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On a new PS5, the best first changes are the ones that prevent avoidable problems: finish the physical setup, install system software, secure your account, then verify display, rest-mode, sharing, and family settings. Sony’s initial setup already asks about network access, video output, and power-saving choices, but revisiting those menus after the console is updated catches options that depend on your TV, HDMI path, household, and account.
This guide is PS5-first. PS4 menu names and available features are not necessarily identical. Labels and availability can also vary with system software, account type, and region.
1. Finish the physical setup before changing software settings
Identify the exact console model before attaching its support hardware. Sony’s setup instructions distinguish between PS5 model groups, so the supplied feet or base may attach differently. Use the HDMI and AC cables included with the console, connect the PS5 directly to your display and a suitable power outlet, and make sure the console is stable before turning it on. Follow the model-specific procedure in Sony’s PS5 getting-started guide.
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If you own a PS5 Pro and want to place it vertically, Sony says the vertical stand is sold separately. Do not assume a stand intended for another model will fit; confirm the model first and purchase only the accessory specified for that console. Horizontal placement still requires the supplied support pieces described for your model.
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Why this comes first
A loose console, blocked ventilation, or an improvised stand can create a physical problem that no menu setting fixes. Complete the safe placement and cable connections before troubleshooting picture quality or power behavior.
2. Connect to the internet and update the system software
On the PS5, open Settings > Network > Settings > Set Up Internet Connection. Choose your Wi-Fi network and enter its password, or connect an Ethernet cable and select the wired connection when it appears. A network connection lets the console download system software, game patches, cloud-related data, and other account services.
Check for the update manually
- Open Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings.
- Select Update System Software if the option is available.
- Read the version shown on screen. The PS5 reports the installed version and indicates when a newer version is available.
- Install the offered update and allow the console to restart. Keep the power connected while the update is running.
Use the console’s own update screen as the authority for whether your PS5 is current; do not infer update status from the date you bought it. Sony’s setup and update instructions are at PlayStation Support.
If setup cannot get online
- Recheck the Wi-Fi password and select the correct network name.
- Try Ethernet if the router is nearby.
- Finish the initial setup offline if necessary, then return to the Network menu after restarting the router or console.
Do not interrupt an update by unplugging the console. If the screen appears unchanged, give the process time to complete rather than cutting power.
3. Secure the PlayStation account before downloading or buying
Account security should be set before you add payment details or begin downloading a library. Sony recommends using a passkey, setting a console login passcode, and never sharing account credentials. These controls protect the account itself; they are not a guarantee against every form of account compromise, so keep recovery information current and treat unexpected sign-in messages cautiously.
Add a passkey or a console login passcode
Use the account-security options described in Sony’s security best-practices guide to add a passkey where supported. A passkey can make sign-in more convenient on compatible devices. If you prefer a conventional sign-in, create a strong password and add a login passcode on the console so another person with physical access cannot simply open your profile.
Decide whether checkout should require a password
Turn on Require Password at Checkout if you want an additional prompt before purchases are completed. Sony states that this checkout setting is incompatible with accounts using passkeys. Therefore, choose the sign-in and purchase workflow that fits your household: a passkey for streamlined account access, or password-based sign-in if the checkout-password prompt is important to you. Never give your password, passkey access, or verification codes to another person.
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4. Verify video output instead of forcing a universal “best” preset
Open Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output. The correct values depend on the television or monitor, its firmware, the HDMI port, the cable, and any receiver, soundbar, switch, or capture device between the PS5 and display.
Start with automatic resolution
With Resolution set to Automatic, the PS5 selects the highest resolution it detects the connected TV can support. This is the sensible starting point for most new installations. A 4K signal requires a compatible 4K display and a connection path that can carry it; selecting a high number in the menu cannot make a non-4K panel display native 4K.
Check HDR, 120 Hz, and VRR as a group
HDR and 120 Hz are also conditional. The television must support the feature, the relevant HDMI input must be enabled for its high-bandwidth mode, and the cable and intermediate equipment must pass the signal. Variable refresh rate (VRR), when available, likewise depends on the display and the connection. Compare the TV’s documented resolution, refresh-rate, HDR, VRR, and HDMI-port capabilities rather than assuming every input is equivalent.
Troubleshoot missing 4K at 120 Hz
If a compatible display does not offer 4K at 120 Hz, follow Sony’s checks in the PS5 resolution guide:
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- Confirm that the TV actually supports 4K 120 Hz and install any available TV firmware update.
