How to Make a PS5 Primary for Offline Play & Game Sharing

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How to Set a PS5 as the primary console so you can play offline and share your games with other users
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Are you trying to figure out how to set a PlayStation 5 as the primary console? Setting a Playstation console as the primary console allows you to play games you have purchased from the PlayStation Store offline. It also allows other users to play the games and media you purchased on the same console and share your PlayStation Plus benefit. The way you set a PlayStation 5 as the primary console may not be immediately obvious because the feature has a different name than it did on PlayStation 4. Now you must enable Console Sharing and Offline Play . This wikiHow article teaches you how to set a Playstation 5 console as the primary console and answers your questions.

Things You Should Know

  • Setting a PS5 as the primary console allows other users to play your games offline and play the games you downloaded. They also share your PS Plus benefits.
  • Users on non-primary PS5 consoles will NOT be able to play the games you purchased from the PS Store, share your PS Plus benefits, or play your games offline.
  • Select the "Settings" icon > "Users and Accounts" > "Other" > "Console Sharing and Offline Play > "Enable" to set a PS5 as the primary console.
Section 1 of 4:

Setting a PS5 as the Primary Console

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    If your PS5 has multiple user profiles, make sure you sign in with the primary account holder's user account. This can be the parent account or the account that all PlayStation Store purchases are made through. Select the primary account holder's icon on the PlayStation 5 sign-in screen.
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    It's the icon that resembles a gear. It's in the upper-right corner of the PlayStation 5 Home screen. Use the left analog stick or directional buttons to navigate the PlayStation menu system. Press the "X" button to make a selection.
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    It's next to an icon that resembles a square with a smiley face or your account's profile picture. It's near the top of the Settings menu.
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    It's in the menu bar to the left.
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    It's a the top of the "Other" menu under "Users and Accounts."
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    It's the second button at the bottom of the screen. This enables Console Sharing and Offline Play, which sets your PS5 console as the primary console.
    • The first PlayStation 5 console you log into is set as the primary automatically. If your console is already set as the primary console, you will see "Disable" and "Don't disable" at the bottom instead. Select Don't Disable to leave the console as your primary console.
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Section 2 of 4:

Console Sharing & Offline Play Uses

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    The wording has changed from the PlayStation 4 console, but enabling Console Sharing and Offline Play does the same thing as setting your PS5 as the primary console. [1]
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    If you have purchased a lot of games from the PlayStation Store, setting a PlayStation 5 as the primary console allows other users who have an user account on your PlayStation 5 to play those games and as well.
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    An internet connection is needed for the PlayStation 5 to verify the licenses to the games you have purchased. If your console is not set as the primary console, you cannot play the games you have purchased without an internet connection.
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    Any other users who have a user account on your PlayStation 5 can also enjoy the benefits of your PlayStation Plus subscription if you happen to have one. This includes the ability to play online or to play free monthly games, and games from the Games catalog.
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Section 3 of 4:

Can I Set More Than One Primary PS5?

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    If you try to enable Console Sharing and Offline Play on another PlayStation 5 console, it will be disabled on your current console. You will not be able to play games offline on that console, and other users on that console will not be able to play your games or share your PlayStation Plus benefits.
Section 4 of 4:

Will It Affect My Primary PlayStation 4?

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    Enabling Console Sharing and Offline Play on your PlayStation 5 will not affect the activation limits on any of your other PlayStation consoles. If you have a PlayStation 4 set as the primary console, it will remain the primary PlayStation 4 console after enabling Console Sharing and Offline Play on your PlayStation 5. In other words, you can have a primary PlayStation 5 and a primary PlayStation 4. [2]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.gamesradar.com/ps5-game-sharing-how-do-you-assign-a-primary-ps5-console/
      2. ↑ https://www.playstation.com/en-us/support/account/ps5-console-sharing-offline-play/

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