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To customize the PS5 interface, press the PS button and use Options to move or hide Control Center icons. On the home screen, open the Welcome hub to add, remove, resize, and arrange widgets, choose a preset, or change the background. These are separate areas: Control Center is a quick-access overlay, while the Welcome hub is a customizable home-screen space.
What you can customize on PS5
PS5 customization is split across a few features that serve different purposes. The Control Center appears when you press the PS button and provides shortcuts without requiring you to leave a game. You can change the order of its controls and move some out of the displayed area. The Welcome hub is a home-screen area where you can arrange widgets and select a background.
There is also a separate set of game presets for certain default gameplay preferences. Those settings affect supported PS5 games; they do not change Control Center icons or Welcome hub widgets.
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How to move or hide Control Center icons
Use this procedure to put frequently used controls where they are easiest to reach, or to move optional controls out of the displayed area. Sony notes that some controls cannot be hidden.
- While using the console, press the PS button to open Control Center.
- Highlight an icon in the control area, then press Options.
- Select the icon you want to move.
- Move it to the desired position and press X to set it. To hide it, move it into Hidden Controls.
- Repeat for any other icons. Press Options to return to the original screen.
To restore a hidden icon, open the Control Center’s editing view, select the icon under Hidden Controls, and move it back into the displayed controls area. If an icon will not move into Hidden Controls, it may be one of the controls Sony does not allow you to hide.
The distinction between moving and hiding is useful: moving changes the icon’s position among the displayed controls, while hiding takes an eligible icon out of that displayed area. Hiding is reversible. Return to the editing view, choose the hidden icon, and move it back among the controls you want visible. You can repeat the process as your habits change rather than treating the first layout as permanent.
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Choose a layout that matches how you play
Put controls you use regularly in easy-to-reach positions and move less-used options out of the way. For example, if you often adjust audio or microphone settings during play, keeping Sound or Mic visible can save a trip through other menus. If you use Control Center mostly for power or notifications, arrange those controls to suit that routine. The choice is about access and convenience; changing the order does not change what a control does.
There is no single layout that is best for every player. The practical comparison is between keeping more controls visible for immediate access and hiding eligible controls that you rarely use. A compact selection can make the controls you care about easier to spot, while a broader selection keeps more shortcuts on display. Sony’s instructions allow you to reposition icons and hide some of them; they do not suggest that rearranging a control changes its underlying function.
What appears in Control Center
The Control Center combines console controls with cards and actions that may relate to the game or activity in progress. Sony describes controls such as Home, Switcher, Notifications, Game Base, Music, Sound, Mic, Accessories, Profile, and Power. Cards can include activity information, voice chat or broadcast options, and media features. The available items depend on context, so an option shown in one situation may not appear in another.
It helps to distinguish controls from cards when deciding what to expect. Controls provide access to console functions, while cards can present information or actions connected to a current game or activity. The list is not a promise that every player will see every item at once. What appears can depend on what you are doing, and the available options should be judged from the console’s current screen.
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Some supported games offer Activity cards that let you inspect or jump into a particular game activity. This is not a universal shortcut: the game must support the relevant feature, and the card or action shown can depend on what you are doing. For an overview of these context-sensitive features, see PlayStation’s PS5 features page.
For example, an Activity card may offer a way to check an activity or go directly to a supported one. That does not mean every game supplies the same cards, or that a particular activity option remains available in every context. Voice chat or broadcast and media cards are other examples of features that may be shown. Treat the Control Center as a place to check for relevant shortcuts, not as a fixed menu whose full set of cards is guaranteed in every game.
Add an accessibility shortcut
If you regularly adjust accessibility options, you can place Accessibility in Control Center for quicker access to accessibility settings. This is a shortcut to those settings, not a replacement for configuring the individual options. See PlayStation’s accessibility settings instructions for information about the settings themselves.
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This is another example of using the overlay for access rather than changing the feature itself: adding Accessibility to the displayed controls gives you a route to the relevant settings, while the individual accessibility options are managed separately. If you do not use that shortcut often, you can choose another layout or hide eligible controls instead.
How to customize the Welcome hub
Find the Welcome hub on the PS5 home screen. Its widgets provide glanceable information and shortcuts, and you can choose which widgets appear and how they are arranged. Sony’s examples include storage, battery status, friends, messages, trophies, PlayStation Store, PlayStation Plus, News, Accessibility, Media Gallery, and wishlist information. The exact widget selection may vary by region.
The available examples cover several kinds of information: console status such as storage or battery status, social information such as friends and messages, progress such as trophies, and PlayStation services or content such as Store, Plus, News, Media Gallery, and wishlist information. You do not need to display every available widget. Choose the ones that make the hub useful to you, bearing in mind that regional availability can affect the list presented on your console.
Add or remove widgets
- Go to the PS5 home screen and open the Welcome hub.
