PlayStation has two separate purchase controls. Require Password at Checkout asks for the adult account’s sign-in password whenever that account buys something. A child’s spending is controlled by the family manager’s Monthly Spending Limit, which starts at 0 and uses the family manager’s wallet. Turning on the checkout password does not protect child accounts or wallet top-ups.
Use the instructions below for the web, PS5, PS4 and PlayStation App. Menu names come from Sony’s support pages; wording can vary by country or console software version.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Which PlayStation purchase control do you need?
Choose the setting based on the account making the purchase, not on the device being used. A PS5, PS4, browser or phone can all be used by more than one account, and each control follows the account and its role in the family.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →| Setting | Account covered | What it controls | Wallet relationship | Default or limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Require Password at Checkout | Adult account | Displays a password prompt for each Store purchase | Does not require a password when adding wallet funds | Enabled or disabled by the account holder |
| Monthly Spending Limit | Child account in a PlayStation family | Caps the child’s Store purchases during a month | Purchases use the family manager’s wallet; a child has no separate wallet | 0 by default; the family manager chooses an amount |
Sony documents the password control on its US checkout-password support page and the child limit on its parental-controls support page. They are complementary, not interchangeable: an adult password prompt cannot impose a monthly cap, and a child limit does not make an adult account ask for a password.
#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
A quick decision guide
- Only adults purchase: Enable Require Password at Checkout on each adult account that can buy from the Store.
- A child must not purchase: Leave that child’s Monthly Spending Limit at 0.
- A child may purchase within an allowance: Enter the amount approved for that child’s monthly limit.
- Shared household use: Configure the child account and adult accounts separately. Do not assume one setting protects every profile on the console.
These controls are account settings, so there is no separate device, subscription or physical accessory to buy. A gift card or other wallet top-up is funding, not a substitute for either setting: it adds money to a wallet but does not create a checkout-password prompt or a child spending cap.
What to check before changing anything
Use the child’s own family account
The spending limit applies to a child account that belongs to your PlayStation family. Do not let a child use an adult account if you want the limit to apply; Sony treats adult-account use by a child as a separate account-security problem. Create or use the child’s own account, then manage it from the family manager account.
This also makes the controls easier to audit. When a purchase appears, you can identify whether it came from an adult profile or a child profile and then check the corresponding setting. A child using an adult profile bypasses the child-specific limit and instead has access to whatever purchasing ability that adult profile has.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Know who can edit the limit
The family manager sets the amount for each child. Sony also describes parent or guardian roles that can manage family controls where permitted. The account making the change must therefore be the family manager, or an eligible parent/guardian account with the required family permissions.
If the Monthly Spending Limit option is absent, verify that you signed in to the family-management account rather than the child’s account. A child cannot create an independent wallet or authorize their own allowance. Family roles and permissions can also differ by account region, so use the role Sony displays for your family.
Understand the regional labels
The password instructions are from Sony’s US documentation, while the spending-limit instructions are from a UK support page. The routes below are Sony’s documented paths. If your country or system software uses slightly different labels, open the equivalent Account, Family Management or Parental Controls section rather than assuming a missing feature.
Look for the distinctive terms Purchase Settings, Payment and Subscriptions, Family Management and Monthly Spending Limit. Do not change a similarly named setting such as a general age restriction when your goal is to control Store spending.
Check whether a passkey is enabled
Sony’s security guidance says an account with a passkey set up cannot enable Require Password at Checkout. If the switch is unavailable, check the account’s sign-in method and use Sony’s documented password-based sign-in options before trying again. The passkey caveat applies to the adult checkout-password feature; it does not remove the separate family spending-limit control.
Decide the allowance before entering it
A value above zero is not merely a notification threshold. Sony’s March 2026 US Terms of Service and User Agreement describe increasing a child account’s limit as approval to pay for purchases up to that monthly amount. Agree on the amount with every adult who shares family-management responsibility before saving it.
