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Activate an app on a game console

PlayStation and Xbox both use code activation for streaming apps once the app is installed from the store.

Independent guide - not affiliated with or endorsed by PlayStation. Independent guide - not affiliated with or endorsed by Xbox. For console problems, use the official PlayStation Support and Xbox Support sites. Updated 18 October 2026.

  1. Install the app from the PlayStation Store or Microsoft Store on the console.
  2. Open it and choose "Link" or "Sign in", then the activation option. A code and web address appear.
  3. On your phone or computer, open the address, sign in to the service, and enter the code.
  4. The console finishes sign-in automatically.

Before you start

  • Be signed in to the console profile you want to use. On a shared console the streaming app usually remembers its sign-in per console profile, so activate it from your own profile.
  • Check the console is online and up to date. A pending system or app update can stop the app from reaching its activation screen.
  • Have your phone ready and already signed in to the streaming service, so you can type the code before it expires.

Common console snags

  • The code is refused: it has probably expired. Go back one screen on the console to get a fresh code and enter it straight away. Codes are short-lived by design; how device code sign-in works explains why.
  • The console stays on the code screen after you entered it: give it a few seconds, since the console checks in the background. If nothing happens, close the app fully and start again with a new code.
  • The app cannot be found in the store: not every streaming app is offered on every console or in every country. The service's own help centre lists its supported devices.
  • A console-level problem (network errors, the store will not open, account sign-in for the console itself): that belongs to the console's official support site linked above, not to the streaming app.
On a shared console, sign out of streaming apps when you are done, or use the service's "manage devices" page later to remove it. Our guide to signing out of all devices shows how.

Never enter an activation code that someone sent you, and never pay anyone to activate a console app; it is always free. See is it safe to enter an activation code? for the red flags.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a paid online membership to use streaming apps on a console?

Usually no — most streaming apps work without a console online subscription, but you do need an account with the streaming service itself.

Which account does the activation code link?

The streaming service account you are signed in to on your phone or computer when you enter the code. It is separate from your PlayStation or Xbox profile.

How do I remove my account from a console I no longer have?

Use the device or access page in your streaming account settings on the service's website, or sign out of all devices and then sign back in on the devices you still use.