You cannot copy PS4 games directly from one external drive to another, because the console runs only one extended-storage device at a time. The workable method is a two-leg move through the console’s internal system storage: move the games from the old drive to system storage, disconnect the old drive, format the new drive for extended storage, and then move the games from system storage onto it. Sony documents each of those controls but does not describe a direct drive-to-drive copy, so the route below is built from its documented move options. This guide covers the PS4 only.
What your destination drive must meet
Before you start, confirm that the new drive qualifies. Sony’s USB extended storage guidance for PS4 specifies:
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- A USB external HDD using USB 3.0 or later.
- A capacity of at least 250 GB and no more than 8 TB.
- Sony warns that proper operation is not guaranteed for every HDD model, so check the support page before buying or reusing a drive.
- Enough free space in system storage to hold the games you are moving. If the library is too large, move it in smaller batches.
- A backup of anything on the destination drive you want to keep, because formatting it for PS4 use erases its contents.
Why the transfer goes through system storage
Extended storage is a single slot on the console. While one drive is active, the PS4 has no second extended-storage target, so the games on the old drive have to leave it first. System storage is the only other place the console’s move controls send them. That is why the process has two legs, and why the destination drive is connected only after the source drive has been released.
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Step 1: Move games off the source drive
- Connect the source drive so the PS4 recognizes it as extended storage.
- Go to Settings > Storage and select the source extended storage.
- Select Applications.
- Press OPTIONS and choose Move to System Storage.
- Select the games or applications you want to move, then choose Move.
- Wait for the operation to finish before you change anything else. Sony’s documentation does not give a transfer-time estimate, so expect the duration to depend on the size of your library and the drive.
Step 2: Stop using the source drive and disconnect it
- Open the Quick Menu and select Sound/Devices > Stop Using Extended Storage. You can also go to Settings > Devices > USB Storage Devices > Stop Using This Extended Storage.
- Unplug the source drive only after the console indicates it is safe to do so.
- Do not disconnect the drive during shutdown or while the PS4 is entering rest mode.
Step 3: Prepare the destination drive
- Connect the destination drive directly to a USB port on the PS4. Do not use a USB hub, as Sony’s guidance calls for a direct connection.
- If the drive is not already formatted for PS4, go to Settings > Devices > USB Storage Devices, select the drive, and choose Format as Extended Storage.
- Read the warning before confirming. Formatting deletes everything on the drive. Sony’s PlayStation.Blog walkthrough from 2017-03-10 gives the same data-loss warning for the setup process.
Step 4: Move games onto the destination drive
- Go to Settings > Storage > System Storage > Applications.
- Press OPTIONS and choose Move to Extended Storage.
- Select the games you want to move, then choose Move.
- Keep the destination drive connected while you play those games. If it is disconnected, the games stay in the list but cannot be started until the drive is reconnected.
What moves with the games and what does not
Moving applications does not carry your progress or personal content with it. Sony’s extended-storage page limits the feature to applications and add-ons, so the rest of your data needs its own handling.
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| Item | Moves with the extended-storage transfer? | How to keep it |
|---|---|---|
| Installed games and applications | Yes, using the steps above | Move them between storage locations as described |
| Add-ons | Yes, under Sony’s “applications and add-ons” wording | Handled with their parent application |
| Saved game data | No | Copy to USB storage or use online storage |
| Themes | No | Not stated in the extended-storage guidance; re-download or reapply if needed |
| Screenshots and video clips | No | Copy to a USB storage device before moving or formatting |
Saved data and backups
Save data is the item most likely to be lost by accident, so handle it separately. Sony’s storage management page describes copying saved data to a USB storage device, and it also describes online storage where that service is available to your account. A full console backup is a different operation with a different scope. Sony’s backup and restore page warns that restoring a backup erases data on the console, so use it for disaster recovery rather than as a routine way to relocate game installs.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshooting
- The destination drive is not recognized. Confirm it is a USB 3.0-or-later external HDD between 250 GB and 8 TB, and that it is plugged directly into the PS4 without a hub. Sony notes that not every model is guaranteed to work.
- A game is listed but will not start. The drive holding that game is disconnected. Reconnect it so the console can read it.
- The move cannot complete. System storage may not have enough free space for the batch. Remove or move other items to free room, or transfer fewer games at a time.
- You are missing files from the destination drive. Formatting erased them. Restore from your own backup; the console cannot recover data deleted by formatting.
The official sources cited above are the authoritative reference for menu names and requirements, which can change with system software updates.
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