You can delete a PS5 account in two ways: remove it from just your console, or delete it entirely from PlayStation's servers

Removing an account from your PS5 is straightforward and takes about five minutes. The account data stays on PlayStation's servers, so you can sign back in later on any console. Deleting the account entirely is permanent — PlayStation will remove all your profile data, trophies, friends list, and purchase history. You cannot undo this, and you cannot use that email address to create a new PlayStation account for 30 days.

Most people want to remove an account from their console when they sell it, give it away, or let someone else use it. Fewer people need to delete the account entirely, which you might do if you no longer play games or want to close the account for privacy reasons.

Key Takeaways

  • Removing an account from your PS5 keeps the account active on PlayStation's servers; deleting it entirely erases everything and is permanent.
  • To remove an account from your console only, go to Settings, then Users and Accounts, select the account, and choose Delete.
  • To delete your account entirely, you must do it through the PlayStation website using a web browser, not from the console.
  • If you delete your account, you lose access to all games you purchased digitally, your save files, your trophies, and your friends list.
  • After you delete an account, you cannot use that email address to create a new PlayStation account for 30 days.

How to remove an account from your PS5 console only

This is the option to choose if you are selling or giving away your PS5, or if you straightforward want to stop using an account on this particular console. The account itself remains active on PlayStation's network.

Go to Settings on your PS5 home screen. Select Users and Accounts. Choose the account you want to remove. Select Other, then Delete. The console will ask you to confirm. Select Delete again. The account and all its data on this console will be removed when ready.

If you are selling the console, you should also perform a factory reset to remove all other data. Go to Settings, then System, then Reset Options, then Reset Your Console. Choose whether to keep or delete your games and apps — usually you delete them so the new owner starts fresh. This step is separate from account deletion and wipes the entire console.

How to delete your PlayStation account entirely

Account deletion is permanent and cannot be reversed. Before you proceed, read any save files you want to keep. You can do this by going to Settings on your PS5, selecting Saved Data and Game/App Settings, then Saved Data, then Console Storage. Select the game, then select the save file, and choose Copy to USB Storage Device if you have a USB drive connected.

To delete your account, you must use a web browser on a computer or phone — you cannot do this from the PS5 itself. Go to the PlayStation website and sign in with the account you want to delete. Navigate to your Account Settings. Look for Close Your Account or Account Closure (the exact wording varies by region). Select it and follow the prompts. PlayStation will ask you to confirm your password and may ask security questions to verify your identity.

PlayStation will show you a summary of what you are about to lose: your digital games, save files, trophies, friends list, wallet balance, and any active subscriptions. Read this carefully. If you proceed, the account closes when ready. You will receive a confirmation email.

What happens to your games and data when you delete your account

Any games you purchased digitally are tied to your account, not to your console. When you delete the account, you lose access to those games on all consoles. If other people on your PS5 have been playing those games, they will no longer be able to play them either.

Physical games (games on disc) are not affected by account deletion — they belong to whoever owns the disc. But your save files, trophies, and progress in those games are stored on your account and will be deleted.

Your PlayStation Plus subscription, if you have one, will be cancelled. Any remaining balance in your PlayStation wallet cannot be refunded and will be lost. Your friends list will disappear, and your profile will no longer be visible to other players.

What to do before you delete your account

Make a list of any games you purchased digitally that you might want to play again in the future. If you think you might return to PlayStation gaming, consider removing the account from your console instead of deleting it entirely.

read and save any game saves you want to keep. Connect a USB storage device to your PS5, go to Settings, select Saved Data and Game/App Settings, then Saved Data, then Console Storage. Select each game whose save you want to keep, select the save file, and choose Copy to USB Storage Device. You can then transfer these saves to another console or keep them as a backup.

If you have a PlayStation Network balance remaining, spend it before you delete the account. Once the account is gone, that money cannot be recovered. Check your wallet by going to Settings, then Users and Accounts, then Account, then Wallet.

If you want to delete your account but keep playing on PS5

You can create a new PlayStation account on your PS5 at any time. Go to Settings, select Users and Accounts, then Create User. You can choose to create a local user (no online account) or link a new PlayStation Network account.

Keep in mind that any games you purchased on your old account will not transfer to your new account. If you want to play those games again, you would need to purchase them again. Save files from your old account also do not transfer — they are tied to that account permanently.

If you think you might want to return to your old account someday, removing it from your console instead of deleting it is a better choice. You can always sign back in on any PS5 console.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete my PlayStation account if I have an active PlayStation Plus subscription?

Yes. Your subscription will be cancelled when ready when you delete the account. You will not receive a refund for any remaining time on your subscription. If you want to pause your subscription instead of cancelling it, you can do that through your account settings without deleting the account.

What if I delete my account by mistake?

Account deletion is permanent and cannot be undone. PlayStation does not restore deleted accounts. If you deleted it very recently, contact PlayStation Support to ask if they can help, but they typically cannot reverse the deletion. This is why the confirmation process asks you multiple times to confirm your choice.

Can someone else use my PS5 if I delete my account from it?

Yes. Once you remove or delete your account from the console, anyone can create a new account on that PS5 or sign in with their own account. If you are giving the console to someone else, you should also perform a factory reset to clear all data and give them a clean console.

Will deleting my account delete my friend's ability to see me online?

Yes. Your entire profile disappears from PlayStation's network, so your friends will no longer see you in their friends list or be able to message you. They will see that your profile no longer exists.

How long do I have to wait before I can create a new PlayStation account with the same email address?

You must wait 30 days after deleting your account before you can use that email address to create a new PlayStation account. During this 30-day period, that email is locked and unavailable.