The most complete move is Sony’s built-in Data Transfer feature. It can bring supported games, eligible saves, users, account information, screenshots, clips, and settings from an old PS5, or from a PS4 with some setup-time limitations. Put both consoles on the same network, sign in to the same account on the new PS5, update their system software, and sync trophies on the old console first.
Remember that game installations and saved progress are separate. You can re-download a digital game, install a disc game, or use compatible extended storage without moving its save. Conversely, a save can be transferred through console-to-console transfer, PlayStation Plus cloud storage, or—only for PS4 saves—a FAT or exFAT USB drive.
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Before you start
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- Keep both consoles available. The source is the old PS4 or PS5; the destination is the new PS5.
- Use the same PlayStation account on the destination. After setup, PS4 save transfer is limited to the user currently signed in.
- Update system software on both consoles. Sony lists current software as a preparation step for Data Transfer.
- Synchronize trophies on the source first. This makes sure the latest trophy information is associated with your account before migration.
- Connect both consoles to the same network. A wired connection can be faster when the consoles normally use Wi-Fi. If both consoles are already connected by network cables, Sony says you do not need to connect them directly to each other with another LAN cable.
- Leave enough free space on the destination. Data already stored on the new PS5 is not transferred over, so check its storage before selecting a large game library.
It helps to decide in advance whether you need a complete migration or only a few titles and saves. A full transfer is convenient when the old console is available and both systems can remain powered on. If you are replacing a console that is already gone, you will generally combine library downloads or disc installation with cloud or USB save recovery instead.
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Use the PS5 Data Transfer feature
This is the direct old-console-to-new-console method. You can start it during the new PS5’s initial setup or, for supported source data, after setup.
During initial setup
- Turn on the new PS5 and begin its initial setup.
- When the setup wizard displays the data-transfer step, follow the on-screen instructions.
- Turn on the source PS4 or PS5 when prompted and keep both consoles on the same network.
- Confirm the source console and select the users, saves, games, captures, and settings that the wizard offers.
- Start the transfer and leave both consoles powered on until the process finishes or the PS5 tells you that some game data will continue afterward.
The setup-time route is the broadest opportunity to bring account and user information onto a new PS5. If you skip it, the destination can still offer a post-setup transfer for the data Sony supports, but the available categories differ by source generation.
After the new PS5 is set up
On the destination PS5, open Settings > System > System Software > Data Transfer > Continue, then follow the prompts. The source console must be available on the same network. This route is especially useful if you skipped transfer during setup or want to move eligible data later.
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What transfers from an old PS5
Sony lists the following as transferable from a PS5 source during or after initial setup:
- User and account information
- Eligible saved data
- Screenshots and video clips
- PS5-playable games
- Console settings
This makes PS5-to-PS5 migration the most complete console-to-console scenario in this guide. Even so, verify important saves after the move rather than assuming that a game installation alone proves the progress is present.
What transfers from a PS4
There is an important timing distinction. During the new PS5’s initial setup, a PS4 source can transfer user and account information plus console settings. Eligible PS4 saves and PS5-playable games can also be transferred after setup through the Data Transfer menu. After setup, Sony limits PS4 save transfer to the user who is signed in on the destination.
| Source console | During initial PS5 setup | After setup through Data Transfer |
|---|---|---|
| PS5 | User/account information, eligible saves, screenshots and clips, PS5-playable games, and console settings | User/account information, eligible saves, screenshots and clips, PS5-playable games, and console settings |
| PS4 | User/account information and console settings | Eligible saves and PS5-playable games; PS4 save transfer is limited to the signed-in user |
If several people used the old PS4, plan this limitation before wiping or selling it. A post-setup transfer is tied to the account currently signed in on the destination, so each user’s progress should be handled through the appropriate account and save method.
Keep the transfer safe while it runs
The destination PS5 restarts during migration. Some data, including game data, may continue transferring after that restart. Sony says a game thumbnail appears when that title is ready to play, and you can check progress in Downloads/Uploads.
Do not turn off either console. Sony’s official warning is: “Do not turn off your source and destination consoles during data transfer.” Also avoid changing network settings or running internet-connection tests while the transfer is active; Sony warns that those actions can damage or lose data. Keep the consoles connected to power and do not unplug a network cable until the process has completed.
A restart is therefore not automatically a failure. Wait for the destination to return to the home screen, then inspect Downloads/Uploads and the game thumbnail. A title can become playable while another portion of its game data is still being copied. Do not interrupt the consoles simply because one game is available before the overall queue is complete.
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Game installation is independent from saved progress. If you choose one of these methods, plan a separate save-data method as well.
Digital games: download them again
On the new PS5, open your game library, select a purchased title, and choose the download option. Deleting a game does not remove your purchase entitlement, so a digital purchase can be downloaded again on the destination console when you sign in with the account that owns it. Re-downloading restores the game installation, not necessarily the local save; move the save with Data Transfer, cloud storage, or the PS4 USB method described below.
