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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Use Sony’s direct data-transfer feature when both consoles work: connect the PS4 or PS5 and the new PS5 to the same network, sign in with the same PlayStation account, and transfer supported users, saves, games, captures, and settings. Use PlayStation Plus cloud storage for saves, USB for PS4 saves and media, an existing extended-storage drive for installed games, or an M.2 SSD relocation for PS5-to-PS5 game storage.
Choose the right migration method
| Situation | Best method | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Working PS4 and new PS5 | Direct network transfer | Supported users, saves, games, captures and selected settings |
| Working PS5 and replacement PS5 | Direct transfer, plus M.2 relocation if applicable | Console data through transfer; installed games on a compatible expansion SSD |
| Only saves matter | PlayStation Plus cloud storage | PS4 and PS5 saved data |
| No Plus membership and a PS4 source | USB save copy | PS4 saves, screenshots and video clips |
| Games already on an extended-storage drive | Reconnect that drive | PS4 games playable directly; PS5 games stored until copied back |
| Old console will not start | Cloud saves, redownloads and existing storage | Only data that was synchronized or remains readable |
The official workflow transfers from a PS4 or PS5 to a PS5. A PS4-to-PS4 move should use the PS4 backup and restore process instead, rather than the PS5 transfer menu. See Sony’s current instructions at PlayStation Support.
What transfers—and what does not
Supported data
- User and account information, including login passcodes.
- Supported PS4 and PS5 saved data.
- PS4 and PS5 games that the destination PS5 can use.
- Screenshots and video clips.
- Selected console settings, such as language, login and power-saving settings.
During initial PS5 setup, the transfer can include data for multiple users. If you start it later, PS4 user information and settings are more limited, and Sony documents transferring only the logged-in user’s PS4 saved data in that situation. The process copies data; it does not erase the source console.
Content you can redownload or reconnect
- Digital games can be downloaded from Game Library after signing in to the account that purchased them.
- Disc games can be reinstalled by inserting the disc. A PS5 Digital Edition cannot use PS4 discs.
- A compatible USB extended-storage drive can be connected to the new PS5.
- PlayStation Plus members can download synchronized saves from cloud storage.
Ownership remains tied to the purchasing PlayStation account. Region, edition, add-on and publisher-account requirements can still affect access. A PS4 save also may require a game-specific migration or cross-save process before it works in that title’s PS5 version.
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Prepare both consoles
- Sign in to the same PlayStation account on the source and destination.
- Update both consoles to current system software.
- Synchronize trophy information on the source console.
- Connect both consoles to the same local network and keep them powered on.
- Use Ethernet where possible. If both consoles are wired to the same router, you do not need a special console-to-console cable; Sony refers to ordinary LAN cables.
- Check free space on the destination and decide which older games or captures can be redownloaded later.
- Do not factory-reset or sell the source until saves and important media have been verified on the new PS5.
The destination PS5 must remain connected to the display for setup. The source console does not need to stay connected to the television.
Method 1: Direct PS4 or PS5-to-PS5 transfer
During initial PS5 setup
- Start the new PS5 and follow setup until it offers data transfer.
- Leave the source console switched on and connected to the same network.
- Select the users and content shown by the transfer interface.
- Keep both consoles on. Do not change network settings, run an internet connection test or shut down either console while copying.
Sony warns that interrupting the process can damage or lose data. Transfer time varies with the amount of data, network conditions and drive speed; there is no reliable fixed duration.
After setup
- On the destination PS5, open Settings.
- Select System.
- Select System Software.
- Select Data Transfer, choose Continue, and follow the prompts.
The PS5 may restart. Some items can continue copying afterward; check Control Center > Downloads/Uploads. A game may become playable before all related data has finished transferring. One source PS4 or PS5 can transfer to one destination PS5, and matching data already on the destination is not copied over.
Child accounts
Sony applies special restrictions to child accounts during initial setup. The documented options are to complete setup with the child account and transfer afterward, or set up with an adult account and then transfer both accounts. Follow the account-specific prompts rather than assuming an adult and child profile behave identically.
Method 2: PlayStation Plus cloud saves
Cloud storage is the best choice when only saves matter, when a direct transfer fails, or when you want to redownload games separately. It is not a full image of the console: installed games, screenshots, clips and most settings are not represented by a cloud save.
Sony lists capacity of up to 100 GB for PS4 saved data, 100 GB for PS5 saved data and 1,000 PS4 saved-data files. An eligible PlayStation Plus membership is required; Essential is sufficient for cloud saves. Details and limits are listed at Sony’s cloud-storage support page.
Upload PS4 saves
- On PS4, open Settings > Application Data Management.
- Select Saved Data in System Storage.
- Select Upload to Online Storage.
- Choose the game and save file, then confirm any overwrite.
For automatic uploads, enable Settings > Power Saving Settings > Set Features Available in Rest Mode > Stay Connected to the Internet, then open Settings > Application Data Management > Auto-Upload and enable automatic uploads.
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- You can play PS4 games directly from USB extended storage, which lets you save space on your PS5 console storage for PS5 games. To play PS5 games, you need to copy game data from your USB extended storage drive back to your PS5 console's internal SSD storage. It’s much quicker to copy a PS5 game from USB extended storage than to re-download it.
