The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Back up a PlayStation VR game by first identifying both the headset platform and the game’s save format. Original PS VR games are generally PS4-format titles and may run on a PS5 in supported configurations; PS VR2 is a separate PS5 platform. Sony states that “There is no compatibility between PlayStation®VR and PS VR2,” so a PS VR2 game and an original PS VR game do not share one universal backup path.
Use a normal FAT32- or exFAT-formatted USB drive for selective PS4-save copies, PlayStation Plus cloud storage for PS4 and PS5 saves, and a separate USB extended-storage drive only for installed game applications and add-ons. PS5-format saves cannot be copied to USB. A full PS4 console backup is broader, but restoring it erases the data currently on that console.
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Identify the headset, console and game version before backing up
The name printed on the headset is only the first clue. The backup method follows the version of the game that created the save and the console holding it.
Original PS VR
Original PlayStation VR is associated with PS4 titles. Some of those titles can be used with a PS5 in supported configurations, but the save remains a PS4-format save unless the publisher supplied a separate PS5 version or conversion. A PS4-format save can use the PS4 USB-copy route, including when that save is managed on a PS5.
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- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
PS VR2
PS VR2 runs on PS5 and uses PS5 game software. Its saves are PS5-format saves. They must be protected with PlayStation Plus cloud storage; Sony does not provide a USB-copy option for PS5 saved data.
Check the game’s software label
Open the game tile or library entry and check whether the installed or purchased release is identified as PS4 or PS5. A title may have both editions, and a PS4 save is not automatically guaranteed to work with a separate PS5 release, remake or upgrade. Before expecting continuity, read that game’s own transfer instructions.
Choose the backup method that matches your goal
Saved progress and installed game files are different data. The table below separates the supported choices.
| Goal | Data covered | Where it works | PlayStation Plus needed? | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selective local save copy | PS4-format saved-data files | PS4, or PS5 managing PS4 saves | No | Use a normal USB storage device, not USB extended storage; sign-in is required for the PS4 save-copy feature. |
| Cloud save protection | PS4 and PS5 saved data | PS4 and PS5 consoles | Yes | Cloud capacity is limited; PS4 saves on PS5 must be manually downloaded to console storage when restoring. |
| Full PS4 console backup | Saved data, games and apps, captures and settings | PS4 | No | Restoring erases all data currently on the PS4, even if the restore is canceled. |
| Installed-library storage | Game applications and add-ons | PS4 and PS5 with compatible USB extended storage | No | It does not contain PS4 application saves; PS5 games must be copied back to console or M.2 storage before playing. |
| Redownload a purchase | Digital game application | Any compatible signed-in console | No | Redownloading the game does not restore saved progress. |
Copy PS4-format saves to a USB drive
This is the most direct offline method when you want a copy of selected PS4 saves. The drive used for saves must be presented as ordinary USB storage. Do not use a drive that has been configured as USB extended storage for applications.
From a PS4 console
- Sign in to the account that owns the saves.
- Connect a compatible USB storage device to the PS4.
- Open Settings > Application Saved Data Management > Saved Data in System Storage > Copy to USB Storage Device.
- Select the game, then select the save files to copy. Confirm the destination and wait for the copy to finish before removing the drive.
The resulting files are a local copy of the PS4-format saves selected in that menu. Repeat the process after a major play session if you want the USB copy to track your latest progress; an older copy cannot contain changes made after it was created.
From a PS5 for PS4 games
- Connect an ordinary compatible USB storage device to the PS5. It must not be configured as USB extended storage for games.
- Open Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Saved Data (PS4) > Copy to USB Drive.
- Select the game and saves, then confirm the copy.
- To put those files back on a PS5, return to Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Saved Data (PS4) and choose Copy or Delete from USB Drive.
This menu is specifically for PS4-format saves. Do not select Saved Data (PS5) expecting a USB option; PS5-format saves cannot be copied from the console to USB.
Restoring a USB save on another PS4
- Sign in on the destination PS4 with the account associated with the save.
- Insert the USB device containing the copied files.
- Open Settings > Application Saved Data Management > Saved Data on USB Storage Device > Copy to System Storage.
- Select the game and files, then confirm the copy.
Start the game only after the copy completes. If the destination has a newer save with the same title, check which version you intend to keep before overwriting it.
Use PlayStation Plus cloud storage for PS4 and PS5 saves
PlayStation Plus cloud storage is the supported backup route for both save formats. It is useful when you move between consoles, want an off-console copy, or are protecting PS5-format progress that cannot be exported to USB.
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Configure cloud saves on PS5
- Open Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings.
- Choose Saved Data (PS4) for an original PS VR/PS4-format title or Saved Data (PS5) for a PS VR2/PS5-format title.
- Open the upload, download or sync controls and select the games and saves you need.
- Enable automatic sync or upload if you want the console to maintain cloud copies without a manual upload each time.
- Check the displayed sync status before treating the cloud copy as your only backup.
PlayStation states that PS4 saves used on PS5 upload automatically, but they must be manually downloaded to PS5 console storage when you need to use them there. Automatic upload is not the same as having the save available locally for a game to read.
Published cloud limits
The current PlayStation support page accessed in 2026 states these limits; it does not show a publication date, so 2026 describes the access date rather than the page’s release year:
- 100 GB of PS5 saved data.
- 100 GB of PS4 saved data.
- Up to 1,000 PS4 saved-data files.
Large libraries can therefore require housekeeping. Remove obsolete cloud files only after confirming that a newer local or USB copy exists. The limits concern saved data, not the size of installed game applications.
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Download a cloud save to a replacement console
- Sign in to the same PlayStation account that uploaded the save and confirm that the PlayStation Plus membership is active.
