A “PS5 Prism” is not a separate console model. Sony’s Prism Collection, announced on October 28, 2026, consists of transparent DualSense controllers and matching console covers, so a Prism-covered PS5 uses the same transfer tools as every other PS5. If both consoles work, Sony’s built-in Data Transfer is the most complete option: it can copy users, PS5-playable games, saves, captures, and settings. PlayStation Plus cloud storage is for saves, while USB Backup and Restore moves a broader image but erases data already on the destination when restored.
Use the same PlayStation account on both systems, update their software, keep the old console until you verify the new one, and use a wired LAN connection when possible. The cover change itself neither moves nor changes your data.
What is a PS5 Prism, and does it change data transfer?
The Prism Collection is a cosmetic line rather than new PS5 hardware. Sony introduced transparent DualSense wireless controllers and matching PS5 console covers in Flare Orange, Emerald Green, and Graphite Gray. The announced recommended prices are $84.99 USD (including tax) for a DualSense controller and $74.99 USD (including tax) for a set of console covers. Pre-orders begin November 10, 2026, and the collection launches from February 4, 2027, with country-specific dates possible.
Changing the outer covers is a shell replacement. Sony’s cover-removal guidance separates original CFI-1000 consoles from CFI-2000/7000 groups, and no official statement establishes which chassis the Prism covers fit. Do not assume a cover will fit an original “fat” PS5, Slim, or PS5 Pro without checking the product listing for your exact model.
Once the covers are installed, the console still uses standard PS5 Data Transfer, PlayStation Plus cloud storage, USB backup, and storage-drive procedures. There is no Prism-only migration mode, and the Prism controller does not carry saves or settings.
Which PS5 transfer method should you use?
Choose according to what you need to move and whether the destination can be erased. Data Transfer is the normal choice when both consoles are available. Cloud storage is convenient for saves only. USB Backup and Restore is a full-console image, but restoring it is destructive. Reusing a compatible storage drive avoids copying installed games over the network.
| Method | What it moves | Old console needed? | Effect on destination | Cost and speed considerations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data Transfer | Users, accounts, PS5-playable games and saves, screenshots, video clips, and console settings | Yes, powered on and on the same network | Additive; data already on the destination is not transferred again | Free; a LAN cable is usually faster than Wi-Fi |
| PlayStation Plus cloud | Saved data only | No, after the upload is complete | Download selected saves to the new console | Membership required; internet upload and download speed controls timing |
| USB Backup and Restore | Games and apps, saves, captures, and settings | Only for creating the backup | Restore erases all data already on the destination | Requires a FAT32 or exFAT USB drive; restore requires the same or newer system software |
| Reuse USB extended storage | Installed game files already on the drive | No, once the drive is safely disconnected | Leaves destination data in place | Fastest way to reuse those installations; PS5 games must be copied to console or M.2 storage before playing |
| Move an M.2 SSD | Installed games on the compatible internal expansion SSD | No, after removal | Leaves destination data in place | Requires a compatible PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe drive and a #1 Phillips screwdriver |
What should you do before starting?
Prepare both systems before opening the transfer menu. These checks prevent missing profiles, stale saves, and avoidable interruptions.
- Sign in to the same PlayStation account on the source and destination PS5.
- Update system software on both consoles to the latest available version.
- Synchronize trophies on the source. Trophies are not included in a USB backup.
- Connect both consoles to the same network. Wireless works; a commercially available LAN cable normally makes a large transfer faster.
- Keep both consoles connected to power and do not plan to change network settings during the copy.
- Have enough free storage on the destination for the games and captures you select.
The source PS5 does not need to be connected to a television during Data Transfer. If both consoles already use wired network connections, Sony says there is no need to connect them directly to each other with an additional LAN cable. If they normally use Wi-Fi, wiring the consoles to the network can improve transfer speed.
Do not interrupt the transfer
Do not turn either console off, change network settings, or run an internet connection test while Data Transfer is active. Sony warns that interruption can damage or lose data. For a USB backup or restore, do not turn off the console while the operation is running either.
How do you transfer everything with PS5 Data Transfer?
Use this method when the old console works and you want the broadest migration. A PS5 source can transfer to one destination PS5; the destination can be another standard PS5, a Slim, or a PS5 Pro.
- Prepare the source. Sign in to the same account used on the destination, install current system software on both consoles, sync trophies, and put both systems on the same network.
