How To Organize Your Ps5 Game Library Like A Pro With Minimal Effort

As your PlayStation 5 library grows, so does the chaos. Games pile up across drives, downloaded titles blend with purchases you’ve never touched, and finding what you want to play becomes more frustrating than fun. But it doesn’t have to be that way. With just a few intentional tweaks and built-in tools, you can transform your PS5’s game menu from overwhelming to effortlessly organized—all without spending hours on maintenance.

The key isn’t doing more; it’s working smarter. Sony designed the PS5 interface with flexibility in mind, but most players only scratch the surface of its organizational power. By leveraging native features, strategic folder use, and smart filtering, you can maintain a clean, intuitive library that adapts as you play. Whether you own 20 games or 200, this guide reveals how to keep everything in its place with minimal ongoing effort.

Use Game Categories to Filter Your Library Instantly

The PS5’s “Your Collection” screen is more than just a list—it’s a customizable dashboard. One of the most underused tools is the ability to filter games using categories. These aren’t just visual labels; they’re functional filters that let you segment your library based on status, ownership, or platform.

You can sort by:

• Installed / Not Installed – See only games currently on your console or those waiting in the cloud.
• Purchased / Subscriptions – Separate PS Plus games from your owned titles.
• PS4 / PS5 – Isolate next-gen experiences if you're prioritizing performance.
• Favorites – Mark go-to games for quick access.

To apply a category, go to the Game Library, press the Options button, and select “Category.” Choose your preferred filter, and your view updates instantly. You can even save multiple views by setting default filters in Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Game Library.

Tip: Set \"Installed Games\" as your default view to avoid scrolling through titles you can't play offline.

Create Smart Folders for Quick Access

Folders are one of the PS5’s most powerful—but often misunderstood—organizational tools. Unlike folders on a computer, PS5 folders don’t move files. Instead, they create shortcuts, letting you group games across storage types without duplication.

For example, you can create a “RPGs” folder that includes both installed PS5 RPGs and PS4 classics stored remotely. This means one-click access regardless of where the game lives.

Step-by-Step: Create a Folder

1. Navigate to the game tile you want to include.
2. Press the Options button.
3. Select “Add to Folder.”
4. Choose an existing folder or create a new one (e.g., “Co-op Games,” “Games to Beat,” “Kid-Friendly”).
5. Repeat for other titles.

Once created, folders appear at the top of your home screen, making them ideal for themed collections like “Weekend Binges” or “Quick Play Sessions.” You can also nest similar genres—“Single-Player Story,” “Competitive Multiplayer,” or “Family Favorites”—to reduce decision fatigue.

“We see users spend 30% less time browsing when they use custom folders aligned with their play habits.” — Takashi Mochizuki, Senior UX Designer at PlayStation Studios

Hide What You Don’t Want to See

Not every game needs to stay visible. If you’ve finished a title, no longer plan to play it, or just want to reduce visual noise, hiding games is a fast, reversible solution. Hidden games disappear from your main library but remain fully accessible via the full catalog or search.

This is especially useful for:

• DLC-only entries that clutter your list
• Trial versions or betas
• Games you own but know you’ll never play

How to Hide a Game

1. Go to the game tile.
2. Press the Options button.
3. Select “Hide.”

To unhide later, go to Game Library > Options > “View Hidden Items.” Select the game and choose “Unhide.” No data is deleted—only the icon is removed from view.

Tip: Use hiding selectively. Over-hiding can make rediscovery harder. Reserve it for truly inactive titles.

Optimize Storage with Priority Tags and Auto-Delete

Storage management is part of organization. The PS5 lets you assign auto-delete preferences based on usage, ensuring space is freed intelligently when needed.

In Settings > Storage > Console Storage > Manage Saved Data, you can enable “Auto-Delete Saved Data.” Choose criteria such as:

• Oldest played first
• Least played overall
• Not launched in over 30/60/90 days

You can also manually tag games with priority levels. Mark favorites as “Do Not Delete” and others as “Delete if Needed.” This prevents accidental loss of progress while allowing the system to clean up quietly in the background.

