How to transfer PS4 games and saved data to PS5

If you’ve just got your hands on a PS5, congratulations, but don’t sell your PS4 just yet. You can transfer all your saved data so you can pick up your games right where you left off on your new console and don’t have to start from scratch. Here are all the ways to transfer your PS4 games and saved data to the PS5.

Read more: PS4 vs PS5: Should I upgrade or wait?

How to transfer PS4 games and saved data to PS5

There are four ways to transfer your PS4 games and saved data: via Wi-Fi, LAN, extended storage, or PS Plus cloud storage. Transferring data won’t overwrite or delete data on either console, but you might want to back it up just in case something goes wrong. You’ll also want to synchronize your trophy information to keep a record of all your gaming achievements. Press the Options button while viewing Trophies and then select Sync with PlayStation Network.

You can watch the official video from Sony for an overview of transferring data between consoles, then read on for all the details.

Transfer by network connection

The easiest way to transfer data is over a Wi-Fi network. Connect your PS5 console and PS4 consoles to the same network from the console settings menu. You can either connect both consoles to the same Wi-Fi modem using LAN cables or connect wirelessly. When connecting your consoles to the same network wirelessly, you can use a LAN cable to connect your PS5 and PS4 consoles together for faster transfer speeds. If both consoles are connected to the network using LAN cables, you don’t need to connect the PlayStation consoles with one.

During the transfer, it helps if your TV has more than one HDMI port so that you can switch between inputs to monitor the progress on either console. If your TV only has one HDMI port, you could use a second display or simply leave both consoles on while unplugging their HDMI cords when you need to alternate.

Read more: The best gaming TVs for your PS5

When you first set up your PS5 console, there will be on-screen instructions for the data-transfer stage. If you skipped that initially, you can find the option by navigating to Settings–> System–> System Software–> Data Transfer. Click Continue when you are ready to begin. During the data transfer, do not either console, as doing so may cause damage to the systems.

When the PS5 console shows the message Prepare for Data Transfer, press and hold the power button on your PS4 console for one second (or until you hear a beep). On your PS5 console, select the data you want to transfer. In most cases, this will be saved data and any downloaded games you are currently playing. Select Start transfer and let the console communicate until the process is finished.

Your PS5 console will automatically restart near the end of the data transfer. After the console restarts, you’ll find all the games and save files from your PS4 on your PS5.

Transfer by PS cloud server

If you subscribe to PlayStation Plus, you can take advantage of Sony’s cloud server to store and download saved data. This method involves uploading your PS4 data to the cloud server and then downloading the data to your PS5 console.

On your PS4 console, navigate to Settings–> Application Data Management–> Saved Data in System Storage–> Upload to Online Storage. Select the games and files you would like to upload and select Yes to overwrite the cloud file. You can save up to 100 GB of PS4 saved data and up to 1000 PS4 saved data files.

Once your PS4 has finished uploading the data, turn on your PS5 and go to Settings –> Saved Data and Game/App Settings. Select Saved Data (PS4) and choose Cloud Storage to see everything you’ve stored in the cloud. Select the files and games you want to download and then choose Download to Console Storage.

For PS5 games, if you select Sync Saved Data–> View Sync Status, you can check the sync status for each game. Alternatively, you can highlight a game from the home library, press the options button, and then select Check Sync Status of Saved Data.

Transfer using an extended storage device

Instead of re-downloading a PS4 game to your PS5 console storage, you can play any PS4 games installed on an external storage device by connecting it to your PS5.

Before disconnecting the extended storage from your PS4, select Settings-> Devices-> USB Storage Devices and choose Stop. You can now safely remove the cable and plug it into your PS5.

You can also move games between your extended storage and PS5 console storage. Go to your Game Library, highlight the data you want to move, press the options button, and then select Move Games and Apps.

Read more: The best hard drives and SSDs for the PS5

FAQs