- Start the destination setup path. If the new PS5 has not been configured, follow its on-screen setup instructions and choose the data-transfer stage when prompted.
- Use the post-setup menu when necessary. On an already configured destination, open Settings > System > System Software > Data Transfer > Continue, then follow the prompts to select the source console and content.
- Confirm the source. Keep the old PS5 awake and available when the destination searches for it. The source can remain without a TV connection.
- Let the consoles restart. The destination restarts during the operation. Some game data can continue copying after the restart.
- Watch progress. Open Control Center > Downloads/Uploads to see remaining transfers. A game thumbnail appears on the games home screen when that game is ready, and you can play it while other selected data continues moving.
Sony publishes no official duration estimate. Asurion’s June 8, 2026 guidance says a wired connection is generally faster and that a large library can take hours over Wi-Fi. Treat those as general guidance, not a Sony guarantee; the result depends on library size, network conditions, and storage performance.
What transfers from a PS5 source?
Sony lists these categories for a PS5-to-PS5 transfer:
- User and account information for every user on the source, including users who never signed in on that PS5.
- Saved data for games playable on a PS5.
- Games playable on a PS5.
- Screenshots and video clips.
- Console settings, including language, login, and power-saving choices.
- Login passcodes; enter the same passcode on the destination when prompted.
Content already stored on the destination is not transferred again. Only one source console can be used for a destination PS5, so consolidate anything important on the chosen source before beginning.
What changes when the source is a PS4?
A PS4 can send PS5-playable games, saved data for those games, users who have signed in on the PS4, and console settings. During the destination’s initial setup, user/account information and settings can move. After setup, Sony limits PS4-source transfer to saved data for the currently logged-in user and PS5-playable games; user/account information and console settings do not transfer after setup.
How do child accounts transfer?
A child account cannot transfer during the destination’s initial setup in the ordinary way. Complete the child account’s initial setup first and then transfer, or use an adult account for initial setup and transfer both adult and child accounts during that setup process.
How do you move saves with PlayStation Plus cloud storage?
Cloud storage is the right fallback when the old console is unavailable or you only need progress. It does not copy installed games, screenshots, clips, or complete settings. Sony’s current limits are 100 GB for PS5 saved data, 100 GB for PS4 saved data, and a maximum of 1,000 PS4 saved-data files.
Turn on automatic synchronization
- On the source PS5, open Settings > System > Power Saving > Features Available in Rest Mode > Stay Connected to the Internet.
- Open Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings.
- For PS5 games, choose Saved Data (PS5) > Sync Saved Data > Auto-Sync Saved Data > Enable Auto-Sync.
- For PS4 games, choose Saved Data (PS4) > Auto-Upload > Enable Auto-Upload.
Automatic updates must be enabled. PS5 games synchronize the console and cloud to the most recent data. PS4 saves upload automatically, but downloading them to the new PS5 is a manual step.
Download saves on the new PS5
- Sign in with the same PlayStation account that owns the cloud saves.
- Open Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings.
- Choose Saved Data (PS5) or Saved Data (PS4).
- Select Download or Delete from Cloud Storage > Download to Console Storage.
- Check the timestamps before confirming. Downloading an older cloud file can replace newer local progress.
PlayStation Plus is required for this cloud method, but it is not required for Data Transfer, PS4 save copies to USB, or a full USB backup.
Can you copy PS5 saves to a USB drive?
No. Sony explicitly states: “You can’t copy PS5 saved data from your PS5 console to a USB drive.” Use Data Transfer, PlayStation Plus cloud storage, or a full-console USB backup for PS5 saves.
How to copy PS4 saves by USB
PS4 saved data is the exception. On the source console, copy the PS4 save files to a compatible USB drive using the PS4 saved-data management controls. Then connect that drive to the destination PS5 and open Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Saved Data (PS4) > USB Drive > Copy to Console Storage. This moves PS4 saves only; it does not create a PS5 save backup or transfer games and settings.
How do you create and restore a complete USB backup?
USB Backup and Restore is useful when you want a broad snapshot of one console or when Data Transfer is not practical. The restore operation is destructive on the destination, so use it only after confirming that the destination contains nothing you need to keep.
