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If both consoles work, use the PS5’s built-in Data Transfer over the same network. It is the broadest option for moving users, saves, settings, screenshots, video clips and compatible installed games from a PS4 or PS5. If the old console is unavailable, PlayStation Plus cloud storage can restore saves that were uploaded before the failure. A FAT32 or exFAT USB drive can move PS4 saves, but Sony’s documented workflow does not export PS5 saves from a PS5 to USB.
Choose the transfer method that matches your situation
Your best route depends on whether the old console still starts, which generation of save you need, and whether you are moving progress or large game-install files.
| Situation | Recommended method | What it can move | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Both PS4/PS5 and new PS5 are working | PS5 Data Transfer over the same network | Users, compatible saves, settings, screenshots, video clips and compatible games | Both consoles must remain powered on; data already on the destination is not transferred |
| Old console is unavailable, but saves were uploaded | PlayStation Plus cloud storage | Uploaded PS4 and PS5 saves | Requires an active PlayStation Plus membership and a prior upload from the source console |
| PS4 saves with no cloud copy | FAT32 or exFAT USB drive | PS4 saved data, and optionally a complete PS4 backup | This is not Sony’s documented way to export PS5 saves from a PS5 |
| Installed games on an external drive | Connect the existing USB extended-storage drive to the new console | Compatible PS4 and PS5 game files | PS4 games can run from compatible USB storage; PS5 games must be copied to the internal SSD to play |
| Two PS4 consoles | PS4 system-to-system transfer | Users, settings, games, saves, screenshots and video clips | Passwords and unsynchronized trophies do not transfer; destination data is deleted |
Prepare both consoles before moving anything
Preparation prevents the most common losses: an unsynchronized trophy list, an outdated system, or a reset performed before the new console has been checked.
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- Sign in to the same PlayStation Network account on the source and destination consoles. A different account cannot use another account’s protected saves.
- Install the latest available system software on both consoles. Sony requires current software for the supported transfer workflows.
- On the old console, open your profile’s trophy area and manually synchronize trophies while it is online. Trophy information that has not synchronized is not reliably recoverable through a console transfer.
- Keep both consoles connected to power and connected to the same local network. Wi-Fi works; connecting the consoles with a LAN cable can improve transfer speed when they would otherwise use Wi-Fi.
- Make sure the destination PS5 has enough free internal storage for the saves and game data you intend to copy. A transfer cannot complete if the destination runs out of space.
- Do not initialize, sell or give away the old console until you have opened several transferred saves and confirmed your digital-game library on the new one.
Transfer from a PS4 or PS5 to a PS5 over the network
Sony describes this feature as: “You can transfer (copy) data from a PlayStation®4 console or another PlayStation®5 console to your PS5™ console.” It is the only one-step route in this guide that can combine account information, compatible saves and compatible installed games.
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Step-by-step procedure
- On the source console, sign in with the account you will use on the destination PS5.
- Update the source and destination consoles to the latest system software.
- Synchronize your trophies manually on the source console.
- Connect both consoles to the same home network. You can use Wi-Fi; a direct or shared LAN connection is preferable when you want a faster wired path.
- If the destination PS5 is still in its first-time setup, follow the on-screen data-transfer prompt. If setup is already complete, open Settings > System > System Software > Data Transfer > Continue on the destination PS5.
- Select the source console when it appears and choose the categories of data offered for transfer. Keep both consoles powered on throughout the process.
- Do not turn either console off, change network settings, or run an internet-connection test while the transfer is in progress. Sony warns that interrupting the process can damage or lose data.
- Wait for the destination PS5 to restart automatically. Some game data can continue copying after the restart, and a game may display as playable before every file has finished transferring.
What a PS5 source can send
| Category | Transfer behavior |
|---|---|
| User and account information | User information associated with the transferred accounts can be copied to the destination. |
| Saved data | PS5-playable saved data can transfer. The source save must belong to a user who is signed in and recognized by the destination. |
| Games | PS5-playable games and other compatible game data can transfer. Disc games still require the original disc to be inserted when you play them. |
| Media | Screenshots and video clips can transfer. |
| Settings | Compatible console settings can transfer during or after initial setup. |
What a PS4 source can send
During the destination PS5’s initial setup, users who have signed in, compatible saved data and PS5-playable games can transfer from a PS4. If you already completed PS5 setup, Sony limits the post-setup transfer to the saves belonging to the user currently logged in. Data that is already on the destination PS5 is not transferred from the source.
Digital games do not have to be copied as files. After signing in, open Game Library on the PS5 and redownload purchases. Disc-based games can be installed by inserting the disc. If the game files are already on a compatible USB extended-storage drive, connect that drive to the PS5 instead of downloading again.
