Sony provides several ways to move your PS4 games and save data to the PS5. We’ll explain them here so you can move your data easily.

Note that the PlayStation 5 offers to transfer your data during the initial setup. These instructions explain how to do it later, in case you didn’t transfer everything over or skipped that step by mistake.

Before Transferring Your PS4 Data

Before you move your PS4’s data over to the PS5, there are a few quick actions to take on your PS4.

First, make sure you’re signed into the same PlayStation Network account that you’re using on your PS5. You can transfer data for multiple accounts if you need, but you have to do these one at a time.

Next, make sure you’ve updated the system software on your PS4. Go to Settings > System Software Update to check for the latest version.

Finally, you should sync your Trophy data with PlayStation Network so you don’t lose anything. To do this, go to Trophies from the PS4’s main screen, press Options on your controller, and hit Sync with PlayStation Network.

1. Transfer Data Over Your Network

The primary way to move PS4 data to your PS5 is by connecting them both to your network and using the PS5’s transfer utility. We recommend doing this first, since it covers the most ground, including letting you transfer save data.

To start, you’ll need to turn on both your PS4 and PS5 and make sure they’re connected to your home network.

For best results, you should connect both devices to your router with their own Ethernet cables. If this isn’t possible, you can connect both machines to Wi-Fi, then connect your PS4 to your PS5 using an Ethernet cable. This will provide speeds as fast as if they were both wired to your network.

You can proceed with both consoles connected wirelessly, but note that this increase the time it takes to transfer.

Once both systems are ready, walk through these steps:

On your PS5, go to Settings > System > System Software > Data Transfer > Continue. If needed, pick the PS4 you want to move data from (in most cases, there will only be one and you won’t see this step). You’ll see a Prepare for Data Transfer message on your PS5. Once this appears, hold the power button on your PS4 until you hear a beep. After your systems recognize each other, pick the data that you want to move from your PS4 to your PS5. You’ll be able to choose save data first, followed by game data. Review the transfer time that shows, then hit Start Transfer. Wait for the transfer to complete. Once your system restarts, you’re ready to use the transferred data on your PS5. Some games may still download in the background after this.

2. How to Play PS4 Discs on PS5

If you have the standard edition of the PS5 with a disc drive, you can simply insert a PS4 disc to play that game on your PS5. You’ll have to install it to your storage drive again and install any available updates for it. Whenever you play disc games, you need to have the PS4 disc inserted into your system.

As long as the game isn’t one of the few on Sony’s listof PS4-only titles, it should work fine. Unfortunately, if you have the PS5 Digital Edition, you can’t use PS4 discs on the new console.

3. Play PS4 Games Stored on an External Drive on PS5

The PlayStation 5 supports external hard drives for playing PS4 games. As a result, if you have an external hard drive connected to your PS4, you can simply disconnect it from your PS4 and connect it to the PS5 to have immediate access to those titles.

Make sure you turn off your PS4 or tell the system to stop using the storage device before unplugging it. To do so, hold the PS Button on your controller to open the Quick Menu, then select Sound/Devices > Stop Using Extended Storage.

Since your games are already stored on the USB drive, you won’t have to reinstall anything to play them.

4. Download Digital PS4 Games to Your PS5

On your PS5, you can download any digital PS4 games that you own on the PlayStation Store, including titles in your library from PlayStation Plus.

To do this, just make sure you’re signed into the same account on your PS5. Visit the Game Library (located to the far right of the main menu) and you’ll see all the titles you own digitally. Select one and hit Download; you can play it once it’s installed on your system.

Use the Filter button on the left side to show only your PS4 titles here, if that helps.

5. How to Transfer PS4 Save Data to PS5

Methods #2-4 above all allow you to transfer PS4 game data to your PS5, but they don’t transfer your actual save files. If you didn’t use method #1 to transfer your saves, you’ll need to use another way to copy save data over.

The first is with PlayStation Plus cloud storage, which is open to all PlayStation Plus subscribers. If you don’t have Auto-Upload enabled on your PS4 to back up your save data, head to Settings > Application Data Management > Saved Data in System Storage > Upload to Online Storage to upload relevant saves to the cloud.

Then, on your PS5, head to Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings. Choose Saved Data (PS4) > Cloud Storage > Download to Console Storage. Then pick what you want to download data for.

If you don’t have PS Plus, you can copy save data using a USB flash drive. On your PS4, go to Settings > Application Data Management > Saved Data in System Storage > Copy to USB Storage Device. Choose the data you want to move to the flash drive and confirm the copy operation.

Then, connect the USB drive to your PS5 and go to Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Saved Data (PS4) > USB Drive. Select your saved data and move it over to your PS5.

6. How to Upgrade PS4 Games to the PS5 Version

Certain games that released on both PS4 and PS5 offer the option to upgrade for free or a small fee.

To upgrade from a disc-based PS4 game to the proper PS5 version, insert the disc and make sure it’s installed. Next, you can jump to the PS Store page for that title by opening the three-dot menu for it on the home screen and selecting View Product.

For a PS4 game that you own digitally, open the PlayStation Store on your PS5 and search for the game’s PS5 version to open its page.

If the game offers an upgrade option, you should see it here. It will either appear as a Free download button, or a separate box to the right labeled Free PS5 Upgrade that brings up a new page.

Confirm the price, if applicable, then choose Download or purchase it to download the full PS5 version. For physical games, keep the PS4 disc in your system when you want to play it.

If you’re not sure whether you’re looking at a PS4 or PS5 copy of a game, you’ll see PS4 next to any PS4 titles on both your home screen and the PS Store.

Moving Over to the PlayStation 5

Now you know how to move all your PS4 content over to a PS5. It’s not difficult, but it might take some time depending on the amount of data you have and your network speed. But once they’re moved over, you won’t need your PS4 anymore, unless you want to use it for remote play or similar.

Unfortunately, the PS5’s SSD doesn’t have a ton of space, so you’ll probably need an external hard drive if you plan to play lots of PS4 games on PS5.

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