*This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
We know how disappointing it can be when you get banned from using your PlayStation console online. Especially for online gaming lovers like us, it is indeed a big predicament.
What can you do if you get banned from the Playstation Network?
Can you get unbanned from it in the future?
If you have these questions or others like it then you are in the right place because this article is for you.
Keep reading and you will learn all about the different types of bans and if there is any way to get unbanned from the Playstation Network once you are banned.
Whether you are able to get unbanned depends on the type of ban and what you were banned for. There are temporary bans that Playstation issues for less severe actions while a pattern of bad behavior or severe violations of Playstation’s rules will often result in a permanent ban of your account or console.
If your console has been permanently banned and you have already contacted their customer support to appeal the ban and that didn’t help then unfortunately your console is banned from the Playstation network permanently.
Anyone who claims to be able to lift a ban for you (at a cost of course) is quite simply a scammer who will take your money.
THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO CAN LIFT A BAN IS PLAYSTATION!
If you would prefer to watch a video rather than reading then you can watch the one below.
If you love PlayStation you need to check out this amazing game room light decor. It looks just like the buttons on the PlayStation controller and the light reacts to the music that you are playing as well! You can check it out by clicking here.
If you have a PlayStation console you should also have one of these stands. It makes it incredibly easy to organize your console and games as well as charge your controllers at the same time.
Plus it has a cooling fan to make sure your console doesn’t overheat when you have your weekend gaming marathons!
Types Of PlayStation Bans
Usually, there are two kinds of suspensions/bans when it comes to PlayStation. They are:
- Account ban/suspension
- Console ban/ suspension.
A suspension is usually temporary in nature and you can gain back your access to the PlayStation network after the suspension has been lifted. Suspensions usually happen in circumstances like non-payment of fees or other smaller violations of the rules such as using bad language or calling people names.
However, bans are normally permanent in nature. Bans may be for a particular period or a permanent ban but most often when Playstation bans your account or console it is a permanent thing.
An account ban is when only your account is banned however the system is still allowed access to the network by using other accounts. An account ban means that you will lose all of your progress or subscriptions on that account but at least your console is still able to be used.
However, a system ban won’t allow you to access the online platform from your system at all and you will not be able to use your console to access anything on the Playstation network in the future either.
You can, however, access your account from another system or online if you receive a console ban but not an account ban.
Sometimes you will get a console ban and an account ban at the same time. Console bans and dual bans like these are normally reserved for the most serious violations of the rules as Playstation wants you to be able to access their network if you pay for it.
How to get unbanned from PlayStation?
Now that we know about the different kinds of account and system bans and suspensions, we will now discuss how to get unbanned from the PlayStation network.
The first and foremost thing you should do to get unbanned from the PlayStation network is talk to customer service. If you feel that the ban is unjustified and undeserved, you can always contact PlayStation with your queries and problems and hope that they will lift the ban for you.
A permanent ban from PlayStation would mean that your progress and subscriptions will be cancelled and may be a huge loss to you. However, even if the ban is lifted, there’s still a chance you may not be able to retrieve your subscriptions.
Beyond contacting customer support and hoping that they will overturn your ban there isn’t much you can do besides getting a new console or account (depending on the type of ban).
Some people have reported that replacing hardware inside of their Playstation has allowed them to use that same console again but for most people the time and money to do that is more than simply buying an unbanned console instead.
Why would your account or system get banned?
There are a variety of reasons that you may find your account or system banned. All of them involve violating the rules and code of conduct for the Playstation network. Some examples of reasons that people have been banned are:
- They were caught using racial slurs or bullying someone on chat or while playing.
- They were caught hacking into someone’s account.
- Their account was hacked by someone.
- Someone reported their account.
- They used pirated games or software on their Playstation
These are only a few of the reasons why an account may have been banned. If you were caught doing any of the above, there’s a chance that your ban may never be lifted.
However, if you haven’t done any of the above, or there’s a chance that your account was hacked then contacting Playstation’s support team is your best bet to get your ban lifted.
If you find yourself stuck in this situation, you can always send a detailed email to PlayStation by going to their support forum and asking them to look into the matter immediately. You can also contact them via live chat as well.
How do you know if you are banned from the PSN?
The first thing that you will notice when you are banned is that you won’t be able to get online with your account. When you try to access the Playstation network you will get an error code.
You can search online by typing in that exact code and you should be able to find exactly what the issue is.
You can also find the meaning of all of the codes in another of our articles here.
What should you do if you see an error code on your Playstation?
There are a few different things that you can do if you see an error code when trying to get online.
1. Go to the official website of PlayStation and thoroughly read the terms and conditions.
When you initially sign into PlayStation after your purchase, you first agree to a set of terms and conditions. We all know how we easily ignore the terms and conditions and hastily click on “I Agree”.
If you too have done the same and are unaware of all of the terms of service, make sure you scrutinize all the terms and see if you have violated any of the conditions.
2. Check your bank account
Your PlayStation is probably linked to your bank account for monthly or yearly subscription payments.
If you are having some problems with the bank and PlayStation is unable to receive the payment for your subscriptions, your account may be temporarily suspended or banned until the payment issue is fixed.
3. Try signing in from another console or system and see whether you can sign in there.
If you can sign in on another system and not from your PlayStation, the problem might be with your PlayStation and not your account.
4. Contact PlayStation at 1-800-345-7669.
Conclusion
If you have done everything possible and yet find your account/console to still be banned, unfortunately you have to make a new account or buy a new Playstation.
Always be careful when you are purchasing a second hand PlayStation because if it is a banned one, you might never be able to access anything online because of the previous owner’s actions.
Only buy a used Playstation console from stores with good return policies or from a friend or family member that you can go back to if you have problems with the console being banned.
At the end of the day, if you have read all the terms and conditions, made sure that you have made all your payments and abided by all the other rules and regulations and your account is still banned, then you may take legal action.
With optimum proof and a good representative, you may get unbanned.
However, before you get into any kind of legal things, you should remember that legal procedures are usually very long, drawn out and tiring and it may be both financially and emotionally draining.
If you are someone who is sceptical of making a legal move, you could simply make a new account or buy a new console. This new account would require you to make new subscriptions and that may not be very cost effective.
However, when compared to taking legal action, it may be more cost effective than trying to sue a giant company like Sony.
The best way to avoid any kind of ban is to pay your fees on time and make sure you play consciously and respectfully so that your account or console is not banned in the first place.
Usually, if it is a mistake on the part of PlayStation, they acknowledge it and lift the ban. Hence, before taking any drastic steps, make sure you contact PlayStation customer care. Make sure you do proper research on various online forums or ask for the help of an experienced friend before you contact them.
Getting banned is a very rare thing that happens on a PlayStation. Usually, PlayStation would just suspend your account and you’ll have to wait it out before you can play again but if your account does indeed get banned, hopefully this article has been helpful in giving you some options on what you can do.