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Yes, you can move a PS4 RPG save to a PS5 using network transfer, a USB drive, or PlayStation Plus cloud storage. That gets the save onto the new console, but it does not automatically make the save compatible with the PS5 edition of the game. Whether progress moves from the PS4 version into the PS5 version is decided by the RPG’s developer, title by title.
Use the method that matches the equipment you have, then check the specific RPG’s official support page or in-game menus for a save-import or upload option.
What “transferring a PS4 save to PS5” actually involves
There are two separate operations:
- Console transfer: copy the PS4 saved-data file to PS5 console storage.
- Game-version migration: import that file into the PS5 edition of the RPG, if the developer supports it.
A PS4 save can be present on the PS5 and still open only when you run the PS4 version of the game. Sony’s PlayStation Blog explained on October 9, 2020: “Please note that the ability to transfer game saves between a PS4 version and a PS5 version of the same game is a developer decision, and will vary title by title for cross-generational games.” No universal RPG migration procedure exists.
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If you have not named the RPG yet, the safest expectation is this: transfer the save first, keep the PS4 version available on the PS5, and then follow that game’s own instructions for moving progress to its PS5 edition.
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Choose the transfer method
| Method | What you need | Best when | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Network transfer | Both consoles, the same PlayStation account, current system software, synchronized trophies, and the same network | Both PS4 and PS5 are available at the same time | Do not change network settings or run connection tests during the transfer; interruption can damage or lose data |
| USB copy | A USB flash drive used for copied PS4 save files, plus both consoles or access to each console in turn | You do not want to transfer over the network or the consoles are not available together | PS5 saved data cannot be copied from PS5 console storage to USB; USB extended storage for installed games is a different function |
| PlayStation Plus cloud storage | An active PlayStation Plus membership, internet access, and the same PlayStation account | The PS4 is unavailable or you already use cloud saves | PS4 saves upload automatically only after cloud upload is configured, and must be manually downloaded to PS5 storage |
All three methods move a PS4 save file. None guarantees that the PS5 edition of a particular RPG can read it.
Before you start
Use the same PlayStation account
Sign in to the account that owns the saved data on both consoles. Network transfer and cloud storage associate saves with the logged-in user; a different account may not see or be able to use the file.
Update both consoles
Install available system-software updates on the PS4 and PS5 before starting. Sony’s transfer procedure lists current system software as a prerequisite.
Synchronize trophy information
On the PS4, allow trophy information to synchronize with PlayStation Network before beginning a network transfer. This is part of Sony’s preparation checklist and prevents the transfer from starting with unsynchronized account data.
Identify the game version you intend to run
Decide whether you are continuing the PS4 edition on PS5 or installing the native PS5 edition. The former generally needs the PS4 saved-data file on PS5 storage; the latter may require an in-game import, a publisher account, a one-time upload, or may not support migration at all. The exact answer is game-specific.
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Method 1: Transfer the save over your network
Network transfer is Sony’s direct PS4-to-PS5 route when both consoles are available. Connect both systems to the same network and keep them powered on until the process finishes.
Prepare the consoles
- Turn on the PS4 and PS5 and sign in to the same PlayStation account on both.
- Update each console’s system software.
- On the PS4, synchronize trophy information with PlayStation Network.
- Connect both consoles to the same network. A wired connection can be useful if your home network is unstable, but Sony’s instructions require the consoles to be on the same network rather than specifying a particular connection type.
Start the transfer on PS5
- On the PS5, open Settings > System > System Software > Data Transfer > Continue.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to select the PS4 and the data to transfer.
- Leave both consoles on while the transfer runs.
Once setup is complete, Sony says the PS4 save data that can be transferred is limited to the saved data belonging to the user currently logged in. If several people use the PS4, repeat the process for each account as appropriate.
Do not interrupt the process
- Do not change network settings on either console.
- Do not run an internet-connection test during the transfer.
- Do not turn off either console or disconnect it from power.
Sony warns that changing network settings or running connection tests during transfer can cause data to be damaged or lost. If the transfer stops, wait for the console to display an error or completion state before restarting anything.
Verify the result
After the PS5 reports completion, launch the RPG’s PS4 version and check the in-game load menu. Confirm that the expected character, chapter, or save slot is present before deleting anything from the PS4.
Method 2: Copy the PS4 save with a USB drive
A USB flash drive can carry copied PS4 saved-data files between consoles. Sony does not specify a required brand, model, or capacity for this save-copy task. Do not confuse this with USB extended storage, which is used to install or move games; an extended-storage drive containing game installations is not automatically a backup of your saved data.
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Copy the save from PS4
On the PS4, use its saved-data management controls to copy the RPG’s saved data to a USB drive. Select the game and the save files you want, then allow the copy to finish before removing the drive. Keep the drive connected until the PS4 confirms completion.
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If the RPG has several profiles or save slots, copy the files belonging to the PlayStation account you will use on PS5. A save copied under one account is not a general file that every account can open.
Copy the save into PS5 storage
- Insert the USB drive into the PS5.
- Open Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Saved Data (PS4) > Copy or Delete from USB Drive.
- Select the RPG’s saved data and choose the copy command.
- Wait for the copy to finish, then launch the PS4 version of the game and test the save.
