How to play PS5 on your mobile or PC

Daniel Marín

7 minutes

A few years ago, it was quite common to take your video game console to a friend's house for an afternoon or a weekend. Now, that's changed, and thanks to technological advancements and the speed of our internet connections, we can even go out and keep playing PlayStation 5 on our mobile phone . This is all possible thanks to PS Remote Play , a Sony app that turns our PS5 into a kind of cloud. From there, we can play it using a computer, smartphone, or tablet. If you want to take advantage of this feature, keep reading.

All about PS Remote Play

One of the great features of the PlayStation ecosystem is PS Remote Play . This service was already available on PlayStation 4, although its capabilities have been improved with this new generation.

PS Remote Play was launched in 2019 with PS4 version 7.00. Its main function was to allow users to play console games directly from a mobile phone , whether it was an iPhone or an Android smartphone.

This service lets you play your PlayStation 5 even when you're away from the console. You can lie in bed and keep playing, or even play while you're out and about . Essentially, it's like carrying your massive PlayStation 5 in your pocket, and it weighs no more than your smartphone. The only requirement is a high-speed internet connection both where you have the console and where you'll be using your phone or computer.

How can I use PS Remote Play?

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PS Remote Play is available on the following platforms :

  • PC with Windows
  • Mac
  • iPhone
  • Android
  • Other PlayStation 5
  • PlayStation 4

Although you can control a PS5 from another console or even a PS4, very few users will take advantage of that feature. Therefore, we'll focus on explaining how you can use Remote Play from a computer or mobile phone.

Before you begin, make sure your PS5 console is updated to the latest available version and that you have an active PlayStation Network account .

How to play PlayStation 5 on a computer

Whether you have a PC or a Mac, you'll be able to play remotely with your PS5 in a simple way.

On windows

PS Remote Play is available for Windows 10 and Windows 11. It requires a 7th generation Intel Core processor or higher (or equivalent AMD processor). It also requires 2 GB or more of RAM. You can play on any HD screen, but the experience is vastly superior if your computer screen is at least Full HD.

The process to enable PS Remote Play on Windows is as follows:

  1. Download the PS Remote Play app from the PlayStation official website.
  2. Run the installer, accept the agreements, and finish the process.
  3. On your PS5, go to Settings > System > Remote use > Activate Remote Play.
  4. Go back to the computer. Connect the controller to your PC with a USB cable.
  5. Start PS Remote Play and sign in to PlayStation Network.
  6. Set your video settings and frame rate based on your screen resolution and screen flicker.
  7. Find the PS5 console associated with your account.
  8. Once this is done, you will be able to play with your console from that computer whenever you want.

On Mac

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If you're going to use PS Remote Play on a Mac, the first thing you should know is that it's only available for computers running macOS 10.13 (macOS High Sierra) or later . There are no other processor limitations, although you will need about 2 GB of free RAM while the app is running.

  1. Go to the official Sony website and download PS Remote Play for macOS.
  2. Depending on the security settings that you have applied on your Mac, you will be able to install the app without problems or you will have to do some extra step. If you have problems, go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > General and allow apps downloaded from identified developers and allow them to run manually by entering your macOS password.
  3. Now, go to console and enable remote connection in Settings > System > Remote use > Activate Remote Play.
  4. Return to your Mac. Connect your PS5 controller to the computer —you may have to use a dongle in case you have a laptop that only supports USB-C.
  5. Open the PS Remote Play app and sign in to PlayStation Network with your username and password.
  6. Select the video settings for your screen.
  7. Find the PS5 console associated with your PSN account.
  8. Ready. You can now play your PS5 remotely with your Apple computer.

How to play the PlayStation 5 from a mobile device

iPhone 12 Pro vs. iPhone 12 Pro Max

You can play remotely with your PS5 on multiple devices. You can play on your iPhone, on your Android smartphone or on any tablet, such as the iPad.

As we have seen before, the process is quite easy and almost lossless:

  1. Download PS Remote Play for Android (Google Play) or for iOS/iPadOS (Apple App Store).
  2. Prepare your console from Settings > System > Remote use > Activate Remote Play.
  3. Back on the mobile device, open the PS Remote Play app and sign in to PSN with the same account you use on PlayStation 5.
  4. Within the app, go to Settings > Mobile data and activate 'Use of mobile data'.
  5. Now, connect the controller wirelessly as we will tell you in the next section.

Once you've completed these steps, you'll be able to play PS5 games on your mobile phone or tablet. The only thing to keep in mind is mobile data usage . You'll need a generous data plan to play regularly, or you'll need to be near a fast Wi-Fi network.

Connect the controller wirelessly

You can connect the DualSense to your device wirelessly using PS Remote Play. This is required for some phones and tablets. Here are the steps to pair the controller via Bluetooth :

  1. To connect the controller to the mobile, tablet or computer wirelessly, first make sure that it is off. Then, hold the 'Create' button and the 'PS' button on the DualSense at the same time.
  2. Go to the bluetooth settings from your computer or mobile and select the remote from the list.
  3. Once paired, the DualSense's light bar will flash, indicating that it has been paired. Please note that when you return to your PS5, you will need to pair the controller again.

Turn on the console remotely

Playing remotely won't do you any good if you need someone at home to turn on your PlayStation 5. Whether you're playing on your computer or your mobile phone, you can program your console to turn on remotely . Here's how:

  1. Go to Settings > System > Energy saving > Features available in standby mode.
  2. Next, activate the option 'Stay connected to the Internet'. Then, also check the option 'Activate turning on your PS5 from the network'.
  3. Now, you'll be able to turn on your PS5 whether you're in the next room or out and about.

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