iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Short answer: you can copy a complete PS5 backup to a FAT32- or exFAT-formatted USB drive and store that backup on a PC, but it is a PS5 restore package—not a PC save file. Sony does not provide a supported way to turn native PS5 saved data into a save that the PC version of a game can read. For PlayStation Studios titles, Sony’s current position is categorical: “It is currently not possible to transfer your save data from the PS4 or PS5 version to the PC version of a PlayStation Studios title, or vice versa.”
There are three different situations to separate: preserving an entire PS5 with a backup, synchronizing native PS5 saves through PlayStation Plus cloud storage, and copying PS4-format saves from a PS5 to USB. Only the third has a documented individual-save USB workflow, and importing a PS4 save into a game’s PS5 version depends on that game’s developer.
What can actually move from a PS5 to a PC?
The word “save” covers several different data types. Your choice of transfer method depends on whether you are protecting the console, moving a PS4-format save, or trying to continue in a PC game installation.
| Data type | Sony-supported storage or transfer route | What the PC can do with it | Where it can be used afterward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native PS5 saved data | PlayStation Plus cloud storage | It does not become a PC-compatible save file | Download it to a PS5 signed in to the relevant account |
| PS4-format saved data on a PS5 | Copy to and from a USB drive through the Saved Data menus; PS4-to-PS5 transfer can also use a network connection or PlayStation Plus cloud storage | The USB copy is for PlayStation consoles, not a documented method for loading the save into a PC game | A PS4 game on a PS5, or a PS5 version when its developer supports importing the PS4 save |
| Full PS5 backup | USB drive formatted FAT32 or exFAT, created from Back Up and Restore | Copy or archive the backup package; do not expect individual editable files | Restore through a PS5’s Back Up and Restore menu |
This distinction prevents the most common mistake: copying a folder to a computer and assuming the PC edition will recognize it. A PS5 backup is designed for the PS5 operating system, account checks and restore process. It is not an interchange format between console and PC editions.
#1 Best Overall
- Spacious Design: Measuring 21.1" wide and 14.1" deep, our lap desk comfortably fits most laptops up to 15.6". Extra room for accessories ensures convenience.
- Enhanced Functionality: Packed with handy features, including a 5x9" precision tracking mouse pad and a built-in phone slot for seamless work or video calls. Plus, enjoy ergonomic support with the integrated cushioned wrist rest.
- Cool Comfort: Enjoy a stable surface with our lap desk's dual bolster cushion, designed for comfort and airflow, keeping your lap cool during extended use.
- Durable Surface: Work with confidence on our lap desk's solid surface, featuring a sleek black carbon color, ensuring optimal air circulation to prevent your laptop from overheating.
- On-the-Go Convenience: With an integrated handle and lightweight design (2.8 lbs), our lap desk is portable for travel or moving around the house, offering flexibility in any space.
Option 1: Make a complete PS5 backup and store it on your PC
A full backup is the appropriate option when your goal is disaster recovery, moving your console data to another PS5, or keeping a copy of the console package on a computer. Sony says a backup can include games and apps, saved data, screenshots and video clips, and settings.
Prepare the correct USB drive
- Use a USB drive formatted as FAT32 or exFAT.
- Do not confuse this with the USB extended-storage drive used for installed game data. Sony treats that storage format as a different device type, and an extended-storage drive cannot be used for the PS5 backup workflow.
- Make sure the drive has enough free space for the categories you select. The available capacity requirement depends on what is stored on your console; no single capacity figure applies to every PS5.
If the drive contains files you need, copy them elsewhere before reformatting. Formatting removes the existing contents. The computer can hold the finished backup package, but it does not provide a supported way to browse individual PS5 saves inside that package.
Create the backup on the PS5
- Connect the FAT32- or exFAT-formatted USB drive to the PS5.
- Open Settings.
- Select System.
- Open System Software.
- Select Back Up and Restore.
- Choose Back Up Your PS5.
