Guide: PS Portal FAQ - All Your Questions Answered

Q: Will people slate the product and the people that get one despite not being forced to purchase one themselves?

A: Yes.

Can you start your PS5 and stop it through the PS portal? or do you require to press the start button in the console itself?

I have a kid on the way, this could absolutely be on my radar for short sessions whenever/wherever I can in the house (I've already lost my home theater/gaming room to the baby, but it wasn't a fair fight).

But 200€ is too much for just a WiFi streaming device. At half the price, I would start to think about it.

@Nekomichu

As long as your PS5 is in sleep mode, not powered off.

Can couch co-op/splitscreen games be played where one player is on the tv and the other using the Portal, negating the splitscreen?

@Nekomichu I believe I read that as long as the PS5 is in rest mode, the Portal can turn it on. But not if the PlayStation is completely off

No Bluetooth is an astonishing decision. Absolutely unforgiveable in my book.

@Ooccoo_Jr They haven't supported BT since PS3/Vita, so it's not all that surprising to me. I'm glad they didn't drop the headphone jack at least.

If I’m within range of my PS5 and have my 3D Pulse headset connected to its USB dongle, I assume it will work while playing on PS Portal?

Just another win for digital then for those who buy this - without it, you can't play different games if you're away from the PS5.

Unanswered question. If your TV is enabled to switch on when Dualsense or PS5 is switched on, would the Portal do the same?

@Pranwell get the misses or boyfriend to change the disc in the machine if your away allowing you to play. Physical wins again 😉🤣👍🏻

@CroCopTeam Apparently yes. At least that's what I got from a video I watched today.

Can the portal work while ps is in rest mode?

Please can someone tell me if it performs better than the remote play app? The official one, not the superior third party one. I’ve got one of these coming and am hoping it’ll provide a more stable experience, but am not hopeful. If you could test it and the mobile app on the same network and same game that would be great.

Hi! I was wondering if I should buy this. I am living in America right now buy my PS5 is in The Netherlands, would this be a worthwhile buy?

Not sure if it’s common knowledge but remote play doesn’t need an internet connection necessarily, it does need a WiFi router though. In other words, if you connect your PS5 and Remote Play device to the same Router (via WiFi or even wired), even without internet connection, it will work.
I wonder if it works the same way for the Portal though.

When I turn on my portal, will my PS5 turn my monitor on? PS4 remote play feature did not. PS5 remote play feature does. I don't want to turn CEC-HDMI link OFF.

@Ooccoo_Jr
It’s so you can buy their new headphones. They thought of everything!

@Luigia
Thanks for thinking of that. Definitely my case.

I’d be very interested to hear some real world experiences when available. I have tried my iPad on remote play in same room as the PS5 and router and about 100m speed and it’s generally unplayable. From some reviews I’ve read it looks like if you have a poor remote play experience the Portal may not fare much better. Any thoughts anyone? Thanks.

Here’s a question I’ve not seen an answer to. Can you connect the Portal to your phone’s mobile hotspot?

I’ve successfully, and with a decent experience, played via Remote Play on my phone using just a strong 5G signal, so interested in the answer.

If it’s a no, then my iPhone+Backbone One may be the better option

I admit that I am the target audience for this product, but $200 is just way too much for a streaming tablet. I'll just be using my phone and Backbone controller until the price of this thing comes WAAAAAAY down.

@Gator_Rican had the same question and looks like we’ll be disabling the feature on our TV’s, unless Sony update the portal not to enable HDMI automatically

Q: Can you remote play media apps on this device?

So I need to keep the PS5 in rest mode all the time to be able to wake up the console and play easily?
Is there a way to turn off that light on the PS5 console when it is in rest mode?

And, overall, is the difference really huge from the regular remote play comparing when using the Portal?

@Luigia hopefully. It is possible, as I use Chiaki on Steam Deck to remote play, and it has a setting to skip this somehow. Great if someone is watching TV and you want to remote play, as it stops the channel automatically switching.

@DonkeyFantasy Interesting

Needs a question answering no Android to dispel rumours.

And no remote playing media apps.

@get2sammyb
Another good question is whether the TV turns on or switches inputs if it's already on when remote play is initiated. That is personally what I am waiting on. Another Push Square user stated the Remote Play app doesn't do this, so I am hoping the Portal doesn't either.

@michaelf Yes. You may use your phone as a hotspot for the PS Portal.

You may connect your PS Portal to any nearby WiFi. The only issue, if you are at your local coffee shop or in the airport, and that 'guest' WiFi requires you to accept Ts and Cs in a browser before able to connect, then that won't work, as the PS Portal doesn't have a browser or a way to accept them.

@PSPortalRules No.

On your PS Portal, you will see your PS5 dashboard and can navigate between the Games tab and the Media tab. However, you are not allowed to launch any of the apps on the Media tab. This may be unlocked in the future, if Sony eventually allows it, by disabling the HDCP setting in your PS5 HDMI settings.

@fabiotc
Yes, the PS5 must be in rest mode for the PS Portal to wake the PS5.
No, the PS5 rest mode light cannot be turned off. If you did, you wouldnt know if its off or in rest mode, and without this distinction you wouldnt know if you can properly unplug the console or not.
No, there is no noticeable difference between using the Remote Play app on a phone (about a frame faster) compared to using the PS Portal. However, while playing you will not notice any difference as the controller inputs are instant and align with the video shown on the PS Portal, as well as the sound/video aligned.

@Th3solution No. The audio is routed to the PS Portal, while it is controlling the PS5. No sound will be sent to the headset connected to the PS5 or TV Speakers or Sound bar. You will have to connect a wired 3.5mm headset to the PS Portal or use the built in speakers (until the Pules Elite or Pulse Explore headsets become available for wireless).

