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The safest way to move nearly everything from one PS5 to another is the built-in Data Transfer feature. Sign in to the same PlayStation account on both consoles, update their system software, sync trophies, connect both PS5s to the same network, then start the transfer from Settings > System > System Software > Data Transfer on the destination console. The process can move compatible games, PS5 saves, users, captures, and settings.
If you only need saves, PlayStation Plus cloud storage is simpler. If you need game installations without redownloading, use a compatible USB extended-storage drive or move an installed M.2 SSD. A full USB backup is useful for restoration, but restoring it erases data already on the destination PS5.
Choose the transfer method that matches your data
There is no single method for every type of PS5 content. Use the direct console-to-console transfer when both PS5s are available and you want the broadest migration. Use cloud storage for saves, extended storage or an M.2 SSD for game installations, and a full backup only when you accept that restoration replaces the destination console’s current data.
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| Method | PS5 saves | PS4 saves | Game installations | Settings and captures | Both consoles required? | PlayStation Plus required? | Destination data overwritten? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct PS5-to-PS5 Data Transfer | Yes, for games playable on PS5 | Included as compatible user data | Yes, for games playable on PS5 | Yes | Yes | No | Data already saved on the destination does not transfer; it is not a full wipe |
| PlayStation Plus cloud storage | Yes | Yes | No | No | No, after the save is uploaded | Yes | Downloading or replacing a save can overwrite the destination copy |
| USB drive for PS4 saves | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Replacing an existing save can overwrite the destination copy |
| USB extended storage | No | No | Stores PS4 and PS5 game data | No | No, if the drive already contains the games | No | No save-data transfer; PS5 games must be copied back before playing |
| Move an M.2 SSD | No | No | Stores installed game data | No | No, after the SSD is installed in the destination | No | No save-data transfer |
| Full USB backup and restore | Yes | Yes | Yes, subject to backup exclusions | Yes | No, after creating the backup | No | Yes. Restoring erases data currently on the destination |
These options are complementary. Game files and saved data are handled separately by several methods, so moving a game installation does not automatically move its progress.
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Prepare both PS5 consoles before starting
- Use the same PlayStation account. Sign in to the account associated with the saves and digital licenses on both consoles. The direct transfer is designed for one source PS5 and one destination PS5 at a time.
- Update system software. Install available updates on both consoles before opening the transfer tool. Different software versions can prevent the process from starting or leave content unavailable until the update is complete.
- Synchronize trophies. On the source PS5, allow trophy information to synchronize with PlayStation Network before transferring. Trophies are not included in a full USB backup, so synchronization is the way to preserve their server-side record.
- Connect both consoles to the same network. They may use Wi-Fi through the same modem or router. Keep the network stable for the entire operation.
- Consider a LAN cable for speed. PlayStation says a separately sold LAN cable can make the transfer faster when the consoles normally use Wi-Fi. If both consoles already use wired network connections, PlayStation says you do not need to connect them directly to each other with an additional LAN cable.
- Keep the source console available. Do not turn it off, disconnect it, change network settings, or run internet connection tests while the transfer is in progress.
Transfer games and data directly from one PS5 to another
During the destination PS5’s initial setup
The first-time setup process includes a data-transfer stage. Turn on the new PS5 and follow the on-screen instructions. When prompted, make sure the source PS5 is powered on, signed in to the same account, updated, and connected to the same network. The setup wizard will identify the source console and let you select the data to move.
The destination PS5 restarts during the transfer. That restart is expected. Some game data may continue transferring after the initial setup screens finish, so do not assume the process is complete merely because you reach the home screen.
After the destination PS5 has already been set up
- Turn on the source PS5 and leave it connected to the same network as the destination.
- On the destination PS5, open Settings > System > System Software > Data Transfer.
- Select Continue.
- Follow the prompts to select the source console and the content to transfer.
- Leave both consoles powered on and connected. Monitor progress from Control Center > Downloads/Uploads.
- Wait for the transfer and any continuing game-data copy to finish before changing network settings or starting another migration.
PlayStation warns that changing network settings or running internet connection tests during the transfer can damage or lose data. The one-source-to-one-destination restriction also means you cannot use one source PS5 to transfer to two destination PS5s simultaneously.
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Content that can transfer
- User and account information associated with the transfer.
- Saved data for games playable on PS5.
- Screenshots and video clips.
- Games playable on PS5.
- Console settings.
Content that does not replace existing destination data
Data already saved on the destination PS5 does not transfer from the source. This matters if the destination has newer saves, local users, captures, or settings that you want to keep. Review the destination before beginning and preserve anything important with an appropriate separate method.
Move saved data with PlayStation Plus cloud storage
Cloud storage is the practical alternative when both PS5s cannot be connected at the same time. Upload the save from the old console, then download it to the new one while signed in to the same PlayStation account.
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- On a PS5, open Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings.
- Select Saved Data (PS5 or PS4).
- Choose the upload or download option for cloud storage.
- Select the game and save files you need, then confirm the transfer.
PS5 game saves synchronize to the most recent data when automatic synchronization is enabled. Check each game’s synchronization status before relying on the cloud copy; an upload that has not completed will not contain your latest progress.
PS4 saves behave differently. When automatic upload is enabled, PS4 saves can upload automatically, but they must be manually downloaded to PS5 console storage. Do not assume that seeing a PS4 save in cloud storage means it is already usable locally on the destination.
