The PlayStation 5 offers an array of visually stunning games, but there’s also a silver lining for PlayStation 4 game enthusiasts. Many PS4 games can run even better on the new PS5 hardware. If you find yourself in the midst of a game on your trusty old PlayStation 4 and want to continue your journey on a PS5, you’ll need to transfer your saved progress.
Sony provides several methods to facilitate this data transfer between consoles. During the PS5 setup process, you’ll receive prompts to do so. However, if you missed this opportunity, you can initiate the process from your PS5’s settings menu. Here are the available options:
Method 1: Transfer Games and Save Files Over Wi-Fi/Ethernet
To start the data transfer process, you’ll need to establish a connection between your two consoles. You can do this by connecting both your PS4 and PS5 to the same Wi-Fi network. For faster speeds, you also have the option to directly link them to your router using Ethernet cables. This method allows you to transfer both the game and the save data without the need to re-download them over the internet.
Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Ensure your PS4 is running the latest PlayStation software.
- From the PS4’s main menu, navigate to Settings > System Software Update and select Upgrade Now.
- On your PS5, log in using the same PlayStation Network account as your PS4.
- Access Settings > System > System Software on your PS5 and choose Data Transfer.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to transfer your data. You’ll have the ability to select the specific game saves and sets of game files you want to move, along with any other apps you wish to migrate.
- To initiate the transfer, you’ll be prompted to press the power button on your PS4, and both systems will restart.
On the final setup screen, you’ll see an estimated transfer time, but this only applies to your game saves, not the entire transfer. The complete game file transfer will happen in the background once your PS5 is up and running. Be prepared for a potentially lengthy wait, especially if you’re using Wi-Fi.
Please note that if you have an external drive connected to your PS4, that data won’t migrate to your PS5 using this method. However, you can connect the external drive directly to your PS5 to continue your progress in those games without any waiting. Keep in mind that you won’t benefit from the faster loading times offered by the PS5’s SSD for these older games, but it’s a convenient option.
Method 2: Transfer Game Saves With a USB Drive
If the network transfer is causing difficulties or if you need to transfer the save data from a PS4 at a different location, you can also back up your PS4 game saves to a USB flash drive. Here’s how:
- Insert the USB flash drive into your PS4.
- Navigate to Settings > Application Saved Data Management > Saved Data in System Storage and select Copy to USB Storage Device.
- Choose the game saves you wish to copy and repeat this process for other games on your system.
Once you’ve completed the process, insert the flash drive into your PS5 and go to Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Saved Data (PS4) > USB Drive. Select Copy to Console Storage, choose the game saves you want to migrate, press the Copy button, and the transfer should occur swiftly. This allows you to continue your progress right where you left off, assuming you’ve already installed the game on your PS5.
Method 3: Download Game Saves From PlayStation Plus
PlayStation Plus subscribers have access to cloud backup options that regular users don’t enjoy. If you’re a PS Plus member, you can download your game saves from your existing cloud storage. Here’s how:
- On your PS5, navigate to Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Saved Data (PS4) > Cloud Storage.
- Select Download to Console Storage and choose the game saves you want to download.
If you don’t see the games you’re looking for, you may need to upload the data from your old console first. You can achieve this by going to Settings > Application Saved Data Management > Saved Data in System Storage > Upload to Online Storage on your PS4. Once you’ve done that, return to the Cloud Storage page on your PS5 and attempt to download the data again.
These methods should help you seamlessly transition your game saves from your PS4 to your new PS5, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted gaming experience on the next-gen console.
