Move from an old PS4 or PS5 to a new PS5 without starting over: connect and update the new console, sign in with the same PlayStation account, put both consoles on the same network, and run PlayStation’s Data Transfer wizard. You can start during first-time setup or later at Settings > System > System Software > Data Transfer > Continue.
The transfer can copy accounts, saves, settings, screenshots, clips and playable games, but it is not the only recovery method. Digital games can be redownloaded, disc games can be reinstalled, and saved data can come from USB extended storage, a moved M.2 SSD or PlayStation Plus cloud storage.
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What you need before starting
Use this checklist before opening the transfer wizard. Doing the preparation on both consoles prevents most failed or incomplete transfers.
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- The same PlayStation account: sign in to that account on the source console and use it when setting up the new PS5.
- Current system software: update both consoles before transferring.
- Synced trophies: open the Trophies area on the old console and let trophy information synchronize manually. Trophies are associated with your account, but syncing before the move ensures the latest status is stored online.
- One network: connect both consoles to the same home network. Wi-Fi works. A commercially available LAN cable can make a large transfer faster.
- A display for the new PS5: connect it with the included HDMI cable. The old console does not need to remain connected to a television while data is being copied.
- Power and free storage: keep both consoles connected to power and make sure the new PS5 has enough free space for the games and media you selected.
Set up the new PS5
- Attach the supplied base or feet according to the console model’s instructions, then place the PS5 where its vents are unobstructed.
- Connect the PS5 to your display with the included HDMI cable and connect power. Turn on the console and select your language, region and other first-run options.
- Connect the PS5 to the internet. Wi-Fi is sufficient, although a wired connection is usually preferable for a large transfer.
- Install the latest PS5 system-software update when prompted. Do not begin the transfer until the update has finished and the console has restarted.
- Sign in with the same PlayStation account used on the old PS4 or PS5. If the source console uses a login passcode, that passcode transfers with the account; use the same code on the destination.
- When the setup wizard reaches the data-transfer stage, turn on the old console and connect it to the same network.
- Select the source console shown by the wizard and follow the on-screen instructions. Keep both systems powered on until the transfer reports completion.
- After setup, check the Control Center’s Downloads/Uploads area. Some game data can continue copying after the PS5 restarts.
Transfer data after the PS5 is already set up
You do not have to reset the new console if you skipped transfer during first-time setup. On the destination PS5, open Settings > System > System Software > Data Transfer > Continue. Turn on the old PS4 or PS5, leave it signed in, and keep both consoles on the same network. Follow the prompts to identify the source and select the data to copy.
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The destination PS5 restarts automatically during this process. A restart does not mean the transfer failed; watch Downloads/Uploads in the Control Center for remaining game data. Do not launch a network test, alter network settings or switch either console off while copying is in progress.
What transfers from each source console
| Source | Data PlayStation lists as transferable | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| PS5 to PS5 | User and account information; saved data for games playable on PS5; screenshots and video clips; playable PS5 games; and console settings such as language, login and power-saving choices. | Data already stored on the destination PS5 is not transferred. A login passcode on the source transfers and is used when signing in on the destination. |
| PS4 to PS5 | User and account information during initial setup; compatible saved data; and playable games during or after setup. | After setup, saved-data transfer is limited to the user who is signed in. Some PS4 content may require a fresh download or disc installation rather than direct copying. |
Transfer means copying data; it does not erase the old console. Keep the source until you have opened your important games, confirmed saves and verified that your media and settings arrived.
How the network connection affects transfer
Both consoles must be on the same local network. A Wi-Fi-only transfer is supported, but speed varies with distance, interference, router performance and the size of the library. For a large library, connect one or both consoles to the router with Ethernet LAN cables.
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If both consoles are already wired to the same router, you do not need a separate direct console-to-console LAN cable. A commercially available cable can still improve a transfer that would otherwise rely on Wi-Fi. Do not change from Wi-Fi to Ethernet, reboot the router or run an internet connection test while the transfer is active; PlayStation warns that network changes during copying can damage or lose data.
Ways to recover games and saves
Direct console-to-console transfer is convenient when the old system is available, but different situations favor different methods.
| Method | Best for | Old console required? | Network or hardware requirement | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Data Transfer | Moving accounts, saves, settings, media and playable games together. | Yes, one PS4 or PS5 source for one destination PS5. | Both consoles on the same network; Ethernet is optional. | Both systems must remain powered on, and destination data is not copied back to the source. |
| Game Library downloads | Recovering digital games after signing in. | No. | Internet access and sufficient PS5 storage. | Game files must download again; save files still need cloud storage, USB or a console transfer. |
| Disc installation | Reinstalling games you own on physical discs. | No. | The PS5 must have a disc drive for disc-based games. | Insert each disc to install, and keep the disc available when you play. |
| USB extended storage | Moving an existing PS4 extended-storage drive or keeping a large game library off internal storage. | No, if the drive already contains the data. | A compatible USB extended-storage drive. | PS4 games can be played directly from the drive. PS5 games stored on USB must be copied to console storage before they can be played. |
| Move an M.2 SSD | PS5-to-PS5 owners who already installed compatible M.2 expansion storage. | No, if the M.2 drive is available. | A compatible PS5 M.2 SSD and the correct installation procedure for the destination model. | Move the physical drive only according to PlayStation’s installation guidance; do not remove it while either console is powered. |
| PlayStation Plus cloud storage | Downloading saved data when the old console is unavailable or when you want an additional backup route. | No. | An active PlayStation Plus membership with the saves uploaded to cloud storage. | Cloud storage is primarily a saved-data route; it does not replace downloading or installing the game itself. |
Digital games
After signing in, open the destination PS5’s Game Library and download owned digital titles. The license is tied to the account, so a game can be downloaded without copying its original installation from the old console. Save data is separate: use direct transfer, USB or cloud storage to bring progress across.