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This is also the simplest fallback when the old console is unavailable. It gives you access to the software attached to the purchasing account, but it cannot recreate local progress that was never transferred or synchronized elsewhere.
Disc games: install from the original disc
Insert the game disc into the new PS5 and let the console install the game. Keep the disc available: a disc-based game normally uses it as the license check when you play. Installing from disc also does not move saved progress, so transfer or restore the save separately.
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USB extended storage: carry compatible game installations
A compatible SuperSpeed USB drive can be connected to the new PS5 to access game data stored on the old console’s extended storage. Sony’s US external-storage specifications list a capacity from 250 GB to 8 TB.
- PS4 games can be played directly from compatible extended storage.
- PS5 games stored on the USB drive can be retained there, but must be copied back to PS5 console storage or an installed M.2 SSD before they can be played.
- Extended storage is for game installations. It is not a method for copying PS5 saved data.
Use the drive as extended storage as the console requests. Do not confuse this format with a normal FAT or exFAT USB drive used for PS4 save files; they serve different purposes and are not interchangeable for the same operation.
Extended storage is most useful when the internal destination drive cannot hold every installation at once. It can preserve or carry a large game library, but it does not eliminate the need to restore saves. For a PS5 title, allow additional time to copy the game back to console storage or the installed M.2 SSD before launching it.
Move an installed M.2 SSD
If the source PS5 has a compatible M.2 SSD containing game data, Sony says the drive can be removed and installed in the destination PS5. Follow Sony’s compatibility and installation guidance for the specific console model before opening either console. An M.2 SSD can provide access to the games stored on it, but it does not replace a save-data transfer.
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Do not treat an M.2 move as a complete console move. User information, settings, trophies, and saved progress remain separate from the game files on the drive. Confirm that the destination model accepts the SSD and follow the model-specific installation instructions.
Move saved data separately
PlayStation Plus cloud storage
Cloud storage is useful when the consoles are in different locations or when you want a second route for saves. A PlayStation Plus membership is required.
For PS5 games, saved data can automatically synchronize when you close a game or put the console into rest mode if automatic synchronization is enabled. For PS4 games, saves upload automatically, but Sony says you must manually download them to PS5 console storage on the new console.
That difference matters after a PS4-to-PS5 move: seeing a PS4 save in cloud storage does not mean it has already been placed in the destination’s local PS5 storage. Use the destination’s saved-data controls to download it before launching the game and checking progress.
| Cloud item | Published Sony support limit | Important behavior |
|---|---|---|
| PS5 saved data | Up to 100 GB | Automatic synchronization is available when enabled; download or restore on the destination as needed |
| PS4 saved data | Up to 100 GB | Uploads automatically, but must be manually downloaded to PS5 console storage |
| PS4 saved-data files | Up to 1,000 files | The limit applies to the published US support specification |
The figures above are official product-support limits from Sony’s US cloud-storage information; the support page does not state a publication year. They are capacity limits, not a promise that every game save will synchronize in the same way.
USB transfer for PS4 saves only
For PS4 saved data, use a USB drive formatted as FAT or exFAT. It must be a normal USB storage device, not one that has been formatted as PS5 extended storage.
- On the source PS4, copy the desired PS4 saved data to the FAT or exFAT USB drive using the console’s saved-data management options.
- Eject the drive safely and connect it to the destination PS5.
- Use the PS5’s saved-data settings to copy the PS4 saves from the USB drive into PS5 console storage.
Sony explicitly states: “You can’t copy PS5 saved data from your PS5 console to a USB drive.” Therefore, an ordinary USB save-copy procedure is not a PS5-save backup. Use Data Transfer or PlayStation Plus cloud storage for PS5 saves.
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Keep the two USB use cases separate in your planning. A drive formatted for extended game storage is not the FAT or exFAT device used for PS4 save copying. Reformatting can erase existing contents, so check which data the drive contains before changing its format.
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| Method | Moves or provides access to | Requirements and limits |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in Data Transfer | Supported users, account information, saves, games, captures, and settings, depending on source and setup timing | Both consoles on the same network; same account on the destination; updated software; trophies synchronized; do not interrupt the process |
| PlayStation Plus cloud storage | Saved data | Membership required; PS4 saves require a manual download to PS5 storage; published US limits are 100 GB for each generation and 1,000 PS4 save files |
| FAT or exFAT USB drive | PS4 saved data | Cannot copy PS5 saves from the console; the drive must not be formatted as extended storage |
| SuperSpeed USB extended storage | Compatible game installations | Official US capacity range is 250 GB–8 TB; PS4 games can run from it, while PS5 games must be copied to console or M.2 storage before play |
| Digital re-download | Digital game installations | Sign in with the purchasing account; saves require a separate transfer or restore method |
| Disc installation | Disc-based game installation | Insert the original disc; saved progress requires a separate method |
| M.2 SSD relocation | Game data stored on the installed SSD | Drive must meet Sony’s compatibility and installation requirements for the destination PS5 model; it does not move saves by itself |
Choose based on the data you are trying to preserve. For a same-room upgrade with both consoles available, start with Data Transfer. For saves only, cloud storage is convenient if you have PlayStation Plus, while a FAT or exFAT drive is the offline option for PS4 saves. For installations, re-downloads and discs require no old-console connection, and extended storage or an M.2 SSD can reduce repeated downloads.
