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For a new PS5, the best order is: finish the physical setup, connect to the internet and update system software, secure your account, check display output, choose rest-mode features, configure sharing if the console is shared, and set child controls before a child plays. This guide is PS5-first; PS4 menu names and available features can differ. Sony’s initial setup already asks about network, display and rest mode, so use these steps to review the choices after the console reaches the home screen.
1. Complete the safe physical setup before changing menus
Identify the exact console model before attaching its base or feet. Sony says the supplied feet or base should be attached before use, but the procedure differs between model groups. Follow the illustrated procedure for your model in Sony’s PS5 setup instructions.
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Connect the included cables
- Place the console where air can circulate around it and where the power button and disc slot, if present, remain accessible.
- Attach the supplied feet or base using the model-specific method.
- Connect the included HDMI cable from the console to the TV or monitor, then connect the AC power cable.
- Turn on the display and select the HDMI input used by the console before starting the first-run setup.
A PS5 Pro owner who wants vertical placement needs the separately sold vertical stand. Check the model before buying a stand; this requirement does not apply automatically to every PlayStation console.
2. Connect to the internet and install system software
Do this before downloading games or changing less urgent preferences. An update can add compatibility fixes and change menu labels, so setting up an unupdated console can make later instructions differ from what you see.
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Use the PS5 network menu
- Open Settings > Network > Settings > Set Up Internet Connection.
- Choose your Wi-Fi network and enter its password, or connect an Ethernet cable and select the wired connection.
- After the console is online, open Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings.
- Select the available update if one is offered and allow the PS5 to restart when required.
The update screen reports the version currently installed and indicates when a newer version is available. If no update is offered, you can continue; the console has checked its update service at that moment.
3. Secure the PlayStation account before buying or downloading
Account protection belongs near the start because the account controls purchases, cloud-related benefits and access to downloaded games. Sony’s security guidance recommends adding a passkey, setting a console login passcode and never sharing account details. A passkey can make sign-in more convenient and resistant to some password theft, but it is not a promise that every account threat disappears.
Choose a sign-in method
- Passkey: Add one through your account security settings if your phone, computer or other supported device can authenticate it. Keep a recovery method available in case that device is lost.
- Console login passcode: Set a local passcode so another person using the same PS5 cannot simply open your user profile.
- Password-based sign-in: Use a unique password and protect the email account attached to PlayStation if you continue using a password.
Protect checkout
Enable Require Password at Checkout if you want an additional confirmation before purchases are completed. Sony states that this checkout option is incompatible with accounts using passkeys, so decide which protection fits the way your household signs in rather than assuming both can be enabled together. Never give your password, passkey access or verification codes to someone else.
Security details and account recovery options are described in PlayStation’s security best-practice guide.
4. Check display output instead of forcing a universal “best” setting
PS5 video output depends on the television or monitor, its firmware, the HDMI input and everything between the console and display. The console supports features such as 4K, HDR and 120 Hz, but the display chain must support the combination you want. Automatic detection is the safest starting point; manual changes are useful when you know the display’s specifications or are troubleshooting.
Review the output screen
- Open Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output.
- Leave Resolution on Automatic initially. Automatic selects the highest resolution the connected TV reports that it supports.
- Check the information shown for resolution, HDR, refresh rate and other available capabilities.
- Change an option manually only when the display documentation confirms that mode or when automatic detection is producing a specific problem.
4K output requires a compatible 4K screen and a connection that can carry the selected signal. HDR likewise requires HDR support in the display and a compatible connection path. A receiver, switch or soundbar between the PS5 and TV can change what the console detects.
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If 4K at 120 Hz is missing
Do not assume the console is defective. Sony advises checking each part of the signal path:
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- Use the display’s HDMI port that supports the required bandwidth; some sets reserve that capability for only one or two ports.
- Test a direct PS5-to-display connection instead of routing through an intermediary device.
- Check that the HDMI cable is rated for the desired signal. Start with the cable included with the console before buying another one.
- Recheck the PS5 output settings after reconnecting the cable or changing the TV input.
