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To let someone play on your PS5, choose between a temporary guest login and a separate PlayStation account. At the user-selection screen, select Add User to create a regular account, or choose the guest-login option for a one-session visitor. Guest access can be blocked by console restrictions, and online multiplayer depends on the game, PlayStation Plus requirements, family settings and whether the game supports the required local or online mode.
Guest login or regular account: which should you use?
A guest login is designed for temporary access to the console. It is useful when a friend wants to play locally without creating or signing into a PlayStation Network account. A regular account is the better choice for anyone who will return to the console and needs a persistent identity, saved progress, personal settings, friends, trophies or an individual parental-control profile.
| Consideration | Temporary guest login | Regular PlayStation account |
|---|---|---|
| Identity and settings | Temporary console session; retention depends on the game | Persistent profile with its own settings and account data |
| Saved progress | Game-dependent; do not assume progress will be retained | Designed for continuing play under that account |
| Parental controls | Controlled mainly through console and family restrictions | Can have an individual child or adult account with tailored controls |
| Access to the owner’s games | Can use eligible games on a PS5 with Console Sharing and Offline Play enabled | Can use eligible games on that shared console as well |
| Online multiplayer | Depends on the game’s account, subscription and access rules | Depends on the game’s account, subscription and access rules |
| Hardware and game support | Still requires a compatible controller and a game that supports the selected multiplayer mode | Still requires a compatible controller and a game that supports the selected multiplayer mode |
Guest status does not automatically make every game playable online, and it does not guarantee that a title supports local multiplayer. Check the individual game’s PlayStation Store listing and in-game instructions.
Choose the temporary route when the visitor is sitting at your console for a single session and does not need their own account data. Choose Add User when the player needs an identity that can be selected again later. A separate profile also prevents two players from mixing settings or accidentally continuing one another’s progress.
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How to create a second regular user on PS5
Use a regular account when the second player needs a lasting profile. The account can be an adult account or a child account added to the family.
- Sign in to the main profile on the PS5.
- Select the profile icon in the upper-right corner of the home screen.
- Choose Switch User > Add User > Get Started.
- Select Create an Account.
- Complete the on-screen PlayStation account instructions, including the requested sign-in and verification details.
Set up a child account
After creating a child account, add it to the family and configure age, spending, playtime, communication and game restrictions as needed. PlayStation says that a child’s online play and communication are subject to parental controls and age ratings. Review those settings before troubleshooting a blocked multiplayer feature; the restriction may be intentional rather than a network fault.
A separate account avoids mixing the two players’ settings and progress. It also gives the family manager a specific profile on which to apply limits instead of relying on a general guest session. The child can then use the account whenever they return, while the family manager retains control over the relevant permissions.
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How to use a temporary guest account
- Wake the PS5 and reach the user-selection screen.
- Select the guest-login option.
- Follow the prompts shown by the console.
- Start the game and choose its local multiplayer mode, if available.
- When play ends, switch back to the main profile from the user menu.
Guest login is a console access choice, not a universal multiplayer switch. Each game decides whether a guest can join, whether the session is local or online, how many players are supported and what progress is saved. Check the game’s own instructions before promising that a visitor’s progress will remain after the session.
If the game asks the second player to press a button to join, press it on the controller assigned to the guest. Some games add the player from a lobby, while others require the second controller to be active before the game starts. These are game-specific prompts rather than additional PS5 account settings.
Guest is missing from the user-selection screen
If there is no guest-login option, a family manager or console manager must allow it in the PS5’s restrictions:
- Open Settings.
- Go to Family and Parental Controls.
- Open PS5 Console Restrictions.
- Select User Creation and Guest Login.
- Choose Allow.
This same permission is required when using Share Play with a guest account. If the setting is controlled by a passcode, the person who manages the console must enter it. Families that do not want visitors or children creating unrestricted users can leave this option blocked and use a supervised child account instead.
After changing the restriction, return to the user-selection screen and check again. Allowing the setting does not create a permanent account; it only makes the temporary guest choice available. You can reverse it later if the console should no longer accept new users or guest sessions.
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Share the owner’s games and selected PlayStation Plus benefits
On the PS5 that should provide access to the owner’s purchases, enable Console Sharing and Offline Play:
- Sign in with the account that purchased or downloaded the game.
- Open Settings > Users and Accounts > Other.
- Select Console Sharing and Offline Play > Enable.