- Follow the on-screen choices for the data categories to include and let the process finish before disconnecting the drive.
The resulting package is the unit Sony documents for restoration. You may connect the drive to a PC and copy the package to another disk for safekeeping. That PC copy remains an archive: it does not become a save that a Windows game can import.
Recommended Free Tools
Restore the package on a PS5
Sony’s documented restore action is performed on the console, not in a PC file manager. Connect the drive to the destination PS5, open Settings > System > System Software > Back Up and Restore, and select the restore command. Before confirming, read the warning on the console: restoring erases data currently saved on that PS5.
The PS5 system-software version must be the same as, or newer than, the version installed when the backup was made. If the destination console is behind that version, update it before attempting the restore. A restore is not a selective “bring back one save” operation; treat it as a replacement of the console’s current data set.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Option 2: Use cloud storage for native PS5 saves
Sony’s storage documentation lists native PS5 saved data under PlayStation Plus cloud storage. It does not list native PS5 saved data as directly copyable to a USB drive through the individual-save menus. For a native PS5 save, cloud storage is therefore the supported user-facing preservation and download route.
What cloud storage solves
- It preserves a native PS5 save for download on a PS5 associated with the same PlayStation account.
- It helps you continue on another PS5 without making a complete console backup.
- It avoids treating a system backup as though it were an editable game file.
What cloud storage does not solve
- It does not produce a save file that you can place in a PC game’s save directory.
- It does not override a game’s platform-specific save rules.
- It does not convert a PS5 save to the PC edition of a title.
If your target is a Windows installation, downloading the save from the cloud still returns it to a PS5-compatible environment. The cloud route is a console continuity feature, not a console-to-PC conversion service.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesOption 3: Copy a PS4-format save from a PS5 to USB
PS4-format saves have a separate Sony-documented USB workflow. This applies when the save belongs to the PS4 version of a game, even if you play that PS4 version on a PS5. It should not be confused with native PS5 saved data.
Copy the PS4 save to a USB drive
- Connect a USB drive to the PS5. Use the drive prepared for the PS4 saved-data process rather than the USB extended-storage device used for installed game data.
- Open Settings.
- Select Saved Data and Game/App Settings.
- Choose Saved Data (PS4).
- Select Upload or Delete from Console Storage.
- Choose Copy to USB Drive, select the game and save data, and confirm the copy.
The reverse menu copies PS4 saved data from the USB drive back to console storage. This gives you a console-to-USB and USB-to-console path for PS4-format data; it is not a documented way to load that data into the PC version.
Move PS4 data between consoles
Sony also documents PS4-to-PS5 transfer through a network connection, USB, or PlayStation Plus cloud storage. Those methods move console data within the PlayStation ecosystem. They do not establish that a PC edition will accept the same files.
Rank #3
- Note: Not suitable for MacBooks released after 2023 or devices with a protruding front camera; Not applicable to full-screen or notch-style tempered glass screen protectors; Do not use on the rear camera of the phone.
- 💻 Why Do You Need a Webcam Cover Slide? — Safeguard your privacy by covering your webcam with our reliable webcam cover when not in use. Don't let anyone secretly watch you. Stay protected!
- ✅ Thin & Stylish — Enhance your laptop's functionality and aesthetics with our 0.027" ultra-thin webcam covers. Seamlessly close your laptop while adding a touch of sophistication.
- ✅ Fits Most Devices — Compatible with laptops, phones, tablets, desktops! Keep your privacy intact on Ap/ple, Mac/Book, iPh/one, iP/ad, H/P, L/novo, De/ll, Ac/er, As/us, Sa/msung devices.
- ✅ 365 Days Protection — Our upgraded 3.0 adhesive ensures a strong hold that won't damage your equipment. Experience reliable, long-term privacy protection day in and day out.
When a PS4 save can enter a PS5 version
A game’s developer decides whether its PS4 save can be imported into the game’s PS5 version. Some titles provide an in-game migration command, while others do not. The existence of a PS4 save on a USB drive is therefore not a guarantee of PS5-version compatibility. Check the individual game’s official migration instructions before deleting or replacing either version.
