Transferring your data from PS4 to PS5
Three ways to move games and saves from a PS4 to a PS5, and what carries over.
Moving to a PS5 does not mean starting over. Games, saves and settings can all come with you, and there are three routes depending on what you have available.
Method 1 — Wi-Fi data transfer (easiest)
Both consoles must be signed in to the same account and connected to the same network.
- On the PS5: Settings > System > System Software > Data Transfer.
- Follow the prompts. When asked, press and hold the power button on the PS4 until it beeps.
- Choose what to transfer — games, saved data, settings, or everything.
- Leave both consoles alone until it finishes. Large libraries take hours.
A wired connection between both consoles and the router makes this dramatically faster than Wi-Fi.
Method 2 — external USB drive
Copy saves and PS4 games to a USB drive from the PS4, then plug it into the PS5. PS4 games can be played directly from the external drive on a PS5, which saves re-downloading them.
On the PS4: Settings > Application Saved Data Management to copy saves, and Settings > Storage to move games.
Method 3 — cloud saves
If you have PlayStation Plus, saves upload to the cloud automatically. Sign in on the PS5 and download them. This handles saves only, not games.
Do my PS4 saves carry over to PS5?
For PS4 games, yes — you can continue exactly where you left off.
For a game with both a PS4 and a PS5 version, it depends on the game. Many support importing a PS4 save into the PS5 version, and some require you to do it through an in-game menu rather than automatically. A few do not support it at all.
The safe move: check before you delete anything from the PS4. Transfer first, confirm the save loaded, then clear the old console.
Can I transfer games without the internet?
Yes, using the USB method — that is the point of it. Copy games to an external drive and move them across without downloading anything.
Two limits. This works for PS4 games; PS5 games can be stored on an external drive but must be copied to internal storage to play. And you still need to sign in to your account once to verify licences.
What does not transfer
Trophies are tied to your account rather than the console, so they are already there when you sign in. Some settings do not carry over and are quicker to set again than to troubleshoot.
And before you sell or trade the old console: sign out, deactivate it as your primary PS4, and factory reset it. We buy selected used consoles in cash — bring it to a branch and we will inspect and quote it.
See our PS5 page.