How to Change Privacy Settings on PS5 for Ultimate Account Protection
- Admin
- 19 hours ago
- 3 min read
Protecting your PlayStation 5 account is essential in 2026, especially with more players connecting online and sharing their gaming experiences. Whether you want to keep your online status private, control who can send friend requests, or manage who sees your game activity, adjusting your PS5 privacy settings is the key. This guide walks you through each step clearly and simply, making it perfect for beginners and parents setting up child accounts.
Accessing Privacy Settings on Your PS5
Start by turning on your PS5 and signing in to your account. Follow these steps to find the privacy settings:
From the main menu, go to Settings (the gear icon in the top right corner).
Scroll down and select Users and Accounts.
Choose Privacy to open your privacy options.
Here, you will see various categories that control what information you share and who can interact with you.
Managing Online Status Visibility
Your online status shows friends and other players when you are active on PS5. To control this:
In the Privacy menu, select View and Customize Your Privacy Settings.
Find the option for Online Status and Now Playing.
Choose who can see when you are online or what game you are playing. Options include:
- Everyone
- Friends of Friends
- Friends Only
- No One
Setting this to Friends Only or No One helps keep your activity private and reduces unwanted messages or invites.
Controlling Friend Requests
To avoid random friend requests from strangers, adjust these settings:
Under Privacy Settings, go to Who Can Send You Friend Requests.
Select from:
- Everyone
- Friends of Friends
- No One
Choosing Friends of Friends or No One limits friend requests to people you know or blocks them entirely, which is especially useful for child accounts.
Managing Game and Media Sharing
Your game activity and shared media can be visible to others. To control this:
In the privacy menu, find Game and Media Sharing.
Decide who can see your trophies, game clips, and screenshots.
Options include:
- Everyone
- Friends
- No One
For parents, setting this to Friends or No One helps protect children’s privacy while still allowing safe sharing with close friends.
Adjusting Messaging and Communication Settings
Messages and party chat are common ways to connect but can expose you to unwanted contact. To manage this:
Go to Communication and Multiplayer in the privacy settings.
Set who can send you messages or invite you to parties.
Options include:
- Everyone
- Friends of Friends
- Friends Only
- No One
Limiting these to Friends Only or No One reduces spam and protects younger players from inappropriate content.
Customizing Profile Visibility
Your profile contains your avatar, bio, and other personal details. To control who can see your profile:
In the privacy settings, select Profile and Posts.
Choose who can view your profile and posts.
Options include:
- Everyone
- Friends of Friends
- Friends Only
- No One
Setting this to Friends Only or No One keeps your personal information secure.
Setting Up Child Accounts with Privacy in Mind
Parents can create child accounts with built-in privacy restrictions:
From Settings, select Family and Parental Controls.
Choose Family Management and add a child account.
Customize privacy settings for the child account, including friend requests, messaging, and content sharing.
Enable parental controls to restrict spending and content access.
This ensures children enjoy gaming safely without exposure to unwanted interactions.
Tips for Maintaining Privacy on PS5
Regularly review your privacy settings, especially after system updates.
Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication for your PlayStation Network account.
Educate family members about safe online behavior and privacy importance.
Avoid sharing personal information in profiles or messages.
Taking these steps helps keep your gaming experience secure and enjoyable.
