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Have you been playing your PlayStation console and just received notice that your account has been banned? Maybe one of your friends’ accounts just got banned and they want to know how long it could be banned for.
So how long is my PlayStation account banned for?
If your PlayStation account was banned by Sony, it can be banned anywhere from 7 days to indefinitely. You should have received an email from Playstation letting you know exactly how long it has been banned along with other details.
If you want to know more about PlayStation and why they ban accounts, you will want to keep reading.
You can also watch this video below to learn more as well.
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Why Did I Get Banned From PlayStation? (5 Things To Consider)
Sometimes PlayStation restricts access to a user either through a suspension or a ban on their account. If you are an avid gamer, you might have also experienced this.
What are the various actions that call for a ban/suspension?
How do I steer clear of these restrictions?
If a restriction is imposed on your account, how do you determine the duration of the ban?
Is it temporary or permanent?
These are some of the frequently asked questions among PlayStation users. Let’s try to find the answers to these questions one by one.
1. Pay attention to the error message
If you are unable to connect to the PlayStation Network, you will most likely be getting an error message with a brief description of the error. Although the error may not be too descriptive, you may Google the error code for suggestions on how to proceed.
Listed below are a few common errors that appear when a restriction is imposed on an account.
- WS-37337-3: This account is banned temporarily.
This is a temporary ban (usually for 7 days. Contacting customer support might help)
- WS-37397-9: Connection Error.
- 8002A231: Your PlayStation Network account has been suspended.
- 8002A227: You cannot use the PlayStation Network with this account.
2. Suspension due to misconduct
When you initially sign up for a PSN account, you agree to the PlayStation Network Terms of Service and Community Code of Conduct. When you fail to comply with the agreed code of conduct, it will result in warnings, suspensions, or bans.
Whether the ban is temporary or permanent depends on various factors. Let’s look to see how your account may get suspended for misconduct on the platform.
If it was found that inappropriate or explicit content was uploaded from your PlayStation account (or you have an inappropriate id or gamer tag), you will receive a temporary or permanent ban depending on the degree of the offense. The PlayStation network mentions that every report is scrutinized by the Playstation Safety staff before issuing a PSN suspension or ban.
This is why normally contacting PlayStation customer service to get your PSN account unbanned almost never works. Customer service will not normally give access to the details of the report either.
The duration of your Playstation Network suspension is mentioned in your email notification regarding the ban. If you are lucky to have a temporary suspension, you only have to wait for the specified period (normally a couple of days) before you can access your PSN account again.
If you have received a permanent ban due to behavioral misconduct, you cannot appeal. An appeal is accepted only for a permanent ban on grounds of inappropriate online ID (if your online ID contains vulgar or provocative content). There is a procedure to be followed to apply for an appeal.
You can avoid getting a suspension due to misconduct though. You will simply need to go through the code of conduct thoroughly and strictly abide by it.
In short, do not make offensive comments, use obscene language, or upload inappropriate content. Be kind and respectful to everyone on the platform.
This will help you stay away from suspensions due to misconduct on the platform.
3. Payment reversal issue
Another reason why your PSN account may get suspended is payment reversal (such as by filing a chargeback with your payment method). The corresponding error code for this is WS-37368-7. This means that your financial institution canceled a payment made by you, upon your request.
Essentially what this means is that you have an account debt that must be cleared up before your account will be able to be used again. So if you had a subscription payment and rather than canceling the subscription you filed a chargeback this could be the issue.
The duration of the suspension depends on your financial institution. Once the pending charges are resolved, you will be granted access to your account.
You will have to contact customer support and provide details such as your ID and email address to recover your account. You will also be required to make the payment that was reversed that causes the suspension in the first place.
Sometimes, a payment reversal situation may occur when a purchase is made from your account without your knowledge. This can be prevented by setting up a checkout password to prevent unauthorized access.
Family managers can place purchase restrictions on their children’s accounts to avoid their kids buying a bunch of items online through PlayStation.
Once all these steps are taken, make sure that your financial institution does not cancel any payments or transactions made on PlayStation games and subscriptions.
This is the only way to make sure that your account does not get suspended due to payment reversal. According to the user agreement you are responsible for all payments on your account so if you refuse to make a payment then the PSN ban will become permanent until you do.
4. Suspicious activity on your account
If the moderators have a suspicion that your account is being accessed by unauthorized entities, your account may be suspended for your safety. You will want to take adequate precautions to keep your account safe from such activities.
Make sure that your passwords are secure, and that you do not use the same password for every account you have.
To gain access to the suspended account, contact PlayStation support. You will be asked to verify that you are the original owner of the account.
In this case, the account remains suspended until the issue is resolved.
5. Your email notification about your account suspension
If your account is suspended, you will most likely get an email notification regarding the same. The email will contain details about the suspension. It will include the date from which it took effect, a sparse description of the reason, and the nature of the ban. (temporary or permanent)
Although you have the option of contacting PlayStation support for further details, overturning their decision is a rarity. This is why if your account is temporarily banned, all you can do is wait until the ban is lifted. If the ban is permanent, there is almost nothing you can do about it.
The only other option if your account has been permanently banned is to create another account. Be sure you do not use the same account name or email address when signing up though.
What Do I Do If My PSN Account Is Banned?