Troubleshoot the common failure points
The new PS5 cannot find the old console
- Confirm both consoles are powered on and connected to the same network, not separate guest networks.
- Install pending system-software updates, then reopen Settings > System > System Software > Data Transfer > Continue on the destination.
- If Wi-Fi is unreliable, use a LAN connection. When both consoles are already wired to the network, do not add a direct console-to-console cable; Sony says it is unnecessary.
The game transferred, but the save is missing
Check that the destination uses the same account as the source. A re-downloaded or disc-installed game is only the program; it does not prove that the associated save was moved. For PS4 saves transferred after setup, verify that the correct user is signed in. If the save is in cloud storage, manually download it to PS5 console storage, because PS4 saves do not simply appear there through automatic upload alone.
The PS5 game is visible on the USB drive but will not launch
This is expected for PS5 games on extended storage. Copy the title to PS5 console storage or an installed M.2 SSD, then launch it from that location. PS4 games do not have this specific requirement and can be played directly from compatible extended storage.
The transfer stopped or the console restarted
A restart of the destination PS5 is part of the normal process, and game data can continue afterward. Check Downloads/Uploads and look for the game thumbnail indicating readiness. If a transfer is still active, do not power off either console, change network settings, or run an internet-connection test. Those actions are specifically warned against by Sony because they can damage or lose data.
The old console is unavailable
Use the fallback that matches the data you still have. Digital games can be downloaded from the library, disc games can be installed from their discs, and game installations may be available on a compatible extended-storage drive or relocated M.2 SSD. For saves, restore from PlayStation Plus cloud storage; for PS4 saves, use a FAT or exFAT USB copy. A PS5 save cannot be copied from the console to an ordinary USB drive.
The destination already has some of the games
Data already stored on the destination is not transferred over. Leave existing installations in place and use the transfer selection for the remaining titles and saves. If storage is tight, prioritize saves and the games you plan to play first, then use digital downloads, discs, or compatible external storage for the rest.
A practical migration checklist
- Update both consoles.
- Sync trophies on the source.
- Sign in to the same account on the destination.
- Connect both consoles to the same network.
- Start the setup-time transfer, or use Settings > System > System Software > Data Transfer > Continue afterward.
- Select the supported users, saves, games, captures, and settings you need.
- Keep both consoles powered on and leave the network unchanged until the process finishes.
- Check Downloads/Uploads after the destination restarts.
- For anything not moved, re-download digital games, install disc games, connect compatible extended storage, or install the source M.2 SSD.
- Restore saves separately through Data Transfer, PlayStation Plus cloud storage, or a FAT/exFAT USB drive for PS4 saves only.
- Open a few transferred games and verify the expected save is present before wiping, trading in, or selling the source console.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer games without transferring saved data?
Yes. Digital games can be downloaded from the destination’s library, disc games can be installed from their discs, and compatible game installations can be accessed from extended storage or an M.2 SSD. Saved progress is separate and must be moved with Data Transfer, PlayStation Plus cloud storage, or a FAT/exFAT USB drive for PS4 saves.
Can I copy PS5 saved data to a USB drive?
No. Sony states that PS5 saved data cannot be copied from the PS5 console to a USB drive. Use the built-in Data Transfer feature or PlayStation Plus cloud storage instead.
Can I play a PS5 game directly from USB extended storage?
No. PS5 games may be stored on compatible extended storage, but they must be copied to PS5 console storage or an installed M.2 SSD before they can be played. PS4 games can be played directly from compatible extended storage.
Do PS4 cloud saves download automatically to a new PS5?
PS4 saves upload automatically to cloud storage, but Sony says they must be manually downloaded to PS5 console storage on the destination.
What happens if the new PS5 restarts during transfer?
The destination restart is part of the normal process. Some data, including game data, can continue transferring afterward. Check Downloads/Uploads and wait for the transfer to finish; do not turn off either console or change network settings while it is active.
Is a LAN cable required between the two consoles?
Both consoles must be on the same network. A LAN connection can improve transfer performance when the consoles normally use Wi-Fi, but Sony says a direct console-to-console LAN cable is unnecessary when both consoles are already wired to the network.
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For a complete PS4- or PS5-to-PS5 move, update both systems, sync trophies, use the same account, connect both consoles to the same network, and start Data Transfer. Treat installations and saves as separate: re-download or install games as needed, use compatible extended storage only for game data, and restore saves through Data Transfer, PlayStation Plus cloud storage, or a FAT/exFAT USB drive for PS4 saves. Never power off the consoles or change network settings during an active transfer.
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