Alex Ruben
How To Enable Split Screen in Fortnite on PS5 Easily
Getting Fortnite to run in split screen mode on a PS5 can feel like chasing a ghost sometimes. You’ve got your controllers ready, but for some reason, the game just doesn’t wanna cooperate. This setup is kinda handy, especially if you wanna team up with a buddy on the same TV without all the fancy network shenanigans. Just keep in mind, it’s only for local play; no online split-screen craziness here. If you’ve tried launching Fortnite with two controllers and nothing happens, or the split screen just won’t activate, those are pretty common frustrations. But don’t worry, there are a few tricks that usually get it working without a headache.
How to Enable Split Screen in Fortnite on PS5
Connect Your Second Controller and Log into an Account
First, take the second controller and press the PS button until it lights up and connects. Makes sense, right? After that, the console should prompt you to choose or create a user account. If you skip this, the split screen might refuse to trigger. On some setups, you might need to pick “Add User” (you can skip signing into PSN if you want to keep it simple) — just don’t go with a guest account because it tends to break split-screen mode. The whole point is to have two logged-in accounts.
Start Fortnite with Both Accounts Logged In
Launch Fortnite normally from the main menu. If both accounts are correctly logged in, you should see a message asking the second player to join or a prompt to press Options on the second controller. Here’s the thing — on some machines, the second controller doesn’t activate immediately, so keep trying a few times or restart Fortnite if needed. Once both players are in, the split screen should kick in and split the display into two. Sounds simple, but it’s kinda weird how it doesn’t work on the first try sometimes.
Select Your Game Mode — Duel or Squad, No Solo
Important bit: in split screen, Fortnite doesn’t let you play solo. No surprise there. Instead, you’ll be in Duos, Trios, or Squad mode. Pick your poison, and both players should be able to customize their characters. Just note that some game modes might feel a little wonky because the screen real estate gets shared, so don’t expect the full map view at all times.
Adjust Settings if Needed and Play
Now that everything’s set, tweak the audio levels or controller settings if you need. Sometimes, on a second controller, audio becomes a pain — one player might not hear game sounds well. Also, if split screen isn’t showing up after this step, try quitting Fortnite completely and starting fresh. On rare occasions, a console restart is needed, especially after updates. Because, of course, PS5 has to make things just a little more complicated than necessary.
Extra Troubleshooting Tips & Common Pitfalls
- Make sure both controllers are fully charged or plugged in — dead controllers will block you.
- If the split screen refuses to activate, disconnect and reconnect the second controller, then relaunch the game.
- Check whether there’s an update for Fortnite — sometimes, fixes or patches break or restore split screen, depending on the version.
- Try logging out and back into your accounts if Fortnite gets confused about who’s who during the session.
Wrap-up
Setting up Fortnite for split screen on PS5 isn’t rocket science, but it can be a little temperamental. The key is to ensure controllers are properly connected, accounts are logged in, and the game is up to date. Once you get past those hurdles, it’s surprisingly smooth sailing — at least until the next Fortnite patch, which might break it again. On one hand, it’s kind of frustrating that Sony and Epic don’t make this more straightforward; on the other, it’s just one of those things you learn to workaround after a few tries.
Summary
- Connect second controller and log into a proper account (not guest).
- Launch Fortnite with both accounts logged in.
- Press Options on second controller to activate split screen.
- Choose a non-solo game mode, like Duos or Squads.
- If it doesn’t work, restart the game or console and try again.
Final thoughts
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. Fortnite split screen on PS5 isn’t perfect, but it’s doable. Just keep your controllers charged, your game updated, and stay patient if things glitch out. It’s kind of a pain, but once it’s working, it’s all pretty fun to play co-op on the same screen.