You can transfer eligible PS4 data to a PS5 over your home network, or move PS4 saves separately with a USB drive or PlayStation Plus cloud storage. The right method depends on whether you want game installations, saved progress, or a save imported into a game’s PS5 version—the last option varies by title.
Choose the right transfer method
| What you want to move | Method | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible PS4 games and saves, plus some account information | Direct console transfer | Both consoles, the same PlayStation account, and the same network |
| PS4 saved data only, without PlayStation Plus | USB drive | A commercially available USB drive formatted as FAT or exFAT |
| PS4 saved data when the consoles are not together | PlayStation Plus cloud storage | An active subscription and the saves uploaded to cloud storage |
| PS4 game installations on USB extended storage | Connect the existing extended-storage drive to the PS5 | The USB drive previously used for PS4 extended storage |
Direct transfer is the broadest option when both consoles are available. The USB and cloud routes in this guide are alternatives for PS4 saved data; they do not replace the separate extended-storage process for game installations.
Transfer data directly between PS4 and PS5
Prepare both consoles
- Sign in to the same PlayStation account on the PS4 and PS5.
- Update both consoles’ system software.
- On the PS4, synchronize trophy information before starting.
- Connect both consoles to the same network. Wi-Fi is supported. If the consoles normally use Wi-Fi, Sony says a LAN cable may make the transfer faster; it does not specify a guaranteed speed or duration. If both consoles are already wired to the same router, there is no need to connect them directly to each other with a cable.
Start the transfer
- On the PS5, start Data Transfer during initial setup when prompted, or, if setup is complete, open Settings > System > System Software > Data Transfer > Continue.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to find the PS4 and choose the data to transfer. Keep both consoles on and connected to the same network.
- Wait for the PS5 to restart. Some items may continue transferring after the restart, and a game may become playable before all selected data has finished transferring.
Do not turn off either console, change network settings, or run connection tests while the transfer is underway. Sony warns that interrupting the process can damage or lose data. See Sony’s PS4-to-PS5 transfer instructions for current on-screen guidance.
What the direct transfer includes
Sony lists eligible user and account information during initial PS5 setup, saved data for games playable on PS5, and games playable on PS5 as transferable. After initial setup, the transfer route is narrower: it includes PS4 save data for the user currently signed in, but Sony does not list user or account information and console settings as available through that route. Data already stored on the PS5 does not transfer over itself.
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A child account cannot transfer data during initial PS5 setup while signed in as that child account. Finish setup for the child and transfer afterward, or use an adult account during initial setup to transfer both the adult and child account data then.
Copy PS4 saves with a USB drive
This local option does not require PlayStation Plus and is for PS4 saved data, not PS5 saves. Use a commercially available USB drive formatted as FAT or exFAT; do not use a drive configured as USB extended storage for this save-copy task. Sony’s PS5 storage guide explains the distinction between ordinary USB storage and extended storage.
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- On the PS4, copy the desired saved data to the USB drive using the console’s saved-data management options.
- Safely disconnect the drive from the PS4 and connect it to the PS5.
- On the PS5, open Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Saved Data (PS4) > Copy or Delete from USB Drive.
- Select the save files to copy. Check whether a save already exists on the PS5 before confirming an overwrite.
Use PlayStation Plus cloud storage for PS4 saves
PlayStation Plus members can upload PS4 saves and download them on the PS5. On the PS4, the manual upload path is Settings > Application Data Management > Saved Data in System Storage > Upload to Online Storage. On the PS5, use saved-data settings to download the PS4 save.
Sony’s PlayStation Plus online-storage page, accessed in 2026, states limits of 100 GB of PS4 saved data, 100 GB of PS5 saved data, and 1,000 PS4 saved-data files. These are Sony’s stated service limits; check the current subscription and cloud status for your account before relying on a save being available. See Sony’s PS4 online-storage information.
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Move games and use them on PS5
Digital PS4 games can be downloaded from the PS5 game library. To install a disc game, insert its disc into a PS5 with a disc drive. PS4 USB extended storage can also be connected to a PS5 for game data; that is separate from copying individual saves with an ordinary FAT- or exFAT-formatted USB drive.
Sony says the “overwhelming majority” of the 4,000-plus PS4 games are playable on PS5 consoles. Compatibility is title-specific and can change, so check Sony’s current PS4-to-PS5 compatibility listing for the game you want to play. PS4 game discs cannot be used on a PS5 Digital Edition.
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Will a PS4 save work in the PS5 version of a game?
Not necessarily. Moving a PS4 save so you can continue playing the PS4 version on PS5 is different from importing that save into a game’s PS5 version. Whether the PS5 version accepts a PS4 save depends on the game and its developer. Check the publisher’s migration instructions for the specific title before choosing a version or deleting any old save. PlayStation’s cross-generation game FAQ also distinguishes game-specific save transfers from general console data transfer.
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