Horizon Forbidden West supports PS4-to-PS5 save transfer. You can move the save with Sony’s direct PS5 Data Transfer tool, copy it to a compatible USB storage device, or upload it to PlayStation Cloud. After the save is on the PS5, launch the game, choose Import Game From PlayStation®4 on the title screen, and select the save. Sony says the saved data loads automatically after the import.
If you are asking, “How do I transfer my Horizon Forbidden West save from PS4 to PS5?”, the right method depends on what you have available: both consoles and one network connection, a compatible USB device, or cloud storage access.
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Choose the transfer route that fits your setup
All three routes move the PS4 save into the PS5’s PS4 saved-data area before Horizon Forbidden West imports it. The practical difference is how the save gets from one console to the other.
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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →| Route | What you need | Where the transfer starts | Setup effort | Troubleshooting complexity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct PS5 Data Transfer | Both consoles, the same PlayStation account on each, current system software, and the same network | PS5: Settings > System > System Software > Data Transfer > Continue | Lowest when both consoles are ready | Usually limited to account, software, network, or on-screen transfer issues |
| USB storage | A USB device supported by PlayStation and the PS4 save in system storage | PS4: Settings > Application Saved Data Management > Saved Data in System Storage | Moderate; requires a copy on PS4 and a restore on PS5 | Check device compatibility, copy completion, and the PS5’s Saved Data (PS4) menu |
| PlayStation Cloud | Access to PlayStation Cloud storage and an internet connection | PS4: Settings > Application Saved Data Management > Saved Data in System Storage | Moderate; upload first, then download on PS5 | Check that the upload completed and that the PS5 is looking in Cloud Storage |
Use direct transfer when both consoles are available and connected to the same network. Use USB when you want a removable offline copy. Use cloud storage when the consoles are not together or you do not want to handle a USB device. Sony documents the game-specific import process on its Horizon Forbidden West support page.
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Prepare the PS4 and PS5
Sign in to the correct account
For Sony’s direct Data Transfer feature, the PS4 and PS5 must use the same PlayStation account. This is also the safest account arrangement for USB and cloud workflows because the save must be associated with the profile that created it. If more than one person uses the consoles, check the active profile before copying or downloading anything.
Update the consoles before a direct transfer
Sony’s general transfer guidance requires current system software on both consoles. Complete any pending system update before opening the transfer tool. The direct-transfer path on PS5 is Settings > System > System Software > Data Transfer > Continue.
Make the PS4 save available
USB and cloud copying begin from the PS4’s system-storage menu. If the save exists only on the PS4, first copy or upload it there; the PS5 cannot import data that was never placed on the USB device or in cloud storage. Keep the PS4 available until the copy or upload reports completion.
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The final import command appears inside Horizon Forbidden West at its title screen. Once the saved data has been restored to the PS5, launch the game so you can use that command rather than looking for the save in a general PS5 game menu.
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Method 1: transfer directly between PS4 and PS5
Direct transfer is the most convenient route when both consoles are in the same place. Sony requires the same account on both systems, current system software, and the same network.
- Turn on the PS4 and PS5 and sign in to the same PlayStation account on each console.
- Connect both consoles to the same network. A wired or wireless connection can be used as long as both systems are on that network.
- On the PS5, open Settings > System > System Software > Data Transfer > Continue.
- Follow the prompts shown by the PS5 to detect the PS4 and begin the transfer.
- Leave both consoles powered on and connected until the transfer finishes. Do not interrupt the process by shutting down either system or changing its network connection.
- After the transfer completes, launch Horizon Forbidden West on the PS5 and use Import Game From PlayStation®4 at the title screen.
The direct tool is a platform-level transfer, while the game’s import command is the step that makes the transferred Horizon save available to the PS5 version. Sony’s broader instructions are listed at Transfer data from PS4/PS5 to PS5.
Method 2: copy the save with USB storage
USB is useful when you want a physical copy or when direct network transfer is not practical. Use a USB storage device that meets Sony’s current compatibility requirements. The menus below copy saved data; they do not copy the entire game installation.
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- On the PS4, open Settings > Application Saved Data Management > Saved Data in System Storage.
- Insert the supported USB storage device into the PS4.
- Choose Copy to USB Storage Device.
- Select the Horizon Forbidden West save you want to move and confirm the copy.
- Wait for the copy to finish. Do not remove the USB device while the PS4 is writing data.
- Turn off the PS4, then remove the USB device. Sony’s game-specific instructions explicitly call for powering down before removal.
If you cannot select the save, return to the PS4’s Saved Data in System Storage view and verify that you are using the profile that created it. A USB device that the console does not recognize is a compatibility problem; use a device that satisfies Sony’s current USB requirements rather than forcing the copy.
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Restore the save to PS5 console storage
- Insert the USB device containing the copied save into the PS5.
- Open Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Saved Data (PS4).
- Choose USB Drive > Copy to Console Storage.
- Select the Horizon Forbidden West save and confirm the copy.
- Wait until the PS5 confirms that the save has been copied, then safely remove the USB device.
