You can stream PS5 games to your laptop, but not with a cable

The PS5 does not have a video output cable you can plug into a laptop. Instead, you use Remote Play, Sony's built-in streaming feature that sends your PS5 display and sound to your laptop over your home network or the internet. This works on Windows and Mac laptops, and the setup takes about ten minutes once you have the right accounts and network connection in place.

Remote Play is free if you already own a PS5. You do not need PlayStation Plus, though some games require it to play online. The video quality depends on your network speed — a wired ethernet connection gives you the smoothest experience, but a strong Wi-Fi signal works for most games.

Key Takeaways

  • Remote Play streams your PS5 to your laptop over your home network or internet, and requires a PlayStation Network account on both devices.
  • You must enable Remote Play on your PS5 first, then read the Remote Play app on your laptop from Sony's website or your app store.
  • A wired ethernet connection on your PS5 and a strong Wi-Fi signal on your laptop give the best performance for streaming games.
  • Remote Play works on Windows 10 and newer, and Mac OS 11 and newer, but some games may have input lag or visual delay over weaker connections.

Enable Remote Play on your PS5

Start on your PS5 console. Go to Settings (the gear icon on the top right of the home screen), then select System, then Remote Play. Toggle Enable Remote Play to on. Your PS5 will show you a code — write this down or take a screenshot, because you will need it on your laptop.

While you are in Settings, check that your PS5 is signed into your PlayStation Network account. Go back to Settings, select Users and Accounts, then Other, then User on Other Devices. Toggle this to on so your account can log in from your laptop. This step is what lets Remote Play recognize your laptop as a trusted device.

read Remote Play on your laptop

On your Windows or Mac laptop, go to remoteplay.sony.com and read the Remote Play app. If you use Windows, you can also find it in the Microsoft Store by searching "Remote Play". For Mac, you can search the App Store for "Remote Play". Install the app and open it.

When you open Remote Play for the first time, it will ask you to sign in with your PlayStation Network account — the same one your PS5 uses. Enter your email and password. The app will then search your home network for your PS5 and show it in a list. Select your PS5 and enter the code you wrote down earlier. Your laptop is now paired with your console.

Connect your laptop to your PS5

Once your laptop is paired, opening Remote Play will show your PS5 home screen on your laptop display. Your PS5 controller will work wirelessly with your laptop during streaming — just hold the PS button and the Share button together for three seconds to connect it to your laptop. If your controller does not connect, make sure Bluetooth is turned on in your laptop settings.

You can now launch any game on your PS5 from your laptop. The game runs on your console, and your laptop receives the video and sound stream. Your controller inputs travel back to the PS5 in real time. If you want to use your keyboard and mouse instead, Remote Play supports that for some games, but most PS5 games are designed for a controller.

Network setup for the best performance

Remote Play works best when both your PS5 and laptop have strong, stable connections. The ideal setup is a wired ethernet cable from your PS5 to your router — this removes Wi-Fi interference and gives you the lowest delay. Your laptop can use Wi-Fi, but position it close to your router or use a 5 GHz Wi-Fi band if your router supports it.

If you are streaming over the internet from outside your home, your upload speed matters most. Your PS5 sends video to your laptop, so you need at least 5 Mbps upload speed for 1080p at 60 frames per second. Slower connections will reduce resolution or frame rate automatically. You can test your speed at speedtest.net — run the test on your PS5 by opening a web browser in Settings.

Troubleshooting common connection problems

If Remote Play cannot find your PS5, make sure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network. If your router has a guest network, your PS5 and laptop must both be on the main network, not the guest network. Restart your PS5 and your laptop, then try again. If you are connecting from outside your home, make sure your PS5 is in Rest Mode or running a game — Remote Play cannot reach a PS5 that is completely powered off.

If the video is choppy or delayed, move your laptop closer to your router or switch to a wired connection if possible. Close other apps on your laptop that use the internet — streaming video, downloads, or video calls will compete with Remote Play for bandwidth. If lag is still a problem, try lowering the resolution in Remote Play settings: open the app, go to Settings, select Quality, and choose Standard instead of High.

What games work best over Remote Play

Most PS5 games work over Remote Play, but some perform better than others. Fast-paced games like shooters or fighting games are more noticeable when there is input lag — the delay between pressing a button and seeing the action on screen. Turn-based games like strategy titles or puzzle games are less affected by lag because you control the pace.

A few games do not support Remote Play at all, usually because they require specific hardware features. Your PS5 will tell you if a game cannot be streamed — you will see a message when you try to launch it. In that case, you must play on your TV or monitor connected directly to the console. Check the game's manual or the PlayStation support website if you are unsure whether a specific title supports streaming.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Remote Play if my PS5 is in another room?

Yes. Remote Play works anywhere on your home network, so your PS5 can be in a bedroom and your laptop in the living room. If you want to stream from outside your home — from a friend's house or while traveling — you can do that too, as long as your PS5 is in Rest Mode or running a game and your home internet connection is stable.

Do I need PlayStation Plus to use Remote Play?

No. Remote Play itself is free and does not require a subscription. However, some games require PlayStation Plus to play online multiplayer. Remote Play just streams your console to your laptop — it does not change what the games themselves need.

Why is my Remote Play connection so slow?

Check your Wi-Fi signal strength on both devices. If your laptop is far from your router, move it closer or use a wired ethernet cable if possible. Also check whether other people are using your internet heavily — streaming video, video calls, or downloads on other devices will slow Remote Play. If you are connecting from outside your home, your home internet upload speed is the limiting factor.

Can I use a keyboard and mouse instead of a controller?

Some games support keyboard and mouse input over Remote Play, but most PS5 games are designed for a controller. Check the game's settings menu to see if keyboard and mouse are available. If not, you will need to use your PS5 controller.

What if my PS5 controller will not connect to my laptop?

Make sure Bluetooth is enabled in your laptop settings. Hold the PS button and Share button together for three seconds to put the controller in pairing mode. If it still will not connect, restart your laptop and try again. You can also use a USB cable to connect the controller directly to your laptop while you are setting up Remote Play.