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To transfer PS5 games, saves, users, and settings to a new PlayStation 5, keep both consoles on the same network, leave the old PS5 powered on, and use the destination console’s Settings > System > System Software > Data Transfer menu. You can start during first-time setup or run it later. The broad transfer does not copy data already on the new console, so choose the right method before you begin.
This guide explains the console-to-console transfer, PlayStation Plus cloud saves, PS4 save migration, USB backup and restore, and USB extended game storage. It also covers what is not transferable, what happens during a restart, and how to recover when a transfer appears stuck.
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What does a PS5-to-PS5 transfer move?
Sony’s PS5 data-transfer tool is the closest option to moving your old console wholesale. It can bring over:
- User and account information associated with the consoles
- Supported PS5 and PS4 saved data
- PS5-playable game installations and other game data
- Screenshots and video clips
- Selected settings, including language, login and power-saving preferences
It does not merge the destination’s existing content into the transfer. Data already stored on the new PS5 is not transferred, and some game data continues copying after the destination restarts. A title is ready when its game thumbnail appears on the home screen; check Downloads/Uploads for the remaining progress.
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If you only need saves, a cloud or PS4-USB method is usually simpler. If you need a safety copy of everything, use a USB console backup—but restoring that backup has a different, destructive effect than the normal transfer.
What should I do before starting?
Prepare both consoles first. This avoids the most common interruption and account problems.
- Sign in on the old PS5. Confirm that the user and PlayStation account containing your games and saves are available. If you use cloud storage, allow the old console to finish syncing before you start.
- Install pending system updates. Updating both consoles before migration reduces the chance that a setup prompt or transfer menu is unavailable.
- Connect both PS5s to the same home network. Wi-Fi is supported. If the consoles normally use Wi-Fi, Sony says a LAN cable can make the transfer faster. If both are already wired to the same network, you do not need to run a separate cable directly between the consoles.
- Keep the old console accessible and powered on. Do not put it away or disconnect it until the destination confirms the transfer is complete.
- Make room on the destination. The new PS5 must have enough free storage for the games and media you select. The source’s installed games can be re-downloaded later if storage is tight.
- Decide what you are migrating. A full transfer is convenient, but it can take much longer than downloading a few games or restoring only saves from the cloud.
Disc games still require their disc when you play them. Digital games remain tied to the PlayStation account that purchased them; the transfer moves installation data and account information, not ownership to a different account.
How do I transfer everything from my old PS5 to my new PS5?
Use the transfer prompt during initial setup for a new console, or start it from the destination PS5 later. The two paths use the same network-based process.
During first-time setup
- Turn on the new PS5 and work through the initial setup until it offers to transfer data from another PS5.
- Turn on the old PS5 and connect it to the same network as the new one.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to select the source console and the categories of data to copy.
- Confirm the transfer. Leave both consoles on and connected while the progress indicator runs.
After the new PS5 is already set up
- On the destination PS5, open Settings > System > System Software > Data Transfer.
- Select Continue.
- When prompted, make sure the old PS5 is powered on and connected to the same network.
- Follow the prompts to identify the source console and choose the data to move.
- Confirm and wait for the destination to restart. Some files, including game data, may continue copying after the restart.
Do not shut down either console, change Wi-Fi or LAN settings, or run an internet connection test during the transfer. Sony warns that interrupting the process in these ways can damage or lose data. If the destination restarts, that is expected; watch Downloads/Uploads rather than assuming the process ended.
Can a LAN cable make the transfer faster?
Yes, but the useful distinction is between a wired network and a direct console-to-console cable. Sony permits Wi-Fi or LAN and says a LAN connection can be faster for consoles that normally use wireless. If both PS5s are already connected by LAN to the same router or network switch, no extra cable directly between the consoles is required.
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For a large game library, connect both consoles to the fastest stable network available before opening Data Transfer. Avoid changing from Wi-Fi to wired, or moving either console to another network, once copying has started.
What happens when the destination PS5 restarts?
A restart is part of the normal process. The destination may reboot before every selected game and media file has finished copying. Once it returns to the home screen, open Downloads/Uploads to see what remains; a game can be launched when its thumbnail appears, although additional content may still be downloading or copying.
Do not cancel a title merely because its progress is not visible in the first transfer screen. Give the console time to rebuild its queue, and check that the source remains on and online.