Why a game can show as playable early
The PS5 can make a game available while additional files continue copying in the background. Avoid unplugging the source console or external drive until the transfer activity has finished. Starting a game before its complete installation can leave optional modes, languages or updates unavailable temporarily.
Use PlayStation Plus cloud storage when the old console is unavailable
Cloud storage helps only when the source console uploaded the save before it became unavailable. It is not a remote backup of every console automatically. Sony’s current storage overview lists 100 GB of cloud storage for PlayStation Plus members; plan features can change, so check the current membership documentation for your account.
Downloaded and streamed games use different save locations
For a downloaded PlayStation Plus game, the save normally remains on the console until you upload it. For a streamed game, the save is stored by PlayStation. Sony states that saved data is not automatically transferred between streamed and downloaded versions, but you can move it through PlayStation Plus cloud storage. This matters if you change how you play the same title on the new console: upload the save from the source type, then download that cloud copy to the destination type.
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Upload a PS4 save from a PS5
- On the source PS5, sign in to the PlayStation Network account that owns the save.
- Open Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings.
- Select Saved Data (PS4).
- Choose Upload or Delete from Console Storage, then Upload to Cloud Storage.
- Select the game and save files, then confirm the upload. Leave the console online until the upload completes.
On a PS4, use its saved-data management screen to upload the relevant PS4 saves to online storage. Menu wording differs by system generation, but the account and membership requirements are the same.
Download a cloud save on the new PS5
- Sign in on the destination PS5 with the same PlayStation Network account used for the upload.
- Open Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings.
- Choose the PS4 or PS5 saved-data category that matches the game.
- Open the cloud-storage download option, select the required save, and choose Download to Console Storage.
- Start the game and load the downloaded save. If the game offers both a streamed and downloaded edition, use the edition whose save you downloaded.
If no save appears, the source either never uploaded it, the destination is signed in to another account, the membership has expired, or you selected the wrong PS4/PS5 save-data category.
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Move PS4 saves with a USB drive
USB is the practical fallback when you have a working PS4 but no PlayStation Plus cloud copy. Use a USB drive formatted as FAT32 or exFAT. This route applies to PS4 saved data; Sony’s documented PS5 workflow does not provide a way to export PS5 saves from a PS5 to USB and then import them to another PS5.
Copy individual PS4 saves
- Format or prepare the USB drive as FAT32 or exFAT. Back up anything on it first because formatting erases existing content.
- Connect the drive to the source PS4.
- Open the PS4 saved-data management settings and choose the option to copy saved data to a USB storage device.
- Select the user, game and saves you want, then confirm the copy.
- Eject the drive safely and connect it to the destination PS5.
- On the PS5, open Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Saved Data (PS4) > USB Drive, select the files and choose the copy-to-console option.
The PS5 must be signed in to the account that owns the imported saves. A PS4 save also requires the PS4 version of the game; a PS5 upgrade may have its own conversion or import process inside the game.
Make a complete PS4 backup
For a full PS4 backup, use a FAT32 or exFAT USB drive with at least twice the space occupied by the backup file. A full backup can include games and applications, saved data, screenshots, video clips and settings.
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- Start the backup from the PS4’s backup and restore settings and keep the console powered on until it reports completion.
- Interrupting a backup can cause data loss or corruption.
- Restoring a backup erases data already on the destination PS4 and cannot be undone.
- If the user never signed in to PlayStation Network, that backup can be restored only to the original PS4. To restore it to another PS4, sign in before creating the backup.
A full PS4 backup is not a substitute for the PS5-to-PS5 network transfer or PlayStation Plus when your goal is to move PS5 saves.
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Game installations are different from saved progress. A USB extended-storage drive can save you a large download, but it does not replace a cloud or console transfer for saves.
Drive requirements
Sony’s current storage guide lists compatible SuperSpeed USB drives from 250 GB to 8 TB for storing compatible PS4 and PS5 games. The drive must meet the PS5’s USB-speed and connection requirements; a drive that is too slow or connected through an incompatible hub may not be recognized as extended storage.
What you can play from the drive
| Game type | Can it remain on USB extended storage? | How to play |
|---|---|---|
| PS4 game | Yes, when the drive is compatible | Connect the drive to the PS5 and launch the game directly from it |
| PS5 game | It can be stored there, but not played there | Copy the game back to the PS5’s internal SSD before launching |
Reuse an existing extended-storage drive
- Safely eject the drive from the old console before disconnecting it. Do not unplug it while the old console is reading or writing data.
- Connect the drive directly to a suitable USB port on the new PS5.
- Allow the PS5 to recognize the drive. If it requests formatting, stop and verify that the drive contains no files you still need; formatting erases its contents.
- Open the game library or storage settings to see the installed titles.
- For a PS5 title, choose the option to copy or move it to internal storage, wait for completion, and then launch it.
External game files do not include your account entitlement. You still need to sign in to the purchasing account, and disc titles still require their disc.
