Key Takeaways
- Deactivating your primary PS4 without the console is possible through the PlayStation official website.
- You can also remotely deactivate all devices attached to your account using Account Management on a web browser.
- You can only deactivate your consoles once every six months.
- There are alternative ways to deactivate your primary PS4 including deactivating it from the console itself.
Introduction
Deactivating your primary PS4 is necessary when you want to activate another PS4 as your primary device. This article will guide you through the process of deactivating your primary PS4 without the console. We will also discuss alternative ways to deactivate your primary PS4.
How to Deactivate Your Primary PS4 Without the Console
Deactivating your primary PS4 without the console is possible through the PlayStation official website. Here are the steps:
| Step | Action |
| 1 | Go to the PlayStation official website. |
| 2 | Sign in to your PlayStation account. |
| 3 | On the homepage at the top right you should see your avatar. Click on the avatar then select Account Settings. |
| 4 | In the settings there is a section called Other Settings. |
| 5 | Now you should see a couple of subsections. |
| 6 | In this section you should see all of the PlayStation devices associated with your account. |
| 7 | Click on the Deactivate All Devices button to deactivate all devices associated with your account. |
Alternative Ways to Deactivate Your Primary PS4
There are alternative ways to deactivate your primary PS4 including deactivating it from the console itself. Here are the steps:
| Step | Action |
| 1 | Turn on your PS4 console. |
| 2 | Go to Settings. |
| 3 | Choose Account Management > Activate as Your Primary PS4. |
| 4 | Select Deactivate. |
You can also remotely deactivate all devices attached to your account using Account Management on a web browser. Here are the steps:
| Step | Action |
| 1 | Go to the PlayStation official website. |
| 2 | Sign in to your PlayStation account. |
| 3 | On the homepage at the top right you should see your avatar. Click on the avatar then select Account Settings. |
| 4 | In the settings there is a section called Other Settings. |
| 5 | Now you should see a couple of subsections. |
| 6 | In this section you should see all of the PlayStation devices associated with your account. |
| 7 | Click on the Deactivate All Devices button to deactivate all devices associated with your account. |
- What happens if I don’t deactivate my PS4 as primary before getting rid of it?
If you don’t deactivate your PS4 as primary before getting rid of it the new owner may have access to your account and games. They can also make purchases using your account. It is recommended to deactivate your PS4 before selling giving it away or disposing of it[5]. You can deactivate your primary PS4 console from Sony’s website or from the console itself[4]. If you forget to deactivate the console and no longer physically own it you can still deactivate your PS4 from Sony’s website[4
- Can I deactivate my PS4 as primary without internet access?
It is not possible to deactivate your PS4 as primary without internet access. You need to have internet access to deactivate your PS4 as primary from the console itself or from Sony’s website. If you don’t have access to the console you can still deactivate your PS4 from Sony’s website.
- How do I know if I’ve successfully deactivated my PS4 as primary?
To know if you have successfully deactivated your PS4 as primary you can check the status of your account on the console or on Sony’s website. On the console go to Settings > Account Management > Activate as Your Primary PS4. If you see the option to “Activate” instead of “Deactivate” then your PS4 is no longer set as the primary console for your account. On Sony’s website sign in to your account and go to Device Management > PlayStation Consoles. If you see the option to “Activate” instead of “Deactivate All Devices” then your PS4 is no longer set as the primary console for your account. It’s important to note that deactivating your PS4 as primary does not delete your account or games but it does remove the ability for others to access your account and games on that console.
- What happens if I deactivate my PS4 as primary and then activate another PS4 as primary?
When you deactivate your PS4 as primary and activate another PS4 as primary your account and games will be accessible on the new PS4. The previous PS4 will no longer have access to your account and games. It’s important to note that you can only have one primary PS4 console at a time for your account[7]. If you activate another PS4 as primary the previous PS4 will automatically be deactivated as primary. If you want to switch back to the previous PS4 as primary you will need to deactivate the current primary PS4 first[1].
- Is there a limit to how many times I can deactivate and activate a PS4 as primary?
You can deactivate your PS4 as primary once every six months.