Whether you’ve just unboxed your brand-new PS5, recently upgraded to the PS5 Pro, or have had Sony’s console for years now, there’s always something new to learn. And while it’s tempting to dive straight into that epic library of PS5 games, there’s plenty of PS5 tips and tricks you need to know about before you start playing.
These hidden features are easy to miss though. Some are buried deep in the system settings and take a bit of digging to find. So, we’re here to show you 20 essential hacks that’ll help you to get the most out of your PlayStation. From customising your console to optimising performance, these are the secrets you don’t want to miss…
Mute the PS5 startup beep sound
Tired of that loud beep when you switch on your PS5? Us too. Luckily, you can mute it now. Just go to Settings > System > Beep and Light and pick from High (default), Medium, and Low volume. Or just turn it off entirely.
Mute the DualSense mic
The DualSense controller’s mic can automatically lower the intensity of the haptics. You know, that rumble and resistance in the controller that’s there to make every action feel more immersive.
You can mute the mic by pressing the button below the PS logo on your controller. Or, for a permanent solution, go to Settings > Sound > Microphone > Microphone Status When logged In and set it to Mute.
Customise the Welcome Hub
The Welcome Hub is your new home screen. You can edit widgets, change presets and customise the background to suit your style. You’ll be able to choose from:
Highlights – Stay in the loop with the latest PlayStation news, see what your friends are up to and learn about your favourite games.
Social – Keep track of what your mates have played recently and join them in some multiplayer action.
Solo – Focus on single player gaming, with info on trophy progress and how much space you’ve got left in your storage.
Your preset – Edit and move widgets around to match your preferred look.
Turn on ‘Enhance Image Quality for PS4 Games’
This PS5 Pro exclusive feature bumps up the image quality of PS4 games. Find it in Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output > Enhance Image Quality for PS4 games.
Check for PS5 Pro Enhanced games
Look out for PS5 Pro enhanced games on the PlayStation Store. Or you could always just check out our list of the 10 best PS5 Pro enhanced games you should play first. These titles really showcase the power of Sony’s flagship console.
Install a PS5 M.2 SSD for extra storage
Need more space for your games? Then we’d recommend installing an M.2 PS5 SSD. Here’s how:
Turn off your PS5 and unplug all the cables.
Remove the side panel.
Insert the M.2 SSD into the slot and secure it.
Replace the side panel and plug in the cables.
Turn on your PS5 and format the new SSD.
Use USB extended storage
If you like to go back and play some older PS4 titles, it’s worth storing them on a USB external hard drive. You can then play them straight off of the USB storage, freeing up some room for PS5 games on the console itself.
You can also store PS5 games on an external USB hard drive, but you’ll need to transfer them to the PS5’s SSD to actually play them.
Enable Dolby Atmos
Dolby Atmos is an even more immersive version of surround sound, where explosions, the musical score and more come at you from every angle. It literally puts you right in the middle of the action.
But you might have to beef up your setup a bit first before you can use it. Grab yourself a compatible telly, soundbar or home cinema system, and you’ll be good to go.
Go to Settings > Sound > Audio Output > Audio Format (Priority) and select Dolby Atmos. It’s not available for gaming headsets and headphones though, so for that, you’ll want to use Sony’s Tempest 3D audio instead. Speaking of which…
Enjoy more immersive sound with 3D audio
3D audio works like Atmos and creates a way more realistic soundscape. Switch it on for TV speakers or headphones in Settings > Sound > Audio Output > Enable 3D Audio for TV Speakers/Headphones.
If you want, you can create a personalised 3D audio profile for the best possible sound too. And this goes hand-in-hand with the PULSE Elite wireless headset, which lets you hear every tiny detail. The creaking floorboards in a horror game have never sounded this creepy…
Turn off automatic trophy screenshots and videos to save space
After a while, those automatic trophy captures can really start to pile up. And the more you’ve got, the less room you’ll have for everything else. Stop any future screenshots and videos being taken by going to Settings > Captures and Broadcasts > Trophies and set it to None.