Why a PS5 save usually cannot be used by the PC version
For PlayStation Studios games, Sony’s PlayStation PC Games FAQ states: “It is currently not possible to transfer your save data from the PS4 or PS5 version to the PC version of a PlayStation Studios title, or vice versa.” This is a platform rule, not a statement about whether your USB drive is large enough or whether a backup folder is visible in Windows.
Other publishers may offer their own account-based cross-save or cross-progression systems. Those systems are separate from the PS5 backup feature and must be provided and documented by the game’s publisher. Look for an explicit cross-save, cross-progression or account-linking feature for the specific title; do not infer support from the fact that the game has both console and PC editions.
A backup can contain the save, but the package is structured for a PS5 restore. Official Sony documentation does not provide a procedure for extracting, decrypting or editing that package into a working PC save. Avoid guides that promise a universal conversion based only on copying, renaming or opening files. Even if a file appears readable, that does not establish that the PC build can validate or load it.
Practical ways to continue playing on PC
Start a new PC save
When the game has no publisher-supported cross-save, starting a new save is the supported PC option. Keep the console backup or cloud copy so your original progress remains available on the PS5. Do not overwrite the console data while experimenting with an unofficial conversion.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Rank #4
- Anti-Slip Surface - Transform your laptop into a mobile workstation with the AboveTEK portable laptop lap desk. The anti-slip surface provides a strong grip for laptops up to 15.6 inches(Diagonal), while the double rubber strip on the bottom ensures a stable display or typing experience on your lap, couch, or bed.
- Retractable Mouse Pad - Retractable laptop mouse pad extends on both directions for the left/right handed with elevation along the edges for stopping mouse from falling off. The size of laptop tray is 14" X 9.7" and the size of mouse pad is 7.4" X 6.1".
- Effective Heat Shield - The effective heat shield made of sturdy and thick material protects your laptop from overheating. Prioritizes your comfort and safety, an ideal lap pad or board for working anywhere.
- EASY to Carry and Store - With an ergonomic and simplistic design, the lap desk is portable to store in a backpack. Only 15" in size, 2.2 lb of weight and with slim 0.6 inch thickness, it is ready to be easily carried around.
- Widely Applicable - The smooth platform accommodates laptops and tablets up to 15.6 inches(Diagonal), making it a versatile accessory and one of the best gifts for mom, dad, students and professionals. Perfect for use as a laptop bed tray or tablet holder anywhere at home, library, or park.
Use the game’s official cross-save system
If the publisher offers cross-save, follow that title’s account-linking and synchronization instructions. The authority for eligibility, supported platforms and one-way or two-way progression is the game publisher, not the generic PS5 backup menu. Confirm which account owns the progress before linking accounts, because switching accounts may make a save appear to be missing even when the console data is intact.
Play the console copy through an approved remote-play workflow
Remote Play leaves the save on the PS5 and streams the console session to an approved device. It can let you continue the same progress while using a PC, but it is not a transfer to the PC game installation. The PS5 remains the system reading and writing the save.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Restore risks and account requirements
A restore erases current PS5 data
Full-backup restoration is destructive to the destination console’s current data. Before selecting Restore, copy off anything created after the backup date or preserve it through the appropriate cloud or console workflow. A restore should be planned as a replacement operation, not as a way to merge two consoles.
The software-version requirement
The destination PS5 must run the same or a newer system-software version than the one present when the backup was created. Update first if necessary. A backup made on a newer system cannot be assumed to restore to an older system-software installation.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
The account-link requirement
Backup data is linked to the PlayStation account. If you have never signed in to PlayStation services, Sony limits restoration to the same console. Restoring to another PS5 requires the same account used with the backup. Verify the account before starting; changing users does not make an account-linked backup transferable to an unrelated account.