Sony’s PS5 storage guide also documents the PS4-side route as Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Saved Data (PS4) > Upload or Delete from Console Storage > Copy to USB Drive when preparing a USB copy from a PS5 interface. The key distinction is that PS4 saved data can be copied to and from USB, while PS5 saved data cannot be copied from PS5 console storage to USB.
USB problems to avoid
- Do not remove the drive while a copy is in progress.
- Do not assume a drive used as PS5 extended storage contains separately copied save files.
- Do not erase the PS4 or uninstall the RPG until the copied file has been opened successfully on PS5.
Method 3: Use PlayStation Plus cloud storage
PlayStation Plus cloud storage is useful when you cannot place both consoles on the same network. It requires a PlayStation Plus membership and the same PlayStation account on both systems.
Upload the PS4 save
Configure the PS4 to upload its saved data to cloud storage, or upload the RPG’s save manually through the console’s saved-data controls. Sony says PS4 saves can be uploaded automatically when that feature is configured.
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Download the save on PS5
- Sign in to the same PlayStation account on the PS5.
- Open the PS5 saved-data controls for PS4 games and choose the cloud-storage option.
- Select the RPG’s save and choose Download to console storage (the wording may be shown as a download command within the PS4 saved-data menu).
- Launch the PS4 version and verify the save.
Cloud synchronization is not the same as an immediate local transfer. Sony specifically requires PS4 saved data to be manually downloaded to PS5 console storage before the PS5 can use it locally.
Cloud capacity limits
Sony’s PlayStation Support page lists up to 100 GB of PS4 saved data and a maximum of 1,000 PS4 saved-data files for cloud storage. These are service limits stated by Sony, not independent measurements. The limits apply to the cloud service overall, not to a single RPG save.
Will my PS4 save work on the PS5 version?
Maybe, but the console transfer alone does not decide this. A PS4 save copied to PS5 storage is ready for the PS4 edition running on PS5. Importing that progress into the separate PS5 edition depends on the game’s developer.
How to check a specific RPG
- Find the RPG’s official support page, patch notes, or cross-generation FAQ.
- Look in the PS5 edition for options named Import PS4 Save, Upload Save, Download Save, Cross-Generation Transfer, or similar.
- Read whether the transfer is one-time, tied to a publisher account, limited to certain regions or editions, or restricted to particular save types.
- Follow the game’s instructions after the PS4 save is on PS5 storage. Some games require launching the PS4 edition first and uploading from inside the game.
If the developer does not document a PS5-version import, do not assume that the PS5 edition will detect the file. Keep the PS4 edition installed or accessible until you have confirmed that the PS5 edition loads your progress.
Which method should you use?
Choose network transfer when both consoles are available
Use network transfer if the PS4 and PS5 are in the same place, use the same account, and can remain connected to one network. It avoids handling a separate drive and is Sony’s integrated console-to-console workflow.
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Choose USB when you want a local copy
Use USB when you prefer a physical copy, cannot keep both consoles connected at once, or want to move only selected PS4 saves. The drive is optional equipment; Sony does not identify a specific product or capacity requirement for this task.
Choose cloud storage when the PS4 is elsewhere
Use PlayStation Plus cloud storage when the PS4 is not beside the PS5 or when you already rely on cloud saves. Remember that the PS4 upload and PS5 download are separate actions.
Regardless of method, check the RPG’s import rules
The method changes how the PS4 file reaches PS5 storage. It does not change the developer’s decision about PS4-to-PS5 edition compatibility.
Troubleshooting a missing or unusable save
The PS5 cannot find the save
- Confirm that you are signed in to the same PlayStation account used on PS4.
- For cloud storage, verify that the file was uploaded and then manually downloaded to PS5 console storage.
- For USB, repeat the copy and use the PS5 route Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Saved Data (PS4) > Copy or Delete from USB Drive.
- For network transfer, check that both consoles completed the transfer rather than merely starting it.
The PS4 version loads the save, but the PS5 version does not
This usually indicates a version-migration limitation rather than a failed console transfer. Check the RPG developer’s instructions for an in-game upload/import process. If no supported process exists, the save may be usable only with the PS4 edition.
The transfer stopped or reported an error
- Do not repeatedly interrupt an active transfer.
- Restart only after the console has stopped and displayed its result.
- Recheck system-software updates, account sign-in, and network membership.
- If possible, use USB or cloud storage as an alternative route rather than repeating an unstable network transfer.
You are about to delete the PS4 data
Do not erase the PS4 save, reset the PS4, or remove the game until the save has opened successfully on PS5 and, if needed, the PS5 edition has completed its own import. A console transfer is not proof that the RPG’s PS5 edition accepted the file.
A safe transfer checklist
- Same PlayStation account on PS4 and PS5.
- Current system software on both consoles.
- Trophy information synchronized on PS4 before network transfer.
- Both consoles on the same network for network transfer.
- No network-setting changes, connection tests, shutdowns, or unplugging during network transfer.
- USB saves copied as saved data, not merely as installed games on extended storage.
- Cloud saves manually downloaded to PS5 storage.
- The RPG’s own PS4-to-PS5 import instructions checked before relying on the PS5 edition.
- The save tested before deleting the original PS4 data.
The practical answer
Transfer the PS4 save with network transfer, USB, or PlayStation Plus cloud storage, then open the RPG’s PS4 version on PS5 to confirm the file arrived. If you are moving to the PS5 edition, perform the game-specific import only if the developer provides one. Sony supports the console-level transfer; the RPG developer controls cross-generation save compatibility.
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