How to change the family manager on PlayStation

This guide shows you how to transfer the family manager role to a different adult account in your PlayStation family. Changing the family manager gives the new user control over parental controls, spending limits, and membership management for the entire family group.

You'll end up with a new primary administrator for your family, allowing the previous manager to step down while keeping the family group intact.

Note: Steps can vary by console generation, system software, and region. This guide focuses on safe, general methods.

Quick Answer

Sign in to the PlayStation Network with the current family manager account.
Navigate to Settings > Family and Parental Controls > Family Management.
Select the adult family member you want to promote to family manager.
Choose the option to “Change to Family Manager” or “Make Family Manager”.
Confirm the change. The new manager will receive a notification.
The old manager’s role will automatically change to a parent/guardian.

If this doesn’t work, run through the Diagnostics section below.

What you need

Before you start

The current family manager account sign-in credentials.
A second adult account (aged 18+) already in your family group.
Access to the console or the internet to use the web management tool.
Stable internet connection for changes to sync with PSN.
Knowledge of the account email for the new manager (for confirmation).
To have removed any spending limits or passcodes you don't know.

Good to know

Only an adult family member can become the family manager.
The family manager cannot leave the family; they must transfer the role first.
You can only change the manager once every 6 months.
Parental control settings may need to be reconfigured by the new manager.
The change is effective immediately across all linked consoles.
You cannot transfer the role to a child account.
The previous manager becomes a parent/guardian with fewer privileges.

Diagnose the issue in 2 minutes

Are you unable to find the "Change to Family Manager" option?

Check 1: Are you signed in as the current family manager? Only the current manager can initiate the transfer. What you should see: Your account name at the top of the Family Management screen.
Check 2: Is the target account an adult (18+) and already a family member? You can only promote existing adult members. What you should see: Their account listed under "Family Members" with a "Parent/Guardian" or "Adult" label.
Check 3: Has it been less than 6 months since the last role change? There is a cooldown period. What you should see: If you recently changed managers, the option will be greyed out.
Check 4: Are you using a child account? Child accounts cannot access family management settings. What you should see: The Family Management menu will be absent or restricted.
Check 5: Is your console connected to PSN? The change requires an online sync. What you should see: A green indicator or successful connection test in Network Settings.

Step-by-step guide

Step 1 — Sign in as the current family manager

You must start from the account that currently holds the family manager role. This is usually the account that created the family group.

Turn on your PlayStation console.
On the home screen, select your profile icon and ensure you are signed in with the correct account.

What you should see: Your avatar and online status in the top right corner of the home screen.

Step 2 — Open Settings

Navigate to the main system settings menu. This is where you manage accounts, network, and system preferences.

PS5: Select the gear icon in the top-right corner of the home screen.

PS4: Scroll to the top menu bar and select "Settings" (the toolbox icon).

Step 3 — Navigate to Family Management

The path is similar on both consoles but may have slightly different naming.

In Settings, look for “Family and Parental Controls.”
Select it, then choose “Family Management.”

What you should see: A list of all current family members, their roles, and associated consoles.

Step 4 — Select the new family manager

From the list of family members, choose the adult account you wish to promote.

Scroll through the list and click on the name of the target adult member.
This will open a detail screen with options for that user.

Step 5 — Initiate the role change

Look for the specific option to transfer managerial authority.

On the member's detail screen, select “Change to Family Manager” or “Make Family Manager.”
If this option is greyed out, refer to the Diagnostics section.

Step 6 — Confirm the change

The system will ask for confirmation, as this action cannot be immediately undone.

Read the on-screen warning about the 6-month cooldown and loss of your manager privileges.
Select “Yes” or “Confirm” to proceed.

What you should see: A success message and the family list refreshing with the new manager role displayed.

Step 7 — Verify the transfer

Ensure the change has taken effect on all fronts.

The new family manager should check their email for a notification from PlayStation.
They should now be able to access all family management settings.
Your account should now be listed as a "Parent/Guardian."

App/Web: You can also verify by signing into account.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com and checking Family Management.

Common scenarios and fixes

Scenario

The "Change to Family Manager" option is greyed out.

Likely cause

The target account is a child, not in the family, or you changed managers within the last 6 months.

Fast fix

Confirm the target account’s age and family membership status. Wait if the cooldown period is active.

When to escalate

If you're certain all conditions are met but the option remains unavailable, contact support.

Scenario

You forgot the password for the current family manager account.

Likely cause

Without the manager's credentials, you cannot initiate a transfer from the console.

Fast fix

Use the "Trouble signing in?" link on the sign-in screen to reset the password via email.

When to escalate

If you no longer have access to the account's email, you must contact PlayStation Support for account recovery.

Scenario

The new manager isn't receiving the notification email.

Likely cause

Email may be delayed, in spam, or the wrong email is on the PSN account.

Fast fix

Check spam/junk folders. Verify the correct sign-in ID is in the account's Settings > Account Information.

When to escalate

If the role change shows as complete in settings but emails never arrive, it's safe to proceed. Email is just a notification.

Scenario

You want to leave the family, but you are the manager.

Likely cause

Family managers cannot leave a family; they must appoint a successor first.

Fast fix

Follow the steps above to transfer the manager role to another adult member first.