Best Value
- Spacious Design: Measuring 21.1" wide and 12" deep, our lap desk comfortably fits most laptops up to 15.6". Extra room for accessories ensures convenience.
- Enhanced Functionality: Packed with handy features, including a 5x9" precision tracking mouse pad and a built-in phone slot for seamless work or video calls. Plus, enjoy laptop support with the integrated device ledge.
- Cool Comfort: Enjoy a stable surface with our lap desk's dual bolster cushion, designed for comfort and airflow, keeping your lap cool during extended use.
- Durable Surface: Work with confidence on our lap desk's solid surface, featuring a blush pink color, ensuring optimal air circulation to prevent your laptop from overheating.
- On-the-Go Convenience: With an integrated handle and lightweight design (2.14 lbs), our lap desk is portable for travel or moving around the house, offering flexibility in any space.
Verify before you confirm
- Check that the USB drive is the FAT32 or exFAT backup drive, not a USB extended-storage drive for installed games.
- Confirm that the backup was completed and that the computer copy is intact before relying on it.
- Check the destination console’s system-software version.
- Sign in with the account associated with the backup when restoring to another PS5.
- Assume the destination console’s existing data will be erased and preserve anything you still need.
Choose the right method for your goal
| Your goal | Use this method | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Keep a complete recovery copy of the PS5 | Back Up Your PS5 to a FAT32 or exFAT USB drive, then archive the package on a PC | A PS5-restorable backup containing the selected console data |
| Preserve or download a native PS5 save | PlayStation Plus cloud storage | A save that can be downloaded to a compatible PS5, not a PC save file |
| Copy a PS4-format save off a PS5 | Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Saved Data (PS4) > Upload or Delete from Console Storage > Copy to USB Drive | PS4 saved data that can be returned to console storage |
| Import a PS4 save into a game’s PS5 version | Use the game’s own migration process, if its developer supports one | Compatibility varies by title |
| Continue the same PS5 progress in the PC installation | Use the publisher’s documented cross-save feature, if available; otherwise start a new PC save | No universal Sony transfer exists for this purpose |
| Play the existing console save while using a PC screen | Use an approved Remote Play workflow | The PS5 continues to own and operate the save |
Troubleshooting common mistakes
“My PC sees the USB drive, but the game does not see my save.”
That behavior is expected for a PS5 backup and for PS4 console-save folders copied to a computer. Visibility in File Explorer does not make the data a PC-game format. Restore the full backup through a PS5, or use the game publisher’s explicit PC cross-save feature if one exists.
“The PS5 says the USB drive cannot be used for backup.”
Check the drive’s format. The full-backup workflow requires FAT32 or exFAT. Also check that you did not connect a USB extended-storage drive intended for installed game data; Sony documents that as a different storage type.
“I copied a PS4 save, but the PS5 version does not recognize it.”
The PS4-to-PS5 import path is title-specific. Confirm that you are using the game’s supported migration procedure and that the developer allows that direction of transfer. A successful USB copy only proves that the PS4-format data was copied; it does not prove that the PS5 edition can import it.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minute“The restore option is unavailable or the restore fails.”
Confirm the backup drive is connected, the destination PS5 is on the same or newer system-software version, and the signed-in account matches the account associated with the backup. If the backup was created without signing in to PlayStation services, Sony limits restoration to the original console.
“I want only one save restored, not the whole console.”
A full PS5 backup restore is not a selective individual-save operation and erases current destination data. For native PS5 saves, use the supported cloud-storage route. For PS4-format saves, use the individual Saved Data (PS4) USB menus when the title and console generation match your goal.
Bottom line for PS5-to-PC saves
A PC can be the place where you store a PS5 backup, but it is not the place where Sony’s backup package becomes a playable PC save. Native PS5 saves are supported through PlayStation Plus cloud storage for PS5 use; PS4-format saves have a USB copy path and may migrate to a PS5 version only when the game’s developer allows it. For a PC installation, rely only on an explicit publisher cross-save system, start a new save, or use Remote Play to keep the original save on the console.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