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Download on PS5
Sign in to the same account on the new PS5, open its saved-data and game/app settings, choose cloud storage, and download the relevant PS5 or PS4 saves to console storage. Upload or manually synchronize immediately before migration and compare timestamps and in-game progress. An older cloud copy can overwrite a newer local save, and some games keep progression on their own servers instead of in a normal console save.
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Method 3: USB transfer and backup
Copy PS4 saves to USB
- Insert a USB drive into the PS4.
- Open Settings > Application Saved Data Management.
- Select Saved Data in System Storage > Copy to USB Storage Device.
- Select the game and save.
- Connect the drive to the PS5 and use its saved-data settings to copy the PS4 save to console storage.
The PS5 can replace an existing save with the USB copy. Check dates and progress before confirming. Menu wording can vary slightly with language and system software.
PS5-save limitation
Ordinary USB storage is not a general backup route for PS5 saved data. Sony’s storage guidance supports PS4 saved data on a FAT- or exFAT-formatted USB drive, while PS5 saved data is listed for cloud storage instead: PS5 storage management.
Method 4: Reuse USB extended storage
A PS4-formatted extended-storage drive can generally be connected to the new PS5 while signed in to the same account. Supported drives are USB 3.0 or later, 250 GB minimum and 8 TB maximum. Do not use a USB hub or connect two extended-storage drives simultaneously; see Sony’s PS5 preparation guidance.
- PS4 games: can be played directly from USB extended storage.
- PS5 games: can be stored there, but must be copied to PS5 console storage or a compatible M.2 SSD before playing.
Never unplug the drive while it is active. On PS4, use Quick Menu > Sound/Devices > Stop Using Extended Storage before removal. Improper disconnection can corrupt data.
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For a PS5-to-PS5 migration, a compatible M.2 SSD installed in the source can be removed and installed in the destination so its installed game data is available there. This concerns the removable expansion drive, not the PS5’s built-in storage.
- Confirm compatibility with the destination PS5.
- Shut down the source completely, unplug it and follow the hardware-specific removal instructions.
- Install the SSD in the destination PS5 according to Sony’s instructions.
- Keep saves separately synchronized through direct transfer or PlayStation Plus cloud storage.
Moving the M.2 drive primarily moves installed games; do not treat it as a universal save backup.
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Troubleshooting by symptom
The transfer option is missing
- Confirm the destination is a PS5 and the source is a PS4 or PS5.
- Install pending system-software updates on both consoles.
- Use Settings > System > System Software > Data Transfer after setup.
The consoles cannot see each other
Verify the same local network, sign-in account and power state. Prefer Ethernet and restart both consoles before trying again.
The transfer is too slow
Large installations, Wi-Fi interference and slow drives are common causes. Move both consoles to Ethernet where practical and transfer saves first; redownload older digital games instead of repeatedly copying them.
The transfer stops or reports an error
Do not immediately reset either console. Check updates and network wiring, restart both systems, retry, then use cloud saves or USB PS4 saves as a fallback. Keep the source intact until the destination is verified.
Saves are missing
Check the PlayStation account, local user, save timestamp, game title and whether you launched a separate PS5 edition. Check cloud timestamps before replacing anything. Unsynchronized local saves on a failed console may be unrecoverable without professional repair or specialized data recovery.
Games show a lock
Sign in to the purchasing account, restore licenses if prompted, and check whether the title is disc-based, region-specific or tied to a publisher account. Transferring files does not transfer ownership or convert a disc license into a digital one.
The external drive is not recognized
Reconnect it directly to a suitable USB port without a hub, confirm it is the same extended-storage drive, and avoid formatting until you have confirmed that its contents are no longer needed.
The old console is dead
Use the latest cloud saves, redownload digital games, connect any readable extended-storage drive and restore a legitimate backup. Local-only saves that never synchronized generally cannot be promised back.
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Verify everything before wiping the old console
- The correct PlayStation account is signed in.
- Recent saves open and show expected progress in key games.
- Screenshots and video clips are present.
- Digital games appear in Game Library and disc games have their discs accounted for.
- External storage is connected or safely disconnected.
- The M.2 SSD is installed in the intended PS5 or deliberately left in the source.
- Two-factor authentication and account-recovery details work.
Only after these checks should you deactivate, reset, sell or dispose of the old console. Sony’s preparation guidance is at transfer, replacement and disposal support.
Do you need to buy anything?
Most two-console migrations require no purchase. Consider PlayStation Plus only when cloud saves solve a real problem, an external USB drive when you need capacity for PS4 games or media, and an internal M.2 SSD when you regularly run out of PS5 game space. External USB storage cannot run PS5 games directly; an M.2 SSD is the expansion option that can. Sony’s PS5 storage documentation is available at the PS5 support hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer PS4 data directly to another PS4?
Use the PS4 backup and restore workflow; Sony’s documented Data Transfer menu here is for moving a PS4 or PS5 to a PS5.
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No. Sony’s current storage guidance supports PS4 saves on USB and PS5 saves through cloud storage.
Will every PS4 save work in the PS5 version?
Not necessarily. Compatibility and migration rules are title-specific, so check the game publisher’s instructions if the PS5 edition does not show the save.
Does direct transfer delete the old console’s data?
No. It copies supported data. Reset the old console only after verifying the new one.
Quick Recap
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