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What Happens If You Don’t Transfer Data From PS4 to PS5?

Choosing to skip the data transfer from your PS4 to your PS5 isn’t a catastrophic event, but it will change your initial experience with the new console. Essentially, your PS5 will be a blank slate. You won’t have access to your PS4 save data, game installations, or user settings on the new console. This means starting fresh with game progress, redownloading your purchased games, and reconfiguring your preferences. This is fine if you prefer to start completely anew, but there are some downsides.

Let’s delve deeper into the implications of not transferring your data and explore the options you have available.

Understanding the Consequences of Skipping the Data Transfer

The primary outcome of not transferring data is a clean PS5, devoid of your previous gaming history. Here’s a breakdown of what that entails:

Loss of Game Progress: Your save files from PS4 games won’t be on your PS5. This means you’ll have to start over from the beginning for any games you were in the middle of playing. This is especially crucial for lengthy RPGs or games with substantial progress already made.
Game Re-Downloads: You’ll need to redownload any digital PS4 games you want to play on your PS5. While this isn’t a major issue if you have a fast internet connection, it can take considerable time, especially for large AAA titles.
Settings Reset: All your personalized settings, such as display preferences, controller configurations, and accessibility options, will be reset to default. You’ll need to reconfigure everything to your liking.
PSN Account Required: You will absolutely need to sign in to your PlayStation Network (PSN) account to access your purchased games, online services, and trophies. This is essential regardless of whether you transfer data or not.
PlayStation Plus Cloud Saves: If you are a PlayStation Plus subscriber, your save data might be automatically backed up to the cloud. However, you will need to manually download these saves to your PS5 for PS4 games. PS5 games will automatically sync their cloud save data, which is an improvement.

The Benefits of a Fresh Start

While losing progress might seem daunting, there are some advantages to not transferring data:

Clean System: A fresh start can be appealing if you want to declutter your digital library and only install the games you actively play.
Troubleshooting: If you were experiencing issues with your PS4, like corrupted data or glitches, a fresh start on the PS5 can eliminate those problems.
New Experience: Starting from scratch offers a unique opportunity to experience games anew, potentially with the enhanced visuals and performance that the PS5 offers.

Methods for Transferring Data

Despite the possibility of a clean slate, Sony provides multiple convenient ways to transfer your data if you choose to do so:

Wi-Fi Transfer: This is the simplest method, as it involves connecting both consoles to the same Wi-Fi network and following the on-screen prompts. However, it can be slower than other methods.
LAN Cable Transfer: Connecting both consoles directly with a LAN cable provides a faster and more stable transfer speed compared to Wi-Fi.
External Hard Drive: You can back up your PS4 data to an external hard drive and then restore it on your PS5. This method is useful if you have a large amount of data or a slow internet connection.
PlayStation Plus Cloud Storage: As mentioned earlier, PlayStation Plus subscribers can utilize cloud storage for their save data. Download save data from the cloud on PS5.