- On PS5, open Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings, then choose the matching PS4 or PS5 saved-data category.
- Select the cloud-storage download option and choose the game.
- For a PS4 save on PS5, complete the manual download to console storage before launching the game.
- Launch the exact game edition that created the save and verify the progress before deleting any older local copy.
Make a complete PS4 console backup
A full backup is appropriate when you want more than individual saves. Sony’s PS4 backup can include games and applications, saved data, screenshots and video clips, and settings. It is a larger operation than copying a single save and has a consequential restore behavior.
Prepare the drive
- Use an external USB drive formatted as FAT32 or exFAT.
- Ensure the drive has at least twice the storage space of the backup file. If the console estimates a 400 GB backup, the drive needs at least 800 GB of free capacity for the process.
- Keep the PS4 powered on and connected throughout the backup. Do not disconnect the drive or turn off the console while data is being written.
Create the backup
- Connect the prepared drive to the PS4.
- Open Settings > System > Back Up and Restore > Back Up.
- Select the categories to include, review the estimated size and start the backup.
- Wait for the completion message before removing the drive.
Understand the restore warning
Restoring a full PS4 backup is not a merge operation. Sony warns: “When restoring data, your PS4 console erases all data saved on your console.” The erasure occurs even if the restore is canceled. Before starting, copy any newer saves, captures or settings from the destination console that you might need later. Use a full restore when replacing or resetting a PS4, not as a casual way to import one changed save.
Preserve installed game applications separately
USB extended storage is designed for installed game applications and add-ons. It does not hold PS4 application saved data, so moving a game installation to that drive does not protect progress.
What extended storage can do
- Store installed PS4 or PS5 game applications and add-ons, subject to the console’s compatibility rules.
- Reduce the need to redownload large installations after a reset or console move.
- Keep an application available for transfer between compatible consoles when the drive is properly connected and recognized.
What it cannot do
- It cannot serve as the USB destination for PS4 application saved data.
- It cannot back up PS5 saved data.
- A PS5 game stored on USB extended storage must be copied back to console storage or M.2 storage before it can be played.
Keep the save backup and the installed-game drive conceptually separate. If a drive is reformatted as extended storage, treat that as an application-storage decision rather than a save-backup decision.
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After signing in, a digital purchase can be downloaded again from the console’s game library. This restores the application files, not the player’s progress. Pair the redownload with one of the save routes: USB for PS4-format saves, or PlayStation Plus cloud storage for PS4 and PS5 saves.
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- Easily store and access 1TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop. Reformatting may be required for Mac
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
If a title appears in the library but starts from the beginning, first check the save location and format. A PS4 save in cloud storage or on a USB device will not automatically appear as a PS5-format save for a different edition.
Move a PS VR library to another console safely
PS4 to another PS4
- On the original console, copy each required PS4 save to USB or upload it to PlayStation Plus.
- If you need the installed applications, use a full PS4 backup or reinstall the applications from disc or the digital library.
- On the destination PS4, sign in to the same account.
- Restore the selected USB saves or download the cloud saves, then launch the game and verify progress.
PS4-format PS VR game to PS5
- Confirm that the PS5 supports the particular original PS VR setup and game.
- Copy the PS4 save to USB on the PS4, or upload it to PlayStation Plus.
- On the PS5, use the Saved Data (PS4) controls to copy from USB or download from the cloud.
- Start the PS4 edition on the PS5 and verify the save.
Do not assume that this procedure transfers progress into a separate PS5 release. There is no universal rule for cross-version saves; the game publisher’s transfer instructions control.
PS5-format PS VR2 game to another PS5
- On the original PS5, confirm that the latest save has synchronized to PlayStation Plus cloud storage.
- On the destination PS5, sign in to the same account and open the Saved Data (PS5) controls.
- Download the required save to console storage.
- Launch the PS5 game and confirm the expected profile and progress.
A USB extended-storage drive containing the installed game does not replace this cloud-save step.
Troubleshoot the most common backup failures
The PS5 shows no USB option for my save
Check the format first. The USB-copy menu applies to PS4-format saved data. PS5-format saves cannot be copied to USB, so use PlayStation Plus cloud storage instead.
The drive is not accepted for a PS4 save copy
Make sure it is an ordinary compatible USB storage device rather than one configured as USB extended storage. If the drive was previously assigned to extended storage, its role is different from the drive used for selective save copying.
The game downloaded but my progress is missing
Redownloading restores the application only. Copy the matching PS4 save from USB or download it from cloud storage. Then check that you launched the same edition—PS4 or PS5—that produced the save.
The cloud save is visible but the game cannot use it on PS5
For a PS4 save on PS5, complete the manual download to PS5 console storage. Also confirm that the signed-in account matches the account that uploaded the save.
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Check that the external drive is FAT32 or exFAT and has at least twice the estimated backup-file capacity. Free space needed for a backup is based on the backup file, not merely the amount of free space visible on the console.
A restored save does not appear in a remake or PS5 edition
Save conversion is title-specific. The general PS4-to-PS5 copy procedure does not promise that a separate remake or native PS5 release will import the file. Follow that game’s own transfer documentation before deleting the original save.
Quick Recap
A practical backup routine
- Label the title as original PS VR/PS4 or PS VR2/PS5.
- Keep one current save copy: USB for PS4-format saves, cloud storage for PS5-format saves, or both for redundancy.
- Use extended storage only for installed applications and add-ons.
- Use a full PS4 backup before replacing, resetting or handing over a console, and preserve anything newer on the destination before restoring.
- After every move, launch the game and verify a real save, not just the game icon or download status.
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