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Disc games
Insert each compatible game disc into the PS5 and allow the installation to complete. A disc-based license normally requires the disc in the drive when you play. If the destination is a digital-only PS5 model, it cannot read physical discs.
USB extended storage
Connect a USB extended-storage drive that was used with a PS4 to the new PS5. PS4 games on that drive can be played directly. PS5 games can be stored there, but they must be copied back to the PS5’s internal console storage before launching.
M.2 SSD expansion
If the old PS5 has an installed M.2 SSD, move that drive to the new PS5 only after shutting down and disconnecting the consoles. Follow the installation guidance for the specific PS5 model and SSD. Once installed correctly, the game data on the expansion drive becomes available on the destination console.
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Cloud saves
PlayStation Plus members can upload saves from the old console and download them on the new PS5. This is useful when the source console is unavailable, but it requires that the latest saves were uploaded before the old system was lost, sold or damaged. Download the game separately if it is not already installed.
Safety rules and hard limits
- Never power off either console during transfer. PlayStation states that doing so may cause data to be damaged or lost.
- Do not change network settings or run an internet connection test. Wait until the transfer and any post-restart downloads are finished.
- Only one source transfers to one destination at a time. You cannot combine two old consoles into one simultaneous transfer.
- Destination data is not copied elsewhere. Existing data on the new PS5 remains on that console; it is not sent back to the source.
- Child accounts have an initial-setup restriction. A child account cannot transfer during the destination console’s initial setup. Complete the child account’s initial setup first, or use an adult account for the initial setup and then transfer the adult and child accounts as directed by the console.
- Keep the old console until verification. Do not factory-reset, sell or give away the source until saves, profiles, screenshots and essential games have been checked on the PS5.
Troubleshooting common transfer problems
The PS5 cannot find the old console
- Confirm that both consoles are switched on and signed in to the expected account.
- Check that both are connected to the same router or Wi-Fi network name. A guest network can isolate devices from one another.
- Install pending system-software updates on both consoles, then restart both systems and try Settings > System > System Software > Data Transfer > Continue again.
- If Wi-Fi discovery remains unreliable, connect both consoles to the router with Ethernet and retry. Do not use a direct console-to-console cable when both are already wired to the same router.
The transfer appears stuck
First check Downloads/Uploads in the Control Center; the PS5 may have restarted and continued copying game data in the background. Do not interrupt the consoles, alter network settings or start a connection test while progress is active. If the consoles stop responding completely, record what has already completed, wait for the systems to become usable, and restart the transfer from the destination settings rather than powering off during an active copy.
Saves are missing
Confirm that the same PlayStation account is signed in on the new PS5 and that you selected the correct user during transfer. For a PS4 source, post-setup saved-data transfer is limited to the signed-in user. If the source is unavailable, check PlayStation Plus cloud storage for a recent upload. A game installation without its save data will not restore progress by itself.
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A game is not shown after transfer
Check the destination Game Library for digital ownership, insert the original disc for a physical copy, and inspect any USB extended-storage drive. PS5 games on USB storage must be copied to internal console storage before playing. A title that is not compatible with PS5 cannot be made playable by the transfer wizard.
The new PS5 lacks free space
Use the transfer selection screen to prioritize saves and essential games, then download or install the rest later. Keep PS4 games on compatible USB extended storage when appropriate. For PS5 games, plan internal storage or compatible M.2 capacity because USB storage is archival until the game is copied back.
Quick Recap
Verify the move before retiring the old console
- Sign in to every required user profile on the new PS5 and confirm that the account names are correct.
- Open several recently played games and check that the newest save appears, not merely an older autosave.
- Open the Media Gallery and verify important screenshots and video clips.
- Check the Game Library, USB extended-storage list and any installed M.2 SSD for expected titles.
- Confirm that trophies have synchronized on the account and that online features work.
- Only after these checks should you erase or disconnect the old console permanently.
Quick decision guide
- Choose Direct Data Transfer when both consoles work and you want settings, media, saves and games moved together.
- Choose Cloud Storage when the old console is unavailable but your saves were uploaded and you have PlayStation Plus.
- Choose USB extended storage when you already have a PS4 drive or need to move a large game library without redownloading it.
- Choose Downloads or discs when you mainly need game installations and can obtain saves through another route.
- Move an M.2 SSD when your PS5 library already resides on compatible expansion storage and you are comfortable following the hardware installation procedure.
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