Can you transfer games from one PSN account to another on PS5?
As an avid PlayStation gamer myself, one of the most common questions I see pop up is whether games can be transferred from one PSN account to another, especially when upgrading to the latest PS5 console.
The Short Answer
Unfortunately, you cannot directly transfer downloaded games and licenses from one PSN account to another – even on the PlayStation 5. According to PlayStation‘s support page, all content purchased from PlayStation Store gets tied to the account that bought it.
So if you switch to a new PSN account, you won‘t see your purchased game library automatically appear. This restriction applies to all digital game purchases, downloadable content (DLCs), and add-ons bought with a particular account.
Understanding PlayStation Licenses
The reason transfers are restricted is because of how PlayStation Network licenses work. Here‘s a quick breakdown:
- All digital content gets assigned to the purchasing PSN account
- Only that account retains permanent license rights needed to access the content
- Licenses verify content ownership whenever you attempt to download or play games
So unless license rights get explicitly shared by the purchasing account viaactivation and console sharing, other accounts can‘t freely access that downloaded content.
Fortunately, PlayStation does provide some clever workarounds.
Game Sharing and Access Workarounds
To help you seamlessly access games across accounts, PlayStation 5 and 4 consoles offer handy features like game sharing, account switching, and guest profiles.
Let‘s explore each option:
Game Sharing
PlayStation‘s game sharing system essentially grants license access through console and account activations. Here‘s how it works according to PS support:
- Activate your account with purchased games as primary PS4/PS5 system
- Other local users on the primary system automatically get access to your games
- You retain access on your activated non-primary consoles via offline licenses
So as long as the purchasing account activates the shared PS4 or PS5 as primary, all local profiles gain downloaded content access even if signed in separately!
| Console Users | Primary PS5 | Non-Primary PS5 |
|---|---|---|
| Purchasing Account | Can Play (Requires Internet connection) | Can Play (offline license) |
| Other Local Accounts | Can Play | No Access |
The only limitation is needing an internet connection on non-primary devices for license verification. But game sharing remains a convenient way to access your digital library across accounts!
According to recent data, over 64% of polled PlayStation gamers leverage console game sharing to expand access. So you‘ll be in good company.
Quick Account Switching
If game sharing sounds complicated, the simpler workaround is to quickly switch local user accounts on your PS5 or PS4 dashboard.
- Here‘s how quick account switching works:
- Log into your preferred account first
- Head to your platform‘s account management settings
- Switch to the account ownwing the game content
- Downloads and licenses automatically adjust
- Repeat when you want to swap accounts
This sign-in dance only takes seconds thanks to the PS5‘s ultra-fast SSD. So while not simultaneous, you can conveniently bounce between game libraries.
Pro Tip: Make sure automatic content downloads are enabled for seamless access.
Guest Profiles
Your last resort is creating Guest User profiles that get temporary access to game content available on the console. Simply create a new "Guest" profile when signing-in:
- Downloaded content from local accounts becomes available
- Trophy progress gets tracked separately
- Guest users can‘t make purchases from the PS Store
While the most limited in access, guests profiles work nicely for short-term sharing.
So while direct account transfers remain impossible for now, PlayStation offers some of the most robust content sharing and access features in console gaming. Follow the tips outlined here, and you‘ll enjoy your purchased games on any profile!
For fellow gamers needing help or advice on getting access to your libraries, don‘t hesitate to ask in the comments. I‘m always happy to help the community take advantage of PlayStation‘s flexible sharing policies and features.
Happy gaming!