Turn on Require Password at Checkout for an adult account
When enabled, the Store asks for the password used to sign in to that adult PlayStation account at purchase time. Sony describes the behavior simply: “The password screen appears whenever you make a purchase.” The setting applies across devices used to access the PlayStation Store, so you do not need to repeat it separately on every console.
This is a credential check, not a second spending account or a monthly budget. Anyone who knows the adult account’s sign-in password may still be able to complete the prompt, so keep that password private and do not share the adult profile with a child.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
From a web browser
- Sign in to PlayStation Account Management.
- Open Payment Method.
- Turn on Require Password at Checkout.
Sign out after changing the option if other people use the browser or computer, so the account session cannot be reused to reach payment settings. If the page sends you to a regional account site, continue with the equivalent Payment Method area for your account.
On PS5
- Open Settings.
- Select Users and Accounts.
- Choose Account, then Payment and Subscriptions.
- Open Purchase Settings.
- Turn on Require Password at Checkout.
Make the change while signed in to the adult profile you want to protect. Changing the setting on one adult account does not automatically configure another adult account on the same PS5.
On PS4
- Open Settings.
- Choose Account Management, then Account Information.
- Select Wallet, followed by Purchase Settings.
- Open Require Password for Purchases and select Yes.
PS4 may ask you to authenticate again when you open Wallet. Complete that prompt with the account’s sign-in credentials. The wording is slightly different from PS5, but this is the same adult checkout-password control.
In the PlayStation App
- Open the PlayStation Store icon.
- Open the menu and select Payment Methods.
- Turn on Require Password at Checkout.
Use the adult account’s app session when making this change. If several accounts are signed in on the phone, check the profile indicator before changing Payment Methods.
Recommended Free Tools
What this password does not cover
- It does not apply to child accounts. A child account needs a Monthly Spending Limit instead.
- It does not require a password when funds are added to the wallet. Someone who can reach the funding method may still be able to increase the wallet balance.
- It cannot be enabled while the account uses a passkey, according to Sony’s US guidance.
- It does not turn an adult profile into a child profile or impose a monthly allowance.
Sony lists accepted payment methods separately in its payment-methods support article. The checkout-password switch is therefore an approval step for purchases, not a general lock on every payment operation.
Set a child’s monthly spending limit
The family manager chooses a separate monthly amount for each child. The default is 0, which prevents that child account from purchasing Store content under this control. Child purchases draw on the family manager’s wallet; child accounts do not have their own wallet and cannot add funds themselves. Sony explains the wallet relationship in its payment-methods guidance and its wallet top-up guidance.
The limit is an amount authorization for the child account, not a request for the family manager to approve every individual item. Set it only after deciding what level of spending the family is willing to cover from the family wallet.
From Account Management on the web
- Sign in to PlayStation Account Management with the family manager account.
- Open Family Management.
- Select the child.
- Edit Monthly Spending Limit and save the amount.
Return to the selected child’s profile after saving and confirm that the displayed amount is the one you intended. When more than one child is in the family, repeat the process for each child who needs a different allowance.
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
On PS5
- Open Settings.
- Choose Family and Parental Controls, then Family Management.
- Select the child account.
- Open Parental Controls, then Monthly Spending Limit.
- Enter and confirm the amount.
Be careful to select the child’s profile before editing the amount. The setting is per child, not a single family-wide number.
On PS4
- Open Settings.
- Select Parental Controls/Family Management, then Family Management.
- Choose the child.
- Open Applications/Devices/Network Features, then Monthly Spending Limit.
- Enter the amount. Re-enter the account password if PS4 requests it.
If PS4 asks for authentication, use the family manager or permitted parent/guardian account credentials, not the child’s sign-in details.
From a phone
Sony says the PlayStation Family app can also manage a child’s spending limit from a mobile device. Sign in as the family manager, select the child, and open the spending-limit control presented for that family member. Confirm the selected child and amount before saving, especially when the app manages more than one family member.
How the child limit behaves
A limit of 0
Leaving the value at 0 blocks the child account from buying Store content through the family spending control. This is the correct setting when you want the child to browse or play already-owned content without having the ability to spend from the family wallet.
