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There is no fixed PS5 USB copy time: Sony does not publish a duration or guaranteed transfer rate. In independent tests, copying a large game can take many minutes. One Tom’s Hardware test took 26 minutes 30 seconds to copy 193 GB from an external SSD back to PS5 internal storage; Tom’s Guide reports that some HDD game transfers took more than 30 minutes. Those are examples from specific test setups, not promises for your console.
What “copying from USB” means on PS5
Sony calls the game-storage format USB extended storage. A PS5 game stored there is archived: you must copy it to PS5 console storage or an installed M.2 SSD before you can play it. PS4 games, by contrast, can be played directly from USB extended storage. Sony’s USB extended storage guidance explains the distinction.
This is different from plugging in an ordinary USB drive formatted as FAT or exFAT. Sony describes that kind of drive for uses such as PS4 saved data and media, not as the game-storage format; compatibility is not guaranteed for every USB device. See Sony’s storage-management guidance.
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What transfer times have been measured?
The available figures come from different tests, hardware and transfer directions, so they should not be treated as a head-to-head comparison or a typical-time guarantee.
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| Test | Reported time | What was transferred |
|---|---|---|
| Tom’s Hardware, 2024 | 26 minutes 30 seconds | 193 GB from a Seagate external SSD back to PS5 internal storage. |
| Tom’s Hardware, 2024 | 16 minutes 14 seconds | 193 GB from the PS5 to the Seagate external SSD over the rear USB-A port; the report says the front USB-C port produced a similar time. |
| Tom’s Guide, year not established in its search metadata | More than 30 minutes in some cases | A PS5 game transfer using an HDD. The guide describes testing with the PS5, drive and a stopwatch; it does not establish a universal HDD duration. |
Tom’s Hardware reports these USB-drive figures in its Seagate Game Drive External SSD test. Tom’s Guide’s separate HDD example appears in its PS5 external-drive guide.
The same 193 GB dataset took longer to read back to the console than to write to the external SSD in that Tom’s Hardware test. Transfer direction can therefore matter; do not assume copying back will take the same time as moving a game onto USB.
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Why your copy may take longer or less time
- Amount of data: A larger game or group of games takes longer to move than a smaller one.
- Drive and setup: The external drive, console connection and test conditions affect results. The cited tests do not establish a universal HDD-versus-SSD ranking.
- Direction: Moving data from PS5 storage to USB and copying it back are different operations, with the 193 GB test showing different times in each direction.
Sony publishes no standard copy duration, and the cited tests do not establish a dependable minutes-per-GB rate. Use the examples as context rather than calculating a guaranteed finish time for your game.
How to copy a PS5 game from USB extended storage
- Open Game Library on the PS5 and select the installed game stored on USB extended storage.
- Press the Options button on the controller.
- Choose Copy to copy the game to PS5 console storage. Sony’s storage-management instructions describe this route. If an M.2 SSD is installed, use the storage-location tabs to identify items that can be moved between locations.
Sony describes USB extended storage as a commercially available SuperSpeed USB drive with capacity from 250 GB to 8 TB. Check the current support page for your region and console model for connection and port requirements before setting up a drive.
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- 【Blazing SSD-Like Speed – Transfer a Full Movie in Seconds】Experience the thrill of fast transfers. With USB 3.2 Gen 1 technology, achieve read speeds up to 560MB/s – dramatically faster than standard USB 3.0 flash drives. Move a 4K video or entire music library in moments. Ideal for photographers, gamers, and professionals who value their time.
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- 【Your All-in-One Portable File Hub – Simplify Your Digital Workflow】More than a thumb drive, it’s your universal file hub. Use it as a USB-C flash drive for new laptops, a USB memory stick for PCs, extra storage for your PS5, a media library for your car audio, or a reliable external drive for backups. The ultimate tool for students, creatives, and tech enthusiasts.
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USB storage or M.2 expansion?
USB extended storage is useful for keeping PS5 games you are not currently playing; copy one back to console or M.2 storage when you want to play it. An installed M.2 SSD is a different storage path that can hold playable PS5 games. It is not required simply to copy a game from USB.
Sony says reinstalling a PS5 game from USB extended storage is faster than re-downloading it or copying it from a disc in its April 2021 update announcement. That is a qualitative comparison, not a measured transfer rate or time estimate.
Quick Recap
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