The safest way to move to a new PS5 is to finish the hardware and account setup, update both consoles, synchronize trophies, put them on the same network, and then use Settings > System > System Software > Data Transfer. A console transfer copies supported games, saves, captures, users and settings; it does not eliminate every other recovery method. Digital games can be downloaded again from your Game Library, disc games can be installed from their discs, compatible USB storage can be reconnected, and PlayStation Plus cloud storage can restore eligible saves.
The exact result depends on whether your source is a PS4 or PS5 and whether the destination is still in its first-time setup. Follow the model-specific setup instructions at PlayStation’s PS5 setup guide, then use the transfer path that matches your consoles.
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Before you turn on the new PS5
Identify the exact console model
Check the model number on the console and use the matching base or feet instructions. PS5 model groups have different physical layouts, so do not assume that a stand, port position or installation direction from another model applies to yours. The official setup guide covers the current model-specific procedure: Getting started with your new PlayStation 5 console.
Prepare the required connections
- Use the included HDMI cable to connect the PS5 to your display.
- Connect the supplied power cable and place the console where its vents are unobstructed.
- Have the DualSense controller and its USB cable available for pairing and charging.
- Have your PlayStation account sign-in details ready. Use the same account on the destination that you use on the source when transferring data.
- Connect both consoles to the same home network. Wi-Fi works; a LAN connection can make a transfer faster, but a direct console-to-console cable is not required when both consoles already use wired connections.
Do not buy replacement HDMI or power cables unless one is missing or damaged. The setup process already calls for the cables supplied with the console.
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Set up the new PS5 step by step
- Attach the correct base or feet. Follow the instructions for your model before standing the console upright or laying it horizontally.
- Connect the display and power. Plug HDMI into the PS5 and the television or monitor, then connect power and switch on the display.
- Start the console and pair the controller. Press the PS button when prompted. The on-screen wizard guides pairing and basic controller setup.
- Choose language and region settings. Select the options you actually use; these affect the initial system configuration.
- Connect to the internet. Choose Wi-Fi during the wizard or connect Ethernet. If you skip it, open Settings > Network > Settings > Set Up Internet Connection later.
- Install system software updates. Open Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings and install any available update. Update the source console as well before starting a transfer.
- Review display and Rest Mode options. Configure the output and power behavior for this console; you can change these settings later.
- Accept the user agreement and sign in. Sign in with your existing PlayStation account or create one. If the PlayStation App is already installed and set up, PlayStation also supports using it to sign in.
If you intend to transfer during first-time setup, leave both consoles available and online when the wizard reaches the data-transfer stage. If you finish setup first, the same operation is available from the system menus.
Choose the right way to move your data
There is no single “move everything” operation for every combination of consoles. Use this decision table before you begin.
| Source and situation | Best first choice | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Older PS5 to new PS5, destination still in initial setup | Follow the wizard’s data-transfer instructions | Both consoles must be updated, on the same network and signed in appropriately; supported categories are broadest in this scenario. |
| Older PS5 to new PS5, destination already set up | Settings > System > System Software > Data Transfer | Some game data may continue after the destination restarts; monitor Downloads/Uploads. |
| PS4 to PS5, destination still in initial setup | Use the wizard’s transfer stage | Transferable categories differ from PS5-to-PS5, and child-account handling has special rules. |
| PS4 to PS5, destination already set up | Use Data Transfer for the signed-in user’s supported saves and games, then use downloads, discs or storage for anything else | Post-setup PS4 transfer does not provide the same account and settings scope as initial setup. |
| You only need games, not local saves | Redownload digital licenses, install disc games, or reconnect compatible extended storage | Game installation and save recovery are separate tasks. |
Prepare both consoles for a console-to-console transfer
- Sign in on the source. Use the same PlayStation account that will be used on the destination.
- Update both systems. On each console, use Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings.
- Synchronize trophies. Open the Trophies area on the source while signed in and allow synchronization to complete before moving data.
- Put both consoles on one network. They can share a router or modem over Wi-Fi or Ethernet. If Wi-Fi is normally used, connecting a LAN cable can improve transfer performance, but PlayStation gives no guaranteed speed or duration.
