How to Use Remote Play on a PS5 (Without a PlayStation Portal)

Key Takeaways

Go to Settings > System > Remote Play and choose to "Enable Remote Play" on your PS5.
Then download the applicable Remote Play app for your device and log in with your PSN account to pair to your console.

Play PS5 games remotely on your computer or smartphone, no pricey PlayStation Portal necessary. Here’s how to use your console over a local network or remotely over the internet.

What Is Remote Play?

Remote Play is a PlayStation 5 feature that lets you use your console remotely, either over a local network or from afar over the internet. To use this feature you’ll need the following:

A PlayStation 5 console that’s configured for use with Remote Play.
A supported Remote Play device like a PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, or Android device.
A compatible controller, like a DualSense or DualShock 4 (unless you're streaming to a touchscreen device).

In addition to these hardware requirements, not all games support Remote Play. Some support Remote Play but may provide a sub-optimal gameplay experience, particularly those that are dependent on fast action and low latency.

Remote Play powers the PlayStation Portal, a $199 handheld device that Sony released in 2023. In essence, there’s nothing the PlayStation Portal can do that other Remote Play devices can’t. If you’re thinking of buying a Portal, it’s worth testing Remote Play on a device you already own first.

First, Set Up Remote Play on Your PS5

Remote Play connects your devices using your PSN username. Once you’ve enabled Remote Play on your PS5, you can easily connect to it by logging in to the same PSN account on a Remote Play client device.

Enable Remote Play on your PlayStation 5 by turning on your console and heading to Settings > System > Remote Play then selecting “Enable Remote Play” with your controller.

To start playing games while your console is in rest mode, you’ll also need to enable a few additional settings. To do this, head to Settings > System > Power Saving > Features Available in Rest Mode and make sure that “Stay Connected to the Internet” and “Enable Turning On PS5 From Network” are both enabled.

Then Play Remotely on Your PC, Mac, or Smartphone

You can use Remote Play on another device as long as you use a compatible app. Sony has apps available for Windows, Mac, Android TV, iPhone and iPad, and Android smartphones and tablets.

To use any of these apps, first download and launch them and then log in with your PSN account. Choose your console and then wait for the app to find your console via the internet.

If you can’t find your console make sure that you have enabled Remote Play and waking by network, and that your console is in rest mode (and not powered off). You can manually link your console if discovery doesn’t work using your console’s registration number, found under Settings > System > Remote Play > Link device.

In addition to Sony’s official apps, there is a project known as MirrorPlay on iPhone, iPad and Apple TV, and PSPlay on Android that promises better performance and remote control “without limitations.” There is a version for Windows and Linux in development (Mac users can simply install the iPad app on Mac via the App Store) so keep an eye on the r/PSPlay subreddit for news.

MirroPlay and PSPlay require that you manually link your console using your console’s registration number, found under Settings > System > Remote Play > Link device. The upside here is that you can register multiple consoles if you want.

Once connected you can use your PS5 console as if you were in the same room.

Factors That Affect Remote Play

Network speed is the biggest factor affecting Remote Play. For best results, your PS5 console should be connected to your router using an Ethernet cable to reduce latency and issues relating to network congestion. Windows PCs and Macs can also take advantage of Ethernet cabling to improve performance.

Devices that rely on a wireless connection like smartphones, tablets, and even the PlayStation Portal will be affected by Wi-Fi performance. The better your network and the closer you are to the access point, the better your results should be.

Problems with latency and network congestion are compounded when playing remotely over the internet. The further you get from home, the greater the latency will be. Some connection types (like cellular connections) may be subject to more latency than others.

Remote Play is handy for freeing up the TV, but it comes at a cost. The faster your network, the better the results will be. Just remember that Remote Play doesn’t mean that someone else can use the PS5 at the same time as you and that not all games (particularly cloud games) are compatible with the feature.