Want to keep your gaming library a secret? Knowing how to hide games on PS5 is essential for maintaining privacy or simply decluttering your home screen. This comprehensive guide will walk you through various methods, addressing common questions and offering expert insights to help you master PS5 game management.
This guide tackles everything you need to know about hiding games on your PlayStation 5, including different techniques, troubleshooting tips, and even considerations for managing multiple user profiles. We’ll cover the basics and delve into more advanced techniques. So, let’s dive in!
Hiding Games on Your PS5: The Simple Method
The most straightforward way to hide games on your PS5 involves utilizing the PS5’s built-in game management system. This doesn’t technically hide the games, meaning they’re still accessible from your library, but it neatly removes them from your home screen, creating a cleaner and more personalized gaming space.
- Navigate to your Game Library: From the PS5 home screen, navigate to your “Games” library.
- Select a Game: Choose the game you wish to remove from your home screen.
- Access the Game Options: Press the Options button on your DualSense controller while highlighting the selected game.
- Select “Hide from Home Screen”: Look for this option in the menu that appears, and select it.
- Repeat for Other Games: Follow these steps for each game you want to hide.
That’s it! The selected games will now be removed from your PS5 home screen, keeping them private and out of sight.
Hiding Games in PS5 Library
Can You Completely Delete Games to Hide Them?
While hiding games keeps them from your home screen, they’re still accessible within your game library. If you want to completely remove a game from your PS5, you’ll need to delete it. Remember, this removes the game entirely and requires re-downloading if you want to play it again.
- Deleting Games: From your game library, highlight the game you want to delete and press the Options button. Then, select “Delete” from the context menu. This option permanently removes the game files.
How to Unhide Games on PS5: Recovering Your Hidden Titles
Worried you might forget which games you’ve hidden? Don’t be! Unhiding games is just as simple as hiding them:
- Access Your Game Library: Head back to your “Games” library.
- Filter for Hidden Games: The PS5 does not offer a separate “Hidden Games” category, unfortunately. You will need to scroll through your list to locate games you had hidden.
- Unhide the Game: Once you locate a hidden game, press the Options button, and select the “Show on Home Screen” option.
Managing Games on Multiple PS5 Profiles: A Family Approach
If you share your PS5 with others, managing game visibility across multiple profiles requires careful consideration. Each profile maintains its own “hidden” state. This means a game hidden on one profile will still be visible on another.
- Individual Preferences: Each user should manage their own game visibility using the steps outlined above.
Managing Games Across Multiple PS5 Profiles
Advanced Tips and Troubleshooting for Hiding PS5 Games
- Storage Space: Hiding games doesn’t free up storage space. To reclaim storage, you’ll need to delete games.
- Game Updates: Hiding a game doesn’t prevent it from receiving updates. Updates will still download automatically.
- Digital vs. Physical Games: The process of hiding games is the same for both digital and physical games.
What if I Can’t Find the “Hide from Home Screen” Option?
If you’re struggling to find the “Hide from Home Screen” option, ensure your PS5’s system software is up-to-date. Outdated software can sometimes lead to missing functionalities. Check for updates in your PS5’s settings menu.
Troubleshooting PS5 Game Hiding Issues
Expert Opinion: Navigating PS5 Game Management
“The PS5’s game management features are designed for user customization,” says Dr. Eleanor Vance, a leading gaming experience researcher. “While the system doesn’t offer complete game hiding, the options to remove games from the home screen and delete games effectively address the need for both privacy and clean UI organization.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Can I hide game downloads in progress? No, you cannot hide games currently downloading.
Q2: Does hiding games affect online multiplayer functionality? No, hiding a game doesn’t affect your ability to play online.
Q3: Can I hide PlayStation Store content? No, you cannot hide items directly from the PlayStation Store within the console itself.
Q4: Will hidden games appear in my “Recently Played” list? Yes, hidden games will still appear in your “Recently Played” list.
Q5: Can I create folders to organize games on my PS5? Unfortunately, the PS5 does not currently support game folders. This is a frequently requested feature.
Q6: What happens to game save data if I hide or delete a game? Your save data is usually kept separate and is not affected by hiding or deleting a game. However, it is prudent to back up your saves regularly.
Q7: Are there any third-party apps to better manage my PS5 games? No, there aren’t any officially supported third-party apps that allow for enhanced game management functionalities such as folder creation or advanced hiding features beyond the built-in functionalities.
Conclusion
Mastering the art of hiding games on your PS5 is all about understanding its built-in functionalities. While complete game hiding isn’t directly possible, removing games from your home screen provides a tailored gaming experience, enhancing your privacy and personalizing your PS5 home screen. Remember to keep your system software updated for optimal performance and access to all available features. So, go ahead and declutter your PS5 home screen – you’ll find the process is simpler than you might think!
