Sony’s PlayStation 4 console is a must-buy for any gaming enthusiast. It is home to some of the most well-designed and well-written video games in history and packs enough power to function as your only gaming machine.
It is the only way you will ever get to play masterpiece titles like God of War and Horizon: Zero Dawn; its companion virtual reality headset is currently the cheapest.
If you already own a PlayStation 4, it doesn’t bear telling you that you should take the necessary steps to secure it. Unfortunately, a considerably large base of hackers break into and leak PS4 passwords daily. Even a simple Google search is bound to give you a taste of how big PS4 account fraud is.
To make matters even worse, hackers who gain access to your PS4 account also get complete control over your credit card information and can use it to purchase items on the PlayStation Store at will. In addition, they can use your payment information to make unattended purchases of games, themes, downloadable content, and more.
To keep your PS4 account safe, we recommend choosing a password with at least 12 characters, including uppercase and lowercase letters, a number, and a symbol. It is also advisable to change your passwords frequently. This guide will show you how to change your PS4 account password and even reset it should you forget your password.
How to change your PS4 password
You can change your PlayStation Network (PSN) account password from your PC or your PS4.
First, sign into account management to change your PSN password from your PC. Then, select the “Security” tab on the Sidebar. Next, click “Edit” next to your PS4 password to change it, and press “Save” to confirm your changes.
To change your PSN password on your PS4, use your Dualshock controller to navigate to “Settings.” Next, click “Account Management” and “Account Information.” Next, select “Security” and then select “Password.” Please enter your new password and retype it below to confirm. After that, click “Continue.” At this point, you will be automatically signed out of your PSN account on your PS4. You can then log into your account using your new password.
How to reset your PS4 password
To reset your PSN password on your PC, sign in and head over to Account Management (Image credit: Sony)Resetting your password is handy when you have forgotten your existing password and need to recover your account. Again, you have two options to reset your PSN password: on your PC and your PS4.
If you’re on your “Primary PS4”, resetting your password is much easier. Just go over to “Settings” > “Account Management” > “Sign In.” Then, press the triangle button (
The process is essentially the same if you’re not on your Primary PS4. However, you may be asked to fill in a few additional details after clicking the link sent to your email to prove that the account is yours.
Just like your computer and phone, your PS4 has its own login and password. If you ever need to change your PlayStation Network (PSN) password, it's easy to do from either a web browser or the console itself.
For extra security, it's a good idea to add two-factor authentication, which dramatically reduces the chance of someone gaining access to your PSN account without your permission.
Here's how to perform a PlayStation password reset.
How to change PlayStation password from a PS4
1. Using your PS4 controller, select Settings.
2. Select Account Management.
The password settings are found in the Account Management section.Dave Johnson
3. Select Account Information.
4. Select Security. You may need to enter your current password.
Choose "Security" to change your password.Dave Johnson
5. Select Password.
6. Enter your new password twice, and then select Continue. Your password is now changed.
How to reset PlayStation password from a PS4
If you've forgotten your password, you can't reset it the usual way, because you won't be able to enter your current password before typing the new one. Instead, you'll need to follow a slightly different process to reset it.
1. Using your PS4 controller, select Settings.
2. Select Account Management.
3. If you're automatically signed in, select Sign Out.
You need to sign out so you can request a password reset.Dave Johnson
4. Select Sign In.
5. When you see the sign-in screen, press the Triangle button on the controller.
6. If needed, enter your sign-in ID. Then select Next.
7. You should get an email at the address you just entered. Click the link in the email.
8. Follow the instructions on the password reset web page to verify your identity and enter the new password.
Quick tip: Only a family account manager can reset the password for a child account. The family manager should open the Account Management page in a web browser and reset the account's password from the Family Management page.
How to reset PlayStation password from a web browser
If you've forgotten your current PSN password, you can also reset it from a browser on your computer.
1. Go to Sony's Account Management page in a browser.
2. Instead of signing in, click Trouble signing in?
3. Click Reset your password.
Select "Reset your password."Dave Johnson
4. Enter the email address that you use as your sign-in ID.
5. In a few moments, you should receive an email. In the email, click Change Password and follow the directions to create a new password.
How to add two-factor authentication to your PlayStation account
It's a good idea to set up two-factor authentication for your PSN account. This way, no one can gain access to your account, even if they somehow get your password.
1. Go to Sony's Account Management page in a browser and log in if necessary.
2. In the navigation pane on the left, click Security.
3. At the bottom of the page in the 2-Step Verification section, click Edit.
4. In the pop-up 2-Step Verification window, choose whether you want to use text messages sent to your phone or an authenticator app (like Google Authenticator or Authy) for verification. A verification app is generally more secure than text messages, so it's a good idea to use that option if possible.
After choosing 2-step verification, you need to decide whether to get text messages or use an authenticator app.Dave Johnson
5. Follow the instructions to complete setting up your two-step verification.
Dave Johnson
Freelance Writer
Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he's also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.