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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →The safest method is PlayStation’s built-in Data Transfer. It copies data from a working PS4 or PS5 to the replacement PS5 over the same network, either during first-time setup or later from Settings > System > System Software > Data Transfer. Sign in with the same account, update the old console, synchronize trophies, and keep both consoles powered on until the process finishes. A LAN cable is optional; Wi-Fi works.
Game installations and saved data are separate. Digital games can be downloaded again, disc games can be reinstalled from their discs, and compatible USB or M.2 storage can carry game installations. PS4 saves can be copied to USB, but individual PS5 saves cannot be copied from a PS5 console to USB. PlayStation Plus members can download saves that are already in cloud storage.
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The instructions below reflect Sony’s English support guidance accessed October 13, 2026. Menus and service availability can vary by country and system-software version.
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Check the source and destination consoles
- The source can be a PS4 or another PS5. It must be able to turn on and remain connected long enough to transfer.
- Use the replacement PS5 as the destination. Connect its included HDMI cable to a TV or monitor. Sony says the source console does not need to be connected to a screen during transfer.
- Sign in to the same PlayStation account on the destination that you use on the source. This preserves access to purchases and account-linked data.
- Install the latest available system software on the source console. Also synchronize trophies before moving data; trophies are not included in a PS5 USB backup.
Put both consoles on one network
Connect both systems to the same home network. Wi-Fi is supported. If the consoles normally use Wi-Fi and you want a faster direct transfer, connect each one to the same router or network with an Ethernet LAN cable. Sony says a separate cable joining the two consoles is unnecessary when both are wired to the network. Do not change network settings while the transfer is running.
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Understand what kind of data you are moving
Decide whether you need account information, settings, game installations, saves, screenshots and clips, or only access to your purchased games. A direct transfer can handle several categories at once, but a game installation is not the same thing as a save file. Knowing the category prevents you from choosing a route that cannot recover the data you need.
| Situation | Best-supported route | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| The old PS5 or PS4 still works | Data Transfer over the same network | The consoles must stay powered on and connected until the transfer completes. |
| The old console is unavailable, but games were purchased digitally | Sign in and download from the destination’s game library | This restores access to the installation, not necessarily a local save. |
| You own disc games | Insert each disc into the replacement | You need the disc and a PS5 model with a disc drive. |
| PS4 saves are on a USB drive | Copy them to the replacement PS5 | This USB-save method applies to PS4 game saves, not individual PS5 saves. |
| PS5 saves are in PlayStation Plus cloud storage | Download them from cloud storage | Membership is required and the desired save must already be uploaded to the account. |
| You made a complete PS5 backup | Restore the backup through Back Up and Restore | Restoring erases data currently on the destination PS5. |
Transfer directly during the replacement PS5’s first setup
Starting the transfer during setup is the most complete route when both consoles are available. Sony’s transfer guide is at Transfer data from a PS4 console or PS5 console to your PS5 console.
- Turn on the replacement PS5 and begin its first-time setup. When the setup process offers to transfer data, continue to that stage.
- Turn on the source PS4 or PS5 and sign in with the account you intend to use on the replacement.
- Confirm that both consoles are on the same network. If using Ethernet for speed, connect both to the same router or network rather than joining them with a dedicated console-to-console cable.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to select the source console and the categories to copy. Keep both systems powered on.
- Do not unplug either console, change network settings, or run an internet-connection test during the transfer. Sony warns that interrupting the process can damage or lose data.
- Expect the destination PS5 to restart. Some game data can continue transferring after the restart; check Downloads/Uploads in the Control Center for progress.
Data already present on the destination is not transferred over. If the replacement has information you want to retain, deal with it before starting a full transfer or use a separate backup strategy.
Start Data Transfer after setup is complete
You do not have to reset the replacement PS5 to use the network-transfer feature. On the destination PS5, open Settings > System > System Software > Data Transfer > Continue, then follow the prompts. Turn on the source console when requested and leave both systems connected and powered on.
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The post-setup route has a narrower PS4 data scope than the initial setup route. For a PS5 source, Sony lists the same broad categories during and after setup. For a PS4 source, users and account information plus console settings are listed only during initial setup; after setup, the transfer is limited to the logged-in user’s compatible saved data and eligible game data.
| Source | During initial PS5 setup | After setup |
|---|---|---|
| Another PS5 | Users and account information for all users, compatible saved data, screenshots and video clips, PS5-playable games, and console settings. | The same PS5 categories are supported by the Data Transfer process, subject to compatibility and the data already on the destination. |
| PS4 | Users and account information for users who signed in on that PS4, compatible saves, game data, screenshots and clips where supported, and console settings listed by Sony for the setup flow. | Compatible PS4 game data and saves can transfer, but only the logged-in user’s compatible saved data is listed; users/accounts and settings are not included in this post-setup scope. |
“Compatible” means the destination can use the item under PS5 software and account rules. A transfer does not convert an unsupported game or move a save to a different account.
Recover games when direct transfer is not possible
Digital purchases
On the replacement PS5, sign in to the account that owns the games, open the game library, and download the titles again. This is usually the simplest solution when the old console no longer powers on. Re-downloading the game does not prove that its local save exists, so use cloud storage, a PS4 USB save, or a full backup for save recovery.
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Disc-based games
Insert the original disc into a PS5 with a disc drive and let the console install the game. You must keep the disc available to launch a disc-licensed game. A digital-only replacement cannot install a disc title without an applicable digital purchase.
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USB extended storage for game installations
Disconnect the source console’s USB extended-storage drive safely, then connect it to the replacement PS5. Sony distinguishes this game drive from a backup drive: it has a different format and purpose. PS4 games stored on compatible USB extended storage can be played directly from that drive. PS5 games stored there must be copied to the PS5’s internal storage or a compatible M.2 SSD before they can run.
