Before you reset, sell, or retire a PlayStation, confirm whether each game is a PS4 or PS5 title, then preserve its save with PlayStation Plus cloud storage, a supported transfer to PS5, or USB for PS4 saves. PS5 saves cannot be copied from a PS5 console to USB. Whichever method you use, check that the intended save is on the new console before wiping the old one.
First, identify which kind of save you need to move
Save handling depends on the game’s console version, not just the console you are moving from. A PS5 can run both PS5 and PS4 games, but Sony’s USB instructions distinguish between their saves:
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- PS4 game save: Can be copied to USB using Sony’s supported procedure. A PS4 save can also be copied to USB from a PS5.
- PS5 game save: Cannot be copied from a PS5 console to USB. Use cloud storage or a supported console-to-console transfer instead.
If a game has both PS4 and PS5 versions, treat each version’s save separately. Do not assume that moving one version’s save moves the other. See Sony’s PS5 storage instructions and transfer guidance.
Choose the method that fits your move
| Method | Best fit | Requirements and limits |
|---|---|---|
| PlayStation Plus cloud storage | Moving saves without connecting the consoles directly | Requires a PlayStation Plus membership. Confirm the intended save has synced; PS4 saves may need to be downloaded manually to PS5 console storage. |
| Direct transfer to PS5 | Moving from PS4 to PS5, or from one PS5 to another, when the source console is available | Same account, current system software, trophy synchronization, and both consoles on the same network. Keep them on and do not change network settings during transfer. |
| USB copy of PS4 saves | Keeping a local copy of PS4 game saves or moving them to PS5 | Use a supported USB drive. On PS5, the drive for PS4 saved data must be FAT or exFAT; Sony cautions that not all devices work. This does not copy PS5 saves. |
| Full PS4 console backup | Preserving broader PS4 data, not just selected saves | Requires a FAT32 or exFAT drive with at least twice the backup file’s space. Restoring erases data on the destination PS4. |
Sony’s guidance: cloud storage, console transfer, PS4 save management, and PS5 storage.
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- Redeem for anything on PlayStationStore: games, add-ons, PlayStationPlus and more.
- Everything you want to play. Choose from the largest library of PlayStation content.
- Use gift card funds to contribute towards PlayStationPlus memberships.
Use PlayStation Plus cloud storage
A PlayStation Plus membership is required to use cloud storage. PlayStation Support lists capacity of up to 100 GB for PS5 saved data and 100 GB for PS4 saved data, with a 1,000-file limit for PS4 saves. The support page does not state a publication year for these figures.
Upload or check saves on PS5
- On the console, open Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings.
- Choose Saved Data (PS5) or Saved Data (PS4), according to the game version.
- Open the console-storage upload option and upload the intended save, or check its per-game sync status. For a download, choose cloud storage and select the save to download.
Sony describes automatic synchronization for PS5 saves and automatic upload for PS4 saves when configured. Do not rely on automation without checking that the latest save is present in cloud storage. For a PS4 game on PS5, Sony says the save must be downloaded manually to PS5 console storage before use.
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- Redeem for anything on PlayStationStore: games, add-ons, PlayStationPlus and more.
- Everything you want to play. Choose from the largest library of PlayStation content.
- Use gift card funds to contribute towards PlayStationPlus memberships.
On PS4, configure automatic uploads or upload saves through Settings > Application Saved Data Management. The exact cloud controls depend on whether you are managing the save from PS4 or PS5; consult PlayStation’s cloud-storage instructions for the relevant console.
Copy PS4 game saves with a USB drive
This method applies to PS4 saves, not PS5 saves. A USB drive used for PS4 saved data on PS5 must be formatted as FAT or exFAT. Sony notes that not all USB devices work. The save-copy drive is not the same thing as USB extended storage for games.
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Rank #3
- Redeem for anything on PlayStationStore: games, add-ons, PlayStationPlus and more.
- Everything you want to play. Choose from the largest library of PlayStation content.
- Use gift card funds to contribute towards PlayStationPlus memberships.
Copy saves from PS4 to USB
- Connect the USB drive and open Settings > Application Saved Data Management > Saved Data in System Storage > Copy to USB Storage Device.
- Select a game and the save files to copy, or select all, then confirm.
- To copy saves from USB back to a PS4, go to Saved Data on USB Storage Device > Copy to System Storage.
You must be signed in to copy saves on PS4. See Sony’s PS4 save-management instructions.
Copy PS4 saves from PS5 to USB
- Open Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Saved Data (PS4) > Upload or Delete from Console Storage.
- Choose Copy to USB Drive and select the saves.
- To copy saves back from USB, choose Copy or Delete from USB Drive.
Sony specifies FAT or exFAT for the USB drive used to store PS4 saved data on PS5. Check Sony’s PS5 storage guidance if the drive is not recognized.
Rank #4
- Redeem for anything on PlayStationStore: games, add-ons, PlayStationPlus and more.
- Everything you want to play. Choose from the largest library of PlayStation content.
- Use gift card funds to contribute towards PlayStationPlus memberships.
Transfer saves directly to a PS5
Sony supports transferring data from a PS4 or another PS5 to a PS5. Both consoles must be available for preparation and transfer.
Prepare both consoles
- Sign in on the source console with the same account used on the destination PS5.
- Update both consoles’ system software.
- Synchronize trophy information on the source console.
- Connect both consoles to the same network.
Start transfer on a PS5 that is already set up
- On the destination, open Settings > System > System Software > Data Transfer > Continue.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to find the source console and select the data to transfer.
- Leave both consoles on and avoid changing network settings until the transfer finishes.
Sony warns that turning off either console or changing network settings during transfer may cause data damage or loss. Its instructions also say that, after PS5 setup, a PS4-to-PS5 transfer of saved data is limited to the logged-in user. Follow Sony’s full transfer instructions for the current prompts.
When a full PS4 backup makes sense
A full backup is for preserving a broader set of PS4 data, including games and apps, saved data, captures, and settings. It is different from copying selected game saves to USB. Sony requires a FAT32 or exFAT USB drive with at least twice the space of the backup file.
Be careful when restoring: the process erases all data on the PS4 being restored, even if the restore is later canceled. If you have never signed in to PSN, Sony says saved data can be restored only to the original PS4; to restore to another PS4, sign in to PSN before making the backup. For returning selected data without restoring the whole console, Sony points to USB extended storage or cloud storage. Read Sony’s PS4 backup and restore instructions before proceeding.
Quick Recap
Verify the save before resetting the old console
- On the destination console, open the relevant game version and check that the expected progress is available.
- For a cloud move, verify the save’s sync status and download PS4 saves to PS5 console storage where required.
- For a USB move, confirm the files copied back to the destination console and can be loaded by the game.
- For a direct transfer, wait for completion, then verify the save on the destination.
- Only after verification should you reset, sell, or dispose of the source console.
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