How do I move only PS5 or PS4 save data?
For saves without a full game migration, PlayStation Plus cloud storage is the usual route. A USB drive can carry PS4 saves, but Sony does not allow PS5 saves to be copied to USB.
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PlayStation Plus cloud storage
- On the old PS5, verify that the latest saves have synchronized. For a manual check, open the saved-data controls under Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings and choose the cloud-storage options.
- On the new PS5, sign in with the same PlayStation account.
- Open the same saved-data area, choose Download or Delete from Cloud Storage, select the games, and download the saves you need.
Automatic synchronization depends on automatic updates being enabled and the PS5 being allowed to stay connected to the internet in rest mode. The cloud keeps the most recent PS5 save data. PS4 saves upload automatically when configured, but they must be downloaded manually to the PS5.
PlayStation Support lists separate limits of 100 GB for PS5 saved data and 100 GB for PS4 saved data, plus a limit of 1,000 PS4 saved-data files on the cloud-storage service; verify the current limits on the PlayStation Plus cloud-storage support page before relying on them.
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USB copying for PS4 saves
- Format a compatible USB drive as FAT32 or exFAT if it is not already formatted that way. Back up anything on it first because formatting erases the drive.
- On the source console, open Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings, choose the PS4 saved-data controls, then select Copy to USB Drive.
- Safely remove the drive and connect it to the destination PS5.
- In the destination’s PS4 saved-data controls, choose the USB-drive option and copy the saves to console storage.
This USB route is for PS4 saves. As PlayStation Support states, “You can’t copy PS5 saved data from your PS5 console to a USB drive.” Use the network transfer or cloud storage for PS5 saves instead.
Do I need PlayStation Plus to transfer saves?
No. You do not need PlayStation Plus for the direct PS5-to-PS5 transfer, and you can move PS4 saves with a compatible USB drive. PlayStation Plus is required specifically for the cloud-storage method.
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If you are selling or wiping the old console, do not rely on an unverified cloud sync. Check the save’s timestamp on the source first, or complete the console-to-console transfer while the old PS5 is still available.
How do I make a full USB backup and restore it?
A USB console backup is useful when you want a recovery copy of games, apps, saved data, screenshots, video clips and settings. It is not the same as USB extended game storage, and restoring it erases the data currently on the destination PS5.
Create the backup
- Prepare separate USB storage formatted as FAT32 or exFAT. Sony notes that not every USB device works for this purpose.
- Connect it to the source PS5. Do not use a USB extended-storage drive that is configured for playing games as the console-backup drive.
- Open Settings > System > System Software > Back Up and Restore > Back Up Your PS5.
- Select the categories to include and start the backup. Keep the console on until it confirms completion.
The backup is linked to the PlayStation account that created it. Keep the drive safe and do not format it after the backup.
Restore on the new console
- Connect the backup drive to the destination PS5 and sign in with the same PlayStation account used to create the backup.
- Open Settings > System > System Software > Back Up and Restore > Restore Your PS5.
- Choose the backup and confirm the warnings.
- Wait for the PS5 to erase its current data and restart while it restores the selected content.
Restoring erases current destination-console data. It also disables Console Sharing and Offline Play, so enable that feature again in the account settings if you need other users on the console to access your games offline. A restore is therefore best performed on a new or deliberately cleared PS5, not on a console containing files you have not copied elsewhere.
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Can I move PS5 games with a USB extended-storage drive?
Yes, an existing USB extended-storage drive can carry installed games between consoles, but it does not carry saves, users or settings. Connect the drive to the destination PS5 and use its game library to copy titles as needed.
- PS4 games: can be played directly from compatible USB extended storage.
- PS5 games: can be stored there, but must be copied back to the PS5’s internal storage or a compatible M.2 SSD before they can be played.
Do not confuse this drive with the separate FAT32 or exFAT device used for a full-console backup. Extended storage is for game installations, not the backup format described above.
What if I am moving from a PS4 to a PS5?
A PS4-to-PS5 move is narrower than PS5-to-PS5 migration. The PlayStation transfer tool can bring compatible user information, games and saves over the same network, while PS4 saves can also be copied with USB or downloaded from PlayStation Plus cloud storage.