Zero is also the safest starting point when you are still deciding on an allowance. You can raise the value later from Family Management without changing the child’s other parental-control settings.
A limit above 0
When you enter an amount above zero, the child can make eligible purchases up to that monthly amount using the family manager’s wallet. Sony’s March 2026 US Terms of Service and User Agreement state that increasing a child account’s limit represents approval to pay for purchases up to that approved monthly amount. Read the current March 2026 terms for the contractual wording that applies to your account.
Because the setting is an approval amount, do not treat it as an automatic per-purchase confirmation. If your household needs to discuss every purchase first, leave the child limit at 0 and handle purchases through an adult account with the adults’ own security practices.
Each child is managed separately
Set the amount on the specific child account that should be allowed to spend. A change for one child does not create a shared allowance or automatically change another child’s limit. Review each profile after adding a new family member or changing family roles.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →The family wallet remains the funding source
The child does not receive an independent wallet balance. The family manager’s wallet pays for approved child purchases, so the limit controls the child’s authorized Store spending rather than creating a separate pool of money. A child account cannot add funds to its own wallet, and a wallet top-up is not governed by the checkout-password switch.
What the limit does not change
The Monthly Spending Limit does not convert the child account into an adult account, provide a separate payment method or change other parental controls. It is specifically the control for the amount that child account can spend on Store content from the family manager’s wallet.
Choosing the right combination
If only adults use the console
Turn on Require Password at Checkout on the adult account. This adds a credential check at each purchase but does not stop someone who knows the account password, so keep the password private and avoid leaving the account signed in on a shared device.
If a child should not spend
Keep that child’s Monthly Spending Limit at 0. Do not rely on the adult checkout-password switch: Sony explicitly excludes child accounts from that setting. Also avoid giving the child access to an adult profile that has a payment method.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsIf a child may spend a controlled amount
Enter the approved monthly amount on the child account. The amount is an authorization to use the family manager’s wallet up to that monthly limit, not a request-for-approval prompt for every individual item. Discuss the amount with anyone who shares family-manager responsibility before enabling it.
If you want both controls
Use both settings for their intended accounts: set the child’s monthly limit and enable the adult password prompt. This prevents an adult account from being used as an unprotected purchasing route while separately constraining the child’s own account. Test each profile independently so you know which control is being applied.
If relatives or guests use the console
Keep visitors out of the adult account that stores payment details. Have them use an appropriate profile, and sign out of Account Management on shared browsers or phones. The settings cannot identify who is physically holding the controller; they act on the account selected for the transaction.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot common problems
The password option is missing or cannot be switched on
First check whether the account has a passkey. Sony says the checkout-password feature is unavailable when a passkey is set up. Also confirm that you are editing the adult account’s payment settings rather than a child profile. If labels differ, use the Payment Method or Purchase Settings route for your region.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallA child can still buy after the password was enabled
This is expected if the child is using a child account: the password control does not cover it. Open Family Management for that child and verify the Monthly Spending Limit. Set it to 0 to block Store purchases, or enter the intended monthly amount. Also check that the child is not switching to an adult profile.
A wallet top-up did not ask for the password
That behavior is outside the feature’s scope. Require Password at Checkout protects Store purchases, not wallet funding. Review who can access Account Management and the payment method, and use the wallet controls documented by Sony rather than treating a top-up as a checkout purchase.
The child cannot complete an otherwise permitted purchase
Check that the child account is in the correct family, that the monthly limit is above 0, and that enough of the approved monthly allowance remains. The purchase still relies on the family manager’s wallet, so an unavailable or insufficient funding method can prevent completion. If the limit was just changed, return to the child’s profile and confirm the saved value.
Rank #3
- 🚀 CPU: 3.5GHz, 8-core AMD Zen 2
- 🚀 Storage: Custom 825GB SSD
- 🚀 RAM: 16GB GDDR6
- 🚀 GPU: 10.3 teraflop RDNA 2 GPU
The menu names do not match
Console generations, account regions and software releases can present equivalent settings under slightly different wording. Start with the Account, Payment and Subscriptions, Family Management or Parental Controls areas shown above. Do not change a different spending control simply because its label looks similar.
