How to transfer PS4 games and save files to PS5

If you’re upgrading from Playstation 4 to PlayStation 5, here are the step-by-step directions for transferring your PS4 game saves to PS5.

The PlayStation 5 is officially out! Sony’s next-gen console released today, November 12, marking the official start of the next generation of gaming. If you’re one of the lucky ones to snag a PS5 and you’re coming from PS4, there’s probably a bunch of game transfers and game saves you want to bring with you to the next-gen. Here’s how to do it.

Transferring digital games, game data and game saves from a PS4 console to a PS5 console can be done using LAN cables or by connecting wirelessly via WiFi.

Using Data Transfer

Log into your PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 with the same PlayStation Network account and make sure both consoles are connected to the same network. If transferring via WiFi, it’s recommended you connect both consoles via ethernet. Once connected, all of your installed games and saved games will transfer from your PS4 to PS5.

Using an External Drive

An external hard drive or external USB storage device is another option if you don’t have access to your PlayStation 4 when the PS5 arrives. If you sold your PS4 ahead of the PS5’s launch, hopefully, you backed your games up on an external hard drive. Any PS4 game you have installed on an external HDD will be recognized and work on your PS5.

It’s recommended that you keep your PS4 games on the external HDD and play them from there so that you save space on the PlayStation 5’s internal SSD. Since the PS5 only has around 650GB of free space and PS5 titles can’t be played off an external HDD, you’re going to want as much space as possible on the actual console for next-gen games.

Using Physical Discs to Download Digitally

This option is only possible if you buy the PlayStation 5 with Ultra HD Blu-Ray Disc Drive. If you have a physical copy of a PS4 disc, you can install it directly to your new console. Obviously, this won’t work if you have the Digital Edition. There are some instances where backward compatible PS4 games will require the disc but download from the PlayStation Store to your Game Library on the PlayStation 5. You’ll still need the disc to play, however.

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Transferring PS4 Game Saves to PS5

Sony has already confirmed that more than 99 percent of the PlayStation 4 library of games will be compatible with PlayStation 5. This doesn’t necessarily mean your save progress will carry over, though.

Sony stated in its FAQ that the ability to transfer game saves between a PS4 version and PS5 version of the same game is up to the developer. For instance, while Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales will support cross-generational save file transfer, that won’t be the case for the remastered version of Marvel’s Spider-Man from PS4 to PS5. It will vary by title on a case-by-case basis.

In any case, transferring game save files can be done the same way as the games or data themselves. The Data Transfer option will automatically transfer game saves. Alternatively, you can transfer them using an external hard drive or flash drive. If you’re a PlayStation Plus subscriber, you can transfer your saves using the cloud storage feature.