How Do I Organize My PlayStation Home Screen? A Comprehensive Guide

Organizing your PlayStation home screen can significantly enhance your gaming experience, making it quicker and easier to find the games and apps you want. Whether you own a PS4 or a PS5, there are several effective methods to tidy up your digital space. The specific strategies differ between the two consoles, but the goal remains the same: a clean, intuitive, and personalized home screen.

On the PS4, you can utilize folders to group your content, while on the PS5, gamelists offer a similar function. Let’s explore how you can achieve a well-organized PlayStation home screen on both platforms.

Organizing Your PS4 Home Screen

The PS4 allows you to create folders to manage your games and applications. This feature lets you categorize your content based on genre, favorites, or any criteria you choose. Here’s how to get started:

Creating and Using Folders on PS4

1. Highlight Content: On your PS4 home screen, select the game or app you want to add to a folder.
2. Press the OPTIONS Button: Press the OPTIONS button on your controller.
3. Select “Add to Folder”: In the options menu, choose the “Add to Folder” option. You’ll have the choice to create a new folder or add it to an existing one.
4. Create a New Folder: If you are making a new folder, give it a relevant name (e.g., “Action Games”, “Multiplayer Fun”, or “Completed Games”).
5. Edit or Delete Folders: To edit or delete a folder, highlight the folder and press the OPTIONS button again. You can then rename or remove the folder entirely.
6. Move Content: Move content from one folder to another by highlighting the item, pressing OPTIONS, selecting “Move to Folder,” and then choosing your target folder.

Additional PS4 Customization Options

Beyond folders, you can also customize your PS4 home screen with a custom wallpaper.

1. Save an Image to USB: Start by saving the image you want to use to a folder on your computer, then place it on a USB drive.
2. Insert USB into PS4: Insert the USB drive into one of the USB ports on your PS4.
3. Go to Settings: Using your PS4 controller, select Settings.
4. Select Themes: Choose Themes from the menu.
5. Choose Custom Theme: Click Select Theme, then choose Custom.
6. Set Your Custom Wallpaper: You’ll be able to select the desired image from your USB drive as your new home screen wallpaper.

Additionally, you can adjust the display area settings to make sure the game screen properly fits your TV. Navigate to Settings > Sound and Screen > Display Area Settings to customize this.

Organizing Your PS5 Home Screen

The PS5 takes a different approach to home screen organization, focusing on a dynamic interface and gamelists. Unlike the PS4, it does not support custom wallpapers. However, it offers unique customization features that can be highly effective.

Creating and Using Gamelists on PS5

1. Open the Games Library: From the PS5 home screen, scroll to the right to access the Games Library.
2. Select Your Collection: Within the Library, go to Your Collection. This is where all your owned games are located.
3. Create a Gamelist: Select the “Create Gamelist” icon on the left-hand side of the screen (it looks like a “+” icon within a list). Alternatively, you can select a game, press the OPTIONS button, and select “Add to Gamelist” > “Create Gamelist.”
4. Add Games to Your List: Select the games you wish to add to your newly created gamelist, and then press “Add.”
5. Rename Your Gamelist: You can rename your gamelist to categorize your titles. For example, “Games to Play,” “Co-op Games”, or “Playstation Exclusives.”
6. Manage Your Gamelist: Within a gamelist, you can freely add and remove games as needed.
7. Pin Games to Home Screen: The PS5 allows you to pin up to 5 games or apps directly onto your home screen, ensuring your most played titles are always within easy reach.

Customizing the PS5 Control Center

The PS5 control center can also be customized to make your frequently used features easily accessible.

1. Open the Control Center: Press the PS button to display the control center.
2. Highlight an Icon: Select any icon within the control area.
3. Press the Options Button: Press the OPTIONS button on your controller.
4. Move the Icon: Select the icon you wish to move and choose a new position.
5. Confirm the Placement: Press X to confirm the new icon position.

This is how you can prioritize the features and settings that you use regularly, further streamlining your experience.