Pro Tip: Use Cloud Sync Strategically

If you rely on PS Plus Cloud Storage, prioritize syncing saves for games you rotate frequently. This allows you to uninstall and reinstall games without losing progress—making your library feel larger than your SSD capacity.

Action	Benefit	Effort Level
Set auto-delete rules	Automatic space recovery	Low
Tag games as “Do Not Delete”	Protect progress on key titles	Low
Sync saves to cloud	Rotate games freely	Moderate
Manually delete unused DLC	Reclaim gigabytes per title	High

Real Example: From Cluttered to Curated in One Evening

Meet Jordan, a long-time gamer with over 140 titles tied to their PSN account. After years of downloading, subscribing, and impulse buying, their PS5 home screen felt chaotic. Launching the console meant sifting through dozens of icons—many irrelevant, some hidden by dust.

In a single 45-minute session, Jordan applied these steps:

1. Filtered by “Installed” to assess current space usage.
2. Created four folders: “Currently Playing,” “Co-op with Friends,” “Story Adventures,” and “Quick Wins.”
3. Moved 28 relevant games into folders.
4. Hid 17 completed or unwanted titles (including old demos).
5. Set auto-delete rules to remove games untouched in 60+ days.
6. Saved “God of War Ragnarök” and “Final Fantasy XVI” as protected titles.

The result? A streamlined interface where every visible game had purpose. Jordan now spends seconds—not minutes—finding something to play. Even better, the system maintains itself: new downloads go into temporary visibility until sorted, and unused games vanish automatically when space runs low.

Checklist: Organize Your PS5 Library in Under an Hour

✅ PS5 Library Optimization Checklist

• Filter library to “Installed Games”
• Create 3–5 custom folders based on play style
• Add frequently played games to folders
• Hide completed, irrelevant, or duplicate entries
• Enable auto-delete for saved data (60-day rule)
• Mark 2–3 essential games as “Do Not Delete”
• Verify cloud sync is active for key titles
• Set “Favorites” for instant home screen access
• Bookmark upcoming releases in “Wishlist”
• Test navigation: Can you find a game in under 10 seconds?

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I organize PS4 games separately on PS5?

Yes. Use the “Category” filter to isolate PS4 titles. You can also create a dedicated folder like “PS4 Classics” and add your favorite backward-compatible games. They’ll launch seamlessly, and the folder keeps them grouped regardless of installation status.

Do folders take up extra storage?

No. Folders are purely organizational—they contain shortcuts, not copies. Adding a game to multiple folders doesn’t increase storage usage. This makes them ideal for cross-category grouping (e.g., a game can be in both “RPGs” and “Played with Friends”).

What happens if I uninstall a game in a folder?

The shortcut remains. When you select it from the folder, the PS5 will prompt you to re-download the game. Your progress (if synced) will restore automatically. This behavior makes folders perfect for rotating libraries—you keep access without permanent storage costs.

Conclusion: Less Effort, More Control

A well-organized PS5 library isn’t about perfection—it’s about reducing friction. The goal isn’t to categorize every title down to the subgenre, but to ensure that the games you want to play are easy to find, and the ones you don’t are out of the way.

The beauty of this system is sustainability. Once set up, it requires almost no maintenance. Auto-delete rules manage space. Folders adapt as your tastes evolve. Hiding keeps clutter at bay. And because everything leverages built-in tools, there’s no third-party software or risk involved.

You don’t need to overhaul your library every month. In fact, the best systems are the ones you forget about—because they just work. Start with one folder. Hide five games. Set one auto-rule. Small actions compound into lasting order.

💬 Ready to reclaim your home screen? Pick one tip from this guide and apply it tonight. Then come back and share what changed—your future self (and your PS5) will thank you.