PlayStation’s dedicated parental-controls app is the PlayStation Family app, a free mobile app for managing a child’s playtime, spending, game access, messaging and selected privacy settings. You can also view recent activity and respond to requests from your phone. First create a family and add the child’s account; then choose settings in the app, or use PlayStation’s web or console family-management tools.
What the PlayStation Family app can manage
The app brings several child-account controls and activity views together. Available options can depend on the console, account circumstances and country or region.
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- Playtime: Set permitted play times and limits for each day, choose what happens when a limit is reached, and review requests for additional time.
- Games and apps: Set age-based restrictions, review access requests and configure exceptions for allowed games.
- Spending: Set a monthly PlayStation Store spending limit and review balances. Purchases on a child account are charged to the family manager’s wallet; PlayStation says the monthly limit defaults to zero.
- Communication and privacy: Restrict communication and user-generated content, manage communication exceptions, and control who can change a child’s privacy settings.
- Activity: View the child’s current game, its age rating and activity summaries, including most-played games. PlayStation cautions that the game information may be inaccurate if a game was left open when the child signed in.
See PlayStation’s PlayStation Family app page and support guide to parental controls and spending limits for the publisher’s current feature details.
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PlayStation describes real-time notifications for requests such as more playtime, access to a restricted game or permission to use in-game communication. “Real-time” is the company’s product description; PlayStation does not publish a numerical delivery time or guarantee uninterrupted notifications.
#1 Best Overall
- Feel physically responsive feedback to your in-game actions through haptic feedback
- Experience varying levels of force and tension at your fingertips with adaptive triggers
- Chat online through the built-in microphone and connect a headset directly through the 3.5mm jack
- Switch voice capture on and off using the dedicated mute button
- Play on more devices using the USB Type-C cable or Bluetooth to connect easily to Windows PC and Mac computers, Android and iOS mobile phones as well as your PlayStation 5
The activity view is not established as a continuously refreshing live dashboard. PlayStation Support Canada says playtime information updates when the app is opened or refreshed, and the activity summary covers the last seven days. Refresh the app when you need a more current view. These details are in the PlayStation Support Canada guide.
Before you set up controls
Create a family and add the child
PlayStation requires a family and a child family-member account before parental controls can be configured. If the child is not yet part of your family, add the account through family management first. PlayStation explains the requirement and the available management routes in its family account setup guide.
Rank #2
- Haptic feedback - Feel physically responsive feedback to your in-game actions with dual actuators which replace traditional rumble motors. In your hands, these dynamic vibrations can simulate the feeling of everything from environments to the recoil of different weapons. .Operating temperature : 41 °F to 95 °F (5 °C to 35 °C)
- Adaptive triggers - Experience varying levels of force and tension as you interact with your in-game gear and environments. From pulling back an increasingly tight bowstring to hitting the brakes on a speeding car, feel physically connected to your on-screen actions.
- Built-in microphone and headset jack - Chat with friends online using the built-in microphone or by connecting a headset to the 3.5mm jack. Easily switch voice capture on and off at a moment’s notice with the dedicated mute button. Internet and account for PlayStation Network required.
- DualSense Controller PS5 and PC compatible. Not compatible with PS4.
- 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.
Check your phone’s operating system
The U.S. PlayStation Family app page lists iOS 14 or later and Android 8 or later. These are the listed minimum versions, not a guarantee that every phone or app-store region is compatible. Check the app’s listing in your local store if installation is unavailable.
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- Sign in to the PlayStation Family app with your account, or create an account if needed.
- On the home screen, select the child whose settings you want to manage.
- Open the settings beside the child’s name, then choose Parental Controls.
- Select the control you want to change, such as game restrictions, communication or privacy, and adjust the available options.
- To manage playtime, select the child and use the Playtime widget to set daily limits or handle a request for additional time.
For spending, set the child’s monthly PlayStation Store limit in the spending controls. Because purchases are charged to the family manager’s wallet and the stated default limit is zero, review the limit and wallet arrangements that apply to your family before allowing purchases.
Rank #3
- Ultra Customizable Controls
- Mappable Back Buttons
- DualSense Wireless Controller Features Built In
- Replaceable Stick Modules and Caps
Use the app, web or console
The phone app is useful when you want to check activity or respond to requests away from a console. PlayStation also provides family management through Account Management on the web and through PS5 and PS4 settings. The official pages establish that all three routes exist, but do not provide a complete setting-by-setting comparison, so a specific control may not appear in the same place—or be available—in every route.
For console instructions, consult PlayStation’s PS5 parental-controls support guide or the PS4 parental-controls support guide.
Rank #4
- 🎮【2 Packing】Two controllers are packaged in one box, which is less costly than buying two controllers separately. You can get two different custom designed controllers at the same time, which is very cost-effective.This will bring you a better game experience when you play with your friends, lover, family.
- 🎮【Wide Compatibility】AceGamer wireless controller compatible with PS4/Pro/Slim/Windows PC. ❗*Attention*❗: Only when connecting for the first time, you must activate the device with the USB cable for the first pairing and connection. After that, the normal wireless connection of Bluetooth can be made, and USB data cable is no longer needed. ❗*Note*❗: Connecting to PC(without Bluetooth) needs to install receiver, not included.
- 🎮【Function Highlights】360° Refined analog sticks, the new touch pad on the face of the game controller offer players precise control. Controller which built-in 6-axis gyro sensor has dual motor vibration, excellent dual shock effect design makes the tactile sense more sensitive. The optimized buttons and triggers, ergonomic design non-slip grips, which offer you fantastic gaming experience.
- 🎮【Turbo Setting】You can customize any key as a turbo key. First, hold down the 'share' key, then click the turbo key you want to set up successfully. Secondly, you can adjust the turbo frequency. First, hold down the 'share' key, then touch the joystick on the right up and down. There are three gears to adjust in total.
- 🎮【To Be AceGamer】You can get: 2x AceGamer for ps4 controllers wireless; 1x Charging Cable; 1x User Manual; Professional after-sales service. We focus on the design, production and sales of custom controllers. If you have any questions, please contact us in any time!
Why a setting may be missing
PlayStation says family-feature conditions vary by country or region, and some settings may not be available everywhere. If a control described in a guide is absent from your app or console, check the support page for your country or region rather than assuming the app is malfunctioning. PlayStation’s ratings and parental-controls information describes regional variation.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Bring gaming worlds to life, Feel your in-game actions and environment simulated through haptic feedback (Available when feature is supported by game)
- Experience varying force and tension at your fingertips with adaptive triggers (Available when feature is supported by game)
- Find your voice, share your passion, chat online with the built in microphone (Available when feature is supported by game)
- Connect a headset directly via the 3.5mm jack
- Multi-device connectivity, connect using a USB Type-C cable or Bluetooth technology and easily play on more devices
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