The PlayStation Network is a great place to game with friends and compete against others for bragging rights. For serious gamers, the PSN is a necessary part of their gaming lifestyle. However, when your account is banned for hacking or other “offensive behavior” on the PSN, it can be devastating.
When a player’s account is banned, their activity and all of the many features offered by the PlayStation Network (PSN) are basically frozen for the duration of the suspension. Players will not be able to make new PSN IDs (user names) or sign in with a previously made account.
They will also not have access to any files they may have stored on either their PS3 or their PSP.
If your PSN account is banned, the first thing you need to do is contact PlayStation support. You will be able to provide them with proof that you were hacked (such as email invoices, log files, and/or email messages) to hopefully get your account unbanned.
Whatever information they ask for, you should send them in hopes of getting your account unlocked.
If your account gets unlocked, simply log in and try to use it again. If it still does not work, contact [email protected] for help with restarting your account.
Another option is to call PlayStation’s tech support at (800)345-7669.
This number should be used if you are having trouble connecting to the internet or if your console is showing error messages. If these are not problems you are experiencing, then you will want to use the email support service instead.
Why Is My PS4/PS5 Account Suspended?
If you’re like most gamers, your PlayStation account is an important and treasured possession. When it becomes suspended, it can be frustrating, especially if you’re not even sure why. On the other hand, many suspensions are caused by simple mistakes that can easily be fixed.
Your PS4/PS5 account can be suspended for reasons such as nonpayment of membership, cursing online, or hacking. To find out the exact reason, you should contact PlayStation support via email or phone.
Your account might also be suspended, for accidentally using another device to play online games (PS3/PS4) or sharing a PlayStation Network account with someone else without their permission.
Hackers may also temporarily replace your account with theirs when prompted to change your password, without entering a real password. Any time you’re prompted to change it, you should enter a new one immediately so people cannot access your account by simply logging in as you.
You can report a stolen account or a hacked account to PlayStation support.
What Are The Most Common Reasons Accounts Are Suspended?
The most common reasons accounts are suspended are listed below.
1. Not paying for PlayStation Plus
If you have not paid your membership fee, your PS4/PS5 may be suspended for non-payment. If you continue to play without paying your fee, it will result in a permanent suspension.
To fix this, pay for your membership as soon as possible (you can do so through the PlayStation Store).
2. Using a PlayStation Plus subscription that was not purchased by yourself.
If someone allows you to use their PS+ subscription without their permission, their account will be suspended due to sharing of accounts.
The same is true if you sign up for more than one account at the same time. You may use only one account on one PS4/PS5 at a time.
3. Submitting Personal Information to Hackers
If you’ve submitted personal information to a hacker in order to get them to hack your account, your PS4/PS5 will be suspended.
4. Using a different device or device sharing systems
If you are using an alternative device with another console such as a PlayStation 3 or PC, your PS4/PS5 account may be permanently suspended.
Please keep in mind that this is different from simply using a device that lets you play games on the network like the PSP and Vitas. This means that if you’re playing a PlayStation game on your PS3 and at the same time playing it on your Vita, then it’s considered as sharing of accounts.
5. Getting another person to access your PlayStation account or make purchases
If you give your PSN ID and password to someone else, their account will be suspended for hacking into an account that doesn’t belong to them. Only the owner of the account can play on the original device.
6. Using a VPN or Proxy to connect
You are not permitted to use any VPNs or proxies when connecting your PS4/PS5 online. Doing so could result in an automatic suspension of your PS4/PS5.
Most of the time when you get suspended, you know if you have been doing something wrong. The best way to avoid getting suspended is by simply not breaking any of the PSN rules.
How Do I Reset My PSN Password?
Because your PlayStation account is so important, people go to many lengths to make sure they are kept safe. The problem with making something extremely safe is that sometimes we forget things.
This is true for many people who have PSN accounts. Sometimes people will change their password right before a long vacation or workday, and when they come back they will not remember what the new password is for their account.
If this happens to you, you may need to reset your PSN account password. So how do you reset your password?
To reset your PSN password, you will need to go to the account management sign-in page, and select “Trouble Signing in”. Here you can reset your password and enter your email address to have them send you a new link.
Once your PSN password is reset, you may want to make sure that your passwords are secured in either a special app, or written down somewhere that they cannot be found.
This will keep your passwords safe, and if you ever forget your password again you will be able to simply look it up in the app, or on a piece of paper. Once you look it up, you can simply input your new password and continue playing.
Conclusion
Sony clearly states that any ban or suspension is awarded only to the most serious of offenses. The only case where the ban might be lifted is when the user hasn’t made the payments for their purchases.
Once the debts are cleared, the user regains access to their account.
For all other reasons, the ban is normally final. Users neither get access to the details of the report nor have any hope of accessing their PSN account again. PlayStation takes what their users say and do on their platform very seriously, and always wants their chatrooms to be friendly.
This is why it is wiser to be aware of the code of conduct and comply with the rules than to plead ignorance. Even if you plead ignorance, PlayStation still will not lift the ban. Sometimes you may end up purchasing a second-hand console that is banned.
If you purchase a secondhand console that is banned, most of the time PlayStation will not unlock it just because it has a different user.
This is why it is important to always purchase your consoles and accessories from a reputable place like this one.
No matter if your account has been banned or not, you cannot argue that PlayStation doesn’t care about what is said and done on their consoles. Because they care, it makes playing on the system a better place for everyone.