Sub Account for an under-age person

The following is a guide to creating a Playstation Network (PSN) account for an under-age person (minor/child; generally under 18 years old). A master account is required before creating any sub-accounts. These articles may be helpful before you start:

1. Create new user

If you haven’t already done so you will need to create a new PS3 user that the sub-account is going to be assigned to.

2. Authorise creation of sub-account

A Master account must be used to authorise that a Sub Account be created. Once the consent is given, a code is emailed to the master account and the remainder of the sign-up process is done through the “Playstation Store for PC” website.

We recommend that you also authorise using the PS Store website. However: not all countries are available when signing up via the PS Store as are available via the PS3 (we have no idea why not…). Check our list of supported countries.

Proceed to:

2A. Authorise via PS Store for PC

  1. Go to the Playstation Store for PC New Account page (open in new window)
  2. Choose Continue[Screenshot]
  3. Choose your country, language and date of birth[Screenshot]
  4. You will be told that you do not meet the eligibility requirements for creating an account and that a parent or legal guardian (master account) is needed to help create the account. Choose Continue[Screenshot]
  5. Enter the email and password of the Master Account that will be associated with the new sub-account[Screenshot]
  6. Choose Continue to “We must have your consent to collect your child’s personal information and to share that information with third parties so that your child can access online services and content on Playstation Network. PSN will send an email to the master account’s email address. Check the email and follow instructions to complete the sub-account registration” (paraphased)[Screenshot]
  7. You will now be told that an email has been sent to the master account’s email address. Choose Continue[Screenshot]
  8. Jump to section 3: Continue registration
  • Start registration process
  • Enter info
  • Eligibility requirements
  • Enter master sign-in
  • Consent required
  • Email sent

2B. Authorise via PS3

  1. Log in to the user you are creating an account for. Go to the Playstation Network menu and choose Sign up for Playstation Network[Screenshot]
  2. When the account sign-up page appears, choose Yes, I want to create a new account[Screenshot]
  3. On the registration process page, choose Continue[Screenshot]
  4. Choose your country, language and date of birth[Screenshot]
  5. You will be told that a parent or legal guardian (master account) is needed to help create the account. Choose Continue[Screenshot]
  6. Enter the email and password of the Master Account that will be associated with the new sub-account[Screenshot]
  7. Choose Continue to confirm that the master account will be associated and can control the sub-account[Screenshot]
  8. Choose Continue to “We must have your consent to collect your child’s personal information and to share that information with third parties so that your child can access online services and content on Playstation Network. PSN will send an email to the master account’s email address. Check the email on your PC and follow instructions to complete the sub-account registration” (paraphased)[Screenshot]
  9. You will now be told that an email has been sent to the master account’s email address and that you will need to continue the registration on a PC. Choose Continue[Screenshot]
  10. Jump to section 3: Continue registration
  • Sign up for PSN
  • Account signup
  • Registration process
  • Enter info
  • Eligibility requirements
  • Master account info
  • Master confirmation
  • Consent required to collect child’s information
  • Email sent to master account

3. Continue registration

  1. Open the email titled “PLAYSTATION(R)Network Account Registration for a Child” and go to the Web site for account registration URL
  2. Type, or copy & paste, the code from the email into the Enter code form field. Tick the consent box, then click Continue[Screenshot]
  3. You should now be told “Email verification successful”. Click Continue[Screenshot]
  4. Click Continue to accept the terms of service and privacy policy[Screenshot]
  5. Enter new sign-in information for the child: a valid email address (sign-in ID) and password[Screenshot]
  6. Enter an online ID for your child. This will be a publicly viewable username and can not be edited later[Screenshot]
  7. Enter your child’s information: first name, surname and residential address (the address should be auto-populated from the master account details)[Screenshot]
  8. Review the account information, then click Confirm[Screenshot]
  9. The new sub-account should now be created![Screenshot]
  10. Log in as your child on your PS3, go to the Playstation Network menu, choose Signup/Sign-in and try out the new account
  • Enter code
  • Verification successful
  • Association
  • Enter child’s sign-in information
  • Create online ID
  • Enter child’s details
  • Confirm account information
  • Account created

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Comments

  1. 1
    chimpy • June 27th, 2008 at 5:11 pm

    i can’t recieve the sub account email. what shall i do.

