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To move your games, saves and settings to a new PS5, update both consoles, sign in with the same PlayStation account, connect them to the same network, and run Settings > System > System Software > Data Transfer > Continue on the new PS5. You can also start the transfer during the PS5’s first-time setup. Keep both consoles powered on until the transfer finishes.
What you need before turning on the new PS5
A PS5 can receive data from either a PS4 or another PS5. Preparing both consoles first avoids the most common setup failures and protects your saved data.
Complete this checklist on the old console
- Sign in to the PlayStation account that you intend to use on the new PS5. If several people use the old console, repeat the process for each account that needs to be available on the destination, subject to the PS4 transfer limits described below.
- Update the old console to the latest system software. Update the new PS5 as soon as it is connected to the internet; the transfer wizard may require current software on both systems.
- Open your trophy information and synchronize it manually before transferring. Trophy synchronization is separate from copying local game files.
- Connect both consoles to the same home network. Wi-Fi is supported. A commercially available LAN cable can make a large wireless transfer faster. If both consoles are already connected by cable to the same router, you do not need an additional console-to-console LAN cable.
Prepare the new PS5’s hardware
- Attach the supplied base or feet according to the console model’s instructions.
- Connect the PS5 to a display with the included HDMI cable, connect power, and turn it on.
- Connect the PS5 to the internet and install any system-software update it offers.
- The old console does not need to remain connected to the television during transfer. It only needs to be powered on and connected to the same network.
Choose the right way to move your data
Direct transfer is the only option that can copy the broad set of user information, settings and media described by PlayStation. The other methods are useful when the old console is unavailable, when you need only saves or games, or when you want to avoid copying a large library over the network.
| Method | Old console required? | What it is best for | Network or hardware requirement | Subscription required? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct PS4/PS5 transfer | Yes, powered on | User information, compatible saves, games, screenshots, clips and selected PS5 settings | Both consoles on the same network; LAN can speed up Wi-Fi transfers | No |
| Game Library downloads | No | Reinstalling digital games on the new console | Internet connection and enough console storage | No additional subscription is stated |
| Game discs | No | Installing physical PS4 or PS5 games | The disc and an internet connection for any required updates | No |
| USB extended storage | No, if the drive already contains the needed files | Moving PS4 games and storing PS5 games for later copying | Compatible USB extended-storage drive | No |
| Move an M.2 SSD | No, after the drive is removed safely | Accessing game data already stored on an installed PS5 expansion SSD | Compatible M.2 SSD and correct installation procedure | No |
| PlayStation Plus cloud storage | No | Downloading supported saved data when both consoles are not available | Active membership with cloud saves available in your region | Yes |
Storage capacity, transfer time and any download speed depend on your library, network and available space. PlayStation does not publish a single guaranteed duration for this process.
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Set up the PS5 and transfer during first-time setup
The cleanest route is to transfer while the new PS5 is going through its initial setup wizard. Do not skip the transfer screen if you want to copy data directly from the old console.
- Start the new PS5 and follow the on-screen language, display and network prompts.
- When the wizard asks about transferring data, choose the transfer option. Keep the old PS4 or PS5 switched on and signed in.
- Confirm that both consoles are connected to the same network. The PS5 will search for the source console and show the available transfer choices.
- Select the source console and review the categories or users offered by the wizard. On a PS5 source, these can include users and account information, compatible PS5 saves, screenshots, video clips, playable PS5 games and console settings. On a PS4 source, the initial setup transfers user and account information; compatible saves and playable games can transfer during or after setup.
- Confirm the transfer. The destination PS5 may restart automatically. Some game data can continue copying after the restart.
- Watch the transfer status in Downloads/Uploads in the control center. Leave both consoles powered on until the status indicates that the process is complete.
The login passcode used on the source console also transfers. Use that same passcode when the destination asks for it.
Start a transfer after the PS5 is already set up
If you completed setup without transferring, you can start the process from the destination PS5 later. The old console must still be available, powered on and connected to the same network.
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- Choose System.
- Open System Software.
- Select Data Transfer, then choose Continue.
- Follow the prompts to find the old PS4 or PS5 and select the users, saved data, games, media and settings that the wizard makes available.
- Accept the restart prompt. Check Downloads/Uploads from the control center to see the continuing progress.
Data already saved on the destination PS5 is not transferred from the old console. Review the destination first if it contains a new user profile, screenshots or game files that you do not want to disturb.
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Exactly what transfers from each source console
From another PS5
PlayStation lists the following categories for a PS5-to-PS5 transfer:
- User and account information.
- Saved data for games that are playable on PS5.
- Screenshots and video clips.
- Playable PS5 games.
- Console settings such as language, login and power-saving settings.
- The login passcode from the source console.
The destination does not send its existing data back to the source, and existing destination data is not part of the transfer.
From a PS4
A PS4 source transfers user and account information during the destination PS5’s initial setup. Compatible saved data and playable games can transfer during setup or afterward. When you perform a saved-data transfer after setup, PlayStation limits that transfer to the user who is signed in on the destination PS5. Compatibility matters: a PS4 title or save must be supported on the PS5 for it to be offered.
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- A game that is not offered by the transfer wizard is not copied by direct transfer. Use the Game Library, the original disc or another supported storage route instead.
- A destination’s existing files are not merged into the source. Direct transfer is one-way from the selected PS4 or PS5 to the new PS5.