Additional Tips for Organizing Your PlayStation Home Screen

• Regular Maintenance: Set aside time occasionally to review and update your folders/gamelists. As your library grows, regular maintenance helps prevent clutter.
• Consistent Naming Conventions: Use consistent naming conventions for your folders/gamelists for easier identification.
• Utilize the Library: On both PS4 and PS5, utilize the library to explore all your games and filter them by various criteria (e.g., genre, date purchased).
• Experiment: Don’t be afraid to experiment with different organizational methods to find what works best for you.

By utilizing folders and gamelists on your PlayStation console and leveraging the available customization options, you can create an efficient and enjoyable home screen experience that perfectly suits your individual gaming needs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about organizing your PlayStation home screen.

1. Can you create folders on PS5 home screen?

Yes, but not in the same way as PS4. PS5 uses Gamelists, which effectively serve as folders for your games. These gamelists are fully customizable, allowing you to sort your games by genre, year, or any other category you prefer.

2. How do I arrange or move icons on the PS4 home screen?

On PS4, you can’t directly drag and drop icons to rearrange them freely, but you can add games to folders which essentially organizes them. Highlight a game or app, press the OPTIONS button, then choose “Add to Folder” to move them into your custom-made categories.

3. How many games show on PS5 home screen?

The PS5 home screen displays a maximum of 14 total games or apps at once. However, you can pin up to 5 games or apps to remain on your home screen at all times, ensuring immediate access to your favorites.

4. Can I customize my PS5 console’s appearance?

While PS5 doesn’t offer themes in the traditional sense, you can customize it with skins and decals. Several companies offer custom PS5 skins to personalize your console and controllers with various colors, designs, or even your own artwork.

5. How do I see all my games on PS4?

To see all your games on PS4, go to the Library from the function screen, and then select Purchased. This area lists all the games you’ve purchased or downloaded.

6. Can you change the color of the PS5 light bar?

No, you cannot directly change the color of the PS5 light bar. The light bar has eight pre-set states that reflect what the console is doing, like starting up, downloading, or playing.

7. How do I add Netflix to my PS4 home screen?

Go to the TV & Video icon on the PS4 home screen, select the Netflix App, and choose Download. After the installation is complete, you can launch Netflix from the home screen. Make sure you are signed in to PlayStation Network to access such services.

8. How do I customize my TV and video settings on PS4?

To customize video settings on your PS4, navigate to Settings > Sound and Screen > Video Output Settings. Here, you can adjust resolution, HDR output, and other settings.

9. How do I organize my games on the PS5?

On PS5, you use Gamelists to organize your games. Go to the Games Library, select Your Collection, and then either create a new gamelist or add games to an existing list.

10. Can you arrange apps and games on the PS5 home screen?

The PS5 home screen presents your most recent games and apps. You can’t freely rearrange these but you can pin up to 5 frequently accessed items. The rest are based on recent usage. However, you can change the order of items in the Control Center.

11. How to limit content items on the PS4 home screen?

Using folders is the primary way to limit the number of content items displayed on the PS4 home screen. By placing apps and games within folders, you reduce the number of visible icons.

12. How do I customize the PS5 control center?

Press the PS button to open the control center, highlight an icon, press the OPTIONS button, and select “Move” to reposition it within the control center.

13. How do I change the screen layout on my PS4?

To adjust the screen layout on your PS4, go to Settings > Sound and Screen > Display Area Settings. This lets you ensure the game screen fits properly on your TV.

14. How can I customize the PS4 console skin?

You can customize your PS4 console skin by purchasing skins or decals online. Numerous manufacturers provide various designs, or even offer customized options using your own images.

15. How does “Auto arrange icons” work on a PC?

The term ‘Auto arrange icons’ typically refers to desktop settings on a PC. When enabled, your icons are automatically arranged in columns starting from the left side of the screen. When disabled, you can freely position your desktop icons anywhere you want on your screen. This setting is not relevant to the PS4 or PS5.