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PS Remote Play Beginner Guide: Requirements, Setup, and Limits
Want to play your PlayStation games on a laptop, phone, or tablet? PS Remote Play lets you do that. Your PS5 or PS4 stays on at home, and your other screen connects to it. Here is what you need, how to set it up, and where it can trip you up.
What You Need Before You Start
- A console: a PS5 or PS4. Sony says to update it to the latest system software.
- The same account: sign in to the app with the account you use on your console. Make one first if you do not have one.
- Internet speed: Sony recommends at least 5 Mbps for upload and download as a standard, and at least 15 Mbps for the best results.
- A controller (optional on phones): a DualSense, DualSense Edge, or DUALSHOCK 4 wireless controller works. On a PC or Mac, you connect it with a USB cable.
- A microphone for voice chat: the built-in one on your PC, Mac, or mobile device works.
Phones and tablets need an Android device, an iPhone, or an iPad. Sony’s mobile page sends you to Google Play or the App Store to check the exact system requirements.
Computers have their own limits. Sony lists these:
| Item | Windows PC | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| System | Windows 10 (64 bit) or Windows 11 | macOS Big Sur, Monterey, Ventura, Sonoma, Sequoia, or Tahoe |
| Processor | 7th Generation Intel Core or later | Not listed |
| Storage | 100 MB or more | 40 MB or more |
| Memory (RAM) | 2 GB or more | 2 GB or more |
| Display | 1024 × 768 or higher | Not listed |
| Other | Sound card and USB port | USB cable for the controller |
Turn On Remote Play on Your Console
Do this part first. Sony’s pages give different menus for each console.
On a PS5
- From the home screen, go to Settings > System > Remote Play.
- Turn on Enable Remote Play. Sony says you can adjust this for each user.
- To start Remote Play while the console is in rest mode, go to Settings > System > Power Saving > Features Available in Rest Mode.
- Turn on Stay Connected to the Internet and Enable Turning on PS5 from Network.
On a PS4
- From the function screen, go to Settings > Remote Play Connection Settings, then turn on Enable Remote Play.
- Go to Settings > Account Management > Activate as Your Primary PS4, then select Activate. You can do this on only one PS4 for each account.
- For rest mode, go to Settings > Power Save Settings > Set Features Available in Rest Mode. Turn on Stay Connected to the Internet and Enable Turning on PS4 from Network.
Rest mode matters because the console can sleep while you are away from home. Our rest mode fact check shows what else the mode keeps running.
Connect From a PC or Mac
- Download the PS Remote Play app, run the installation file, and follow the on-screen instructions. You only do this once.
- Turn on your console, or put it into rest mode.
- Plug your controller into the computer with a USB cable.
- Open the app and select Sign In. Use the same account as your console.
- Select PS5 or PS4. The app finds your console and connects on its own. If it finds more than one, pick the one you want.
After you sign in, the app’s Settings screen lets you change video quality, such as resolution and frame rate. Sony’s page does not list the exact choices, so check the app to see what it offers.
If the Console Does Not Connect
Try pairing by hand. Sony’s manual steps work like this:
- Put the console and the computer on the same network.
- On a PS5, go to Settings > System > Remote Play > Pair Device. On a PS4, go to Settings > Remote Play Connection Settings > Add Device. A number shows up on the screen.
- Open the Remote Play app and type in that number.
Connect From a Phone or Tablet
- Download PS Remote Play from Google Play or the App Store.
- Turn on your console, or put it into rest mode.
- Open the app, select Sign In, and use your console’s account.
- Select PS5 or PS4. The app connects on its own.
Want to play away from Wi-Fi? In the app, select Settings at the upper right, then Mobile Data > Use Mobile Data, then OK. Your device keeps using Wi-Fi when it is on Wi-Fi. Sony also says your carrier and network might not allow mobile data, and that Remote Play uses a lot more data than most video streaming services. Watch your data cap.
Tap the screen to show the on-screen buttons. A control panel at the bottom right has options for settings, the PS button, the microphone, and closing the panel. To quit, open Settings in that panel and select Disconnect. You can also tick Put the connected console in rest mode before you press OK.
Need to switch apps? On Android, choose Picture-in-Picture from the options menu. On an iPhone or iPad, turn on Background Streaming in Settings. Sony says it runs in the background for up to 5 minutes, then closes on its own.
Limits and Common Problems
- Old sign-ins: Sony says a PC or Mac may not find your console if it has been a while since you last signed in. Test the connection at home, near the console, before you rely on it from somewhere else.
- One primary PS4: each account can have only one PS4 set as its primary console.
- The “Remote Play connected.” message: a PS5 can show it during a game when another user logs in. Turn on Hide Remote Play Connection Status Pop-Up in the PS5 Remote Play settings if it bugs you.
- Game support: the pages do not say which games work or fail. Try your game before you plan a trip around it.
Still stuck? Sony links to a connection troubleshooting article from its setup pages.
Own an Xbox or play on Steam instead? Check the Xbox Remote Play requirements or see how Steam Remote Play Together handles extra players. And if your DualSense acts up during a session, our DualSense reset steps are a quick fix to try.
Image Credit: Onur Binay on Unsplash
