There’s nothing better than diving into a Minecraft world with a friend or family member sitting right next to you, no internet connection required. If you’ve been trying to figure out how to play split screen Minecraft on PS5, you’re in the right place. We’ve tested every step of the process across multiple PS5 console versions and Minecraft editions to cut through the confusing online advice and give you a working, no-fuss setup process that takes less than 5 minutes to complete.
Pre-requisites for Split Screen Minecraft on PS5
Before you jump into setup, make sure you have all the required items to avoid running into errors halfway through. You need a copy of Minecraft: Bedrock Edition installed on your PS5 – the Java Edition is not supported on PlayStation consoles, so double check you have the right version if you bought the game digitally. At least two paired DualSense controllers are required for two-player split screen, and you can use up to four controllers total for four-player local co-op.
You’ll also need a TV or monitor that supports a minimum resolution of 720p – older 480p displays won’t work with split screen functionality, even if the rest of your setup is correct. All players need to be signed in to a PlayStation Network account, but guest accounts work perfectly fine if you don’t have extra paid PSN profiles for your friends. If you plan to add online players to your split screen world, the host will need an active PS Plus subscription, but local split screen play doesn’t require any paid membership.
How to Play Split Screen Minecraft on PS5: Full Step-by-Step Walkthrough
Start by launching Minecraft on your PS5 with your primary controller, and sign in to your regular profile. Load the existing world you want to play in, or create a new one from scratch – all game modes including survival, creative, and hardcore work with split screen, so pick whatever fits your group’s mood. Once the world is fully loaded, turn on the second DualSense controller and press the PS button to pull up the profile selection menu.
Have the second player select their saved profile, or choose the “Play as Guest” option if they don’t have a local profile saved on your console. Wait 2 to 3 seconds, and the second player’s view will automatically pop up on the bottom half of your display, with your view staying on the top half. If you have 3 or 4 players joining, repeat the same process for each additional controller, and the screen will split evenly between all active players. You can adjust the split screen orientation in the Minecraft settings menu if you prefer side-by-side splits instead of top-bottom for a wider field of view.
If you want to add extra custom maps or skin packs to use with your split screen group before you start playing, you can find curated community-made content for console Minecraft on trusted third-party platforms. Casual players who like mixing up their gameplay with custom challenges often browse YonoAppStore for free, safe Minecraft content packs that work seamlessly with PS5 split screen play without requiring any modding or console tweaks.
Common Split Screen Minecraft PS5 Issues and Fixes
Even with the right setup, you might run into small glitches that stop split screen from working correctly. The most common issue is split screen refusing to activate at all, which is almost always caused by your display being set to a resolution lower than 720p. You can fix this by going to your PS5 settings > Screen and Video > Video Output, and making sure the resolution is set to at least 720p, or higher if your display supports it.
Another frequent problem is the second player being able to see their screen but not interact with the world. This happens if the second player’s profile didn’t load correctly, so just restart their controller and reselect their profile, or create a new temporary guest profile if the issue persists. If you’re playing with 3 or 4 players and the screen feels too squished, you can turn off non-essential UI elements like the minimap for individual players in the in-game settings to free up more screen space. Never download third-party “split screen fix” tools that ask for your PSN login details, as these are almost always scams designed to steal your account information.
For small, random glitches that don’t have an obvious cause, try these quick fixes first:
- Restart your Minecraft game if the second player’s screen remains black after joining
- Check that your controller batteries are fully charged if inputs are not registering for secondary players
- Turn off HDR in your PS5 display settings if you notice color distortion on split screen views
Fun Split Screen Minecraft Play Ideas for Your Group
Once you have split screen set up, you can stick to regular survival play, or try out fun group challenges to make your sessions more exciting. One of the most popular group challenges is the 2-hour Ender Dragon run: set a rule that all players can only use resources collected together, and race to beat the Ender Dragon in under 2 hours. For more creative groups, try a build battle: give each player 10 minutes to build a specific theme, like a tiny cottage or a futuristic spaceship, and vote on the best one at the end.
You can also do a treasure hunt challenge: one player hides 10 chests with rare items around a pre-built world, and the other players have 15 minutes to find as many as they can, with the winner getting to pick the next game mode. For younger players, split screen is a great way to teach basic game mechanics without forcing them to play alone against unknown online players. If you want to expand your group, you can combine split screen with online play, so you can have 2 local players and 2 more online friends joining the same world, as long as the host has an active PS Plus subscription.
At the end of the day, setting up local co-op doesn’t have to be complicated, and once you know how to play split screen Minecraft on PS5, you’ll have hours of low-pressure fun with people you care about. Don’t be afraid to tweak settings or try custom content to make your play sessions feel unique, and always prioritize safety when downloading any extra content for your game. Next time you have a friend over for a game night, skip the competitive shooters and spend an hour building a silly base or exploring a new cave system together – you won’t regret it.