You can move a PS4 RPG save to a PS5 in three supported ways: transfer it over a shared network, copy it with a USB drive, or upload it to PlayStation Plus cloud storage and download it on the PS5. That puts the PS4 save in PS5 console storage. It does not automatically make the save compatible with the game’s separate PS5 edition. Whether a PS4-version save can be imported into a PS5 version is decided by the game’s developer, title by title.
Understand the two separate jobs
“Transfer my save to PS5” can mean two different operations. Keeping them separate prevents the most common disappointment.
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Job 1: copy the saved-data file to the PS5
Sony supports three routes for PS4 saved data: a direct console-to-console network transfer, a USB copy, and PlayStation Plus cloud storage. Each route moves the file associated with your PlayStation account into PS5 console storage. You can then launch the PS4 version of the RPG on the PS5 and continue from that save, provided the game itself recognizes the file.
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A PS5-native edition may use a different save format or a separate progression system. A save sitting in PS5 storage is therefore not proof that the PS5 edition will see it. PlayStation Blog stated on October 9, 2020: “Please note that the ability to transfer game saves between a PS4 version and a PS5 version of the same game is a developer decision, and will vary title by title for cross-generational games.” You must check the particular RPG’s official support page or its in-game menus for the import procedure.
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Choose the transfer method that fits your situation
| Method | What you need | Best when | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Network transfer | Both consoles, the same PlayStation account, current system software, synchronized trophies, and the same network | You have both consoles together and a stable home network | Keep both systems on and do not change network settings or run connection tests during the transfer |
| USB copy | A USB flash drive and access to both consoles | You do not want to place both consoles on the same network, or you want a physical backup | It moves PS4 saves; PS5 saves cannot be copied from PS5 console storage to USB |
| PlayStation Plus cloud | An active PlayStation Plus membership, the PS4, and internet access | The consoles are in different places or you already use cloud saves | PS4 saves upload automatically only after cloud upload is configured; downloading to PS5 is manual |
Whichever route you use, treat PS5-edition compatibility as a separate check. A successful file transfer cannot override a developer’s decision not to support cross-generation imports.
Prepare both consoles before moving a save
- Sign in to the same PlayStation account on the PS4 and PS5. Network transfer is limited to the saved data belonging to the user signed in on the PS5.
- Update the system software on both consoles. Sony’s transfer procedure expects current software on the source and destination systems.
- Synchronize your trophy information before starting the network procedure. This is one of Sony’s stated prerequisites.
- Make sure you know which edition you intend to run. Continuing with the PS4 edition on PS5 is a different task from upgrading to a PS5 edition.
- Close the RPG on the PS4 after making a recent in-game save. Do not shut the PS4 down while a save is being written.
- If you are using USB, have a flash drive available. Sony’s save-copy documentation does not require a particular brand, model, or capacity for this task.
Method 1: transfer the PS4 save over your network
This is Sony’s direct console-to-console method. It can move more than one saved-data item, but the PS5 will receive only the logged-in user’s saved data under the conditions described by Sony.
- On both consoles, sign in to the same PlayStation account.
- Install the latest available system software updates on both systems.
- Synchronize trophy information on the PS4 so the account data is current.
- Connect the PS4 and PS5 to the same network. A wired connection can be useful if your wireless network is unreliable, but both systems must still be on the same network.
- On the PS5, open Settings > System > System Software > Data Transfer > Continue.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to identify the PS4 and select the data to transfer.
- Leave both consoles powered on until the process finishes. Do not change either console’s network settings and do not run an internet connection test while the transfer is in progress.
- After the PS5 reports completion, start the PS4 version of the RPG and check its load screen before attempting a PS5-edition import.
Why the network warnings matter
Sony warns that changing network settings or running connection tests during this operation can cause data to be damaged or lost. If the transfer is interrupted, wait for both consoles to return to their normal menus, confirm that the PS4 still opens the original save, and run the transfer again rather than deleting the source file.
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Method 2: copy the PS4 save with a USB drive
USB is a file-copy process, not the same thing as using a USB drive as extended storage for installed games. A drive containing installed game data does not automatically contain the separately copied save files you need.
Copy the save from the PS4
On the PS4, use Sony’s saved-data management instructions to copy the RPG’s saved data from console storage to a USB drive. Select the user and the game, then copy the relevant save files. Keep the drive connected until the copy finishes and eject it safely before unplugging it.
Copy the save into PS5 storage
- Insert the USB drive containing the copied PS4 save into the PS5.
- Open Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Saved Data (PS4) > Copy or Delete from USB Drive.
- Select the RPG’s save and choose the copy action to place it in PS5 console storage.
- Wait for the operation to complete, then remove the drive only after the PS5 has finished writing.
- Launch the PS4 edition of the game and verify that the save appears.
Sony’s PS5 storage guide also documents the console-storage route as Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Saved Data (PS4) > Upload or Delete from Console Storage > Copy to USB Drive. That option is for putting PS4 saves on the drive; the “Copy or Delete from USB Drive” screen is the corresponding import route.
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USB facts that prevent mistakes
- A USB flash drive is the directly relevant physical item for this save-copy job. Sony’s cited instructions do not specify a required brand, model, or capacity.
- USB extended storage for installed games and a USB drive carrying copied save files are different uses. Having a game installed on an extended-storage drive does not mean its save has been backed up.
- PS5 saved data cannot be copied from PS5 console storage to a USB drive according to Sony’s storage guidance. The USB procedure described here is for PS4 saved data moving to PS5.
