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The safest method is Sony’s built-in Data Transfer. Keep the old PS4 or PS5 working, sign in to the same PlayStation account on both consoles, update the old console, synchronize trophies, and connect both systems to the same network. On the replacement PS5, start the transfer during first-time setup or later at Settings > System > System Software > Data Transfer. A LAN cable is optional; Wi‑Fi works, although Ethernet can be faster in some home networks.
Game installations and saved data follow different recovery paths. Direct transfer can copy compatible games, saves, users, captures and settings, but digital games can also be redownloaded, disc games can be reinstalled, and storage devices may be moved. PS4 saves can be copied to USB; individual PS5 saves cannot. A full PS5 USB backup includes saves but restoring it erases data already on the replacement console.
What to do before disconnecting the old console
Do not erase, sell or factory-reset the old system until you have confirmed that the replacement PS5 contains the saves and other data you need. Direct transfer requires the source console to be powered on and reachable on the same network as the destination.
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- Sign in on the old console with the same PlayStation account you will use on the replacement PS5.
- Install the latest available system software on the source console. An outdated source can prevent or limit the transfer.
- Open the trophy area and synchronize trophies before moving data. Trophies are tied to your account, and they are not included in a PS5 USB backup.
- Have the account password and any two-step verification method available in case the replacement asks you to authenticate again.
Prepare the network
Connect both consoles to the same home network. Either console can use Wi‑Fi. If both normally use Wi‑Fi and you want a faster transfer, connect each one to the same router or network with an Ethernet LAN cable. Sony says a commercially available LAN cable can improve transfer speed in that situation. When both consoles are already wired to the network, you do not need a separate cable running directly between the consoles.
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Connect the destination to the television
Connect the HDMI cable to the replacement PS5 so you can follow its setup screens. Sony’s transfer instructions do not require the old console to remain connected to a TV; it only needs power and a network connection.
Transfer during the replacement PS5’s first setup
If the replacement has not been configured yet, the setup wizard offers a data-transfer stage. Turn on the old console first, then follow the prompts on the new PS5. Confirm the source system when it appears and select the data categories offered for that source.
- Start the replacement PS5 and proceed through language, display and network setup.
- When the transfer screen appears, turn on the old PS4 or PS5 and leave it unlocked.
- Allow the destination to find the source console on the same network.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to choose the available users, saves, games, captures and settings.
- Start the transfer and leave both consoles powered on. The destination restarts during the process.
- Check Downloads/Uploads in the Control Center after the restart. Some game data can continue transferring after the main setup stage.
Data already present on the replacement PS5 is not copied over the existing version. If the destination already contains a user, game or setting, the transfer does not create a second copy of that item.
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Start Data Transfer after setup is complete
You can transfer after the replacement PS5 has already been configured. Turn on the old console and keep it on the same network, then use this path on the destination:
- Open Settings.
- Select System.
- Open System Software.
- Choose Data Transfer, then Continue.
- Follow the prompts to select the source console and the available data.
The replacement PS5 restarts while the transfer runs. Monitor Downloads/Uploads from the Control Center to see whether remaining game data is still moving. Do not change either console’s network configuration, turn either system off, or run an internet-connection test while the transfer is active. Sony warns that interrupting the process can damage or lose data. The official procedure and source-console limits are documented in Sony’s PS4 and PS5 transfer guide.
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What transfers from a PS5 compared with a PS4
The source generation and the point at which you start the transfer change what Sony makes eligible. Use the table before choosing an approach.
| Data type | PS5 source during initial setup | PS5 source after setup | PS4 source during initial setup | PS4 source after setup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| User and account information | All users listed by Sony as eligible | All users listed by Sony as eligible | Users who signed in on that PS4 | Not listed as an after-setup transfer category |
| Saved data | Compatible PS5 and PS4 saves | Compatible saves | Compatible PS4 saves | Only compatible saves for the user currently signed in on the destination |
| Games | PS5-playable games and other compatible game data | PS5-playable games and other compatible game data | Compatible PS4 game data | Compatible PS4 game data |
| Screenshots and video clips | Supported captures | Supported captures | Not listed as a general after-setup category | Not listed as a general after-setup category |
| Console settings | Settings listed by Sony | Settings listed by Sony | Settings listed by Sony during initial setup | Not listed as an after-setup category |
The practical consequence is important: a PS4-to-PS5 transfer started after setup is narrower than one started during first-time setup. If several people use the PS4, an initial transfer is the supported way to bring over the listed users and settings together. After setup, only the logged-in user’s compatible PS4 saves are listed for transfer.