@Nekomichu If your PS5 is off, then you must turn on your PS5 either by pressing the power button on the PS5 or the PS button on a previously connected controller.

If your PS5 is in rest mode, then you may use the PS Portal to wake your PS5. And after finished using the PS Portal, you may use it to disconnect from the PS5. In the process of disconnecting, you can choose to put the PS5 back into sleep mode, turn off the PS5, or leave the PS5 on and just power off the PS Portal.

@plumbz @Buckeye4Life2015 @Level_Mind

Many Thanks for the reply guys! It'd be great if they had put a PS button to start the machine whenever you are in range, but that should do

@Level_Mind many thanks for the reply! Certainly helps 👍

for me the only question I have is : how does it compare to remote play on my phone ? I am waiting for the DF video testing the input lag to decide

any minute now, c'mon doorbell.

Just waiting for the delivery now. 😁

Does is come packaging with a protective case? Or is Sony releasing one for seperate sales?

I don't remember seeing one and the machine looks like it would break in two if dropped on the floor.

@Level_Mind Thanks!

Well after a few hours I’ve certainly learned that I need a better internet provider lol. Getting bare lag and drops in quality. Any tips for guidance? I’m not great with tech but my download speed says 53mb yet I’m getting pretty bad drops in quality tbh. Got sky internet with the white booster router aswell

@prince_myshkin No case is included. PS Portal, USB C to USB C charging cable, and manual are included.

Currently, no case is available. Usually third parties release cases for these types of devices within the first 3 months. I haven't heard of any plans for a Sony first party case, though still certainly possible eventually.

Does it provide a better experience than the official remote play app? I suspect it might as unlike a phone or tablet it isn’t doing lots of other bits and bobs online and is just doing one thing. It would be nice to know for sure though.

I wasn't interested in this, but a recent and unfortunate change in family circumstances means I might well pick one up.

The only thing that really bugs me is that you need an internet connection even if you're right next to your PS5. This really should be able to connect directly to the PS5 WiFi if you're within range, to give the maximum reduction in any lag.

@DonkeyFantasy thanks for that as I had no idea about channels etc . I will go and see a professional about this I think.

Maybe a stupid question but is it possible to play on the ps5 on the TV and then on a separate account on the ps portal at the same time?

@dschons @get2sammyb Yeah, that's why I asked the question. I've seen a couple of videos as well where they said it would be able to do so, so I was just hoping to get confirmation from @get2sammyb.
Was going to get it next week as me and the wife love co-op games but don't really like doing splitscreen because of the diminished view, would have opened up a whole new world for us. I'm sad now. Lol.

Is the recommendation of 15mbps upload or download speed? This is something I can’t find anywhere and seems to be an important factor to determine if your speeds are good enough or not.

@PSPortalRules no

@Ico1977 if you are having issues like that on your local network, then the issue is with your network not remote play.
When playing on the same netqork as the PS5, it doesnt matter about broadband speed. 1mbps will perform the same as 1gbps, as the data does not leave your house.

@Level_Mind are you talking from experience using a Portal?
The PS5 doesnt have a browser, but you can still connect to hotel wifi and accept Ts&Cs by linking your phone to the PS5

@Waffles12415 the 15mbps is Upload on the network your PS5 is on, and 15mbps Download for the network the protal is on.

If they are both on the same network, it wont matter if you have 1mbps, as the data stream wont leave your local network.

@Floppyudders No.

Think of it as, your PS5 is on, and the Portal becomes the TV/monitor and controller. If you leave your HDMI cable plugged into a TV/monitor., then as you use the Portal, your actions are mirrored on that TV/Monitor. Which you can change the input on your TV/monitor or unplug the HDMI cable, to not have that distraction.

The PS5/Portal is logged into one PS account at a time, so when signing into a different PS account on the Portal, your are actually signing into a different account on the PS5.

@TheSlythe No. I do have the Portal, but haven't tried it personally yet.

There is a Youtube review saying it is not possible. Though they could have been incorrect, and not used your phone example. I doubt the phone method accepting would work though, as the PS5 would be on the home network and the Portal is an extension of the PS5, in this scenario.

I was actually changing my mind on buying this - we're having a baby, only have one TV, my girlfriend loves to watch stuff I don't enjoy, literally fulfill every niche reason to justify dropping £200 (a ridiculous sum).

Deal-breaker is the lack of Bluetooth. Zero reason they couldn't allow me to use my existing earbuds beyond idiotic greed. I hope this fails and a second revision with Bluetooth comes out.

Disappointed that the sticks are standard controller ones, why not the replaceable ones ?or even better the Hall effect ones or whatever they're called. The magneti field doobers.
Maybe a Portal Pro version will be a better bet. How gutted would you be to develop stick drift in 6months time?
For now I will carry on streaming to my iPad pro and use standard Ps5 controller over blue tooth.......

I understand the Portal Wakes the PS5 from Rest Mode but is there anyway to play it while the system stays in rest mode? And not have it wake the system?

@DonkeyFantasy that’s my first port of call then mate thanks

I wonder how practical this is... in the sense that if i were to go on vacation with my ps5 left in rest mode if it would still play half-decent without a whole bunch of latency. Of course on something like a cruise where you are in open water away from general civilization, latency is to be expected, but just even travelling throughout my city I wonder how far I would be able to go. I'm only in highschool, and a big part of why I'm considering getting this as a gift is because I want to be able to go to school and play playstation similarly to how I would play nintendo. Guess I'll find out and come back, lol.