Yes, you can share PlayStation Plus with another account, but the method depends on which console you own and how you set it up
PlayStation Plus membership is tied to the account that purchased it, but the games and online features are available to other accounts on the same console. On a PlayStation 5 or PlayStation 4, you can set up your console as the primary device for your account, which automatically grants PlayStation Plus benefits to every other profile on that system. This works for both the standard PlayStation Plus tier and PlayStation Plus Extra or Deluxe if you subscribe to those higher levels.
The catch is that only accounts on that specific console get the benefit. If someone wants to use PlayStation Plus on a different console, they would need their own subscription. Also, the account that owns the subscription can still use it on any console by signing in directly, but other accounts only get access through the primary console setup.
Key Takeaways
- Set your console as your primary device in account settings, and every profile on that console gains access to your PlayStation Plus membership.
- The account that paid for PlayStation Plus can play on any console by signing in, but other accounts only get the benefit on the primary console.
- You need to be signed into your account and have an internet connection to set a console as primary; the setting stays active even when you are offline.
- If you change which console is primary, the old console loses access to your subscription for other accounts within a few hours.
How to set your PlayStation 5 or 4 as your primary console
Go to Settings on your console, then select Users and Accounts. Choose Other, then Primary Console. Toggle the option to make this your primary console. You will see a confirmation message. That is all you need to do — the change takes effect when ready, and other accounts on that console can now access your PlayStation Plus membership right away.
You only need to do this once. The setting persists even if you turn the console off, restart it, or go offline. Other accounts do not need to do anything on their end; they straightforward start a game or go to the PlayStation Store and the benefits are there.
What happens when you sign into a different console
If you sign into your account on a second console — say, a friend's PlayStation 5 — you can play your games and use PlayStation Plus on that console while you are logged in. But the moment you sign out, that console loses access to your subscription. Other accounts on that second console will not have PlayStation Plus unless you set that console as your primary device instead, which would remove primary status from your first console.
This is why the primary console setup is the standard way to share: it lets other people use your subscription without you having to stay logged in or give them your password.
Sharing PlayStation Plus Extra or Deluxe with other accounts
The same primary console method works for PlayStation Plus Extra and PlayStation Plus Deluxe. Every account on your primary console gets access to the full game catalog and all the features included in whichever tier you subscribe to. If you have Extra, other accounts see the Extra library. If you have Deluxe, they see the Deluxe library.
This is one of the main reasons people set up a primary console — it makes the higher subscription tiers worth more when multiple people in a household use the same system.
Changing your primary console
If you want to move primary status to a different console, go back to Settings, Users and Accounts, Other, Primary Console, and toggle it off. Then sign into the new console, go through the same steps, and toggle it on. The old console loses access within a few hours, so plan the switch for a time when nobody is actively playing.
You can only have one primary console at a time. If you set a new primary console while another one is already set, the old one automatically loses the status.
What you need to know about account security
Never share your PlayStation Network password with anyone, even if you are sharing your subscription. Use the primary console feature instead — it is designed exactly for this situation and does not require giving up your login credentials. If someone else needs to use your account on a different console, you can sign in once to set that console as primary, then sign out and let them use their own account.
If you are concerned about someone accessing your account without permission, you can check which devices have your account signed in by going to your account settings on the PlayStation website under Devices. You can also sign out of specific consoles remotely if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share PlayStation Plus with someone on a different console?
Only if you set their console as your primary device. If they use a different console, they would need their own subscription, or you would have to change which console is primary — which removes the benefit from your current primary console.
Do I have to stay logged in for other accounts to use my PlayStation Plus?
No. Once you set your console as primary, other accounts on that console have access to PlayStation Plus even when you are offline or logged out. The setting works automatically.
What if my friend and I both want to use PlayStation Plus on the same console?
You both can. If you set the console as your primary device, your friend's account gets your subscription. Your friend can also have their own PlayStation Plus subscription on the same console, and both subscriptions are available to both accounts.
Can I use my PlayStation Plus on multiple consoles at the same time?
Yes, but in different ways. You can sign into your account on multiple consoles and play on all of them simultaneously. Other accounts only get your subscription on the console you set as primary, not on multiple consoles.
What happens to shared PlayStation Plus if I cancel my subscription?
All accounts on your primary console lose access to PlayStation Plus when ready. Games you downloaded through the subscription stay on the console, but you cannot play them without an active subscription.