How to Transfer Data from PS4 to PS5

How to Transfer Data from PS4 to PS5 – Before You Start

Unless the PS5 is your first PlayStation gaming console, you’ll need to learn how to transfer data from your PS4 to PS5. Sony has discovered that people appreciate playing older games, especially in the first years of owning a new console when big releases are pricey.

The PlayStation 5 features backward compatibility with almost all PlayStation 4 games. This is a massive advantage considering the PlayStation 4 has over 4,000 titles.

However, functionality isn’t great if you commence all your games from scratch. Fortunately, Sony simplifies transferring saved files from PS4 to PS5. As a result, you can pick up where you left off with better performance and faster load times.

There are two methods to transfer saved files from PS4 to PS5. If you have an active PlayStation Plus plan ($60 per year or $10 per month), you can use Sony’s cloud storage to transfer game data. If you don’t have an active PS Plus plan, you can share data the old-fashioned way by copying your saved files on an external drive. Read on; we’ll show you how both methods work.

How to Transfer PS4 Data to PS5 via the Cloud?

Since PS Plus subscribers have access to Cloud Storage, there is a chance that your saved data were uploaded at a former date. Just remember that you need to activate this process manually, so there’s a chance you’ve forgotten to upload your saved files.

Confirm the Save Data You Need Is Available

Check that your PS4 console has the saved data you want to transfer. The process is as follows:

1. Start by clicking on ‘Settings.’
2. Then click on ‘Storage.’
3. Next, click on ‘System Storage.’
4. Finally, click on ‘Save Data.’

Uploading the Data Online Storage

Once you’ve confirmed that the PS4 save data you want to transfer to your PS5 is available:

1. Start by clicking on ‘Settings.’
2. Then click on ‘Application Saved Data Management.’
3. Next, click on ‘Saved Data in System Storage.’
4. Finally, click on ‘Upload to Online Storage.’

Saved Data and Game Settings

Select the game to save the data you wish to upload and then pick the save files individually (or choose them all) before clicking the ‘Upload’ button.

You can do this for as many PlayStation 4 games as you’d like to play on your PlayStation 5.

Note that saving files in the cloud will not automatically apply to games you have on your PS5.

For these files to work, you’ll need to download them to your PS5 storage.

Now that your saved files are on the cloud storage:

1. Switch on your PS5 and click on ‘Settings.’
2. Then click on ‘Saved Data and Game/App Settings.’
3. Next, click on ‘Save Data (PS4).’
4. Finally, click on ‘Cloud Storage.’

Download save Files to Cloud Storage

Now you can see the amount of storage occupied by the saved data. Next, you can click on ‘Download to Console Storage’ to have the files in your PS5.

Afterward, you can choose other games whose saved files you wish to access and download them to your console storage.

How to Transfer PS4 Data to PS5 via External Storage

If you can’t access your cloud storage because you don’t have a PS Plus plan or your internet connection is down, there is an alternative way to transfer PS4 save data to PS5.

You need to have an external storage device, either an HDD or a memory stick you can connect to PS4 via USB. Ensure that your external storage has spare memory and connect it to the PS4.

Check for Saved Data in Storage

1. Start by clicking on ‘Settings.’
2. Then click on ‘Application Saved Data Management.’
3. Next, click on ‘Saved Data in System Storage.’
4. Finally, click on ‘Copy to USB Storage Device.’

Saved Data and Game Settings

Ensure the PS4 has been updated to the most recent firmware version before doing this and then eject the external storage after copying the files.

Insert the external drive in your PS5. Note that your PS5 won’t automatically detect and apply the files; you must manually copy them from the external drive to your PS5’s storage.

1. Click on ‘Settings.’
2. Then click on ‘Saved Data and Game/App Settings.’
3. Next, click on ‘Saved Data (PS4).’
4. Then click on the ‘USB Drive’ option.
5. Finally, click on the ‘Copy to Console Storage’ option.

Note: This PS4 to PS5 data transfer process considers you’ve already configured your PS5. However, you can also transfer data to your PS5 from your PS4 when setting up the PS5 for the first time. All you need to do is to carefully follow the on-screen instructions.  

Final Thought

Congrats, now you know how to transfer saved files from PlayStation 4 to PlayStation 5. When you carefully follow all the steps illustrated above, you’ll be able to pick up where you left off in titles such as ‘Ghost of Tsushima and ‘The Last of Us Part II.’

See Also

PS5 Games for Kids

Multiplayer Games for PS5

PS4 Games for Kids

Chromebooks for Kids

PS5 vs Xbox Series X