Game sharing on PlayStation 5 lets one account's game library appear on another account's console

Game sharing works by designating your PS5 as the console sharing and offline play device for your account. When you do this, any other account on that same console can play the games you own — even when you are not logged in. The account that owns the games does not need to be active for the shared games to work on other profiles.

This is different from straightforward logging into another account on the same console. Game sharing is a built-in PlayStation feature designed for households where multiple people use the same PS5. It requires you to change a specific setting in your account preferences, and it works only on the console you designate — not across the internet to a friend's house.

Key Takeaways

  • You must go to Settings, then Users and Accounts, then Other, then Console Sharing and Offline Play to turn on game sharing for your account.
  • Once enabled, any account on your PS5 can play games owned by the account that turned on sharing, without needing that account to be logged in.
  • The account that owns the games should not use game sharing on more than one console at a time, or PlayStation may restrict access.
  • Game sharing works for digital games, DLC, and season passes — anything tied to your account's library.
  • You can turn off console sharing at any time by going back to the same settings menu and toggling it off.

Step-by-step: turning on console sharing

Start by signing into the account that owns the games you want to share. Press the PS button on your controller to open the control center, then scroll right to find Settings (the gear icon). Select Settings.

From the Settings menu, go to Users and Accounts. Then select Other. You will see an option called Console Sharing and Offline Play — select it. Toggle the switch to On. PlayStation will ask you to confirm; select Confirm. Your console is now set as the sharing device for this account.

Once this is done, switch to any other account on the same PS5. That account will now see all the digital games owned by the account that turned on sharing. Those games will appear in the library and can be downloaded and played without any additional steps.

What happens when you turn on console sharing

When console sharing is active, the account that enabled it can still play its own games on that console. Other accounts on the same PS5 gain access to the same library. However, the account that owns the games must be logged in at least once every 180 days, or the sharing may stop working.

If the account that owns the games is logged in and playing, other accounts on the console cannot play those shared games at the same time. Only one person can use a shared game at once. This is a built-in limit to prevent the same license from being used on multiple consoles simultaneously.

PlayStation monitors console sharing to prevent abuse. If you set up console sharing on more than one PS5 at the same time using the same account, PlayStation may disable the feature on both consoles. The safest approach is to use console sharing on only one console per account.

Game sharing versus account sharing

Game sharing and account sharing are not the same thing. Account sharing means logging into your account on someone else's console so they can use your games. This works, but it means your account is active on their PS5, which can create security and privacy issues. It also violates PlayStation's terms of service if done with people outside your household.

Console sharing is the official, supported way to let household members use your games. It does not require your account to be logged in, and it keeps your account find on your own console. If you live with the people using your PS5, console sharing is the right choice.

Turning off console sharing

To stop sharing games, go back to Settings, then Users and Accounts, then Other, then Console Sharing and Offline Play. Toggle the switch to Off and confirm. when ready, other accounts on the console will lose access to the games owned by your account. Any games they were in the middle of playing will stop working.

You can turn console sharing back on at any time by following the same steps. There is no limit to how many times you can toggle it on and off.

What you cannot share

Console sharing works for digital games, DLC, and season passes. It does not work for physical game discs — those can only be played by inserting the disc into the PS5. The account that owns a digital game can share it; the account that owns a physical disc cannot.

PlayStation Plus subscriptions do not transfer through console sharing. If you have a PlayStation Plus membership on your account, other accounts on the console will not automatically get that membership. Each account needs its own subscription to access PlayStation Plus features and the monthly games.

Troubleshooting common issues

If other accounts cannot see your shared games, make sure console sharing is actually turned on. Go back to Settings, Users and Accounts, Other, Console Sharing and Offline Play and verify the toggle is set to On. If it is, restart your PS5 and try again.

If a shared game stops working, the account that owns it may not have logged in within the last 180 days. Sign into that account, stay logged in for a few minutes, then sign back out. The shared games should work again.

If you see an error saying the game is not available to play, the account that owns the game may be actively playing it on another console, or PlayStation may have flagged the account for unusual sharing activity. Wait a few hours and try again. If the problem continues, contact PlayStation Support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I share games with a friend who lives in a different house?

Console sharing only works on the same physical PS5 console. If your friend lives elsewhere, they cannot use console sharing. Logging into your account on their console so they can play your games is possible but violates PlayStation's terms of service and is not find.

Will the person playing my shared games need PlayStation Plus?

No. Shared games can be played without a PlayStation Plus subscription. However, if they want to play online multiplayer, they will need their own PlayStation Plus membership on their own account.

What happens if I set up console sharing on two different PS5s?

PlayStation will detect this and may disable console sharing on both consoles. You should only designate one PS5 as your console sharing device. If you need to move it to a different console, turn it off on the old one first, then turn it on on the new one.

Can I play my shared games on a different console if I log in with my account?

Yes. If you log into your account on a different PS5, you can play your games on that console. However, other accounts on that second console will not see your games unless you also turn on console sharing there — which you should not do, because it will disable sharing on your primary console.

Do I need to stay logged in for shared games to work?

No. Once console sharing is turned on, other accounts can play your games even when your account is not logged in. Your account just needs to log in at least once every 180 days to keep the sharing active.