The basic steps to get your PS5 online at a hotel
Most hotel WiFi networks will work with your PS5, but the connection process is different from home because hotels use a login page (called a captive portal) that appears in a web browser. Your PS5 doesn't have a browser, so you need to either log in from another device first or use your phone to complete the hotel's login on the PS5's behalf.
The fastest method is to connect your PS5 to the hotel network, then use your phone to open a web browser and visit any website — the hotel login page will pop up automatically. Once you log in from your phone, your PS5 should gain full internet access within a minute or two. If that doesn't work, you can manually tell the PS5 to open the login page by going into its network settings.
Some hotels block gaming consoles or limit their bandwidth, so you may want to call the front desk before you settle in and ask whether PS5 is supported. A few hotels offer a separate "guest device" network specifically for phones and tablets, which won't work for a PS5 — you'll need the main guest network instead.
Key Takeaways
- Connect your PS5 to the hotel WiFi network from the Settings menu, then use your phone to log into the hotel's captive portal on any website.
- If the automatic login page doesn't appear on your phone, manually open the PS5's network settings and select the option to sign in to the network.
- Some hotels block gaming consoles or throttle their speed, so ask the front desk whether PS5 is supported before you check in.
- Hotel WiFi is not encrypted the same way home WiFi is, so avoid logging into sensitive accounts (banking, email passwords) while connected.
Step-by-step: connecting your PS5 to hotel WiFi
Start on your PS5 home screen and go to Settings (the gear icon in the top right). Select Network, then Set Up Internet Connection. Choose WiFi and scan for networks. Find and select the hotel's network name — it's usually printed on a card in your room or posted at the front desk.
The PS5 will ask for a password. Enter the password the hotel provided (usually also on the card or given at check-in). Once you enter it, the PS5 will attempt to connect. At this point, you'll likely see a message that the connection is limited or that you need to sign in to the network.
Now pick up your phone or laptop and open a web browser. Visit any website — Google.com, ESPN.com, anything. The hotel's login page should appear automatically instead of the website you tried to visit. If it doesn't, try visiting a non-secure site (http, not https). Log in with the credentials the hotel gave you, or follow their sign-up process if you're a new guest.
Once you've logged in from your phone, go back to your PS5. The connection should now be active. You can test it by going back to Settings > Network > Test Internet Connection. If the test passes, you're ready to use online features.
What to do if the automatic login doesn't appear
If visiting a website on your phone didn't trigger the hotel login page, you can manually tell the PS5 to open it. On your PS5, go to Settings > Network > Set Up Internet Connection. After selecting the hotel WiFi and entering the password, look for an option that says Sign In to Network or Additional Settings. Select it, and the PS5 will open a login screen where you can enter the hotel's credentials directly.
If you still don't see a login option, the hotel network may use a different system. In that case, call the front desk and describe what you're trying to do — they can tell you whether the network supports gaming consoles and may have a workaround specific to their system.
Why some hotels block or limit PS5 connections
Hotels manage their WiFi bandwidth across hundreds of guests, so some deliberately restrict gaming consoles to prevent one person from using too much speed. Others block consoles entirely because they've had problems with guests downloading large files or running services that consume network resources.
This is a hotel policy choice, not a technical problem with your PS5. If the front desk tells you PS5 isn't supported, they usually mean it's blocked at the network level and there's no workaround. Some hotels offer a wired ethernet connection in the room — if yours does, you can plug directly into the wall jack with an ethernet adapter (the PS5 doesn't have a built-in ethernet port, but you can buy a USB-to-ethernet adapter for about $20).
Security considerations on hotel WiFi
Hotel WiFi is open and unencrypted, which means anyone on the same network can potentially see what you're doing. This is fine for gaming, streaming, and browsing, but you should avoid logging into sensitive accounts like email, banking, or social media while connected to hotel WiFi.
If you need to access something sensitive, use your phone's cellular data instead of the WiFi. If you must use the hotel network, consider using a VPN (virtual private network) app on your phone or PS5 — this encrypts your traffic so the hotel network can't see it. The PS5 doesn't have a built-in VPN option, but some routers and modems support VPN, and you can set up a VPN on your home network and connect to it remotely if you're comfortable with that level of setup.
Using a mobile hotspot as an alternative
If the hotel WiFi doesn't support your PS5 or is too slow, you can create a personal hotspot from your phone and connect the PS5 to that instead. This uses your phone's cellular data, so make sure you have an unlimited plan or enough data remaining — gaming can use 100 MB to 500 MB per hour depending on what you're doing.
On your phone, turn on the hotspot feature (called Personal Hotspot on iPhone, Mobile Hotspot on Android). Your phone will display a network name and password. On your PS5, go to Settings > Network > Set Up Internet Connection, select WiFi, find your phone's hotspot network, and enter the password. This gives you a dedicated connection that the hotel can't throttle or block.
Troubleshooting common connection problems
If your PS5 connects to the hotel WiFi but can't reach the internet, the most common cause is that you haven't completed the login page. Go back to your phone and try visiting a website again — the login page should appear. If it doesn't, try clearing your browser's cache or using a different browser.
If the PS5 keeps disconnecting, the hotel network may be unstable or may be dropping devices that aren't actively using bandwidth. Try moving closer to the router if possible, or ask the front desk whether they can restart the WiFi in your room. If disconnections happen only during gaming, the hotel may be throttling gaming traffic — in that case, a mobile hotspot is your best option.
If you see an error message about DNS or can't reach specific services (like PlayStation Network), the hotel may be blocking those services. Call the front desk and ask whether they block gaming services — if they do, there's usually no way around it without using a VPN or mobile hotspot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to log in every time I turn on my PS5?
No. Once you've logged into the hotel WiFi and completed the captive portal login from your phone, the PS5 should stay connected as long as you're in range. You may need to reconnect if you leave the hotel and come back, or if the hotel restarts their network overnight.
Can I play online multiplayer games on hotel WiFi?
Usually yes, as long as the connection is stable. Multiplayer games need consistent speed and low latency (delay). Hotel WiFi is often slower and more variable than home WiFi, so you might experience lag or disconnections. Single-player games and streaming services are more forgiving of slower connections.
What if the hotel asks for a room number or email to log in?
Enter the information they ask for. Most hotels require either a room number or an email address to track usage. Use your actual room number and a real email address — the hotel may send you a confirmation or need to contact you if there's a problem.
Is it safe to download games on hotel WiFi?
It's safe in the sense that the download itself won't be intercepted, but hotel WiFi is often slow and may have data limits. A large game (50 GB or more) could take many hours and might trigger throttling or complaints from the hotel. If you need a new game, download it at home or use a mobile hotspot if you have unlimited data.
Can I use a VPN on my PS5?
The PS5 doesn't have a built-in VPN option in its settings. Some advanced users set up a VPN on their home router and connect to it remotely, but that requires technical knowledge. For most people, using your phone's hotspot is simpler if you're concerned about hotel WiFi security.