PlayStation states that anyone using that PS5 can play games and media purchased and downloaded by the owner while the console is offline, and can use some PlayStation Plus benefits. The owner can enable this sharing on one PS5 at a time. If a guest sees a padlock on a downloaded game, check that the purchasing account has sharing enabled on this particular console and that the game is installed under the owner profile.
Console sharing does not remove a game’s own online requirements. Some games require PlayStation Plus for online multiplayer; check the title’s PlayStation Store page. Child accounts remain subject to family controls and age restrictions even when the game belongs to the adult account.
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Can a guest account play online multiplayer?
Sometimes, but there is no single PS5-wide guarantee. Online eligibility is determined by the game, its PlayStation Store requirements, the account or session being used and any family restrictions. A guest can often join a local match when the game supports guest players, but an online title may require a signed-in account, PlayStation Plus or an age-appropriate child-account setting.
- Open the game’s PlayStation Store listing and check whether PlayStation Plus is required for online play.
- Review the account’s family and communication permissions if the player is a child.
- Confirm that the game supports the desired number of players and the intended local or online mode.
- Check whether the game’s publisher requires a separate service account or sign-in; this is title-specific.
If the title blocks the guest, creating a regular account may solve the identity requirement, but it cannot override an age, subscription or game-specific restriction. A regular account also does not automatically include a PlayStation Plus subscription; eligibility still follows the game’s listing and the account’s access.
Local multiplayer: controllers and game support
Every independent local player normally needs a controller supported by the game. PS5 supports DualSense, DualSense Edge and supported third-party controllers. For a straightforward two-player setup, pair an additional PlayStation DualSense Wireless Controller, then assign it to the intended user at the user-selection prompt.
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PlayStation’s second-controller assistance feature requires two controllers paired to the console. That feature is separate from ordinary two-player multiplayer: a game may support two controllers directly without using assistance, while another game may not support local multiplayer at all.
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- PS Remote Play requires Remote Play App connected to Wi-Fi, PS4 or PS5 console with the latest system software and compatible game. A PS4 or PS5 console with a wired connection via a LAN cable is recommended. Version 4.0 of the Remote Play App on iOS and iPadOS or version 4.1 on macOS is required for games to be playable with the controller over Bluetooth.
Pair and assign the second controller
- Connect the additional controller to the PS5 with a compatible USB cable if it has not been paired before, then press the PS button.
- Choose the guest or regular profile that should control the second player.
- Launch the game and select its local multiplayer or couch-play option.
- If no second player appears, open the game’s controller or player-join prompt and press the required button on the second controller.
The exact join button and local-player limit vary by game. A correctly paired controller cannot add local multiplayer to a title that only supports single-player or online play. Before buying hardware, check the game’s local-player description; the additional DualSense is the directly relevant accessory for a conventional two-player PS5 setup.
Share Play is different from a local guest
Share Play lets a remote friend join through the party voice-chat card; it does not sign a second local user into the console. The host needs PlayStation Plus, and PlayStation permits only one Share Play visitor at a time. When the visitor uses a guest account, User Creation and Guest Login must be allowed under PS5 Console Restrictions.
Use a local guest for someone sitting at the console with a second controller. Use Share Play for a remote visitor. The host’s game, connection and account settings determine what the remote visitor can do. Share Play therefore solves a different problem from adding a second local user: it provides a remote session rather than another permanent profile on the PS5.
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Switch users without deleting anyone
From the home screen, select the profile icon, choose Switch User, and select the account to use. Switching users ends the current profile’s active session but does not delete its account or saved data.
Control new users and guest access
Return to Settings > Family and Parental Controls > PS5 Console Restrictions to review whether user creation and guest login are allowed. Restricting this setting prevents an unsupervised player from creating a new unrestricted profile, while allowing it makes spontaneous guest play easier.
Manage a child’s multiplayer access
Use the family-management controls for age ratings, playtime, spending, communication and online features. If a child cannot join voice chat or an online match, inspect those controls and the game’s age rating before changing console-wide settings.
Protect the owner’s profile
Keep an account passcode and avoid leaving the purchasing profile signed in for unsupervised use. Guest access can provide access to games shared on the console, but it should not be treated as permission to change the owner’s account, payment or family settings.
When a visitor becomes a regular player
If the same visitor returns often, create a regular account rather than repeatedly relying on guest sessions. That gives the player a selectable profile and lets the family manager apply controls to that identity. Do not assume that a guest’s temporary progress will transfer automatically; any transfer or retention behavior is controlled by the individual game.