- Trophies should be synchronized manually before starting; copying a save file is not a substitute for synchronizing trophy information.
Recover games and saves without a direct transfer
Download digital games from Game Library
After signing in on the new PS5, open the Game Library and download the digital games you want. This is useful when the old console is unavailable or when you prefer to download only selected titles rather than copy an entire library. Ensure that the PS5 has enough free storage for the games you choose.
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Install disc-based games
Insert each PS4 or PS5 game disc into the new console and let the PS5 install it. Keep the disc available: a disc-installed game generally uses the disc as its license check when you launch it. The transfer wizard is not required for this route.
Use a USB extended-storage drive
Connect a USB extended-storage drive that was already used with the PS4 to the PS5. PS4 games stored on compatible extended storage can be played directly from that drive. PS5 games stored on USB extended storage cannot be played from the drive; copy each PS5 game back to the PS5’s internal console storage before launching it.
USB storage moves game files, not the complete account and settings package provided by direct transfer. Keep the drive connected until the console recognizes it, and use the PS5’s storage controls before disconnecting it.
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Move an installed M.2 SSD
If the old PS5 has an installed M.2 SSD, you can move that drive to the new PS5 to access the game data on it, provided the drive is compatible with the destination. Turn off the source console completely, remove the SSD and install it in the destination by following PlayStation’s current M.2 installation guidance for your model. This is a hardware procedure, not a substitute for transferring user profiles, saves, screenshots or console settings.
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Download saves from PlayStation Plus cloud storage
PlayStation Plus members can download saved data from cloud storage to the new PS5. Cloud storage is particularly useful when the old console is unavailable. It covers saved data rather than replacing the need to reinstall game files, so download the games from the Game Library or install their discs separately.
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Is Wi-Fi enough?
Yes. PlayStation supports a transfer when both consoles are on the same Wi-Fi network. A wired connection is an optional speed improvement, not a prerequisite.
When should you use LAN?
Use a commercially available LAN cable when the library is large or the wireless connection is slow or unstable. If both consoles already connect by Ethernet to the same router, they are already on the same wired network; a second cable running directly between the consoles is unnecessary.
Keep network settings unchanged
Do not change network settings or run an internet connection test while data transfer is running. PlayStation warns that doing so can damage or lose data. Wait until the transfer has ended before troubleshooting the network.
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Safety rules and account limitations
“Do not turn off your source and destination consoles during data transfer. Doing this may cause data to be damaged or lost.”
PlayStation Support transfer guidance
- Leave the source and destination powered on for the entire transfer, including the period after the PS5 restarts.
- Do not unplug either console, put it into a forced shutdown, or interrupt power while progress is active.
- Do not alter network settings or launch an internet connection test during the transfer.
- Only one PS4 or PS5 source can transfer to one destination PS5 in a transfer session.
- A child account cannot transfer during the destination console’s initial setup. Complete the child’s initial setup first, or use an adult account for the initial setup and then transfer the adult and child accounts as directed by the console.
Troubleshoot the most common transfer problems
The new PS5 cannot find the old console
- Confirm that both consoles are powered on and connected to the same network name or router.
- Check that both systems have current software installed.
- Verify that the old console is signed in to the account you intend to use on the new PS5.
- If both consoles are on Wi-Fi, move them closer to the router or connect them by LAN. Do not run a connection test once the transfer has begun.
The transfer option is missing after setup
Use the complete path on the destination: Settings > System > System Software > Data Transfer > Continue. If the menu still does not appear, check system-software updates and confirm that the old console is switched on and reachable on the same network.
A game is not on the new console
Check the Game Library for a digital copy, insert the original disc, or reconnect the USB extended-storage drive. A PS5 game on USB storage must be copied to internal console storage before it can be played. A title that is not compatible with PS5 will not be offered as a playable transfer.
A save is missing
First confirm that you are signed in to the same PlayStation account used on the old console. For PS4-to-PS5 transfers started after setup, only the signed-in user can transfer saved data. If the old console is unavailable, check PlayStation Plus cloud storage for a synchronized copy.
The source console uses a child account
Do not attempt to move that child account during the destination’s initial setup. Finish the initial setup first, or begin with an adult account and follow the PS5’s account-transfer prompts for the adult and child accounts.
Verify the new console after transfer
Before erasing or selling the old console, check the destination in a deliberate order:
- Sign in and confirm that the expected user profiles appear.
- Open a few transferred games and verify that their saves are present.
- Check the Game Library for digital titles that were not copied and queue any required downloads.
- Insert a disc for each physical title you plan to play and install it if necessary.
- Open the Media Gallery and confirm that important screenshots and clips transferred.
- Review language, login and power-saving settings, especially if more than one person uses the console.
- Check Downloads/Uploads for game data that is still completing after the automatic restart.
- Only after these checks should you decide whether the old console can be reset or stored.
Recommended decision path
Use direct transfer when both consoles are available and you want the broadest copy of users, compatible saves, games, media and settings. Choose Game Library downloads or discs when you only need to rebuild your playable collection. Use USB extended storage when you already have a PS4 drive or need to stage PS5 games for copying. Move an installed M.2 SSD when the game files are already on that compatible drive. Use PlayStation Plus cloud storage when saved data is the priority and the old console cannot be connected.
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