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PlayStation Support lists cloud limits of 100 GB of PS5 saved data, 100 GB of PS4 saved data, and a maximum of 1,000 PS4 saved-data files (limits listed by PlayStation Support, page accessed 2026). These are account storage limits, not a promise that every game occupies the same amount of space.
Use USB for PS4 saves, but not PS5 saves
PS5 saved data cannot be exported from a PS5 console to a USB drive. PS4 saved data is the exception: it can be copied to a USB drive from the source PS4 or PS5, connected to the destination PS5, and copied into the console storage. If you replace an existing save on the destination, the destination copy can be overwritten, so preserve a backup before confirming replacement.
This USB save route is for PS4-format saves. It does not convert a PS5 save into a USB file and does not substitute for cloud storage or direct transfer for PS5 games.
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Move installed games with USB extended storage
A USB extended-storage drive is useful when the game installations are large and you want to avoid downloading them again. Connect a drive that meets PlayStation’s requirements:
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- Capacity from 250 GB to 8 TB (range listed by PlayStation Support, page accessed 2026).
- Connected directly to the PS5, not through a USB hub.
PlayStation cautions that compatibility is not guaranteed for every drive, even when its capacity and speed appear suitable. The drive used as USB extended storage is also different from a drive used for a full PS5 backup.
What you can play directly from the drive
- PS4 games: They can be played directly from USB extended storage.
- PS5 games: They can be stored on the drive, but must be copied back to PS5 console storage or compatible M.2 storage before they can be played.
- PS5 saves: They are not stored on USB extended storage. Move saves through direct transfer or PlayStation Plus cloud storage instead.
If the source PS5 already uses a USB extended-storage drive, connect that same drive to the destination to access the installed game data. This moves game files, not progress files.
Move game data on an M.2 SSD
An M.2 SSD installed in the source PS5 can be moved to the destination PS5 so the destination can use the game data stored there. This is another game-installation route rather than a saved-data route: moving the SSD does not carry PS5 saves, PS4 saves, trophies, settings, or captures.
After the destination recognizes the compatible M.2 storage, PS5 games on it still follow the normal storage rule: they must be on console or M.2 storage to play. Keep the save-transfer step separate even when the game itself is already available on the SSD.
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Redownload digital games or reinstall disc games
You do not have to move every installation. Digital games can be downloaded from the destination PS5’s game library after you sign in with the account that owns the license. Disc games can be installed by inserting the original disc into the destination console.
Redownloading or reinstalling supplies the game application only. It does not recreate local progress, so pair this method with direct save transfer, cloud download, or the PS4 USB-save method when you need your progress.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Use a full USB backup and restore only when replacement is acceptable
A full PS5 USB backup can include games and apps, saved data, screenshots and video clips, and console settings. The backup is linked to the PlayStation account used to create it, so restoration to another PS5 requires that same account.
Restoring the backup erases all data currently saved on the destination PS5. That makes it suitable when the destination is new or disposable, but risky when it already contains another user’s saves, captures, settings, or installed content. Create a separate copy of anything on the destination that must survive before starting restoration.
Full backups exclude games and apps stored on USB extended storage or M.2 storage, and they do not include trophies. The backup drive is distinct from a drive formatted as USB extended storage; do not treat those two formats as interchangeable.
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Troubleshoot the most common transfer problems
The destination cannot find the source PS5
- Confirm both consoles are powered on and signed in to the same PlayStation account.
- Check that both systems are updated.
- Verify that both are connected to the same modem or router rather than separate networks.
- Return to Settings > System > System Software > Data Transfer on the destination and run the prompts again.
The transfer appears stuck
Check progress in Control Center > Downloads/Uploads. Keep both consoles on and avoid changing network settings or running an internet connection test while the transfer is active. Those actions can damage or lose data according to PlayStation’s warning.
A game is present but its progress is missing
Game installation and saved data are separate. Check whether the save was included in the direct transfer, uploaded to PlayStation Plus cloud storage, or copied as a PS4 save through USB. A USB extended-storage drive or moved M.2 SSD supplies game files, not PS5 saves.
The destination has an older save
Do not replace it until you have confirmed which copy is newest. Cloud downloads and PS4 USB imports can replace an existing destination save. Preserve the destination copy first if it may contain later progress.
A PS5 game on USB will not start
That behavior is expected: copy the PS5 game from USB extended storage back to PS5 console storage or compatible M.2 storage before launching it. PS4 games can run directly from the extended-storage drive.
The full restore would erase important destination data
Stop before confirming restoration. Use direct transfer, cloud saves, game-library downloads, or extended storage instead, depending on what you need to preserve. Full restore is the method with the explicit destination-wipe consequence.
Quick Recap
A practical sequence for most upgrades
- Sync trophies and update both PS5 consoles.
- Run the built-in Data Transfer if both consoles are available and you want users, saves, captures, settings, and compatible games together.
- Afterward, connect any existing USB extended-storage drive or move the M.2 SSD if game installations are stored there.
- For a console that cannot be connected, upload PS5 saves to PlayStation Plus cloud storage and download them on the destination.
- For PS4 progress, use cloud download or a USB save copy, remembering that PS4 saves require a manual download to PS5 storage.
- Redownload digital games or install disc games that were not moved.
- Use a full USB restore only when erasing the destination’s current data is acceptable.
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