How to Connect PS5 to Hotel WiFi

Gaming on the go can be a challenge. Connecting your Sony PlayStation 5 to your hotel’s WiFi network can sometimes be challenging. Many hotels use a captive portal for authentication, which is challenging for devices that do not have a web browser. Here are the 2 easiest ways to connect your PS5 to your Hotels WiFi and a bonus method.

Method 1: PS5 Captive Portal Authentication Without Phone

This is the method we would recommend trying first. It is generally the easiest option for getting connected to your hotel’s WiFi network. This method also works without the need for a smartphone.

Open your PS5 settings menu by selecting the gear icon.
Select Network settings from the menu.
Choose the option to set up a new network/internet connection.
Find the WiFi name (SSID) of your hotel’s WiFi and attempt to connect to it.
Enter a WPA2 password if required or continue if not required.
Allow your connection test to fail, (it will at this point, and that is normal).
Once your internet connection fails and you get an error, return to PS5’s main settings menu.
Select User Guide, Health and Safety, and Other Information; this will force you to get redirected to the hotel’s captive portal screen.
Complete the necessary steps, such as accepting the terms and conditions, entering a password, or entering payment (if the WiFi is not free).
At this point, your PS5 should be connected to the internet. Some hotels may require you to reauthenticate every 24 hours.

This method will generally work well for people. However, there may be some hotels where this will not work. For example, perhaps you are not getting redirected to the captive portal when you open the users guide. Fortunately, there is an alternative method.

Method 2: PS5 Captive Portal Authentication Using a Smartphone

Open your PS5 settings menu by selecting the gear icon.
Select Network settings from the menu.
Choose the option to set up a new network/internet connection.
Find the WiFi name (SSID) of your hotel’s WiFi and attempt to connect to it.
Enter a WPA2 password if required or continue if not required.
Allow your connection test to fail, (it will at this point, and that is normal).
After your connection fails, you will get an option that says “How to Authenticate.”
Select this option on your PS5.
Select to use a phone to authenticate.
From your phone, find the WiFi that your PS5 uses. (It will be a code beginning with PS5- followed by three numbers.)
Connect to your PS5 using your smartphone and enter the passcode shown on the screen.
Finish the authentication using the web browser on your smartphone and test your connection.

Bonus Method: Call Hotel Front Desk

If the previous methods do not work for you, there is one more thing we would recommend trying. Try calling the front desk and asking if they can help you. In many but not all cases, they can manually add your PS5 to the hotel’s WiFi network.

They will most likely need the MAC address of your PS5. The MAC address is a unique identifier that a hotel staff member will need to enter for you. You will need to have it ready when you call the front desk.

The MAC address is a long string of letters and numbers found under Settings -> Network -> View Connection Status. Be sure to read them the WiFi MAC address carefully. Also, be sure to give them the WiFi MAC address and not the ethernet network card MAC address.

This method can be hit or miss. Some hotels will be able to help you with this, and others may not. When you call might also make a difference. If you call in the middle of the night, they are probably less likely to have someone available to help you with this.

This option really should be your last resort, but it is useful in case the other methods do not work for you.

Conclusion: How to Connect PS5 to Hotel WiFi

If you’re already familiar with the steps to connect your PS5 to your home WiFi router, you should already be familiar with the first few steps. The difference will be the additional step of authenticating through the hotel’s portal instead of using a simple WPA2 password.

Many hotels, including chains such as Hilton, IHG, Marriott, and Hyatt, use captive portal authentication. This requires you first to open up a page through your web browser and then go through a few steps, such as entering a code or accepting the terms of service, before you can access the internet.

For devices that have a web browser, this is pretty straightforward. Unfortunately, the PS5 does not have a web browser. The PS5 does, however, provide you with a couple of different ways to authenticate through the captive portal.

As a last resort, you can use a mobile hotspot with your PS5 and skip using the hotel’s WiFi altogether. You may also want to try changing your DNS settings if you have issues with stability.