Guide · Updated October 11, 2026
The simplest way to transfer PS5 data to a PS5 Pro is Sony’s built-in console-to-console Data Transfer. Update both consoles, sign into the same PlayStation account, connect both systems to the same network, then open Settings > System > System Software > Data Transfer > Continue on the PS5 Pro.
This copies data rather than moving it, so the source PS5 keeps its content. You can run the transfer during the PS5 Pro’s initial setup or afterward. Do not turn off either console, change network settings, or run a connection test while the transfer is active.
PS5 to PS5 Pro transfer methods compared
| Method | Best for | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Console-to-console transfer | Users, saves, games, captures, and settings in one process | Both consoles must be available on the same network |
| PlayStation Plus cloud | Moving PS5 and PS4 saved data | Requires an active PlayStation Plus membership |
| USB extended storage | Avoiding large game downloads | PS5 games must be copied back to internal or M.2 storage before play |
| Move the M.2 SSD | Games already installed on an expansion SSD | Requires safely removing and reinstalling hardware |
| USB backup and restore | A broad offline backup of console data | Restoring erases existing data on the destination console |
For most people who still have both consoles, direct transfer is the least confusing option. Cloud storage is ideal when only saved progress matters. External USB and M.2 storage can save download time when the game installations are the largest part of the move.
Before transferring your PS5 data
Complete these checks before starting:
- Update both consoles. Install the latest system software on the old PS5 and the PS5 Pro.
- Use the same account. Sign into the PlayStation account used on the source console.
- Sync trophies. Sony says trophies are not part of a USB backup, so manually syncing before any migration or reset is sensible.
- Connect both consoles to power. Do not risk an interruption during the copy.
- Put both consoles on the same network. They can connect by Wi-Fi or LAN.
- Check free space. On the PS5 Pro, open Settings > Storage and confirm there is enough room for the selected data.
- Keep the old PS5. Do not reset, sell, or trade it until you have opened important games and confirmed their saves on the PS5 Pro.
Sony’s official PS5 transfer instructions define the old machine as the source console and the PS5 receiving the data as the destination console.
How to transfer PS5 data to PS5 Pro directly
- Turn on the original PS5 and leave it connected to the network.
- On the PS5 Pro, open Settings.
- Select System > System Software.
- Select Data Transfer > Continue.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to locate the source PS5 and choose the data to copy.
- Leave both consoles powered on and do not change their network settings until the transfer is complete.
If the PS5 Pro is still in its first-time setup, use the transfer prompt that appears during setup instead. You do not need to factory-reset the PS5 Pro merely because you skipped that prompt: Sony allows a PS5-to-PS5 transfer after setup through the Settings path above.
The destination console restarts during the process. It may become usable while game data continues copying in the background. Open the control center and select Downloads/Uploads to check progress. A game can appear on the home screen once it is ready to play even if other selected content is still transferring.
Will the transfer delete anything from the old PS5?
No. A standard console-to-console transfer copies the selected data. It does not erase the source PS5. That makes it different from a trade-in workflow that requires you to wipe the old console manually after verifying the move.
Data already stored on the destination console for the same game is not transferred again, according to Sony. If the PS5 Pro already contains new saves, inspect both consoles carefully before choosing another method that could replace saved data.
After confirming everything, you can decide whether to keep or reset the old console. A factory reset is destructive and cannot be undone, so it should be the final step—not part of the initial transfer.
What transfers from PS5 to PS5 Pro?
Sony lists the following PS5 data as transferable both during and after initial setup:
- User and account information
- Saved data for games playable on PS5
- Screenshots and video clips
- Games playable on PS5
- Console settings, including language, login, and power-saving preferences
Login passcodes from the source console also transfer. If a user profile has a passcode, enter the same one when signing in on the PS5 Pro.
Not every byte needs to travel over the network. Digital purchases can be downloaded again from the Game Library. Disc games can be reinstalled from their discs if the PS5 Pro has the compatible disc drive attached. Choose direct transfer for the items that are difficult or slow to recreate, especially saves and captures.
How to make the transfer faster
Both consoles can connect wirelessly to the same router, but Sony recommends a LAN connection for faster transfer. If the consoles normally use Wi-Fi, connect them with a commercially available LAN cable while they remain on the same network. If both are already wired to the router, you do not need a separate cable directly between them.
Large game installations dominate transfer time. You can shorten the migration by transferring users, saves, captures, and settings first, then redownloading games or using existing storage for the installations.
