How To Remove an Account From a PS4

Maybe you want to sell or gift your PS4. Or perhaps that old friend you used to share your console with no longer games. Whatever the case, you might need to remove your account from the device or permanently delete your account from the PlayStation Network.

This article will walk you through the steps necessary to remove an account from your PS4. We’ll also discuss how to permanently delete your account from the PlayStation Network if you’ve decided to call it quits. Keep reading to find out more.

How to Remove an Account From a PS4

When you delete an account from your PS4, all the game stats, screenshots, and associated achievements will also be deleted. This includes all the licenses acquired through that account unless another user on that device uses them. But the good news is that the process will make more room for more games and content.

To remove your user profile or someone else’s from your PS4, follow these steps:

1. Log into your primary PS4 account.
2. Open “Settings.”
   
3. Expand the “Login Settings” menu.
   
4. From the options, choose “User management.”
   
5. Select “Delete user.”
   
6. Confirm the action by pressing “Delete.”
   

How to Deactivate Your Primary Account From PS4

If you’re planning to pass down your PS4 to someone else or start using your newly acquired PS5, you might want to deactivate your primary account. Here’s how to go about it:

1. Go to your primary PS4 account.
2. Navigate to “Settings.”
   
3. Go to “Account Management” then “Activate as Your Primary PS4.”
   
4. From the options, select “Deactivate” and then choose “Yes.”
   

How to Permanently Delete Your PlayStation Network User Account

The above method merely deletes the user data on a particular PlayStation console. However, the user will still be available on other PS4 devices. To permanently delete a PS4 account, you’ll have to log into your PlayStation Network account, contact the support team, and ask them to delete your account permanently. Here’s a walk-through of the process:

1. Go to your PS4 and navigate to “Account & Security.”
   
2. Select “Change Online ID & other account questions” from the options.
   
3. Navigate to “Need to contact us?” and in the chat box, fill in the required information along with your account’s ID.
   
4. Request a chat and ask the team to delete your account.
   

Permanently deleting your account on the PlayStation Network will lead to the loss of the following:

• Access to all content purchased through the account
• Access to all your active subscriptions
• Access to the funds in your PlayStation Network wallet 

Note: If you have active subscriptions or funds in the account’s wallet, you’re highly unlikely to be refunded. In addition, you can’t transfer ownership of any content purchased through the deleted account to another account or person.

How to Remove an Account That Belongs to a Family Member on PS4

To remove an account that belongs to a family member, follow these steps:

1. If you haven’t already, sign in to your PlayStation Network account.
2. Go to “Parental Controls/Family Management.”
   
3. Choose “Family Management.”
   
4. Under “Family Members,” select the profile of the family member you want to delete.
   
5. Click on “Delete User Profile.”
   

How to Factory Reset Your PS4 

A factory reset deletes all the data on the hard drive of your PS4, making it handy if you need to delete all the users on your PS4. While the feature is excellent if you’re looking for a fresh start, it can be detrimental because it can’t be recovered once data is deleted. 

To factory reset your PS4, follow these steps:

1. On your PS4, go to “Settings.”
   
2. Scroll down and choose “Initialization.”
   
3. Select “Initialize PS4.”
   
4. Click on “Full” to safely delete all the data from your PS4. Alternatively, choose the “Quick” option for a faster but less secure deletion process.
   
5. Press the “X” to proceed.
   

Note: It is highly recommended that you reset your PS4 using the “Full” option. It is more secure since it’s almost impossible for someone to recover your deleted data. While the process can take up to a few hours to complete, it’s worth it in the end.

On the other hand, the “Quick” option is fast but less secure. For instance, someone can use specialized software to recover all the deleted. For that reason, only use the option if you’re confident that the information on the device isn’t important and can’t make you vulnerable if accessed by someone else.

Be careful before resetting your device because the factory reset feature permanently deletes all your settings, game stats, achievements, and other important data on your PlayStation.

Additional FAQs

What happens when I remove an account from my PS4?

Removing a user profile from your PS4 deletes all the game data, achievements, subscriptions, and other media acquired through the account. 

How do I stop another user from logging into my PS4 account?

The best way to stop other people from logging into your PS4 account is to reset your password. Ensure the new password is secure enough and not easy to guess. To add an extra layer of security to your account, enable two-step verification. This way, you’ll get a code sent to your phone whenever someone tries to log into your account.

If I delete my PS4 account, can I use the same email to create a new account?

If you permanently delete an account from the PlayStation Network, you should be able to use the same email to create a new account. However, you can’t reuse the user ID previously assigned to you.

Can my friends and family members still access their accounts if I delete them from my PS4?

Your friends still have full access to their accounts even if you remove their accounts from your device. The account removal only affects the data saved locally on the PS4, not other devices using the account.

Does removing another user profile from my PS4 affect other data on my account?

No, removing a user profile that’s not yours from your PS4 doesn’t affect the data that belongs to your account. Your game stats, screenshots, subscriptions, achievements, and other data not associated with the removed account will remain intact.

Can I mass-delete accounts on my PS4

Unfortunately, the PS4 doesn’t have a mass-delete feature. If you want to delete all the user profiles from your PS4 dashboard, then your best shot is to use the factory reset feature. However, be certain you want to use the feature because all your data will be wiped out, and there’s no way to recover it.

Don’t Get Caught Up in the Mess

Deleting unneeded user accounts is a good way of freeing up your PS4 to make room for more exciting games and content. However, before proceeding with the action, it’s essential to be sure, especially when permanently deleting the accounts. It’s also a good practice to consult your friends and family – especially the latter– before you remove their accounts from your console to avoid any misunderstandings in the future.