How to play PS5 games on your smartphone

Now that people are getting their own PS5, there’s a lot to explore – and one feature that’s a welcome return from the last generation is the ability to play PS5 games on your smartphone.

The feature is of course remote play, which has been an integral part of Sony’s systems since the PS3, which was first introduced with the ability to play console games on the PSP and PS Vita. After the PS4 debuted, remote play expanded to other devices and televisions – and eventually to Android and iOS devices too.

The PS5 started with Remote Play intact, and you can use it to stream your next-gen games to your smartphone too. Note that this is a feature, not a service: you still need a PS5 console that is running games that you own to stream on your phone. This is different from how you can play Xbox Series X games on your mobile device through Game Pass.

That means you have to stay close to your PS5 in order to use remote play. This feature allows you to record your phone or other device within the confines of your home Wi-Fi network and keep playing.

If you have to hand in your TV or just want to play in another room, Remote Play can do it. It’s still pretty neat to play next-gen with remote play on your phone, tablet, PC, or PS Vita – and that’s how you turn your smartphone into a mobile PS5 station.

What you need to get started

You need a PS5 (either the digital or the standard model) that has been updated to the latest system software regardless of which smartphone you want to play on, and a Wi-Fi network with a download speed of at least 5Mbps. s that both the console and the phone are connected to. Sorry, it’s fully tied to that Wi-Fi network – no cellular data – so expect to use it at home.

If you want to use a DualSense controller, you will need one of these too. Sony hasn’t specifically confirmed that it will work with the PS5’s remote play feature, but we’ve been able to use it anecdotally on smartphones. You can Use a PS4-era DualShock 4 controller with remote play, but only to play PS4 games through your PS5.

While you don’t need A controller to play on your phone. Since the mobile app offers a digital button layout, this is not really a substitute for fine-tuning a gamepad. If you don’t have a PS4 gamepad, our round-up will help you best deals on ps4 controllers or try it now PS5 DualSense offer.

You’ll also need a PlayStation Network account – don’t worry, it’s free and you should need one to set up your PS5 anyway.

To use the Remote Play app, your phone must be updated to at least Android 7.0 or iOS 12.1. If you’re looking to connect a PS4 DualShock 4 or PS5 DualSense controller to your phone, make sure you’ve updated to the latest version of the operating system – at least Android 10 or iOS 13 for the controller on the older console. the very latest version of Android 11 or iOS 14 for DualSense (Sony has not yet released official compatibility information).

Finally, you need to download the appropriate Remote Play app on the phone that you want to use Android or iOS. If you already have it, update it to the latest version to get the PS5 shortcut feature.

How to set it up

First, start your PS5 (or put it to sleep) and open the Remote Play app on your smartphone. Sign in to your PlayStation Network account and choose which generation of consoles you are connecting to – in this case PS5. If your console is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your phone, it should connect automatically.

If you have multiple PS5s on your home network (and how lucky you are) it might take trial and error to figure out which console code points to the correct one. If you continue to lose connectivity to the console, try resetting the Wi-Fi connectivity, or even better, improve the connection speed by manually connecting your PS5 to your router using an Ethernet cable (remember, Sony recommends one Download speed of at least 5 Mbps, but you will likely notice a delay in typing at this minimum).

Once it’s loaded, you should be able to control the console from your smartphone. If you want to use a DualSense controller, make sure you connect it to your phone via bluetooth first.

What is playable?

Fortunately, Remote Play literally just casts the PS5 to your phone. So there is no obvious limit to the games you can play as long as they are running on the new console … with a few exceptions.

As per the previous limitations of the feature for the version on the PS4, you will not be able to use Remote Play for games or experiences that require special controllers or the PlayStation camera. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean VR.

Otherwise, enjoy playing your PS5 experience in the comfort of the next room (or rooms).