- Choose Edit Widgets.
- Turn the widgets you want on or off, following the controls shown on your screen.
- When you are finished, return to the hub to see the updated selection.
Removing a widget from the hub changes what is displayed there; it does not mean that the underlying feature or account content has been deleted. If a widget you expect is not listed, availability can depend on region.
Use the on-screen choices as the source of truth for your own console. A widget named in PlayStation’s examples is not necessarily offered in every region, so a missing item is not proof that the editing process failed. Conversely, turning a widget off is a display choice for the hub, not a deletion of the associated feature or content.
Resize and move widgets
From the Welcome hub, use the on-screen editing controls to resize widgets and move them into the positions that work for you. Put information you check frequently where it is easy to see, and move less important widgets lower or out of your preferred layout. The available sizes and placements are governed by the hub’s interface; the support instructions confirm that widgets can be moved and resized but do not specify a single universal layout grid.
A useful way to plan the layout is to decide first which information you want to see at a glance, then place those widgets where they are most visible to you. Resize widgets as needed, then move them into the order or positions you prefer. The exact layout choices remain those offered by the console; the instructions do not promise unlimited sizing or a user-defined grid.
Apply a preset or build a custom layout
Choose Change Preset in the Welcome hub to apply one of the available layouts. A preset is a quick way to change the overall widget arrangement without placing each widget individually. If you want more control, adjust the widget selection, size, and positions to make a custom arrangement. The choice is practical rather than functional: use a preset when its layout suits you, or customize the hub when you want a particular mix of information.
The built-in preset and a custom arrangement serve different needs. A preset is the convenient starting point when you want one of the layouts already offered. A custom arrangement is more appropriate when you want to choose a specific selection of widgets and place or resize them yourself. Neither option changes what the underlying widgets mean; they change the way the Welcome hub is organized.
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The hub can use a design or animated effect, or an image from Media Gallery. A built-in design or effect gives you a ready-made appearance; a Media Gallery screenshot lets you use an image already saved on the console. Sony describes these background options on its PS5 features page.
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- Chat online through the built-in microphone
- Connect a headset directly via the 3.5mm jack
- Switch voice capture on and off using the dedicated mute button
- Open the Welcome hub from the PS5 home screen.
- Open the hub’s background or customization controls.
- Choose a design or animated effect, or select an image from Media Gallery.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to preview and apply your choice.
Menu wording and the available options can vary with region or system software. If your screen labels differ, follow the equivalent appearance or background controls shown on your own console rather than assuming that every region uses identical wording.
The choice is between a ready-made design or animated effect and a saved image selected from Media Gallery. If you want to use a screenshot, select it from that gallery; the described feature is not a general image-import tool in the Welcome hub. Check the choices offered on screen, then follow the prompts to apply the option you picked.
Change the broader system appearance
A separate option changes the console’s appearance to reflect a PlayStation generation. The Welcome hub support instructions describe it at Settings > System > Appearance > Appearance and Sound. This is distinct from selecting a background for the Welcome hub: use the hub’s own controls when the goal is to change its design or image, and the system appearance setting when you want the broader generation-inspired presentation. Menu labels may differ by region or system version.
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In short, changing the hub background affects that customizable home-screen area, while the generation-inspired appearance is a separate system setting. If your goal is only to use a different screenshot or hub design, look in the Welcome hub controls. If you want the broader PlayStation-generation presentation, follow the separate Settings path described above, checking your own menu labels if they differ.
Which personalization option should you use?
| What you want to change | Where to do it | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Control shortcuts during play | PS button > Control Center > Options | Moves supported controls, or places them in Hidden Controls. |
| Widgets on the home screen | Home screen > Welcome hub > Edit Widgets | Turns available widgets on or off. |
| Widget arrangement | Welcome hub > Change Preset or widget editing | Applies a layout preset or lets you adjust widget positions and sizes. |
| Welcome hub background | Welcome hub background controls | Uses a design, animated effect, or Media Gallery image. |
| Supported game defaults | Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Game Presets | Sets eligible gameplay preferences for PS5 games; it does not rearrange the interface. |
The simplest way to choose is to start with the thing you want to see or change. For a shortcut available while playing, edit Control Center. For home-screen information or its layout, edit the Welcome hub. For the hub’s visual background, use its background controls; for a generation-inspired system presentation, use the separate appearance option. For gameplay defaults, use Game Presets and check whether the game supports the setting.
Game presets are separate from interface customization
Game presets let you choose certain defaults for supported PS5 games. Open Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Game Presets to review the available options. Depending on the setting, these can include difficulty, Performance Mode or Resolution Mode, first- or third-person camera movement, subtitles and audio, and multiplayer session preferences.
