The Playstation Network, also known as PSN, is a gaming and shopping service created by Sony Computer Entertainment. It is used on Playstation 3, Playstation Portable and Playstation Vita consoles. The money in your PSN account is called a wallet. You don't need to add funds to your wallet in order to use your PSN account; however, you will use the wallet to purchase games and movies in the Playstation Store, which you can access from the console. You will be able to add money to your PSN account from the Playstation console menu. This article will teach you how.
Steps
Step 1. Turn on your Playstation
Wait for the Cross Media Bar (XMB) to load. The XMB is a menu that features icons such as "Games", "Video" and "Playstation Network".
You will need to update the Playstation system to the latest version in order to add funds to your account. Scroll through the XMB until you find the "Settings" menu, which looks like a suitcase. Scroll vertically until you find the "System Update" icon. Press the icon to update the system
Step 2. Scroll horizontally to the Playstation Network icon
This icon is a blue sphere that contains the 4 Playstation controller symbols: a circle, a triangle, a square and a cross. Click on that icon.
Step 3. Scroll vertically until you reach the "Account Management" icon
This is a smiling face with a pencil beside it. Click on the icon.
Step 4. Scroll down through the options until you find "Transaction Management"
The icon is a graphic of 3 stacked coins. Click on it.
If you want to add money with a promotional code, click on "Redeem Codes", not "Manage Transactions". These codes can be found for example in promotional emails or gift vouchers
Step 5. Choose the first icon in the vertical list, called "Add Funds"
In this menu, you can also choose "Require password on purchase", "Automatic funds", "Transaction history", "Download list" and "Service list".
Step 6. Enter your password in the window that appears
First click on the empty field, then use the controller to type the password one character at a time. Press the "OK" button when done.
Step 7. Choose the option to add funds to your wallet with a credit card or a Playstation Network card
You will be able to find the cards in authorized Playstation stores. Click on the option you prefer.
Step 8. Add the amount of money you want to add to your wallet
In Europe, your options are € 5, € 10, € 25, € 50 and € 150. At any given time, there can be no more than € 150 in your wallet.
Step 9. Enter your credit card details or Playstation Network card code
If you are using a credit card, you will need to enter the number, expiration date and other personal information. You can choose to save the card in your account, so you don't have to re-enter the details for future purchases.
If your Playstation Network card doesn't work, it probably wasn't activated when you bought it. Return the card to the shop along with the receipt and ask for it to be activated
Step 10. Accept the terms of service
Money added to your PSN wallet is non-refundable. After the confirmation window to add money to the wallet appears, you will be able to use your funds to purchase content from the Playstation store.
Advice
- A Playstation Network account must have a master owner. It can also have other second level users. These users don't have their own wallet, but they can use the master one. Master Account Holders can set monthly spending limits for each secondary user via "Account Management" and then by selecting the Sub Account Management icons. A sub account cannot spend more than € 300 in a month, and only the master user can add funds to the wallet.
- In the "Transaction Management" screen, you can also choose to use a credit card to automatically pay for your purchases if your wallet balance is too low. You can use this feature for example to pay for the monthly Playstation Plus subscription without having to top up your wallet every month.
- Playstation Network cards are often used as gifts. They are also considered a safer method of shopping on your console, because your personal and credit card information will not be saved online.