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- Play games streamed from your PS5 or PS4 console to your PC via the PS Remote Play App
Troubleshooting checklist
The Guest option is not shown
- Open Settings > Family and Parental Controls > PS5 Console Restrictions > User Creation and Guest Login.
- Set the option to Allow using the console-restriction passcode.
- Return to the user-selection screen and check again.
The guest sees a lock on a downloaded game
- Sign in with the account that purchased the game.
- Go to Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Console Sharing and Offline Play.
- Choose Enable on this PS5.
- Confirm the game is installed and that the title allows the intended guest or local mode.
Online multiplayer is blocked
- Check the game’s PlayStation Store page for its PlayStation Plus requirement.
- Review child-account age, communication and online-play controls.
- Test with a regular account if the game does not accept guest sessions.
- Check any game-specific sign-in requirement shown at launch.
The second player cannot control the game
- Pair the additional controller and assign it to the correct user.
- Use the game’s player-join prompt after reaching its local multiplayer screen.
- Verify that the title supports local multiplayer and the number of connected players you need.
- If using controller assistance, make sure two controllers are paired; PlayStation explicitly requires two for that feature.
A child can bypass the intended restrictions
- Review family settings and the console-restriction passcode.
- Disable unrestricted guest or new-user creation when it is not needed.
- Use a supervised child account for recurring play instead of a general guest session.
Quick decision guide
- One-time local visitor: allow guest login, add a second compatible controller and use the game’s local multiplayer mode.
- Friend who will return: create a regular account so settings and progress can remain associated with that player.
- Child in the household: create a child account, add it to the family and set age, communication, spending and playtime controls.
- Remote friend: use Share Play rather than a local guest; the host needs PlayStation Plus and only one visitor can connect at a time.
- Downloaded game appears locked: enable Console Sharing and Offline Play on the owner’s PS5.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I add a guest on PS5 for multiplayer?
At the user-selection screen, choose the guest-login option, follow the prompts, pair a second controller and select the game’s local multiplayer mode. If Guest is missing, go to Settings > Family and Parental Controls > PS5 Console Restrictions > User Creation and Guest Login and choose Allow.
How do I create a second user on PS5?
Sign in to the main profile, select the profile icon, then choose Switch User > Add User > Get Started > Create an Account. Complete the on-screen account steps. Use a child account and family controls when the player is a child.
Can a guest account play online multiplayer?
Only when the individual game permits guest sessions and its account, PlayStation Plus, age and family-control requirements are satisfied. Check the game’s PlayStation Store listing and any sign-in prompt; guest login alone is not a universal online-pass.
How can a friend play without creating a PSN account?
Use the temporary guest-login option for a local session, provided User Creation and Guest Login is allowed. The game must support local multiplayer, and guest saves or progress may not persist.
Why is the Guest option unavailable?
A PS5 Console Restrictions setting is blocking it. A family or console manager must open Settings > Family and Parental Controls > PS5 Console Restrictions > User Creation and Guest Login and select Allow, entering the restriction passcode if requested.
Why is a downloaded game locked for the guest?
Sign in with the purchasing account and enable Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Console Sharing and Offline Play > Enable on that PS5. Sharing works on one PS5 at a time and does not remove a game’s own online or age requirements.
How many Share Play visitors can connect?
PlayStation allows only one Share Play visitor at a time. Share Play is for a remote friend and is different from adding a second local user with another controller; the host needs PlayStation Plus.
Does guest progress save on PS5?
There is no universal guarantee. Save behavior is controlled by the individual game, so check its instructions. Create a regular account when continuing progress, trophies, settings or a persistent identity matters.
What controller does a second local player need?
Each independent player normally needs a controller supported by the title. An additional PlayStation DualSense Wireless Controller is the direct choice for a two-player PS5 setup, but verify the game’s local-player support. PlayStation’s second-controller assistance feature requires two controllers paired.
The Bottom Line
Use Guest for a one-time local visitor, and use Add User for a lasting profile or a child who needs individual controls. Allow guest login under PS5 Console Restrictions when necessary, enable Console Sharing and Offline Play for the owner’s downloaded games, and check each game’s PlayStation Plus, account, age and multiplayer rules. Pair a compatible second controller for local play; use Share Play instead when the friend is remote.
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