Table of Contents

Transferring Your PS4 Saved Data to an External Hard Drive: A Comprehensive Guide

Absolutely, you can transfer saved data from your PS4 to an external hard drive. In fact, it’s a recommended practice for backing up your progress and a necessary step if you’re upgrading to a PS5 or simply want to free up space on your console’s internal storage. Let’s dive into the hows, whys, and everything else you need to know about this process.

Why Transfer Your PS4 Save Data?

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s understand why transferring your save data is a good idea:

Backups: Accidents happen. Internal hard drives fail. Having a backup of your precious game progress is a lifesaver.
Upgrading to PS5: Want to continue your PS4 adventures on your new PS5? Transferring your saved data is essential.
Freeing up Space: PS4 hard drives can fill up quickly. Offloading save data can help you manage your storage.
Account Security: Backing up your data helps you recover your gaming information in case of account issues.

How to Transfer Save Data to an External Hard Drive: A Step-by-Step Guide

The process is straightforward, but here’s a detailed breakdown:

Prepare Your External Hard Drive: Make sure your external hard drive is formatted to FAT32 or exFAT. Most drives come pre-formatted to one of these, but if not, you’ll need to format it. Important: Formatting will erase all data on the drive, so back up anything important first.
Connect the Drive: Plug the external hard drive into one of the USB ports on your PS4.
Navigate to Settings: From the PS4’s main menu, go to Settings.
Application Saved Data Management: Scroll down and select Application Saved Data Management.
Saved Data in System Storage: Choose Saved Data in System Storage.
Copy to USB Storage Device: Select Copy to USB Storage Device.
Select Your Games: You’ll see a list of all the games with saved data on your system. Select the game(s) you want to back up.
Choose Save Files: For each game, you’ll see a list of save files. You can select individual saves or choose Select All to copy everything.
Copy the Data: Click Copy. The system will transfer the selected save data to your external hard drive.
Safely Remove the Drive: Once the transfer is complete, safely remove the external hard drive by going to Devices > Stop Using USB Drive in the Quick Menu.

Restoring Save Data from an External Hard Drive

If you need to restore your save data from the external hard drive to your PS4 (or a new PS4 or PS5):

Connect the Drive: Plug the external hard drive into the PS4 (or PS5) where you want to restore the data.
Navigate to Settings: Go to Settings > Application Saved Data Management.
Saved Data on USB Storage Device: Select Saved Data on USB Storage Device.
Copy to System Storage: Choose Copy to System Storage.
Select Your Games: Select the game(s) you want to restore.
Choose Save Files: Select the save files you want to restore.
Copy the Data: Click Copy. The system will transfer the save data from the external hard drive to your console.

Transferring to PS5

To transfer save data from a PS4 to a PS5 using an external hard drive, follow the steps above to copy the save data from your PS4 to the external drive. Then, connect the external drive to your PS5 and follow the restore steps.

Direct Transfer Over Network

For PS4 to PS5, consider direct transfer over network. This method usually is quicker than using the external hard drive.

Connect both PS4 and PS5 to the same network.
On your PS5, go to Settings > System > Data Transfer.
Follow the on-screen instructions.

Formatting a Hard Drive

Warning

Formatting erases all data from the drive. If you are using the hard drive for other purposes, back the files up before formatting it.

PC/MAC

Both PC and MAC machines have built-in software for formatting hard drives. Connect the hard drive to your computer and follow the instructions to format to FAT32 or exFAT.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about transferring saved data on PS4:

1. What type of external hard drive do I need?

You need a USB external hard drive that’s formatted to FAT32 or exFAT. Most modern drives are compatible. The drive should be at least USB 3.0 for reasonable transfer speeds.

2. Can I use the same external hard drive for both PS4 save data and PS5 games?

Yes, but there are limitations. You can store PS5 games on an external hard drive, but you cannot play them directly from there. You need to move the game data back to the PS5’s internal SSD to play. The same drive can hold PS4 save data.

3. How much space do I need on the external hard drive?

The amount of space you need depends on the size of your save files. Save files are usually small (a few megabytes each), so even a small external hard drive (e.g., 128GB or 256GB) should be sufficient for backing up all your PS4 save data.

4. Can I transfer game installations to the external hard drive?

Yes, you can transfer entire game installations to the external hard drive. This is different from transferring just the save data. You can move PS4 games (and PS5 games, for storage only) to an external drive to free up space on your console.

5. Will transferring data to a new PS4 delete data on my old PS4?

No, transferring data from one PS4 to another does not delete the data on the source PS4. It copies the data over.

6. How do I transfer save data if I don’t have PlayStation Plus?

Using an external hard drive is the best way to transfer save data if you don’t have a PlayStation Plus subscription. PlayStation Plus cloud storage is an alternative, but it requires a paid subscription.

7. What happens if the data transfer is interrupted?

If the data transfer is interrupted (e.g., power outage, accidental disconnection), you may need to restart the process from the beginning. It’s a good idea to ensure a stable power supply and avoid any interruptions during the transfer.

8. Can I transfer save data from a PS4 to a PS3?

No, you cannot directly transfer save data from a PS4 to a PS3. The systems use different save data formats and architectures.

9. Will I lose my game progress if I get a new PS4?

No, you will not lose your game progress if you transfer your save data to the new PS4 using an external hard drive or PlayStation Plus cloud storage.

10. Is it faster to transfer save data over Wi-Fi or using an external hard drive?

Using an external hard drive is generally faster than transferring over Wi-Fi, especially for large amounts of data. However, direct transfer over network using Ethernet cables can be faster.

11. What does “initialize PS4” mean?

Initializing a PS4 restores it to its factory settings. It erases all data, including games, save data, and user accounts. Be careful, as this is a destructive process.

12. Does removing the PS4 hard drive delete everything?

Removing the PS4 hard drive does not automatically delete everything. However, when you reinsert the hard drive, the PS4 will likely prompt you to format it, which will erase all data.

13. How do I recover deleted PS4 saves?

You can recover deleted PS4 saves from PlayStation Plus cloud storage (if you have a subscription and have backed up your saves) or from an external hard drive if you have created a backup.

14. Are PS4 servers shutting down?

As of now, Sony has not announced any plans to shut down PS4 servers. They plan to continue supporting the PS4 for the foreseeable future.

15. Can I transfer trophies along with save data?

Yes, trophies are tied to your PlayStation Network account and automatically sync to the cloud. You don’t need to transfer them separately. Trophies will sync with your account on your new PS4 or PS5 once you sign in.

Conclusion

Transferring save data from your PS4 to an external hard drive is a simple yet essential process. It’s a great way to back up your progress, free up space, and prepare for a console upgrade. Following these steps will ensure your gaming adventures continue uninterrupted. Additionally, gaming and learning has never been easier. With tools, like the PlayStation, we can see how play enhances education.

For further insights into the intersection of gaming and education, visit the GamesLearningSociety.org.

Can you transfer saved data from PS4 to external hard drive?