Never used a PS5? The first ten minutes with a rented console

A PS5 is often rented by people who have never had one: a family on holiday, someone who has only played at a friend’s place, a partner who wants to try. This is a short guide for the first evening, with no jargon.

What comes in the kit

The console, a DualSense controller, an HDMI cable and a power cable. A PS Plus subscription and the games are already on the console, so you do not need to download anything.

Connecting it

1. Plug the HDMI cable into the console and into a free HDMI input on the TV.
2. Plug the console into a socket.
3. On the TV remote, switch the input (Source or Input button) to the HDMI port you used.
4. Press the PS button in the middle of the controller. The console turns on.

The PS button

Once the console is on, pressing the PS button opens the control center. It works in the middle of a game, too, and you do not have to quit the game to use it. From here you can switch the console off and go to your profile, where you switch users or sign out.

If the controller does not respond

PlayStation’s own advice: connect the controller to the console with a USB cable and press the PS button. After that, unplug the cable and play wirelessly.

No suitable cable at hand? Message us.

How to switch it off

There are two modes, and the difference matters:

• Rest mode is a low-power mode, not a full shutdown. Press the console’s power button once, or open the control center and choose Power, then Enter Rest Mode. In rest mode the console can charge controllers connected to it by USB, if Supply Power to USB Ports is turned on in the settings.
• A full shutdown: control center, Power, Turn Off PS5. Or press and hold the power button until the console beeps.

PlayStation warns: do not pull the power cord while the power indicator is lit or blinking. Before moving the console, or before the courier comes to collect it, switch it off fully and wait for the light to go out.

Before the console goes back

Signed in to your own PSN account? Sign out in your profile before the courier comes. It gets checked.

What it costs

Low-season prices in Phuket: 3 days for 1,000 ฿, a week for 2,000 ฿, a month for 4,000 ฿. Delivery is from 400 ฿ to Kathu and Patong up to 700–800 ฿ to Mai Khao. No deposit; cash on delivery. Cancel for free until the courier has left.