// ENGADGET — GAMING
5 underrated PlayStation App features
Your PlayStation’s companion app can do a lot when you’re away from your console.
The PlayStation App might seem like an unnecessary addition when you can do everything you need from the console itself. But the app is a great companion for handling the boring and administrative parts of gaming, as well as keeping up with your PlayStation contacts from anywhere.
If you haven't tried it, you should definitely download it on your phone. It has some features that could be useful for you if you love playing on your PlayStation. And even if you've been using the app for a while, you might have missed some of what it can do.
The PS App has full access to the PS Store via the tab of the same name, letting you browse games, see screenshots, and add items to your cart. The biggest benefit of this is that when you buy a game, you can immediately download it to your console. Start installing in the middle of the day, and it will be ready for you when you get home, bypassing potentially hours of waiting for giant titles if you have slow home internet.
Your wishlist is also accessible through the Heart icon, both for adding games to it and perusing the list. This is great for keeping track of a game you hear about while away from your console, or picking up something you've had your eye on after a sale starts.
Beyond buying games, you can also start a game on your system right before you're ready to begin. Open the Library tab in the app, then in the Games > Played list, choose a title and select Play on Console to have it prepared for when you sit down. For this to work, your PS5 must be in rest mode (not turned off). Also, you must visit Settings > System > Power Saving > Features Available in Rest Mode on your PS5 and enable both Stay Connected to the Internet and Enable Turning on PS5 from Network to make sure this function works.
Your entire library is viewable under the Purchased tab here, which is a good way to choose which backlog title to tackle next and install it on your system. Use the sorting options at the top-right to change between recently purchased and alphabetical.
It's easy to run low on space in your console, especially given that some models only come with 825GB and external PS5 storage is extremely costly at the moment. If you aren't able to fit a game you've just purchased, you can view and delete old data to make room on your phone.
To take a look, tap the Settings gear on the Play tab and choose PS5 Storage. You'll see your overall storage usage, along with the amount each game is using. Check as many as you want to erase, then use the Delete button that appears at the bottom. If you have an M.2 SSD in your system, you'll see a tab for that at the top and can manage it in the same way.
Before you start clearing data, be aware that the app lacks the ability to delete certain components of a game while keeping others. For example, for games like Battlefield 6, you can delete the campaign while keeping multiplayer installed. It's worth double-checking for fine-tuned management options on your console (Settings > Storage) before doing any serious management.