 825GB SSD Storage Capacity
- Ethernet (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T), IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.1
- HDR technology, 8K output, 4K TV gaming, Up to 120 fps with 120Hz output, Tempest 3D AudioTech
- What's Included: Sony PlayStation 5 Disc Version; Wireless controller; USB cable, HDMI cable, AC power cord. Nogtox PVT HDMI_cable
With this restriction enabled, Sony says the child cannot:
- Send or receive text messages through supported PlayStation communication features.
- Use voice chat with other players through the restricted features.
- Share the child’s own creations.
- View other players’ user-generated content.
- Link some third-party communication services.
- Access certain player-created screenshots, video clips, broadcasts and related material.
The exact effect can vary by feature and service. Treat it as a broad reduction of online exposure, not as a promise that every interaction in every game is identical. Check the game’s own account, chat and community options as well, especially when a title uses external servers or a separate communication system.
Screen sexual content before approving or buying a game
Because PS5 has no universal sexual-content slider, inspect the rating information for every title you are considering. Sony recommends checking the rating and descriptors before buying PlayStation products. Descriptors can identify nudity, sexual themes, graphic sexual images, violence, bad language and other material.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsA practical review sequence
- Open the game’s store page or packaging information while signed in as the adult account.
- Identify the regional rating authority and the assigned age or category.
- Read every descriptor, looking specifically for sexual themes, nudity and graphic sexual images.
- Check whether the game includes online interaction, user-created videos, broadcasts or unrestricted chat.
- Compare the result with the child’s selected age level and your separate communication setting.
- Approve or decline the title only after considering both the rating category and the descriptors.
Descriptors are more useful than the age number when your concern is a particular type of material. Two games in the same category can contain very different themes, so do not treat the category as a complete content description.
Allow one blocked game without removing the main restriction
If a blocked title is appropriate after you review it, use the exception process instead of raising the child’s overall age level.
- Have the child select the blocked game and send a request from the block screen.
- Sign in as the family manager or appointed guardian when the request notification arrives.
- Open Allowed Games on the PS5, through the PlayStation website, or in the PlayStation Family app.
- Review the title and approve or deny the request.
An individual approval preserves the lower age threshold for other games. Keep a written household rule about who can approve exceptions and whether approval is permanent or should be revisited when the game receives new online features.
If the child cannot see the request option or the approval does not appear, verify that the request was made from the child account and that the adult account is the family manager or an authorized guardian. The child must also be signed in to the correct account.
Build a stricter setup with separate controls
Parents who want to limit both mature games and online exposure should configure more than the age level. Use this checklist after selecting a preset:
Rank #3
- 🚀 CPU: 3.5GHz, 8-core AMD Zen 2
- 🚀 Storage: Custom 825GB SSD
- 🚀 RAM: 16GB GDDR6
- 🚀 GPU: 10.3 teraflop RDNA 2 GPU
- Game age level: choose the child’s age or a lower level.
- Communication and User-Generated Content: set to Restrict if chat, sharing or player-created material is not allowed.
- Online-content filtering: review the preset’s setting and customize it if the child should see less online material.
- Spending: set the child’s spending allowance to zero if purchases require an adult decision.
- Exceptions: require an adult review through Allowed Games rather than raising the general age threshold.
| Household goal | Game setting | Online setting | Approval approach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Block mature games and minimize online exposure | Low age level appropriate to the child | Communication and User-Generated Content: Restrict; review online-content filtering | Adult approval for each exception |
| Allow age-appropriate games but no chat | Set the child’s age level | Restrict communication and player-created content | Use Allowed Games for titles that need individual review |
| Older teen with supervised purchases | Choose the agreed age level, then read descriptors | Customize chat and online-content options separately | Keep spending at zero if every purchase needs approval |
| One approved exception among otherwise blocked titles | Keep the lower general threshold | Leave communication restrictions in place if required | Approve only that title in Allowed Games |
Why a blocked game or changed setting may behave unexpectedly
The child can still open a mature game
Check that the child is signed in to the restricted account rather than an adult profile. Controls are account-based. Also verify that the game was not previously added to Allowed Games. If the title was approved, remove or review that exception from the adult account.
The new restriction does not apply immediately
When settings are changed while a game is running, the child may need to sign out and sign back in before the new control takes effect. Close the game, sign out of the child account, sign back in and test again.
Chat is still available in a particular game
Confirm that Communication and User-Generated Content is set to Restrict for the correct child profile. Then inspect the game’s own communication system and any external account connected to it. A console-level restriction and a game-specific account setting can both matter.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
A game’s rating does not answer the sexual-content question
Read the descriptors instead of relying only on the age category. Look for sexual themes, nudity and graphic sexual images, and consider whether user-generated material creates a separate exposure route.
The child can change the controls
Use the adult family-manager or guardian account for changes and protect its sign-in details. Sony recommends ensuring the child cannot alter the controls. Do not leave the adult account signed in when handing over the controller.
Account for country and region differences
Rating bodies, age labels and the exact names of filtering features vary by country. Sony notes that some age-filtering features are available only in certain countries or regions. The storefront’s displayed rating authority is the one to follow for that account.
Do not translate a US ESRB example directly into another region. A title’s age category, descriptor wording and available settings may differ. If a control shown in US instructions is missing, check the options presented for your local account and use the rating information displayed there.
What this setup cannot guarantee
- An age limit cannot detect every scene or dialogue choice that a parent may consider sexual.
- Descriptors summarize content but do not replace reviewing a game’s details and online features.
- Restricting PlayStation communication does not necessarily configure every external account or service a game can use.
- Blocking user-created material reduces exposure through the supported controls, but game developers can implement their own systems.
- Changing a preset to Customize does not itself make the profile stricter or looser; the result depends on the individual settings you select.
The reliable approach is layered: use the lowest reasonable age level, read descriptors before approval, restrict communication and user-generated content when needed, and keep exceptions limited to titles an adult has reviewed.
Quick Recap
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.
