How to Restrict Games by Age Rating on PlayStation

To restrict games by age rating on PlayStation, set a game-age limit on each child’s account through Family Management. On PS5, go to Settings > Family and Parental Controls > Family Management, select the child, then adjust the parental control for games and apps. On PS4, use Settings > Parental Controls/Family Management > Family Management, select the child, and change Age Level for Games. You can also manage age levels through Account Management online or the PlayStation Family app where it is available.

These controls use the child account’s age and the rating information available for the game. Set up a separate child account for each child so the restriction follows the right player, then secure the console so kids cannot switch to an unrestricted adult or guest profile.

Before You Set a PlayStation Game Age Limit

• Sign in with the family manager account, or an adult family member appointed as a parent or guardian.
• Add each child as a family member and use the child’s accurate date of birth.
• Make sure the child has completed email verification and signs in to the console with their own account.
• Decide the highest age rating you are comfortable with. Check the game’s content descriptors as well as its age label.

PlayStation ties parental controls to accounts, so changes made through a supported device can carry across the child’s PlayStation account. If a game is open while you change a setting, have the child sign out and back in before checking the result. Menu wording can differ slightly by console software and account region.

Set Age Restrictions on PS5

1. Sign in to the PS5 with the family manager or an appointed parent or guardian account.
2. Open Settings > Family and Parental Controls > Family Management.
3. Select the child’s account. Open its parental controls and choose the age-level setting for games and apps.
4. Choose the preset restriction level or customize the games-and-apps age level. Review the selected level on screen, then save or confirm the change.
5. If the child is already playing, have them sign out and sign back in. Check the setting while signed in as the child.

On PS5, parental controls include an age level for games and apps, and the restriction presets also cover other settings such as communication, web browsing, and spending. If you change an individual setting within a preset, the preset may display as customized. Review the other settings before leaving the menu so a change to the game limit does not unexpectedly alter the rest of the child’s experience.

Restrict Games by Age Rating on PS4

1. Sign in with the family manager account and go to Settings > Parental Controls/Family Management > Family Management.
2. Select the child’s account. Re-enter the account password if the console asks you to verify the adult account.
3. Open the child’s parental controls and select Age Level for Games. Choose the restriction that fits the child; a lower PS4 control level is more restrictive.
4. Save the selection. If the child was in a game during the change, sign them out and back in, then confirm the restriction from their account.

PS4 also has a separate PS4 System Restrictions menu. Its default parental controls apply to new local users and guests; it is not the same as setting an age limit on a child’s PlayStation Network account. Use the Family Management route above for a child account. If you need to restrict guest or newly created local users too, review Settings > Parental Controls/Family Management > PS4 System Restrictions > Default Parental Controls and set a system-restriction passcode known only to an adult.

Use the PlayStation Family App or Web Settings

If you prefer to manage settings from a phone, open the PlayStation Family app, select the child, open the settings beside the child’s name, and choose Parental Controls > Games and Apps. From there, review the age levels, game requests, and allowed games. Availability and some controls can vary by country or region.

For browser access, sign in to PlayStation Account Management, open Family Management, select the child, and choose Edit beside parental controls. Look for the age-level setting for games. The current labels may differ from those on a console, but the child account is the control point in either place.

Understand ESRB, PEGI, and Other Rating Labels

Age labels are assigned by regional rating systems and are not a universal conversion chart. For example, games in North America commonly display ESRB categories, while PEGI labels are used in many European markets. Your PlayStation account’s country or region can affect which rating information and controls appear.

Do not assume an ESRB category maps exactly to a PEGI number. For a digital game, find the rating on its PlayStation Store details page. For a disc, check its packaging. Ratings indicate the content’s suggested age suitability, not how difficult a game is. If a title’s themes or online features matter to your family, review the rating summary and talk with your child before approving it.

Keep the Restriction in Place

• Use a separate login for each child. Age restrictions cannot protect a child who is playing under an adult profile.
• Set an adult-only login passcode on the family manager account and do not share it.
• Set a console or system restriction passcode. This helps prevent a child from changing console restrictions; it is different from a game-start PIN.
• Disable guest login and new-user creation if a child could otherwise create or use a profile without the child account’s controls.
• Recheck the child’s account after any changes to the console, family membership, or account region.

A restricted game does not become playable because the child enters a parent PIN at launch. On PS5, a child can send a request when a game is blocked; a family manager or appointed parent or guardian can review the request and, if appropriate, allow that game through Allowed Games in the PS5 settings or PlayStation Family app. Treat each request as a separate decision.

Troubleshooting: A Game Still Opens or a Setting Is Missing

• Check the active profile. Confirm the console is signed in to the child account, not an adult account or a guest user.
• Refresh the session. Close the game and have the child sign out and back in so the updated control takes effect.
• Check the game’s displayed rating. Compare the Store listing or disc packaging with the age level selected for the child’s account. Ratings and menu options can vary by region.
• Look for an allowed-game exception. On PS5, review the child’s Allowed Games list if a title above the age limit can still start.
• Verify the family setup. Confirm the child account is in the family, has completed email verification, and has the correct date of birth.
• Protect access to other profiles. Set adult login passcodes and restrict guest or new-user access where needed.

Official PlayStation and Rating Resources

For current menu paths and account options, see PlayStation’s parental controls guide, the PlayStation Family app instructions, and the family account setup guide. PlayStation’s age-rating overview explains where ratings appear and why descriptors matter. For category details, consult the ESRB Ratings Guide and its PS4 parental-controls guide.

Once the child’s account is set to an appropriate level and the console profiles are secured, PlayStation’s age restrictions can help filter games that exceed the limit you chose. Revisit the setting as your child grows, and use the rating details to make decisions that fit your family.