You want to stream a PlayStation game, but the subscription, device, and game all need to qualify before you can launch it. PlayStation cloud gaming requires PlayStation Plus Premium in a supported market. Start with those requirements, then follow the steps for your console, PlayStation Portal, or Windows PC.
Get your account ready for cloud gaming
An Essential or Extra subscription blocks cloud streaming because the feature requires PlayStation Plus Premium.
Open Sony’s PlayStation Plus page. Under Choose your membership plan, select PREMIUM. Choose a subscription duration.
Sign in to your account. Complete the purchase.
For an existing subscription, sign in to Account Management in a browser. Open Subscription. Select your PlayStation Plus subscription. Choose Change Plan.
Select Premium. Choose a payment frequency.
Cloud streaming also requires a supported market. Sony lists the United States, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, and selected European countries; overseas territories are excluded. For Portal, both your physical location and your account region must qualify. Portal and PC cloud streaming require an adult account.
Find a game your device can stream
The next check is the game itself. PS5 and Portal support eligible PS5 cloud games, including selected digitally owned games and eligible free-to-play titles. Portal streams PS5 games only. The PC app has a separate eligible streaming catalog.
For PS5 games, open Sony’s Cloud Streaming page. Scroll to the Find games to stream section. Browse the Game Finder using Filter and Sort. The website helps you discover games; PS5 and Portal handle the actual PS5 cloud gameplay.
Game availability changes by region and time, and digital ownership alone does not establish streaming eligibility. If your chosen title has no Stream option, try another eligible game in your device’s catalog.
Start streaming on your PS5
From the games home screen, open PlayStation Plus. Select Benefits. Open Game Catalog. Select an eligible game, then choose Stream.
For a classic, open Classics Catalog from Benefits instead. Select an eligible classic. Choose Stream.
For a digital PS5 game you own, open an eligible game. Select its PlayStation Plus Stream button.
To keep your PS5 system software current, open Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings > Update System Software.
Tip: In streamed PS3 games, physically click the controller touchpad’s left side for SELECT or right side for START; tapping the surface is insufficient.
If you are playing on PS4
A game without streaming eligibility will not offer a cloud launch on PS4.
From the function screen, open PlayStation Plus. Choose Game Catalog. Select an eligible PS4 game. Choose Stream.
For older games, open Classics Catalog from PlayStation Plus. Select an eligible title. Choose Stream.
To upgrade your membership on the console, open Settings > Account Management > Account Information > PlayStation Subscriptions. Open your PlayStation Plus subscription. Follow the plan-change flow to Premium.
Play on Portal without a PS5 console
PlayStation Portal streams eligible PS5 games directly from the cloud with Premium, without a PS5 console. Remote Play streams from your own console and cannot relay that console’s cloud-streaming session.
During Portal setup on system software 7.0.0 or later, scan the displayed QR code with your phone. Complete account creation or sign-in on your phone.
Open Cloud Streaming on Portal’s home screen. The L1 and R1 buttons switch between Remote Play, Cloud Streaming, and Search. Select an eligible game from the Cloud Streaming home screen, such as a recently played title, a PlayStation Plus catalog game, or an eligible digital PS5 game in your library. Choose Stream.
For a game bundle on system software 7.0.0 or later, select Stream on its product detail page. Choose the specific game from the bundle-selection screen.
To find another supported title, open Search. If you do not have access to the game, scan its displayed QR code. Obtain the game through PlayStation App or a browser on the companion device.
If streaming will not start, check that you have an adult account, Premium membership, a qualifying location and account region, and an eligible game. Then update Portal through Quick Menu > Settings > System > System Software > Update System Software. Sony also calls that final option System Software Update in its accessories guide.
Set up the PlayStation Plus PC app
Use the Windows PC app to play titles from the PC streaming catalog. Sony’s setup page lists Windows 8.1 or 10, but that older OS table does not confirm compatibility with Windows 11 or Windows on ARM.
Open Sony’s PlayStation Plus PC setup page. Select Download PlayStation Plus app. Install the app. Install any drivers requested onscreen.
Start the app. Sign in with an adult account, or create one. Connect a compatible controller. Sony explicitly supports DUALSHOCK 4; compatibility with XInput controllers varies and is not guaranteed.
Obtain Premium if your account does not already have it, using the membership steps above. Select a game from the app’s catalog. Use a controller or keyboard and mouse to browse. Gameplay requires a compatible controller.
Connect headphones to the PC. The controller’s headphone connection and Party Chat are not supported in the PC app.
Older PlayStation Now setup instructions are obsolete. Sony merged that service into PlayStation Plus in 2022, so use Premium and the current console interface or PlayStation Plus PC app. Discontinued PS Now clients on older consoles, TVs, and Blu-ray players have no current supported setup.
Improve a Portal streaming session
Use Portal’s session controls to check your connection, adjust picture quality, and save before closing a game.
- 1.Open Quick Menu by swiping left from the upper-right corner, tapping the Quick Menu icon in the status bar, or pressing the PS button on supported screens.
- 2.Choose Tools & Info during cloud gameplay to check network status, read troubleshooting tips, or restore licenses. Older Portal system software labels this item Troubleshoot. Portal needs at least 5 Mbps upload and download to establish a session.
- 3.Open Max Resolution and choose 1080p High Quality, 1080p Standard, or 720p. Restart the streaming session to apply the change. Portal requires 7 Mbps for 720p and 13 Mbps for 1080p; Sony’s dedicated cloud help page still calls the 1080p option 1080p.
- 4.To change Wi-Fi, open Quick Menu > Settings > Network. Select your network and complete its connection requirements.
- 5.Complete initial Portal setup on home Wi-Fi before connecting to a supported public network. Use a smartphone or tablet to complete additional validation when the public network requests it.
- 6.Save progress within the game, then select Quick Menu > Close Game. Inactive sessions also close automatically.
Keep your progress when switching devices
Use the same account to resume compatible streamed progress. Moving between a downloaded game and its streamed version requires a save transfer for games that do not synchronize automatically.
On PS5 during streaming, press the PS button and select the PlayStation Plus card in the control center. Open Manage Saved Data and follow the copy instructions. Available options depend on the game.
On PS4 during streaming, press the PS button and open Application Saved Data Management. Export through Saved Data in Game Streaming Storage > Copy to Online Storage, or import through Saved Data in Online Storage > Copy to Game Streaming Storage. On PC, first open the game’s save-management menu before using that flow.
For a downloaded PS4 game, open Library and highlight the game. Press OPTIONS, then select Upload/Download Saved Data. Choose the save and select Upload or Download to use online storage as the bridge to compatible streamed saves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use PlayStation cloud gaming in a browser or on my phone?
There is no current official method for direct cloud gameplay through a browser or PlayStation App. The mobile app provides companion functions, including purchases, account management, and social features.
Can I use Party Chat while cloud-streaming on Portal?
Portal cloud streaming does not support system-level Party Chat or messaging. Open PlayStation App on your phone and select Game Base for messages or voice chat alongside your session. In-game voice features depend on the streamed game.
Where are Portal’s cloud-streaming accessibility settings?
Open Quick Menu > Settings > Cloud Streaming > Accessibility Settings for Cloud Streaming. Adjust text size and screen-reader options for supported screens.
What happens to cloud gaming if I cancel Premium?
Your benefits continue until the purchased subscription period ends. Cloud access ends when Premium expires. To cancel in a browser, open Account Management > Subscription, then select Cancel Subscription next to PlayStation Plus.