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If direct transfer is unavailable
The old console may fail to start, the network may not discover it, or you may have already completed setup and need only games or saves. These alternatives cover separate types of data; none is a universal replacement for every category.
Redownload digital purchases
On the replacement PS5, open your game library, select the account’s purchased title and choose the download option. This retrieves the game license from the account rather than copying the old installation. You need to sign in with the account that owns the purchase, and the console must have enough free storage for the installation and updates.
Reinstall disc games
Insert the original game disc into a PS5 model with a disc drive. The console installs the game from the disc and may download updates. You must keep the disc to launch the game; a digital-only PS5 cannot install a disc you do not have a drive for.
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Reconnect USB extended storage
If games were stored on a USB extended-storage drive, safely disconnect it from the old console and connect it to the replacement. Sony’s storage guidance lists USB external-drive capacities from 250 GB minimum to 8 TB maximum. Not every USB device is compatible, so use a drive that meets Sony’s requirements.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsPS4 games on compatible extended storage can be played directly from that drive. PS5 games can be stored there to free internal space, but they must be moved to the PS5’s internal storage or a compatible M.2 SSD before they can be played. Extended game storage is not the same thing as a backup drive: its format and purpose differ from the FAT32 or exFAT device used for a full-console backup.
Move a compatible M.2 SSD
An M.2 SSD installed in the old PS5 can be moved to the replacement PS5 if the drive meets Sony’s compatibility, size, cooling and installation requirements. Sony’s current storage guidance describes M.2 expansion capacities up to 8 TB. Power down both consoles completely before opening either system, and follow the installation instructions for the exact PS5 model. A compatible M.2 can run PS5 games; a USB extended-storage drive cannot run PS5 games directly.
Recover saved data without copying the whole console
PlayStation Plus cloud storage
PlayStation Plus members can download saved data from cloud storage to the replacement PS5. On the destination, open the saved-data controls for PS5 or PS4 games, choose cloud storage and download the required save. Sony’s storage guide states that cloud storage requires a PlayStation Plus membership.
Cloud recovery depends on the desired save having been uploaded and still being available to the same account. If the old console is working, check its upload status before disconnecting it; the available sources do not establish whether a particular account’s latest save has synchronized.
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Copy PS4 saves with a USB drive
PS4 saved data can be copied to a USB storage device and then imported on the PS5. On the PS4, use the saved-data management menu to copy the selected saves to USB. On the PS5, connect the drive and use the saved-data management options to copy PS4 saves into console storage.
A USB drive for PS4 saves is not the same as a USB extended-storage game drive. Do not reformat a drive containing games until you have moved or redownloaded those games, because changing its format can erase its contents.
Understand the PS5 USB-save limitation
Individual PS5 save files cannot be copied from the PS5 console to a USB drive. Sony states: “You can’t copy PS5 saved data from your PS5 console to a USB drive.” Use direct console transfer or PlayStation Plus cloud storage for selective PS5-save recovery. A full-console backup is the USB option when you need a broader snapshot, but it has an erase-all consequence when restored.
Use a full PS5 USB backup when you need a complete snapshot
A full backup is useful when the old PS5 is still accessible and you want to preserve its system data, users, settings and saves together. It is not a selective PS5-save export and it is not the same as an extended-storage drive for installed games.
Create the backup on the old PS5
- Prepare a compatible USB storage device formatted as FAT32 or exFAT. Sony notes that not all USB devices work with PS5.
- Connect the device to the old PS5.
- Open Settings > System > System Software > Back Up and Restore > Back Up Your PS5.
- Select the data categories and begin the backup.
- Keep the console powered on until it reports completion, then safely remove the USB device.
The backup can include games and apps installed in console storage, saved data, screenshots, video clips and settings, subject to the categories shown by the console. It does not include games or apps that remain on USB extended storage or an M.2 SSD. Synchronize trophies separately before creating it, because trophies are not included.
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Restore it on the replacement
- Sign in on the replacement PS5 with the same PlayStation account associated with the backup.
- Connect the backup USB device.
- Open Settings > System > System Software > Back Up and Restore > Restore Your PS5.