- If the PS5 does not list the file, check that the drive still contains the PS4 save folder, that you used the same account, and that the save belongs to the edition you launched.
Method 3: use PlayStation Plus cloud storage
Cloud storage is useful when the consoles are not beside each other. It requires PlayStation Plus and an internet connection.
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- Configure PS4 saved-data upload to PlayStation Plus cloud storage, then upload the RPG’s current save. If automatic upload is enabled, confirm that the latest timestamp has actually reached the cloud before turning off the PS4.
- On the PS5, sign in to that same account and open the saved-data controls for PS4 games.
- Choose the cloud-storage option and manually download the RPG’s save to PS5 console storage.
- Start the PS4 version and confirm that the downloaded save loads. Only after that should you investigate a PS5-edition import.
Cloud limits and the manual-download rule
Sony’s PlayStation Plus support page lists up to 100 GB of PS4 saved data and a maximum of 1,000 PS4 saved-data files. These are service limits stated by Sony Interactive Entertainment support, accessed in 2026, not results from an independent capacity test. Sony says PS4 saves can be uploaded automatically when the feature is configured, but they must be manually downloaded to PS5 console storage.
If the PS5 shows an older save, compare the upload timestamp on the PS4 with the timestamp of the file available in the cloud. Uploading a newer file does not silently replace a file that has already been downloaded to PS5 storage; download the current copy again.
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Will my PS4 save work on the PS5 version?
Sometimes, but there is no universal answer for RPGs. The PS4 file being present on the PS5 proves only that the first transfer stage worked. The publisher or developer decides whether the PS4 and PS5 editions share progress.
| What you want to do | What must be true | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Continue playing the PS4 edition on PS5 | The PS4 save has been copied or downloaded, and the PS4 edition recognizes it | Launch the PS4 version and load the file |
| Move progress into the PS5 edition | The developer has implemented a cross-generation import or upload feature | Follow the game’s official instructions or its in-game import menu |
| Use the PS5 edition without an import feature | The game does not support PS4-to-PS5 save conversion | Start a new PS5-edition save; retaining the PS4 file still lets you return to the PS4 edition |
Look for instructions from the RPG’s developer or publisher, not just general PlayStation transfer guidance. Common labels may include “Import PS4 Save,” “Upload Save,” “Download Save,” or an option in the title screen, but menu names and timing vary. Some games require the PS4 edition to upload a save first; others expose the import only after the PS5 edition is installed or updated. Do not assume that an upgrade entitlement, a disc license, or a copied file implies save conversion.
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A safe game-specific import sequence
- Identify the exact RPG and edition on your PS5. Different regional releases or bundled editions can have separate save paths.
- Keep the original PS4 save intact on the PS4, USB drive, or cloud until the PS5 version has been tested.
- Move the PS4 save into PS5 console storage using one of the three Sony-supported methods.
- Open the RPG’s official support page or the PS5 edition’s title-screen menus and find the documented import or upload action.
- If the game asks you to launch the PS4 edition first, do so and complete its upload step. If it asks you to select a save inside the PS5 edition, choose the copied file and wait for the conversion to finish.
- Load the converted save and inspect several progress markers: character level, inventory, quests, map exploration, and the latest playtime. This catches the common case where an older but valid file was selected.
- Only after verification should you overwrite, delete, or replace any backup.
Troubleshoot the failure you actually see
The consoles do not find each other
Confirm that both systems are signed in to the same account, have current system software, and are connected to the same network. Synchronize trophies on the PS4, then reopen Settings > System > System Software > Data Transfer > Continue on the PS5. Do not run a connection test during an active transfer.
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The transfer completes but the RPG shows no save
First launch the PS4 edition, not the PS5 edition. Check the user profile, region or edition, and the save’s timestamp. A file may be in PS5 storage while the game you launched uses a different product edition or account.
The USB drive is readable but the save is missing
Return to the PS4 and copy the save again, making sure you selected the correct user and game. On PS5, use Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Saved Data (PS4) > Copy or Delete from USB Drive. Do not look under the PS5 saved-data category; the transferred file is categorized as PS4 data.
The cloud version is older than the console version
Check that the PS4 finished uploading after your latest in-game save. On PS5, manually download the cloud file again. Automatic upload on PS4 does not mean automatic download to PS5.
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This usually indicates a title-specific limitation, not a failed Sony transfer. Confirm that the game’s developer supports PS4-to-PS5 import and follow the required order of operations. If no import is supported, the copied save remains usable with the PS4 edition on PS5, but it cannot be converted by the console’s generic transfer tools.
The network transfer was interrupted
Do not delete the source save. Reopen the transfer tool after both consoles return to their normal menus, keep the systems on the same network, and repeat the process. Sony warns that changing network settings or running internet tests during transfer can damage or lose data, so preserve the original and use USB or cloud as an alternative if the network remains unstable.
Final verification checklist
- The PS4 and PS5 use the same PlayStation account.
- The PS4 save has a recent timestamp and remains available as a backup.
- The file appears in PS5 storage under the PS4 saved-data category.
- The PS4 edition loads the file successfully on PS5.
- The RPG developer explicitly documents PS4-to-PS5 import support before you expect the PS5 edition to use it.
- The imported PS5-edition save contains the expected character, inventory, quests, and playtime.
If the last two checks cannot be satisfied, the console transfer itself may still be successful; the missing capability is the game’s cross-generation save conversion.
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