Use the same account on both consoles. PS4 game saves stored in the cloud require a manual download on the PS5, even when automatic synchronization is enabled for other data. Compatibility and upgrade behavior vary by game, so retain the PS4 installation or disc until you have confirmed that the PS5 version recognizes the save.
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Most failures come from a network mismatch, an interrupted console, or insufficient destination storage. Work through these checks in order.
- Confirm the network. Both consoles must be on the same local network. Reconnect them to the same router or network switch, then reopen Data Transfer.
- Keep both systems awake. Do not shut down the source, unplug either console, or let a power-saving setting interrupt the process.
- Stop changing settings. Do not switch networks or run an internet connection test while the transfer is active.
- Check free space. Delete or move unneeded games from the destination, or transfer fewer categories and download large games later.
- Use wired LAN where practical. If Wi-Fi is unstable, connect both consoles to the same wired network before starting again.
- Check the post-restart queue. If the destination has restarted, look in Downloads/Uploads; the transfer may still be progressing.
- Use a different method for a single category. Cloud storage is appropriate for PS5 saves when you have PlayStation Plus; USB copying is appropriate for PS4 saves; an extended-storage drive is appropriate for installed games only.
If an interruption leaves a game incomplete, the safest fallback is to delete the partial installation and reinstall or recopy it, while preserving verified saves in cloud storage or on the source console.
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Which transfer method should I choose?
| If you need to move… | Use this method | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Most users, games, saves, media and settings | PS5-to-PS5 Data Transfer | Same network; source PS5 must stay on; destination data is not included |
| PS5 saved data only | PlayStation Plus cloud storage or direct console transfer | PS Plus is required for cloud storage; PS5 saves cannot be copied to USB |
| PS4 saved data only | Cloud download or USB copy | PS4 cloud saves need manual download on PS5 |
| A recoverable copy of the console | USB console backup and restore | Restore erases destination data and requires the same account |
| Installed game files | USB extended storage | PS5 games must be copied back before play; no saves or settings |
The practical choice for most PS5 owners is a direct transfer while the old console is still available, followed by a cloud-save check. Add a USB backup if you want a separate recovery copy, and use extended storage only to avoid downloading large game installations again.
What should I verify after the move?
- Sign in to the intended PlayStation account and confirm your user profile appears.
- Open several important games and check that their latest saves are present before wiping the old console.
- Look in Downloads/Uploads for game or media transfers still running.
- Check screenshots and video clips in the Media Gallery.
- Recheck language, power-saving and rest-mode network settings, especially if you rely on automatic cloud synchronization.
- Re-enable Console Sharing and Offline Play if you used a full USB restore and need offline access for other users.
- Keep the old PS5 untouched until you have verified irreplaceable saves, captures and settings.
How we organized the options
The methods above are separated by the type of data they actually support: broad console migration, cloud saves, PS4 USB saves, full-console backup, or installed-game storage. The distinctions and cautions come from Sony’s current support documentation, checked November 13, 2026, rather than from a hands-on transfer test. Because PlayStation menu labels and compatibility rules can change, confirm the linked support page if your console displays different wording.
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Can I transfer data if my old PS5 will not turn on?
A direct network transfer requires the source console to be powered on and recognized. If it will not start, your remaining options are a previously created USB backup, cloud saves that already synchronized, or redownloading digital games from the purchasing account; unsynchronized local saves may not be recoverable.
Will transferring games remove them from my old PS5?
No. The transfer copies supported content to the destination; it does not function as a move that automatically uninstalls the source games. Keep the old console intact until you have checked saves and media on the new one.
Can two people use the transferred games on the new PS5?
Game access depends on the purchasing account and the destination console’s Console Sharing and Offline Play setting. A full USB restore disables that setting, so it must be enabled again if other local users need offline access.
Why does a PS4 save appear in the cloud but not in my PS5 game?
PS4 saves are separate from PS5-version saves, and the PS5 requires you to download PS4 cloud saves manually. The game must also support recognizing that save and, in some cases, provide an in-game import or upgrade path.
Can I use the same USB drive for extended games and a PS5 backup?
Treat them as separate uses. A drive configured as USB extended storage is for game installations, while a console backup uses a compatible FAT32 or exFAT device and a different backup process; Sony warns that not all USB devices support backup.