Sony’s storage guidance lists USB external-drive capacities from a 250 GB minimum to an 8 TB maximum. Not every USB device is compatible, so check the current requirements at How to manage PS5 console storage space before buying or reusing a drive.
Move a compatible M.2 SSD
If the source PS5 uses an M.2 SSD that meets Sony’s requirements, you can move that drive to the replacement PS5 and access its installed games. Follow the installation, heat-dissipation and compatibility requirements in Sony’s Storage solutions for PS5 and PS4 guidance. Sony describes M.2 expansion up to 8 TB. An M.2 drive carries game installations; it is not a selective method for exporting individual PS5 save files.
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PlayStation Plus cloud saves
A PlayStation Plus member can download saved data from cloud storage on the replacement PS5. Open the console’s saved-data controls, choose cloud storage, and download the save for the relevant game. Membership is required for this storage route according to Sony’s storage guide. The official instructions do not establish whether your particular latest save has uploaded, so verify the timestamp or version available in cloud storage before relying on it.
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Copy PS4 saves with a USB drive
PS4 game saves can be copied from the old console to a USB drive and then copied to the replacement PS5. Use a compatible USB storage device, copy the desired PS4 saved-data files from the PS4’s saved-data menu, connect the drive to the PS5, and use its saved-data controls to copy them to console storage.
This is not a workaround for individual PS5 saves. Sony explicitly states that PS5 saved data cannot be copied from a PS5 console to a USB drive. For PS5 saves, use Data Transfer, PlayStation Plus cloud storage, or a complete PS5 backup.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Use a full PS5 USB backup when you need a broad restore
A full backup is useful when the source PS5 is available and you want one archive containing console data, including saved data. It is fundamentally different from a USB extended-storage game drive. Use a USB drive formatted as FAT32 or exFAT; the extended-storage drive used for playing games cannot hold this backup format. Sony notes that not all USB devices work with PS5.
Create the backup on the source PS5
- Synchronize trophies while the source PS5 is online. Trophies are not included in the backup.
- Connect a compatible FAT32- or exFAT-formatted USB drive with enough free space.
- Open Settings > System > System Software > Back Up and Restore > Back Up Your PS5.
- Select the categories to include and start the backup. Leave the console on until it reports completion.
- Keep the drive safe and connected to the same PlayStation account. A backup is associated with the account used to create it.
Restore to the replacement PS5
- Sign in to the replacement PS5 with the same account used for the backup.
- Make sure the destination has the same or a newer system-software version than the version used when the backup was created.
- Connect the backup USB drive and open Settings > System > System Software > Back Up and Restore > Restore Your PS5.
- Choose the backup and confirm the operation only after checking that any important data currently on the replacement has been copied elsewhere.
- Wait for the restore and any restart to finish. Re-enable Console Sharing and Offline Play afterward if the setting is not active.
Sony’s warning is absolute: when restoring data, the PS5 erases all data saved on the console. A restore is therefore not a selective merge and should not be used merely to recover one file. The backup also excludes games and applications stored on USB extended storage or an M.2 SSD; reconnect those storage devices separately.
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See Sony’s full requirements at How to back up and restore PS5 console data.
Child accounts and transfer safety
Sony says a child account cannot be transferred during the destination’s initial setup while using that child account. You have two supported choices: complete the child’s setup and transfer afterward, or use an adult account for the initial setup and transfer both accounts during the initial process.
- Do not turn off either console during transfer.
- Do not alter Wi-Fi or wired-network settings.
- Do not run an internet-connection test while the transfer is active.
- Keep the consoles where their power cables cannot be accidentally disconnected.
- Do not assume that a completed game download means its save has been recovered; check the game’s saved data separately.
Troubleshoot the common failure points
The destination cannot find the old console
Confirm that both consoles are powered on, signed in as required, and connected to the same network. Restarting both systems before beginning again can clear a temporary discovery problem. If the consoles are wired, verify that both cables lead to the same router or network. A direct cable between consoles is not required for two wired systems.
The transfer is too slow
Large game installations can take substantial time over Wi-Fi. If both consoles usually use Wi-Fi, connect them by Ethernet to the same network and retry. Avoid changing network settings mid-transfer; make the wired change before restarting the process.
A game appears, but the save is missing
Reinstalling or moving a game installation does not carry its save automatically. For a PS5 source, use Data Transfer, a verified PlayStation Plus cloud save, or a full PS5 backup. For a PS4 source, check both Data Transfer and the PS4-save-on-USB route. Also confirm that the destination is signed in to the account that created the save.
The USB drive is rejected
Check which job the drive is meant to perform. A FAT32 or exFAT drive is used for a PS5 backup and PS4-save copying; a USB extended-storage game drive follows different formatting and compatibility rules. Sony says not all USB devices work, so consult the current storage requirements rather than reformatting a drive that contains the only copy of your data.
You are considering a restore to fix one problem
Do not restore a full backup if you cannot accept erasing the replacement PS5’s current data. Use a cloud save, PS4 USB save, game-library download, or direct transfer for the narrower task when available.
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Quick Recap
Which route should you choose?
- Old console works: use Data Transfer, preferably during initial setup if you want the broadest PS4 account-and-settings scope.
- Only digital games matter: sign in on the replacement and download them from the library.
- You need PS4 saves: use Data Transfer or copy the saves with a USB drive.
- You need PS5 saves: use Data Transfer, PlayStation Plus cloud storage, or a complete PS5 backup; individual USB export is not supported.
- Your games are on external storage: reconnect the USB extended-storage drive, or move a compatible M.2 SSD to the new PS5.
- You have a full backup: restore it only when erasing the destination is acceptable and the destination software is at least as new as the backup’s software.
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