- Use the TV’s HDMI port specified for 4K 120 Hz; other ports may have lower capability.
- Connect the PS5 directly to that port. Temporarily bypass a receiver, soundbar, switch, or capture device to isolate the path.
- Check the HDMI cable rating and connection at both ends. The included cable is the correct default starting point; replace it only when the existing path or cable does not support the desired output.
- Return to Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output and review the detected resolution and 120 Hz options.
Use manual output choices only when you know the display’s specification or are diagnosing a known compatibility issue. A forced setting can produce a blank or unstable picture when the display cannot accept it.
5. Choose rest-mode features according to how you use the console
Open Settings > System > Power Saving and set the idle time before the PS5 enters rest mode. Rest mode is not the same as shutting down: selected features can keep network and USB functions available while the console uses some standby power.
What each option is for
| Rest-mode choice | Enable it when | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Stay Connected to the Internet | You want downloads, game patches, or automatic system updates while you are away. | The console continues using more rest-mode power than a configuration with the feature disabled. |
| Supply Power to USB Ports | You want to charge a controller or another compatible USB device while the PS5 rests. | USB power remains available during rest mode and adds to standby consumption. |
| Automatic rest-mode timer | You want the PS5 to enter rest mode after a chosen period of inactivity. | A short timer can interrupt an unattended download or activity; a long timer keeps the console active longer. |
Sony explains that when no listed rest-mode features are enabled, the console can automatically lower consumption below the feature-enabled level, with a minimum automatic rest-mode power level of 0.5 W under that condition. Each enabled feature increases rest-mode power use, so select only the conveniences you actually need. The detailed controls are documented at PlayStation Support.
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Enter and leave rest mode safely
Use the PS5’s power menu to enter rest mode. Never disconnect the AC cord while the console’s indicator is lit or blinking. Sony warns that cutting power in that state can cause data loss, data corruption, or console damage. Wait until the indicator is completely off before unplugging the console.
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On the first PS5 where an account signs in, Console Sharing and Offline Play is automatically allowed. When enabled, other users on that console can play games purchased or downloaded by that account while offline and can receive some PlayStation Plus benefits associated with the account.
Personal console versus shared household console
| Situation | Recommended approach |
|---|---|
| Only you use the PS5 | Leave the setting at its default unless you have a specific reason to change offline access. |
| Family members use the same PS5 | Enable Console Sharing and Offline Play on that PS5 so their separate local users can access eligible purchases and benefits. |
| You replaced or added another PS5 | Check which console currently has sharing enabled before changing it; the feature is limited to one PS5 at a time. |
To manage it, open Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Console Sharing and Offline Play. If you transfer the feature to a new console, Sony says you may need to disable it on the former PS5 first. Remember whose account owns the games: sharing does not transfer ownership to every user. See the regional instructions at PlayStation Support.
7. Set child controls before a child signs in
Do this before handing over the controller. Create a family, add the child’s account, and keep restrictions on that child account rather than relying on a setting applied only to an adult profile. Sony’s family-management guidance covers age and content limits, communication, privacy, playtime, and spending.
Use the child’s verified account
- Create or add the child account through family management.
- Verify the child’s email address when prompted.
- Make sure the child signs in with that account on the PS5.
- Review each control category instead of applying a single blanket assumption.
Controls can limit age-rated games and media, restrict communication and user-generated content, adjust privacy, schedule playtime, and prevent or limit purchases. Sony’s reviewed family guide states that a child-account spending limit defaults to zero in the documented locale; confirm the value shown for your region before allowing purchases. The current instructions are at PlayStation Support.
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Keep the child’s spending limit at the amount you intend, and do not leave an adult account signed in for unsupervised use. Account-level family controls are more reliable than trying to monitor every store screen after the fact. If an adult needs to buy something, switch to the adult account and return to the child account afterward.
What to revisit after the first week
After games, controllers, and the television have been used normally, revisit only settings that proved inconvenient. You might shorten or lengthen the rest-mode timer, disable USB power you never use, or adjust display output after confirming the TV’s actual capabilities. Keep automatic system updates and the account protections that fit your sign-in method. If the PS5 is moved to another TV or routed through new equipment, repeat the direct HDMI and video-output checks rather than assuming the previous configuration still applies.
Quick Recap
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