- Select the backup and confirm the restore.
- Leave the console powered on while it restarts and completes the operation.
Restoring is destructive to the destination’s current contents. Sony’s warning is explicit: “When restoring data, your PS5 console will erase all data saved on your console.” Copy anything important from the replacement before confirming. The destination must be running the same or a newer system-software version than the one used to create the backup. After restoration, enable Console Sharing and Offline Play again if the replacement needs that setting.
For the complete format, contents and restore restrictions, see Sony’s PS5 backup and restore instructions.
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| Your situation | Most suitable route | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| The old PS5 or PS4 works and both consoles can join one network | Data Transfer during setup or from the post-setup Settings path | Both consoles must stay powered on and connected throughout. |
| You completed setup but need compatible PS5 or PS4 saves and selected data | Start Data Transfer after setup | A PS4 source offers fewer categories after setup, including only the logged-in user’s compatible saves. |
| You only need purchased digital games | Download them again from the destination’s game library | The owning account and sufficient storage are required. |
| You have PS4 discs | Insert each disc and install it | A disc-drive PS5 and the original disc are required. |
| Your games are on a USB extended-storage drive | Reconnect that drive | PS5 games must be moved to internal or M.2 storage to play. |
| Your games are on an M.2 SSD | Move the compatible SSD to the replacement | Compatibility and installation requirements apply. |
| You already maintain cloud saves | Download saves from PlayStation Plus cloud storage | The needed save must have uploaded to the same account, and membership is required. |
| You need PS4 saves as individual files | Copy them to a FAT32 or exFAT USB device | This method does not export individual PS5 saves. |
| You want a broad image of an old PS5 | Create and restore a full PS5 USB backup | Restoring erases the destination’s existing data and excludes games on external USB or M.2 storage. |
Child accounts and multiple users
Sony documents a special restriction for a child account during the destination’s initial setup: that child account cannot transfer in the same way when the child account itself is being used to perform the initial setup. You have two supported choices:
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- Complete the child’s setup first, then perform the transfer afterward.
- Use an adult account for the initial setup and transfer both accounts during the initial process.
For a household PS4, decide before setup whether the transfer must include several users and console settings. The after-setup PS4 route is limited to the compatible saves belonging to the user signed in on the destination, so postponing setup can change what is available.
Troubleshoot a transfer that does not start or finish
The consoles cannot find each other
- Confirm both systems are powered on and connected to the same home network, not separate guest networks.
- Restart the router and both consoles, then retry the Data Transfer path.
- If Wi‑Fi discovery remains unreliable, connect both consoles to the same network with Ethernet LAN cables.
- Do not assume a direct console-to-console cable is required; two wired connections to the same network are sufficient.
The transfer is taking too long
- Large games and captures can take substantially longer than account settings or saves.
- Use wired Ethernet for both consoles when practical, especially if Wi‑Fi signal quality is poor.
- Do not turn off either console or alter network settings to accelerate the process.
- After the restart, check Downloads/Uploads; remaining game data may still be completing in the background.
A save or user is missing
- Check whether the source was a PS4 and the transfer was started after setup; that route is intentionally limited.
- Verify that the old console used the same PlayStation account and that the desired user signed in on the PS4.
- For a PS5 save, look in PlayStation Plus cloud storage if it had been uploaded; individual PS5 saves cannot be imported from a normal USB copy.
- Do not restore a full backup merely to retrieve one save unless you have first copied or accepted the loss of data currently on the destination.
A USB drive is rejected
Check whether you are using the correct type of drive for the task. A FAT32 or exFAT device is used for PS5 backup and PS4-save copying, while an extended-storage game drive has a different format. Sony also warns that not all USB devices are compatible. Reformatting can erase existing content, so copy anything valuable elsewhere first.
Final verification before retiring the old console
- Sign in to each required user on the replacement PS5.
- Open several transferred games and confirm that their expected saves appear.
- Check captures, settings and downloaded games that matter to you.
- Reconnect any extended-storage drive or compatible M.2 SSD and verify the games are recognized.
- Synchronize trophies from the replacement after signing in.
- Only after this inspection should you wipe, trade in or sell the old console.
Sony’s current English support pages were accessed on October 13, 2026, and availability or menu wording can vary by country and system-software release. The primary references are the transfer guide, the PS5 storage-management guide and the PS4 and PS5 storage-solutions page.
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