The save is now in the PS5’s PS4 saved-data area. Start Horizon Forbidden West and continue with the game-specific import step described below.
Method 3: use PlayStation Cloud
Cloud transfer avoids moving a physical device between consoles. It requires access to PlayStation Cloud storage and an internet connection on both the upload and download sides. The upload must finish on the PS4 before the PS5 can retrieve the save.
Upload the PS4 save
- On the PS4, open Settings > Application Saved Data Management > Saved Data in System Storage.
- Choose Upload to Online Storage for PlayStation Cloud.
- Select the Horizon Forbidden West save you want to transfer.
- Confirm the upload and wait for it to complete before closing the menu or turning off the console.
Download the save on PS5
- On the PS5, open Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Saved Data (PS4).
- Choose Cloud Storage > Download to Console Storage.
- Select the Horizon Forbidden West save that was uploaded from the PS4.
- Start the download and wait for the PS5 to confirm completion.
Downloading to console storage is required before the game can use the save through its PS4-import command. If the save is not listed under Cloud Storage, return to the PS4 and verify that the upload completed under the intended account.
Import the save inside Horizon Forbidden West
This is the game-specific step shared by the direct, USB, and cloud routes.
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- Launch Horizon Forbidden West on the PS5 after the save has been transferred or downloaded.
- At the title screen, choose Import Game From PlayStation®4.
- Select the PS4 save you want to import.
- Confirm the selection and allow the game to process it.
Sony states that the saved data loads automatically after the import. You do not need to recreate the character or manually rebuild the campaign once the correct save has been selected.
Why is my Horizon Forbidden West save not showing on PS5?
When a save is missing from the import list, check the handoff between each stage rather than repeatedly launching the game. The game can only list data that reached PS5 console storage or was transferred through the direct tool.
The direct transfer did not complete
- Confirm that both consoles are signed in to the same PlayStation account.
- Confirm that both systems have current system software.
- Confirm that both consoles are connected to the same network.
- Run the PS5 path again: Settings > System > System Software > Data Transfer > Continue.
- If the direct route continues to fail, switch to the documented USB or cloud method instead of leaving the only copy on the PS4.
The USB save is not listed on PS5
- Return to the PS4 and confirm that you used Copy to USB Storage Device from Saved Data in System Storage.
- Check that the copy completed before the USB device was removed.
- On PS5, look specifically under Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Saved Data (PS4) > USB Drive.
- After copying, verify the save under the PS5’s console-storage area and then launch the game.
- If the PS4 did not recognize the device, use a USB device that meets Sony’s current compatibility requirements.
The cloud save is not listed
- On PS4, verify that the save was selected under Upload to Online Storage.
- Wait for the upload to report completion; starting the PS5 download before that point cannot retrieve an unfinished upload.
- On PS5, open Saved Data (PS4) > Cloud Storage > Download to Console Storage.
- Check that you are using the account under which the save was uploaded.
The save is on PS5 but the game still cannot import it
- Confirm that the data is in Saved Data (PS4), not a different saved-data category.
- Launch Horizon Forbidden West and look for Import Game From PlayStation®4 at the title screen.
- Select the intended save rather than starting a new game first.
- If the command still shows no save, repeat the transfer using USB or cloud so the PS5 receives a fresh copy.
Sony’s cited support pages describe the supported transfer paths but do not enumerate every possible account, region, or software-version failure mode. If all documented checks pass and the save remains unavailable, preserve the original PS4 save, avoid deleting it, and contact PlayStation Support with the account and console details.
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Which method should you use?
Choose direct transfer when both consoles are together
Direct transfer avoids preparing a removable device or waiting for a cloud upload. It is the shortest path when the same account, current software, and shared network are already in place.
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Choose USB when you want an offline handoff
USB is the practical fallback when the consoles cannot complete a direct transfer or when you want the save physically separated from either console. The important checkpoints are the completed PS4 copy, safe removal after powering down, and the PS5’s Copy to Console Storage command.
Choose cloud when the consoles are in different locations
Cloud storage is convenient when you can upload from the PS4 and later download from the PS5. It depends on cloud access and successful completion of both operations, so keep the PS4 save until the PS5 import works.
A safe transfer checklist
- Keep the original save on the PS4 until the PS5 import succeeds.
- Use the same PlayStation account on both consoles for direct transfer and for the account associated with the copied or uploaded save.
- For direct transfer, update both consoles and connect them to the same network.
- For USB, use a compatible device, complete the copy, turn off the PS4, and then remove the device.
- For cloud, wait for the PS4 upload to finish before downloading on PS5.
- On PS5, place the save in console storage through Saved Data (PS4).
- In the game, use Import Game From PlayStation®4 at the title screen.
- Do not delete the PS4 copy until the imported save opens successfully.
Can I move my HFW save to PS5?
Yes. Horizon Forbidden West has an official PS4-to-PS5 save-transfer process. Move the save by direct Data Transfer, USB, or PlayStation Cloud, restore it to PS5 console storage, and then import it from the title screen. The game handles the final load automatically after you select the save.
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