- Close anything unnecessary. Leave both consoles at the system interface so the transfer wizard can control the process.
Only one source PS4 or PS5 can participate in a transfer operation to a destination PS5. Data that is already on the destination is not copied over as part of the operation.
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When the first-time setup wizard reaches data transfer, keep the source console powered on and follow the prompts on the destination. The wizard detects the source on the same network and lets you choose the transfer operation. Because the categories available at this stage depend on the source type, read the confirmation screen rather than assuming that every account, save and setting will be included.
For a child account, the initial destination setup has an additional restriction: a child account cannot be transferred during that stage by itself. PlayStation’s guidance is to complete setup for the child first, or use an adult account during setup and transfer both accounts then. Make sure the account arrangement shown on screen matches the family configuration you want before confirming.
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Transfer after setup is complete
- On the destination PS5, open Settings.
- Choose System, then System Software.
- Select Data Transfer and choose Continue.
- Follow the prompts to detect and select the source PS4 or PS5.
- Confirm the categories and start the transfer.
The destination PS5 restarts automatically. Some game data can continue transferring after the restart; check progress in Downloads/Uploads from the Control Center. Do not interpret the restart as a failure unless the console displays an error and stops the operation.
Keep the transfer safe while it runs
- Keep the source and destination powered on until the operation and any continuing downloads finish.
- Do not change either console’s network settings.
- Do not run an internet-connection test during the transfer.
- Do not unplug a console or its network cable.
- Do not turn off your source and destination consoles during data transfer.
PlayStation warns that changing network settings or running connection tests can damage or lose data. If the operation stops, record the on-screen error, restore the original network arrangement, restart both consoles only when instructed, and use the alternate recovery methods below for games or saves that remain unavailable.
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For a PS5 source, PlayStation’s transfer table marks the following categories as transferable during initial setup and afterward, subject to the supported-data wording shown by the console:
- User and account information
- Supported saved data for games playable on PS5
- Screenshots and video clips
- PS5-playable games
- Console settings
“Supported saved data” is deliberately narrower than a promise that every save will move. The official wording refers to saves for games playable on PS5, so check the destination after transfer and keep cloud or game-specific recovery options in mind.
What a PS4-to-PS5 transfer can copy
For a PS4 source, the categories depend on when you transfer:
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| Destination timing | Categories listed by PlayStation | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| During initial setup | User information, games and settings | This is the broader PS4 setup route, but it still does not mean every save or account detail is guaranteed in every configuration. |
| After setup | The signed-in user’s supported game saves and games | Use the same account on both consoles and plan to recover anything outside those categories separately. |
PS4 and PS5 versions of a game can also store data differently. Verify that the game is playable on PS5 and that its save is one of the supported saves shown by the transfer process before deleting the source copy.
Recover digital and disc games without a full transfer
Digital games
Sign in to the purchasing account on the destination, open Game Library, select the game and choose download. This restores the license and installation, not automatically every local save. Recover saves through console transfer, PlayStation Plus cloud storage or the PS4 USB-save method where applicable.
Disc games
On a destination PS5 equipped with a disc drive, insert the game disc and install it. Keep the disc available as the license check when you play. A disc installation likewise does not by itself move save data.
PlayStation Plus cloud saves
PlayStation Plus members can download saved data from cloud storage to the destination. On the PS5, use the saved-data controls under Settings and choose cloud storage for the relevant game. Cloud availability depends on having previously uploaded the save and remaining within the service’s storage rules; it is not a substitute for a save that was never synchronized.
PS4 saves copied with USB
PS4 game saves can be copied from the source PS4 to a USB drive and then copied to the destination. This route applies to PS4 saves; PS5 saves cannot be copied from the console to USB as ordinary save files.
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Use an external USB drive correctly
A compatible extended-storage drive is useful when you want to carry installed games to the new console or free internal space. PlayStation specifies the external-storage category as SuperSpeed USB with capacity from 250 GB to 8 TB. That range is a compatibility specification, not a promise that every drive or every USB port will deliver the same performance. Check the exact port guidance for your model at PlayStation’s PS5 USB ports guide and the drive requirements at PlayStation’s external-storage support page.