For the supported modes and troubleshooting sequence, see Sony’s PS5 resolution guide. The exact labels and available choices can vary with system software and display equipment.
| Display decision | Use this approach first | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | Automatic | Lets the PS5 choose the highest resolution reported by the connected display. |
| 4K | Enable or select it only with a compatible 4K display and signal path. | A 4K-capable console cannot create 4K output through a display or HDMI path that does not support it. |
| HDR | Use when the display and connection support HDR. | Compatibility depends on the TV or monitor and its input configuration. |
| 120 Hz | Verify display, port, firmware and cable before changing settings. | 4K 120 Hz is especially sensitive to the HDMI path and intermediary equipment. |
5. Choose rest-mode features according to how you use the console
Rest mode is not one setting. It is a group of features that trade lower standby consumption for convenience. Open Settings > System > Power Saving and set the idle time before the PS5 enters rest mode.
Decide which features to enable
| Rest-mode feature | Enable it when… | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Stay connected to the internet | You want game downloads, updates or other network activity to continue while the console is resting. | The console uses more rest-mode power than it would with network connectivity disabled. |
| Supply power to USB ports | You want to charge a controller or another USB device while the PS5 is in rest mode. | USB power adds to rest-mode consumption; choose the duration offered by the menu for your use. |
| Neither convenience feature | You prefer the lowest available standby use and do not need background downloads or charging. | Downloads and USB charging will not continue in the same way while resting. |
Sony says that when no listed rest-mode features are enabled, the console can automatically lower consumption below the features-enabled level, with a minimum automatic rest-mode power level of 0.5 W under that condition. Enabling more features increases rest-mode power use. Select only what you will actually use rather than enabling every option by default.
Enter and leave rest mode safely
Use the PS5’s power menu to enter rest mode. Never disconnect the AC cord while the console’s indicator is lit or blinking. Sony warns that cutting power in that state can cause data loss, data corruption or console damage. Wait until the indicator is fully off before unplugging the console.
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6. Decide whether Console Sharing and Offline Play belongs on this PS5
This setting matters mainly for a household console or a replacement PS5. On the first PS5 used to sign in, Console Sharing and Offline Play is automatically allowed. When enabled, other users on that console can play games purchased and downloaded by the account, even when the console is offline, and can receive some PlayStation Plus benefits associated with eligible content.
Personal console versus shared household console
- Personal console: Leave the default arrangement unless you have a specific reason to share your purchases with another local user.
- Shared household console: Enable sharing on the PS5 that family members actually use. The account that bought the game remains the purchasing account; other local users are receiving access through the sharing feature, not ownership of the purchase.
- Replacing or moving a PS5: Remember that Sony limits Console Sharing and Offline Play to one PS5 at a time. You may need to disable it on the former console before enabling it on the new one.
To review the setting, open Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Console Sharing and Offline Play. The precise wording can vary with system software and region. See Sony’s Console Sharing and Offline Play guide before changing a console that is still in use elsewhere.
7. Set child controls before a child signs in
Parental controls work through the child’s account, not just through a general console switch. Create a family and child account first, then review the limits before handing over the controller. Sony’s controls cover age-appropriate content, communication, privacy, playtime and spending.
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Recommended setup order
- Create or add the family and child account through the PlayStation account-management flow.
- Verify the child’s email address and make sure the child is signed in to the child account on the PS5.
- Set the age or content restrictions that match the child’s age and your household rules.
- Review communication and user-generated-content permissions, including who can contact the child.
- Choose privacy settings and decide whether playtime limits are needed.
- Set the child’s spending limit before any payment method is available for purchases. Sony’s reviewed guide says the spending limit defaults to zero; regional account rules and labels can vary.
If the child is playing on an adult account, these account-level controls cannot reliably enforce the intended limits. Switch to the child’s account and verify the restrictions there. Sony’s family-management instructions are available at PlayStation’s parental-controls guide.
A practical first-day checklist
- Confirm the model and attach the correct feet or base before use.
- Connect the supplied HDMI and AC cables, then select the correct display input.
- Connect under Settings > Network > Settings > Set Up Internet Connection.
- Check Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings.
- Add a passkey or set a console login passcode, and never share account credentials.
- Decide whether Require Password at Checkout fits your sign-in method; it cannot be used with a passkey account.
- Review Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output with your actual TV, HDMI port and cable in mind.
- Enable only the rest-mode network and USB features you will use.
- Use Console Sharing and Offline Play only when the household arrangement requires it, remembering the one-PS5 limit.
- Create and configure the child account before a child plays, including a spending limit.
These choices cover the settings that affect security, updates, picture quality, standby behavior, shared purchases and child safety. Revisit them after a TV change, a console replacement, a household-account change or a major system-software update.
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