Pick your preferred performance mode, difficulty and subtitle settings
Customise your games – without going into the individual settings of each of them – by going to Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Game Presets. There, you’ll be able to choose from different performance modes, difficulty levels and subtitle options. And when you fire up that new title, your preferences will have been picked from the off.
Check how many hours you’ve spent with each game
Curious about your playtime? From the home screen, select your avatar, then Profile > Games to see how many hours you’ve sunk into that RPG, and the trophies you’ve earnt for it.
Set up Remote Play
If you fancy continuing your campaign while you’re tucked up in bed or sat in another room, you can! With Remote Play, you can carry on your mission across other devices like your iPhone, iPad, Android gadgets, the PlayStation Portal, Mac, or Windows PC. To set it up, head to Settings > System > Remote Play.
Customise the features available in Rest Mode
It’s worth tweaking a few features for whenever your console is in Rest Mode:
Adaptive charging – Prolong the battery life of your controllers by turning this on. Then you won’t have to hit pause on your gaming sessions as often.
Stay connected to the internet – Keep your PS5 ready with the latest updates by staying connected to the Wi-Fi even when Rest Mode is on.
Enable turning on PS5 from network – Turn on your console remotely using the PlayStation App or Remote Play and dive into the action quickly. Make sure ‘Stay Connected to the Internet’ and ‘Enable Turning on PS5 from Network’ are switched on.
Appear offline
Sometimes, you just want to get your head down and chill out with some single player gaming. So, to stop being bombarded with multiplayer invites from your mates, you can always login as appearing offline. Then you’ll be able to play in peace.
To avoid being disturbed, power on your PS5. Then, at the Welcome Back to PlayStation screen, hit the options button on your controller. A menu will pop up that lets you login as Online, Busy, or Appear Offline.
You can do it when you’re already logged in too. From the home screen, select your profile avatar/icon > Online Status > Appear Offline. And voila, now all those messages should stop!
Avoid spoilers
There’s nothing worse when you’ve been waiting to play that new release and BAM, you accidentally see a key story moment. Now the game’s been ruined.
To avoid spoilers further down the line, turn on the spoiler warning feature. Navigate to Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Spoiler Warnings and enable it. This’ll then display a ‘Spoiler’ label or hide any content with potential spoilers. Phew.
Organise your game library
If you like to keep things nice and tidy on your console, then Gamelists are great for organizing your game library. Go to Game Library > Your Collection > Create Gamelist to start sorting. It’ll help you keep track of your games and find them easily when you want to play.
Use Game Help in supported games
Game Help is exactly what it sounds like, giving you handy hints and tips for supported games. It’s ideal when you’re struggling on a specific objective and need a nudge in the right direction, or some pointers for taking down that tricky boss.
To view it while you’re in a game:
Go to the Control Centre and select the card stamped ‘Game Help’.
A list of objectives will then pop up.
Pick the one you need some help with. Game Help info will show on the card.
The card might also contain a video with a demo of what to do. Hit ‘Play’ to watch it.
Ready to try again? Press the PS button to go back to your game.
There’s not just official help though. Players can also make their own gameplay videos to give you the upper hand. Or you can create one yourself to assist other gamers. To get involved, go to Settings > Captures & Broadcasts > Captures > Auto Captures > Community Game Help and select Participate.
Adjust DualSense haptics
Customise the haptic feedback of your DualSense controller in Settings > Accessories > Controllers > Vibration Intensity/Trigger Effect Intensity. You’ll need to decide between Strong (Standard), Medium, Weak and Off. Lowering the intensity can help to extend the battery life quite a bit.
Turn on ‘Enable One-Touch play’
This feature allows your TV to automatically fire up and switch to the correct input whenever you turn on your PS5. Enable it in Settings > System > HDMI > Enable One-Touch Play. You might also need to turn on HDMI-CEC on your TV too, so don’t get annoyed if it doesn’t work the first-time round.
So, those are the best PS5 settings that you’ll definitely want to take a look at. Need a new adventure for your PS5? We’ve rounded up the best PS5 games you can play right now. And obviously, you want all those titles to look their best, right? It might be time to check out the best TVs for PS5. There are some seriously epic screens in our list!