The wrong child received the allowance
Go back to Family Management and inspect the selected profile before editing anything. Each child has an individual amount. Correct the selected child’s value, then check the other children’s profiles rather than assuming a family-wide correction was made.
An adult purchase still goes through without a prompt
Confirm that Require Password at Checkout is enabled on the adult account that is actually making the purchase. A setting changed on one adult account does not automatically apply to another. Also distinguish a Store purchase from a wallet top-up, which Sony says is outside this prompt.
Security checklist after setup
- Use a unique, private password for every adult PlayStation account with a payment method.
- Do not share the adult account with a child; use a separate child account in the family.
- Confirm the child limit individually after adding or changing a family member.
- Remember that checkout protection and wallet-funding protection are different operations.
- Recheck settings after changing sign-in methods, family roles or the account’s region.
- Sign out of account-management pages on shared browsers and phones.
- Keep the child limit at 0 until every responsible adult agrees on an amount.
- Review Sony’s current account-security guidance at Security best practices on PlayStation, especially if a passkey prevents the password-at-checkout option.
Frequently asked questions
Does Require Password at Checkout protect a child account?
No. Sony separates the adult checkout-password feature from the child Monthly Spending Limit. Use Family Management to set the child’s amount, with 0 blocking purchases under that control.
Does the password prompt protect wallet top-ups?
No. The prompt applies to Store purchases. Adding funds to a wallet is a separate operation, so review access to the payment method and Account Management.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsWhat is the default child spending limit?
The default is 0. The family manager can choose a different amount for each child account.
Whose money pays for a child’s purchase?
Child purchases use the family manager’s wallet. A child account does not have its own wallet and cannot add funds itself.
Can I set one allowance for all children?
The documented control is set per child account. Select each child separately and enter the amount intended for that account.
Does setting an amount above zero approve purchases?
Yes. Sony’s March 2026 US terms say that increasing a child account’s limit represents approval to pay for purchases up to that monthly amount.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Why is Require Password at Checkout unavailable?
Sony’s US security guidance says the feature cannot be enabled when the account has a passkey set up. Check the account’s sign-in method and follow Sony’s password-based sign-in guidance if you need this setting.
Can I configure these settings from a phone?
Yes. Require Password at Checkout is available in the PlayStation App, and Sony says the PlayStation Family app can manage a child’s spending limit. The web and console routes are also available where supported.
Do I need to configure the password separately on PS5 and PS4?
No. Sony says the checkout-password setting applies across devices used to access the PlayStation Store. Set it on the adult account once, then verify the account is being used on each device.
What if my menu labels are different?
Use the equivalent Account, Payment Method, Purchase Settings, Family Management or Parental Controls area. Sony’s documented pages are from specific regions, so wording can vary by country and software version.
Recommended Free Tools
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the two controls?
Require Password at Checkout prompts for the adult account’s sign-in password at Store purchase time. Monthly Spending Limit caps purchases made by a child account and uses the family manager’s wallet.
How do I stop a child from spending?
Use the child’s own family account and leave Monthly Spending Limit at 0. The adult checkout-password setting does not apply to child accounts.
Does a child have a separate PlayStation wallet?
No. Child purchases use the family manager’s wallet, and the child account cannot add wallet funds itself.
Why did a top-up not request my password?
Wallet funding is separate from a Store checkout. Require Password at Checkout does not cover adding funds.
Can a passkey prevent the password setting?
Yes. Sony’s US guidance says an account with a passkey set up cannot enable Require Password at Checkout.
Who can change a child’s spending limit?
The family manager, or a parent/guardian role with the family permissions Sony allows, manages the amount.
The Bottom Line
Use the controls for different jobs: enable Require Password at Checkout on each adult account, and manage every child’s Monthly Spending Limit from Family Management. The child limit starts at 0, above-zero amounts authorize spending from the family manager’s wallet, and neither control protects wallet top-ups. Keep children on their own family accounts, check the passkey limitation, and verify the selected profile before saving any amount.
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.
