PS5

Backing up PS5 save data: cloud storage, USB backups and moving to a new console

TUREFF• •0
Losing dozens of hours of progress to a failed console, a mistaken deletion or a house move is miserable, and it is almost always avoidable. The PS5 gives you three different tools for protecting your data, and they do different jobs. Knowing which is which saves a lot of confusion when you actually need them.

The three tools at a glance

  • Cloud storage for saved data: part of PlayStation Plus. Your save files are uploaded to Sony's servers and can be downloaded on any PS5 you sign in to.
  • Full console backup to USB: copies most of what is on the console to an external drive, so you can restore it after a reset or repair.
  • Data transfer: moves data directly from an old PS5 or PS4 to a new PS5 over your home network.

Cloud saves with PlayStation Plus

Every PlayStation Plus tier includes cloud storage for saved data. This is the only official way to copy individual PS5 game saves off the console: Sony's support pages state that PS5 saved data cannot be copied to a USB drive. PS4 saves are different and can still go to USB. To make the most of it:
  1. Go to Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings and check that automatic syncing of saved data is switched on.
  2. For an individual game, highlight its tile, press the Options button and look for the option to upload or download saved data. Use this before you trade in a console or reset it.
  3. Keep an eye on the cloud allowance. Sony sets a storage limit for each account; check the current figure on its support site, as it can change.
One thing to remember: if your subscription lapses, you lose the ability to upload and download, and Sony's terms describe how long stored saves are kept afterwards. If a backup really matters, download it while you are still subscribed.

Full backup to a USB drive

This is the tool to use before sending a console for repair or doing a full factory reset.
  1. Connect a USB drive formatted as FAT32 or exFAT. A drive set up as PS5 extended storage cannot hold a backup.
  2. Go to Settings > System > System Software > Back Up and Restore > Back Up Your PS5.
  3. Choose what to include, add a description if you like, and start the backup. The console restarts during the process.
What it does not include is worth knowing in advance:
  • Trophies are not backed up. Sync them manually from your trophy list first; they live on your account once synced.
  • Games on extended USB storage or an M.2 SSD stay on those drives and are not copied. Reconnect the drive to the restored console to use them again.
Restoring erases everything currently on the console. The console needs system software at the same version as, or newer than, the version used for the backup, and you must sign in with the same account to restore onto a different machine.

Moving to a new PS5

For an upgrade, data transfer is usually quicker than a backup and restore.
  1. Update the system software on the old console and sync your trophies.
  2. Connect both consoles to the same router. Sony notes that a LAN cable between them is faster if they normally use Wi-Fi.
  3. Sign in to the same account on both.
  4. Either follow the transfer prompt during the new console's initial setup, or later go to Settings > System > System Software > Data Transfer.
  5. Keep both consoles switched on and leave the network settings alone until it finishes.
From PS5 to PS5 you can move user information, saved data, captures, games and settings. From a PS4, the fullest transfer happens during initial setup; afterwards only games and saved data move. Large libraries take a long time, so it can be quicker to transfer saves only and redownload games overnight.

Before you hand over an old console

  • Confirm your saves are in the cloud or on the new machine.
  • Deactivate the old console as your primary console, so your digital games keep working on the new one.
  • Sign out and reset the old console from the system software settings.
Menu names and limits change with updates, so check PlayStation's support pages for the current steps before you start. Have you moved consoles recently? Share what went smoothly, or what caught you out, in the comments.

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