You can manually transfer PS4 save data to a PS5 with a USB drive. Copy the save from the PS4 to USB, then copy it to the PS5. Individual PS5 saves cannot be copied from a PS5 to USB through the normal user-facing process, so PS5 saves must use PlayStation Plus cloud storage or console-to-console transfer instead.
Before starting, identify whether you are moving a PS4 save, a PS5 save, or a PS4 save into a game’s PS5-native version. Those are different processes.
Choose the right transfer method
| Save you have | Can USB transfer it? | Best method |
|---|---|---|
| PS4 save to the PS4 version running on PS5 | Yes | USB or PlayStation Plus cloud storage |
| PS4 save to a PS5-native version | Sometimes | Use the game’s own import or migration feature |
| PS5 save to another PS5 | Not as an individual USB save | Cloud storage or console-to-console transfer |
Sony’s current guidance supports copying PS4 saved data to USB and then to a PS5, but does not support copying individual PS5 saved-data files from a PS5 to a USB drive. See Sony’s PS4-to-PS5 transfer instructions.
Transfer a PS4 save to PS5 with a USB drive
What you need
- A working PS4 containing the save.
- A USB storage device connected directly to the console.
- The same PlayStation account and local user on both consoles.
- The game installed, or available to install, on the PS5.
The PS4 user must be signed in to copy saved data. Saves are associated with the user profile that created them, so using a different account can make an otherwise valid save appear to be missing.
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1. Copy the save from PS4 to USB
- Sign in on the PS4 with the user that created the save.
- Connect the USB drive directly to the PS4.
- Open Settings > Application Saved Data Management > Saved Data in System Storage > Copy to USB Storage Device.
- Select the game.
- Select the save file you want, or choose Select All.
- Select Copy.
If the PS4 warns that a save already exists on the USB drive, compare the displayed dates and times before choosing whether to overwrite it. The copy must finish before you disconnect the drive.
2. Move the save from USB to PS5
- Connect the USB drive to the PS5.
- Open Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings.
- Choose Saved Data (PS4).
- Choose the USB-drive option, such as Copy or Delete from USB Drive or USB Drive. The wording can vary slightly with system software.
- Select Copy to Console Storage.
- Choose the game and save file, then confirm.
When the copy is complete, launch the game and verify the expected progress. Do not delete the original PS4 save or the USB copy until you have confirmed that the correct file loads.
USB save storage is not extended game storage
You do not need to transfer the entire game to move its save. Digital games can be redownloaded from your Game Library, while disc games can be installed from their discs. Save data is separate from the installed game.
Do not confuse a USB drive used for saved-data copying with a drive formatted as PS4 or PS5 extended storage. Sony’s requirements of USB 3.0 or later, 250 GB minimum, and 8 TB maximum apply to extended game storage—not necessarily to the small save files handled by the saved-data menu. Formatting a drive as extended storage erases its contents, so back up anything important first. See Sony’s extended-storage guidance.
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Stop and compare the dates and times. The save already on the PS5 may be newer than the one on the PS4 or USB drive.
- Cancel the overwrite if you are unsure.
- Back up or upload the current PS5 save to PlayStation Plus cloud storage if available.
- Copy the PS4 save only when you are certain it is the version you want.
- Launch the game and test it before removing any backup.
Overwriting can replace the currently installed save. If the imported file is wrong, restore the newer version from cloud storage or recopy it from the original source.
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Use PlayStation Plus cloud storage instead
Cloud storage is useful when the PS4 is working but you do not want to use a USB drive. It also provides the official route for moving PS5 saves. An eligible PlayStation Plus membership is required.
Upload a PS4 save
On the PS4, sign in to the correct account and open Settings > Application Data Management > Saved Data in System Storage > Upload to Online Storage. Select the game and save, then confirm the upload or overwrite choice.
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Download it on PS5
- Sign in to the same account on the PS5.
- Open Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings.
- Select Saved Data (PS4).
- Choose Download or Delete from Cloud Storage.
- Open the Download to Console Storage tab.
- Select the save and choose Download.
Consult Sony’s PS4 cloud-storage instructions and its PS5 cloud-storage instructions if labels differ on your console. Sony lists up to 100 GB for PS4 saved data, up to 100 GB for PS5 saved data, and a limit of 1,000 PS4 saved-data files.
Transfer data directly between consoles
If both consoles are available, Sony’s built-in data-transfer tool can move saved data along with other content. It is more suitable than USB when you want to transfer many games, users, settings, screenshots, or video clips.
Both consoles should be powered on, updated, connected to the same network, and signed in to the same account. Synchronize trophy information before beginning. A wired LAN connection can be faster than Wi-Fi; if both consoles are already connected by cable to the same router, a separate cable directly between the consoles is not required.
- On the destination PS5, open Settings > System > System Software > Data Transfer.
- Select Continue.
- Follow the on-screen instructions and select the source console.
Do not turn off either console, change network settings, or run internet-connection tests while the transfer is running. Sony warns that interrupting the process can damage or lose data. A child account cannot use the ordinary initial-setup transfer flow in the same way as an adult account; complete setup first or follow Sony’s child-account guidance.
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- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop. Reformatting may be required for Mac
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Will a PS4 save work with the PS5 version?
Not necessarily. Copying a PS4 save to PS5 does not convert it into a PS5-native save. The save should be relevant when you play the supported PS4 version of the game on PS5, but whether it works with the PS5 version is decided by the game’s publisher.
Depending on the game, you may need to:
- Choose Import PS4 Save or Transfer Save from an in-game menu.
- Have both the PS4 and PS5 versions installed.
- Use a publisher account or server-based migration process.
- Continue using the PS4 version because cross-generation migration is unsupported.
Check the individual game’s official support information before replacing a working save. If the PS5-native version does not support the PS4 save format, repeatedly copying the same file will not make it compatible.
Why can’t PS5 saves be copied to USB?
Sony currently does not provide an individual PS5 saved-data export to USB. This is different from moving installed games to USB extended storage and does not mean every kind of full-console backup is identical to an individual save copy.
For a PS5 save, use PlayStation Plus cloud storage or the official PS5-to-PS5 data-transfer process. For a PS4 save, the USB method above remains available.
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| Problem | What to check |
|---|---|
| The USB drive is not recognized | Connect it directly, try another USB port, and confirm that the PS4 recognizes it before opening the saved-data menu. Do not format it if it contains important files. |
| The save does not appear | Check Saved Data (PS4), not Saved Data (PS5); sign in with the original local user; and confirm that the save was on the PS4’s internal storage. |
| The game starts without progress | Confirm that the save was copied to PS5 console storage, that the correct account is active, and that you are running the PS4 version or using the game’s required migration tool. |
| The PS5 save conflicts with the USB save | Compare timestamps. Cancel if the PS5 file is newer, and back it up to cloud storage before replacing it. |
| The PS4 is broken | Download the save from PlayStation Plus cloud storage if it was previously uploaded. If there is no cloud copy or USB backup, Sony’s normal transfer tools may not recover a save from a failed PS4 drive. |
Other causes include a different game edition or region, a publisher-managed online save, or a save belonging to another account. Menu labels can change slightly after system-software updates or vary by language.
Keep the distinction clear
- Saved data: Your progress and settings for a game.
- Installed games: The game files, which can be reinstalled or moved separately.
- Media: Screenshots and video clips, handled separately from saves.
- Console transfer: A broader process that can move multiple categories of data.
- Save migration: A game-specific process that may convert or import a PS4 save for a PS5-native version.
For official details, use PlayStation’s transfer guide and PS5 system-software support.
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