When to escalate

If there are no other adult members, you must add one or dissolve the entire family group (which removes all members).

Scenario

Parental controls were reset after the manager change.

Likely cause

Some settings are tied to the managing account. The new manager must reconfigure them.

Fast fix

The new manager should go to Family Management and set up spending limits, playtime, and content restrictions anew.

When to escalate

This is expected behavior and does not require escalation.

Scenario

You get an error code (e.g., WS-37432-9) when trying to change the manager.

Likely cause

Temporary PSN server issues or account synchronization problems.

Fast fix

Check the PSN status page for outages. Restart your console and router, then try again later.

When to escalate

If the error persists for more than 24 hours with a stable internet connection, note the exact error code and contact support.

Quick reference

Family Role	Key Abilities	Limitations
Family Manager	Add/remove members, set parental controls, manage spending, purchase family subscriptions, change roles.	Cannot leave family without transferring role. Cooldown of 6 months on role transfer.
Parent/Guardian	Can set some parental controls for child accounts, but not manage adult members or family-wide settings.	Cannot add/remove members or change the family manager.
Adult Member	Can use shared benefits (like PlayStation Plus), manage their own console sharing settings.	No control over other accounts. Can be promoted to manager by the current manager.
Child Member	Can play games subject to parental controls set by managers or guardians.	Cannot be family manager. Have spending and playtime restrictions.

Setting Type	Safe Defaults for New Managers
Spending Limit	Set a monthly amount for child accounts; consider leaving at $0 until needed.
Play Time	Set reasonable daily limits (e.g., 2 hours on school days) to encourage balance.
Content Restriction	Align game/app ratings with the child's age (e.g., ESRB ratings).
Communication	Restrict who can send messages/friend requests to "Friends Only" for child accounts.
Web Browser	Disable the browser for child accounts to prevent unsupervised access.
VR Usage	Disable VR for children under 12, as recommended by safety guidelines.

Mind map summary

Change Family Manager
├── Prerequisites
│   ├── You are current manager (signed in)
│   ├── Target is adult (18+) family member
│   └── No role change in last 6 months
├── Path
│   ├── Settings > Family & Parental Controls > Family Management
│   ├── Select target adult member
│   └── Choose "Change to Family Manager"
├── After Change
│   ├── You become Parent/Guardian
│   ├── New manager gets email notification
│   └── New manager must reconfigure parental controls
└── If Stuck
    ├── Check PSN status & internet
    ├── Verify account ages & membership
    ├── Password reset if needed
    └── Contact support with error codes

Troubleshooting checklist

Console & Account

Are you signed in as the current family manager?
Is the target account listed as an "Adult" in the family?
Has it been over 6 months since the last manager change?
Are all accounts free of suspension or bans?
Have you restarted the console?

PSN & Network

Is PSN online? (Check status page)
Does your console pass a network connection test?
Are there any ongoing PSN maintenance periods?
Have you tried via the web portal as an alternative?

Security & Permissions

Do you know the manager account password?
Is 2-Step Verification (2SV) blocking access?
Have you removed any unknown parental control passcodes?
Is the target account's age verified correctly on PSN?

When to escalate

Contact PlayStation Support if:

You've lost access to the family manager account and its associated email.
A persistent error code (like WS-37432-9, CE-32837-1) appears after 24 hours of troubleshooting.
The family management menu is completely missing, suggesting an account type mismatch.
You need to dissolve the entire family group because there are no other adult members.

What to collect before contacting support:

Exact error code and message.
Your console model (e.g., PS5 Model CFI-1215A).
The online ID and sign-in ID (email) for the current and target manager accounts.
Date and time you attempted the change.
Any changes made to the accounts recently (e.g., password reset, 2SV enabled).

FAQ

Can I change the family manager from the PlayStation App?

No, the manager role transfer must be initiated from a PlayStation console or through the official PlayStation website via a browser.

What happens to my PlayStation Plus subscription when I change managers?

If the manager was the one who purchased a PlayStation Plus Family subscription, the benefits will continue for the family. The subscription ownership does not automatically transfer, so the new manager may need to start their own subscription when the current one expires.

Can I take back the family manager role after transferring it?

You can only change the family manager once every six months. The new manager would have to transfer the role back to you after that cooldown period.

Will the new manager have access to my payment methods?

No. Payment methods are stored per account. The new manager will need to add their own payment method to make purchases for the family.

Can I remove the old family manager from the family?

Yes, but only the new family manager can do this. They can go to Family Management, select the old manager (now a parent/guardian), and choose "Remove from Family".

Do I need to be on the same console as the new manager?

No. The change is managed through your PSN account online. As long as you are signed in as the current manager, you can perform the transfer from any console or the web.

What if I'm the only adult in the family?

You cannot change the manager if there are no other adult members. You must first add another adult account to the family, or dissolve the family group entirely.

Are there any fees to change the family manager?

No, changing the family manager is a free account management feature provided by PlayStation.

Sources and references

Official PlayStation Support documentation on Family Management
PlayStation Network Terms of Service and User Agreement
General online account security best practices (2SV, password strength)
PlayStation Parental Controls and playtime management guides
Digital family safety guidelines from consumer safety organizations
PlayStation system software update patch notes
Common PSN error code explanations from official sources

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How to change the family manager on PlayStation

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