Add Money to Your PSN Account
The PlayStation Network, also known as the PSN, is a gaming and shopping service created by Sony Computer Entertainment. It is used for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable and PlayStation Vita video game consoles. The money in your PSN account is called your "wallet." It is not necessary to add funds to your wallet in order to use your PlayStation Network account; however, the wallet is used to purchase games and movies in the PlayStation Store, which is accessible through the console. You will add money to your PSN account through the PlayStation console menu. This article will tell you how to add money to your PSN account.
Steps
- Turn on your PlayStation. Allow it to load the Cross Media Bar (XMB) before you click on anything. The XMB is a menu with icons that give you options, such as "Games," "Video" and "PlayStation Network."
- Your PlayStation system will need to be updated with current software in order to add funds to your account. Scroll left through the XMB until you find the Settings menu icon, which looks like a suitcase. Scroll down vertically until you find the "System Update" icon. Press the icon to update your system.
- Scroll horizontally to the PlayStation Network icon. This icon is a blue ball that features the 4 PlayStation controller symbols: a square, a triangle, a cross and a circle. Click on that icon.
- Scroll vertically until you reach the "Account Management" icon. It is a smiley face with a pencil next to it. Click on this icon.
- Scroll down through the options until you reach the "Transaction Management." This icon is a graphic of 3 stacked coins. Click on the icon.
- If you want to add money with a promotion code, click the "Redeem Codes" option, rather than "Transaction Management." This may include email promotion codes or gift cards.
- Choose the first icon in the vertical list, labeled "Add Funds." In this menu, you can also choose to "Require Password at Checkout," "Automatic Funding," "Transaction History," "Download List" and "Services List."
- Enter your password in the box that pops up. First click on the box, and then use the controller to type in the password 1 character at a time. Press the "OK" button when you are done.
- Select the option to fund your wallet with a credit card or a PlayStation Network Card. PlayStation Network Cards are available at authorized PlayStation stores. Click on the option you prefer.
- Add the amount of money you want to add to your PSN Network wallet. In North America, your options are $5, $10, $25, $50 and $150. At any time, your wallet cannot exceed $150.
- Enter your credit card details or PlayStation Network Card codes. If you are using a credit card, you will need to enter the number, expiry date and other personal information. You can choose to save the card on your wallet, so that the details do not have to be entered for future purchases.
- If your PlayStation Network Card does not work, it is likely that it was not activated when you purchased it. Return the card to the store with your receipt and ask them to activate it.
- Agree to the terms of service. Any money added to your PSN wallet is non-refundable. After the screen pops up to confirm the amount added to your wallet, you can use your funds to purchase content from the PlayStation store.
Tips
- A PlayStation Network account must have a master account holder. It can also have sub-account holders. These sub-account holders do not have their own wallets, but they can use the master wallet. Master account holders can set the monthly spending limit of each sub-account holder through the" Account Management" and then sub-account management icons. A sub-account can not exceed $300 in spending per month, and only the master account holder can add funds to the wallet.
- Under the "Transaction Management" screen you can also set up a credit card to automatically fund your subscriptions, if your wallet balance is too low. An example of a PlayStation subscription is the monthly PlayStation Plus subscription that provides exclusive games and content to its users.
- It is not necessary to add funds to your wallet in order to use your PlayStation Network account. The wallet is used for purchases made in the PlayStation Store, which is accessible through the console.
- PlayStation Network Cards are often used as gift cards. They are also considered a safer way to conduct transactions on a gaming console, because your personal and credit card information is not stored online.
Things You'll Need
- PlayStation console
- PlayStation controller or remote
- Credit card or Debit card
- PlayStation Network Card (optional)
Related Articles
- Add a Credit Card to the PlayStation Store
- Send a Message to Yourself on PSN
- Get to Know Your PS3 Online Account
- Make a Master Account on PS3
- Upload a Personalized Icon to Your PlayStation Network Account
Sources and Citations
- http://manuals.playstation.net/document/en/ps3/3_15/store/wallet.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_Network
- [http://us.playstation.com/psn/psncards/
- http://us.playstation.com/psn/psncards/]
- http://ps3explained.com/beginner/users-accounts-and-sub-accounts/