Do not interrupt the transfer to test the network. Sony specifically warns against turning off either console, changing network settings, or running an internet connection test during the process because data can be damaged or lost.
Use PlayStation Plus cloud storage for saves only
If you have PlayStation Plus and mainly care about progress, cloud storage is often quicker than copying every installed game.
On the old PS5:
- Go to Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings.
- Select Saved Data (PS5) or Saved Data (PS4).
- Select Upload or Delete from Console Storage.
- Choose the saves and upload them to cloud storage.
On the PS5 Pro, return to Saved Data and Game/App Settings, select the appropriate PS5 or PS4 section, and download the cloud copy to console storage. Check the date and time before replacing a save; the newest file is not always the one you intend to keep if different people played on different consoles.
Cloud storage requires PlayStation Plus. It is not a substitute for moving screenshots, local user settings, or every installed game.
Use USB extended storage to move games
An external drive can spare you from downloading large installations again. Sony says a compatible PS5 USB extended-storage drive requires SuperSpeed USB at 5 Gbps or faster and a capacity from 250GB to 8TB.
If the drive is already being used as USB extended storage on the old PS5, safely remove it and connect it to the PS5 Pro. Sony says it does not need to be reformatted. To safely disconnect while the console is on, use Settings > Storage > USB Extended Storage > Safely Remove from PS5.
Remember the key limitation:
- PS4 games can run directly from USB extended storage.
- PS5 games can be stored there but cannot run from it. Copy a PS5 game back to console storage or a compatible M.2 SSD before playing.
Do not disconnect the drive while it is writing data. Never format a drive unless you are certain its existing contents can be erased.
Can you move the M.2 SSD from PS5 to PS5 Pro?
Yes. Sony’s transfer guidance says an M.2 SSD installed in the source PS5 can be removed and installed in the destination PS5 to use the game data stored on it.
Power the console off fully, disconnect it, and follow Sony’s model-specific M.2 installation instructions. An M.2 move handles games stored on that drive; it does not replace transferring internal saved data, user accounts, captures, or settings.
If you are uncomfortable opening the expansion cover or handling the drive, direct transfer or redownloading games is the safer choice.
USB backup and restore: useful, but understand the warning
A normal FAT32- or exFAT-formatted USB drive can hold a full PS5 backup containing games and apps, saved data, captures, and settings. This is different from a drive formatted as PS5 USB extended storage.
To create a backup, open Settings > System > System Software > Back Up and Restore > Back Up Your PS5. Select the data types, review the size, and start the backup.
Restoring that backup erases the data currently stored on the destination PS5. Sony also requires the destination system software to be the same version as or newer than the version used to create the backup. After a restore, Console Sharing and Offline Play is disabled and may need to be enabled again.
Because restore is destructive to the destination’s current data, use this method deliberately. Direct console transfer is preferable when both systems are available and working.
Can you copy PS5 saves to an ordinary USB stick?
Not as individual files. Sony allows individual PS4 saved-data files to be copied to and from a normal USB drive, but PS5 saved data cannot be copied that way. For individual PS5 saves, use PlayStation Plus cloud storage. A full USB console backup can include PS5 saves, but restoring it affects the destination console as a whole.
What to check before wiping the old console
- Open several important games on the PS5 Pro and confirm the expected save loads.
- Check all household user profiles, including child accounts.
- Inspect Media Gallery for screenshots and clips you care about.
- Confirm trophies have synchronized.
- Verify that disc games work with the drive attached to the PS5 Pro.
- Check Downloads/Uploads for unfinished background transfers.
- Confirm Console Sharing and Offline Play if the PS5 Pro will be your primary household console.
If you are still deciding whether the hardware upgrade makes sense, our PS5 vs. PS5 Pro comparison covers the performance, display, storage, and disc-drive differences. If the destination console acts strangely after the move, use our PS5 cache and database guide before considering any reset option.
The safest PS5-to-PS5 Pro plan
Keep both consoles, update them, sync trophies, and use direct Data Transfer over the same network. Let the PS5 Pro finish all background copying, then test saves under every important user account. Use cloud storage, external USB storage, or an M.2 move to reduce the amount that must cross the network.
Only erase the old PS5 after the content has been verified on the PS5 Pro. That extra day of overlap is far less painful than discovering a missing save after the source console is gone.
Instructions were checked against official PlayStation Support pages on October 11, 2026. Menu labels and supported storage rules can change with system-software updates.
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