These preferences apply only to PS5 games, and Sony warns that some options may not apply to every game. A game may handle a setting differently or not support it. If your aim is to change the shortcut overlay or home screen, use Control Center or Welcome hub customization instead; game presets do not change those layouts.
Game Presets are therefore related to personalization but are not another way to rearrange the console interface. They cover supported defaults in categories such as difficulty, performance versus resolution, camera movement, subtitle and audio preferences, and multiplayer session preferences. The available options and their effect depend on the game, so do not assume a preference will be honored by every PS5 title. Use a game’s own settings when a preset option does not apply or when you need to change an individual game’s behavior.
Availability and troubleshooting
A widget or card is missing
Welcome hub widget availability can depend on region, so a widget listed in an example may not be offered on every console. Control Center cards and actions are also contextual: activity options depend on the game and its supported features, while voice chat, broadcast, and media cards may depend on what you are doing. Check the available options on your own screen rather than expecting every item to appear in every situation.
These are two different reasons an item may be absent. A Welcome hub widget may not be available in your region. A Control Center card or action may depend on the game, supported feature, or current activity. If you are looking for a specific item, first check the relevant area and its editing or current-use context rather than treating every missing item as a console fault.
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A Control Center icon cannot be hidden
Some icons are not eligible to move into Hidden Controls. If the console will not accept the move, leave that icon in the displayed controls area and hide a different one if you need more room.
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Instructions can use regional spellings or labels, and system software can affect what is shown. The Welcome hub instructions cited here are from PlayStation’s Philippines support page, while the Control Center instructions are from its US support page. The system appearance path is the one described in the hub instructions; if your console presents different wording, use the closest matching option on screen.
For example, PlayStation support may spell “customize” differently by region, and the Welcome hub support page and Control Center support page cited here are for different locales. Follow the equivalent on-screen control when wording differs. Widget availability itself can also vary by region, so a difference in the list of widgets may be expected rather than a mismatch in the editing steps.
The Welcome hub is not available where you expect it
PlayStation announced the Welcome hub in a September 12, 2024 system-update post and described its initial rollout as phased. That announcement is historical context, not a current guarantee of availability in every region. For current widget availability details, consult the Welcome hub support page for your region.
The rollout note explains why an older announcement should not be treated as a guarantee about what every console currently offers. Use the current support instructions for your region to check availability. The September 12, 2024 post is useful as context for the feature’s introduction, while widget availability guidance should come from the relevant current support page.
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Do I need to buy anything to customize these areas?
No separate purchase is required for the Control Center and Welcome hub customization actions described here; they use built-in console settings.
Can I use my own picture as a Welcome hub background?
You can choose an image from Media Gallery, including a screenshot saved there. The documented option is to select from Media Gallery, rather than to import an arbitrary image through the hub background controls.
Can I hide every Control Center icon?
No. Sony says some icons cannot be hidden. You can move eligible icons into Hidden Controls and restore a hidden icon later by moving it back into the displayed controls area.
Why do I see different Control Center cards in different games?
The available cards and actions depend on context. Activity options are tied to supported game features, and other cards can relate to voice chat, broadcast, or media. Not every game or situation will show the same items.
Can I make a custom Welcome hub layout instead of using a preset?
Yes. Change Preset applies an available layout, while widget editing lets you choose widgets and move or resize them to suit your preferred arrangement.
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Does turning off a widget delete its content?
No. Turning a widget off changes what is displayed in the Welcome hub; it does not delete the underlying feature or account content.
Do Game Presets work with every game?
They apply only to PS5 games, and Sony notes that some options may not apply to every game. The feature is separate from Control Center and Welcome hub customization.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to buy anything to customize the PS5 Control Center or Welcome hub?
No. The customization actions described use built-in console settings and do not require a separate purchase.
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No. Sony says some controls cannot be hidden. Eligible icons can be moved into Hidden Controls and later restored to the displayed controls area.
Why do Control Center cards differ between games or activities?
The cards and actions are contextual. Activity options depend on game support, and other cards may relate to voice chat, broadcast, or media.
Can I use a custom Welcome hub layout instead of a preset?
Yes. Choose a preset for a ready-made arrangement, or edit widgets to select, move, and resize them yourself.
Can I use my own picture as a Welcome hub background?
You can select an image from Media Gallery, including a screenshot saved there. The documented option is not a general import function for arbitrary images.
Does turning off a Welcome hub widget delete its content?
No. It changes what is displayed in the hub; it does not delete the underlying feature or account content.
Do PS5 Game Presets work with every game?
They apply only to PS5 games, and some options may not apply to every game. They also do not change Control Center or Welcome hub layouts.
The Bottom Line
For quick-access shortcuts, customize Control Center with the PS button and Options. For home-screen widgets, presets, and backgrounds, use the Welcome hub. Game Presets are a separate Settings feature for supported PS5 gameplay preferences; none of these built-in customization steps requires a separate purchase.
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