Transfer between two PS4 consoles
Sony supports both wired and wireless transfer between two PS4 systems. With both systems updated, the transfer can move existing users and settings, games, saved data, screenshots and video clips.
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- Update both PS4 systems to the latest system software and sign in to the relevant PlayStation Network account.
- Connect both consoles to the same network. A wired connection is recommended when available.
- Start the data-transfer option in the destination PS4’s settings and follow the prompts to identify the source PS4.
- Choose the content to move and leave both consoles powered on until the process finishes.
The process does not move passwords, so you must enter them again on the destination. It also does not move trophy information that has not synchronized. Data already on the destination PS4 is deleted by the transfer; the source PS4 is not affected.
Accounts, trophies and game ownership
Your account
Sign in on the new console with the same PlayStation Network account before testing saves or downloading purchases. A console transfer can copy user information, but it does not give another account access to protected saves or digital licenses.
Your trophies
Trophies are associated with your PlayStation Network account, not merely with the local console. Synchronize them manually from the old console while it still works, then sign in to the same account on the new PS5 and allow the trophy list to load. Unsynchronized trophy activity is specifically excluded from the supported PS4 transfer behavior.
Your digital and disc games
- Digital purchases can be downloaded again from Game Library after you sign in.
- Disc games can be installed by inserting the original disc. The disc remains the license check for play.
- Installed files copied by network or USB do not transfer ownership; the purchasing account or disc is still required.
If the old console is broken or cannot start
When cloud synchronization was already enabled
Use the PlayStation Plus download procedure on the new PS5. Check each important game individually because a recent session may not have uploaded before the failure.
When there is no cloud copy
A PS5 save that exists only on a dead PS5 cannot be exported through Sony’s documented USB method. If the console powers on intermittently, do not reset it: connect it to the network, sign in, synchronize trophies and upload saves before attempting repair or replacement. For a PS4, remove the drive only after the console can complete the USB-copy or backup process; a USB drive cannot recover an unreadable internal disk by itself.
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When only the game files are missing
Re-download digital games from Game Library or reinstall disc games. Losing an installation does not necessarily mean losing progress, because saves may still be on the new console, in cloud storage or on a USB backup.
Verify the new PS5 before wiping the old one
Use this sequence when replacing or selling the old console:
- Record the old console’s serial number for your records.
- Remove discs and every USB device.
- Remove any M.2 SSD you intend to keep and install it only in the compatible destination console according to its requirements.
- Complete the network transfer, cloud download or USB import.
- Open several games and load their newest saves. Check that the expected user profile, settings and screenshots are present.
- Open the trophy list while signed in to the same account and confirm recent trophies are synchronized.
- Open Game Library and verify that your digital purchases are visible and downloadable.
- Only after those checks, use the console’s reset or initialize command.
Resetting or initializing deletes saved information and cannot be undone. It is the final step, not a troubleshooting step for a transfer that has not yet been verified.
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Troubleshoot common transfer failures
The consoles do not find each other
- Confirm both systems are on the same local network, not separate guest networks.
- Update system software on both consoles and restart them.
- Disable any router setting that isolates wireless clients.
- Try a LAN cable connection if Wi-Fi discovery continues to fail.
The transfer stops or reports corrupted data
- Do not turn off either console during the transfer.
- Do not change network settings or run an internet-connection test while it is active.
- Restart both consoles, check free space on the destination, and begin the transfer again.
- For USB media, use FAT32 or exFAT, check the cable and port, and safely eject the drive before reconnecting it.
A save is missing after transfer
- Confirm you are signed in to the account that created the save.
- Check the correct generation: PS4 saves appear under the PS4 saved-data menu, while PS5 saves use the PS5 saved-data menu.
- Look in PlayStation Plus cloud storage and compare the upload date with your last play session.
- For a PS4 save copied by USB, install or start the PS4 edition of the game before attempting an in-game PS5 upgrade import.
A PS5 game on USB will not start
That behavior is expected. Copy the game from USB extended storage to the PS5’s internal SSD, then launch it. Compatible PS4 games can remain on the external drive and run from there.
Quick Recap
Quick decision checklist
- Both consoles work: update them, sync trophies, connect them to the same network and run PS5 Data Transfer.
- Old console is gone but the save was uploaded: download the matching save from PlayStation Plus cloud storage.
- PS4 save with no cloud: copy it to a FAT32 or exFAT USB drive and import it on the PS5.
- PS5 save with no old console and no cloud: Sony’s documented process provides no USB export route; recovery depends on getting the old PS5 working well enough to transfer or upload.
- Large game installations: reuse a compatible USB extended-storage drive, remembering that PS5 games must be copied to internal storage before play.
- Before disposal: verify saves, trophies and library access, remove media and retained storage, then initialize the old console.
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