Reconnect a drive from the old console
- Safely stop using the drive on the source console before unplugging it.
- Connect it to a compatible USB port on the destination PS5.
- Allow the PS5 to recognize the extended storage and follow any on-screen prompts.
- Use the Games Library or storage settings to locate the installed titles.
PS4 games stored on compatible USB extended storage can be played directly from that drive. PS5 games stored there must be copied back to the PS5’s internal console storage before they can be played. The drive therefore carries PS5 installations, but it is not a way to run those PS5 titles directly from USB.
When buying or reusing a drive
- Compatibility: confirm SuperSpeed USB support and the 250 GB–8 TB capacity range.
- Capacity: choose enough space for the games you expect to keep installed, rather than relying on a generic USB stick.
- Connection: use an appropriate high-speed port for your model; port layouts vary.
- Role: decide whether you mainly need direct play for PS4 games or storage-and-copy-back for PS5 games.
Do not format a drive containing the only copy of files you need. The PS5 may require formatting or reformatting before it can use a drive as extended storage, which erases existing contents.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Move an M.2 SSD from an old PS5
If the source PS5 has a compatible M.2 SSD installed, PlayStation says the SSD can be removed and installed in the destination PS5 to use the game data stored there. This is a hardware operation, not a substitute for transferring user accounts or saved data. Confirm the model-specific installation instructions, shut down completely, disconnect power and handle the drive only as directed by the official guide before moving it.
Troubleshoot common transfer problems
The destination cannot find the source
- Confirm both consoles are fully updated.
- Check that both are connected to the same router or modem and network segment.
- Sign in with the intended account on the source and destination.
- Restart the consoles and router only after cancelling or exiting the transfer screen safely.
- If Wi-Fi discovery remains unreliable, connect both consoles by Ethernet; PlayStation says a separate direct cable between them is unnecessary when both already have wired connections.
The transfer is taking longer than expected
PlayStation does not publish a guaranteed transfer speed or completion time. Large game installations and captures naturally require more data, and Wi-Fi conditions vary. Leave both consoles powered on, avoid network changes and watch Downloads/Uploads after the destination restarts. A LAN cable may improve performance for a setup that normally uses Wi-Fi, but it does not provide a stated time guarantee.
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A game appears but its save is missing
Confirm whether the source was PS4 or PS5 and whether the save belongs to a game playable on PS5. Then check the destination account, PlayStation Plus cloud storage if you are a member, and the PS4 USB-save route for PS4 saves. Reinstalling a game does not recreate a local save that was not transferred or uploaded.
The destination already had data
Data already on the destination is not transferred as part of the operation. Review the destination account and storage before starting, and back up or preserve anything you intend to keep. If the title is digital, redownload it from the appropriate account instead of expecting the transfer to overwrite an existing installation.
A child account is not available in the setup transfer
Child accounts cannot be transferred by themselves during the destination’s initial setup. Complete the child’s setup first, or use an adult account during setup and transfer both accounts as PlayStation describes. If you already completed setup under the wrong arrangement, finish account setup on the destination and use the supported transfer or cloud options shown for that account.
Verify the new PS5 before wiping the old one
- Sign in and confirm each user profile you need.
- Open the Game Library and test a representative digital title.
- Install a disc title if you rely on physical games.
- Launch priority games and confirm their saves and settings.
- Check screenshots and video clips if those matter to you.
- Reconnect extended storage and verify both PS4 direct-play titles and PS5 titles that need copying to internal storage.
- Check Downloads/Uploads for queued transfers or updates.
- Only after this verification should you reset, sell or repurpose the source console.
The practical migration plan
For the fullest move, use console-to-console Data Transfer while both systems are updated and on the same network, then use the Game Library, discs, cloud storage and compatible USB or M.2 storage to fill the gaps. Treat game installations and saved data as separate assets: reinstalling a game restores access to the software, while the save requires a supported transfer, a cloud copy or the PS4 USB method. This approach avoids assuming that one transfer screen can recover data that PlayStation lists under a different route.
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