The new generation of consoles has brought many new features to the video game scene. With PlayStation 5, we can now play in 4K resolution and even stretch the frame rate of our games up to 120 frames per second thanks to the console's new graphics capability and HDMI 2.1 support. However, if you are coming from the PlayStation 4, you may have many doubts about the generation jump. As you know, PlayStation 5 is backward compatible, so practically all the games you have from the previous console you will also be able to use on your PS5. But then… What happens with the games that I have saved on my PS4? And what do I do with the games that I have installed on the hard drive of my other console? Well, do not panic, because solving all this is quite easy. In this article we will show you step by step what you have to do to transfer your games from PS4 to PS5 and what happens with the digital games that you already have in your PlayStation library.
How do I copy all my save games?
Considering that PS5 offers backward compatibility with all PS4 games, you will most likely want to keep those records in more than one game, so to do this you will need to copy saves from one console to another. If you have a PlayStation Plus account, it's normal for all your data to be synced to the cloud and copied to your new console automatically as soon as you sign in, but if for some reason you're not, you'll need to copy it manually . If you don't want to complicate your life, a single month of PlayStation Plus Essential will solve the ballot for you. However, we are going to explain how you can do it without having to pay absolutely nothing.
How to copy games from PS4 to PS5 by hand
To do this you will have to turn on both consoles, have them updated to the latest version and log in with the same account on both consoles. By having both consoles connected to the same network, both will be able to see each other and PS5 will start the import wizard automatically if you have turned on the console for the first time.
If you use a WiFi connection, the copying time will most likely be quite long and you may even experience dropouts, so it is best to connect both consoles via cable to speed up the process and get the best data transfer. To do the latter you have two options, either connect both via WiFi and plug in an Ethernet cable from end to end from console to console, or connect each console to the router with an ethernet cable for each one.
If you had already turned on the PS5 and did not get the wizard automatically, go to the PS5 system settings and enter the following menu: Settings > System > System software > Data transfer > Continue.
Select the PS4 from which you want to import the data, choose the ones you need and continue with the process by selecting the “Start transfer” option.
This process will copy all users configured on the PS4, saved games and games stored on the disk.
Video tutorial
If with so much text you are already dizzy, do not worry. Our colleague Pedro Santamaría has made a video in which you will be able to follow the step-by-step tutorial and you will not get lost at any time. In this case, in the video you will learn both how to transfer PS4 games and the games themselves to your new PlayStation 5 console.
What about games installed on a USB drive?
If you have games installed on an external drive, the solution is easier than you might imagine, since you only have to plug the old drive into the new console. If some of those games are game installations that you have in disc format, connect the USB to the console and then insert the disc into the PS5 to start playing.
And the games that I have bought in digital format?
The transfer of data between consoles will take care of copying all the games you have installed on your old PS4, but if you have remembered a title that you deleted from the console in the past and want to recover it again, don't worry, you still have it.
To download it again on PS5 you will only have to visit the Library from PS5 and take a look at all the games that you have registered in your profile, so that if you are looking for one in particular, you will only have to select it and start downloading.
Can I save the data to a USB to copy it later?
If you are thinking of selling your old console, and you still have a few days to go before you can get the new PS5, you can always use an external USB to copy all the data from your PS4 and later copy it to the memory of your PS5. In this way, you will be able to make cash and you will not lose your saved data. Sony does not put any fault in this aspect, something that we greatly appreciate.
Be careful with occupying the internal memory
Something that you should keep in mind is that if you decide to copy many games to the internal memory of PS5, you will be subtracting available space to be able to install new games specific to the new generation. These games necessarily require the use of the internal SSD of the console, so if you take up a lot of space, you may not be able to install the new ones.
For these cases, Sony recommends using a USB 3.0 hard drive to store PS4 games, as this format is enough for the games to work perfectly. PS4 games generally take advantage on PS5 due to load times, but unless you have a title that receives a next-gen patch, the right thing to do is always buy an external hard drive and install those games right there. We recommend that you use a 2,5-inch drive with a capacity of about 2TB. Depending on what digital games you have, it may be worth getting a larger drive, such as a 4TB drive.