The PS5 has a built-in web browser you can open from the home screen
Your PS5 comes with a web browser already installed. You do not need to download anything or change settings to use it. The browser works like the one on your phone or computer — you can search, visit websites, and read pages. It is not as fast as a dedicated browser on a PC, but it works well for looking things up quickly without leaving your console.
The browser is useful when you want to check something mid-game, read gaming news, or look up a walkthrough without switching devices. It opens in a window on top of your game or app, so you can keep playing in the background if you want.
Key Takeaways
- Open the web browser by pressing the PS button, going to Control Center, and selecting the browser icon.
- Use the on-screen keyboard or connect a USB keyboard to type faster than the controller allows.
- The browser supports most websites, but some sites with heavy video or animation may load slowly.
- You can bookmark pages and return to them later without typing the full address again.
- Close the browser by pressing the PS button and selecting "Close" — this does not clear your history or bookmarks.
Opening the browser from your home screen
Press the PS button on your controller to bring up the Control Center. This is the menu that appears at the bottom of your screen when you press the button during gameplay or from the home screen. Look for the browser icon — it looks like a globe or compass symbol.
Select the browser icon and it will open in a new window. If you are in the middle of a game, the game stays running behind the browser. You can switch back to your game by pressing the PS button again and selecting the game from the Control Center, or by closing the browser.
Typing and searching on the PS5 browser
The on-screen keyboard appears when you tap in the address bar or search box. You navigate it with the controller — move the cursor with the stick or D-pad and press X to select each letter. This works but is slow for long searches or URLs.
A USB keyboard connected to your PS5 is much faster. Plug a standard USB keyboard into one of the ports on the back of the console and you can type normally. The keyboard works immediately without any setup. If you search the web often, a keyboard saves time and frustration.
To search, type your question or website name in the address bar at the top. The browser will search using your default search engine — usually Google. Press Enter or select the search button to go to the results page.
Bookmarking pages you visit often
When you find a page you want to return to, you can save it as a bookmark. Open the page, then press the Options button on your controller (the button with three horizontal lines). Select "Add to bookmarks" or a similar option depending on what page you are on.
Your bookmarks appear in a list when you open the browser. You can return to any bookmarked page by selecting it from that list instead of typing the address again. This is especially useful for gaming wikis, news sites, or forums you check regularly.
Websites that work well and ones that may be slow
Most text-based websites load and display normally on the PS5 browser. News sites, wikis, forums, and reference pages work fine. Video sites like YouTube load but may buffer more than on a phone or computer, depending on your internet speed.
Some websites with heavy animations, auto-playing videos, or complex interactive features may load slowly or not display correctly. If a page is taking too long, try refreshing it or moving on to a different site. The browser does not support Flash, which some older websites still use, so those pages will not work.
Clearing your browser history and managing privacy
Your browser keeps a record of every page you visit. To clear this history, press the Options button and look for "Clear browsing data" or "Settings." Select the option to clear history, and choose what time period you want to clear — the last hour, day, week, or all time.
You can also delete individual bookmarks by highlighting them and pressing the Options button, then selecting delete. Clearing history does not affect your bookmarks — those stay saved until you delete them on purpose.
Troubleshooting when the browser will not open or load pages
If the browser icon does not appear in your Control Center, restart your PS5. Power it off completely, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. The browser should appear in the Control Center after the restart.
If pages are not loading, check your internet connection. Go to Settings, select Network, and choose "Test Internet Connection." If the test fails, restart your router — unplug it for 30 seconds, plug it back in, and wait for it to fully restart. Then try opening a webpage again.
If one specific website will not load but others do, the problem is usually with that website, not your PS5. Try a different site to confirm your connection is working, then try the original site again in a few minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the PS5 browser to watch streaming services like Netflix?
Yes, you can visit Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and other streaming sites in the browser and watch there. However, most of these services have dedicated PS5 apps that work better and load faster. Check your PS5 library to see if the app is already installed, or download it from the PlayStation Store.
Does the PS5 browser support online shopping and payments?
Yes, the browser supports shopping sites and payment systems. You can buy things and enter credit card information just as you would on any other device. Make sure you are on a secure website — look for the padlock icon in the address bar before entering payment details.
What should I do if a website asks me to download something?
The PS5 browser can download files, but they go to your console's storage. For most websites, you do not need to download anything — you can view content directly in the browser. If a site requires a download and you are not sure what it is, close the browser and look up the site on another device first.
Can I use the browser while playing online multiplayer games?
Yes, you can open the browser while playing, and your game keeps running in the background. However, opening the browser uses some of your internet bandwidth, which may cause lag in online games. Close the browser if you notice your connection getting worse during gameplay.
Is there a way to make the browser text bigger so it is easier to read?
Most websites have a zoom feature — press the Options button and look for zoom or text size settings. You can also adjust the text size in your PS5 display settings, which affects the whole console. Go to Settings, select Screen and Video, and look for text size or accessibility options.