  2. 2
    barry • December 3rd, 2008 at 1:27 pm

    please help me to create a sub account i have tried several times and it will not work can u help me.
    Barry Hynes,
    Thanks.

  3. 3
    barry • December 3rd, 2008 at 1:35 pm

    i dont know how to create a sub account will u tell me please!!!!!
    because it is doing my head in

  4. 4
    chimpy • December 4th, 2008 at 2:41 pm

    ill try to make a new sub account but if it dont work ill set my ps3 on fire

  5. 5
    Gary • December 13th, 2008 at 7:52 am

    This is Not Correct! When you get to the page explaining you dont “meet the eligibility requirements” there is no option to Continue (using a parents account)…..its just not there! I have PS3 HATE IT…………HHHHAAAATTETTETEET

  6. 6
    Ratsnacker • December 26th, 2008 at 5:42 pm

    this seems to be an old post gary. im having the same problem. there used to be a sub account option but its all changed since recent software updates.

  7. 7
    ian1966 • December 27th, 2008 at 7:18 pm

    i have created a master account for myself and a sub account for my son that all went ok. the problem started when my son tryed to play online and he could not sign in kept getting a message 2 you can not sign in using another persons email address” he was using his own. if i goto the sony site he can sign in using his own email and password and it will display his online id say he is logged in. so if it works ok online why wont it work on the PS3 . any help would be greatly recived or have sony gone completely mad??????

  8. 8
    Andrew • December 31st, 2008 at 8:28 am

    I’ve created a master account with my details and a sub account for my son (who’s 11). He signs in with that. Trouble is, the age restriction (because of his date of birth) wont allow online games - not even Tiger Woods golf!

    Why such rediculous restrictions? Why can’t I authorise which games are allowed through at least?
    Now I guess I have to create another sub account for him and lie about the date of birth - probably have issues there though since the email id login will then clash…

  9. 9
    Steven • January 1st, 2009 at 4:45 am

    I swear to God, had I known Sony was this ageist before I bought my PS3, I would have never in a million year had bought it. There is actually no way for any person under the age of 18 to create there own account. Sony is extremely lucky the PS3 has no piracy, cause I refuse to support these scumbags to the point that I would just pirate games for the system.

  10. 10
    Andrew • January 2nd, 2009 at 2:47 pm

    It does seem daft. As said, my son was unable to play Tiger Woods golf online purely because of his age - the game is listed as a 3+, he’s 11…

    I ended up creating a new, full account for him, he’s now the same age as me. I’ll monitor and control his use myself since Sony seem unable to manage it in any sort of reasonable or logical way…

  11. 11
    YorkshireGirl76 • January 4th, 2009 at 7:25 pm

    Im getting REALLY fed up of trying to set up a sub account for my son. I have tried everything we have read by people in forums and from sony sites and manuals and it just isnt working!!!! Everytime i put in my sons date of birth it says he isnt eligable for an account but it then doesnt show a continue button like it is supposed to so that i can get a verification code sent to me via email to finish the setting up of the sub account. My son is getting very upset by it all now!!!!!!!

  12. 12
    Andrew • January 5th, 2009 at 5:11 pm

    When I created the sub account it wouldn’t allow the process to continue until I first linked it to an existing master account. I.e. I had to exit out of the process (close and re-open the browser since it insisted on caching the form details) then created the master in my name before going back and creating the sub account for him.

    As said though, turned out to be a wasted exercise since Sony decide what my son can access, not me. I.e. he can’t have access to online functionality of 3+ rated game… So I ended up creating another master account for him and used my dob.

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