Prepare the backup drive
Format the drive as FAT32 or exFAT. A USB extended-storage volume used for game installations is formatted differently and cannot hold a PS5 backup file. The backup can include games and apps, saved data, screenshots, video clips, and settings. Games and apps stored on USB extended storage or an M.2 SSD are not placed inside the backup; reconnect those drives or reinstall the games separately. Trophies are also excluded, which is why syncing them first matters.
Create the backup
- Connect the FAT32- or exFAT-formatted USB drive to the source PS5.
- Open Settings > System > System Software > Back Up and Restore > Back Up Your PS5.
- Choose the data categories to include and select Back Up.
- Allow the console to restart and finish without disconnecting the drive or switching off the PS5.
Restore on the new PS5
- Make sure the destination system software is the same version or newer than the version installed when the backup was made.
- Sign in to the same PlayStation account linked to the backup.
- Connect the backup drive to the destination.
- Open Settings > System > System Software > Back Up and Restore > Restore Your PS5.
- Confirm only after checking the destination for data you want to retain.
Sony warns that restoring erases all data saved on the destination and that erased data cannot be restored. Restoring also disables Console Sharing and Offline Play; re-enable that setting afterward if other household users need it.
How can you avoid copying installed games over the network?
Installed games can often be reused physically, saving network time. This does not replace save-data transfer; combine it with Data Transfer or cloud storage for progress.
Reuse USB extended storage
Sony requires a SuperSpeed USB connection rated at 5 Gbps or later, capacity from 250 GB to 8 TB, and no USB hub. Only one extended-storage drive can be in use at a time. A drive previously formatted as PS4 or PS5 extended storage can normally be connected to the new console as-is.
PS4 games can play directly from USB extended storage. PS5 games can be stored there, but they must be copied back to console storage or compatible M.2 storage before they can run.
Move a compatible M.2 SSD
A supported expansion drive uses PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe, Key M, Socket 3, with capacity from 250 GB to 8 TB. Sony recommends 5,500 MB/s sequential read speed and requires a heatsink or other cooling structure; M.2 SATA drives are not supported.
- Power down the source PS5 completely and disconnect it.
- Remove the M.2 SSD from the source’s expansion bay using a #1 Phillips screwdriver.
- Install the drive in the destination PS5’s expansion bay according to Sony’s hardware instructions.
- Sign in with the same account. Formatting is not required when moving the M.2 SSD between two PS5 consoles.
Digital games can also be downloaded again from the destination’s Game Library. For disc games, insert each disc and install it on the destination. A digital-only PS5, including a PS5 Pro without its optional drive, needs the separately sold disc drive to install games from discs.
What should you verify before wiping the old PS5?
Keep the source console intact until the destination has passed a practical check. Do not initialize or sell it immediately after the progress bar reaches the end.
- Sign in to every profile that should exist on the destination and confirm the expected users and account access.
- Open several transferred games and verify that the newest save appears, not merely that the game installed.
- Check screenshots and video clips if those matter to you.
- Confirm that cloud uploads finished or that the USB backup completed without an error.
- Reconnect any USB extended-storage drive and verify its games. Confirm that the M.2 SSD is recognized if you moved one.
- Remove discs, USB drives, and M.2 hardware you intend to keep before selling or initializing the old console.
- Only after these checks, use the old console’s initialize option.
What problems commonly stop a transfer?
The consoles cannot find each other
Confirm both systems are on the same local network, signed in as required, and running current system software. If the consoles use Wi-Fi, connect them to the network with LAN cables and retry. Avoid changing network settings or running an internet test once the transfer starts.
A game appears but the save is missing
Check that you used the same PlayStation account and that the game’s save belongs to that profile. For PS4 games, look in Saved Data (PS4); for PS5 games, check Saved Data (PS5). A cloud download with an older timestamp can overwrite newer progress, so compare dates before selecting a file.
The destination lacks space
Delete or move unneeded games from the destination, use USB extended storage for PS4 installations and PS5 storage, or transfer only the categories you need. An M.2 SSD can provide additional internal game space when it meets Sony’s specifications.
A restore would erase something important
Stop before confirming Restore Your PS5. Restore is not additive: it erases destination data. Use Data Transfer instead, or make a separate backup of anything on the destination that must survive.
Does a Prism cover change which console you have?
No. The cover and controller are appearance accessories. They do not change account licensing, save-file format, cloud limits, game compatibility, or the steps in Settings. Because Sony has not publicly identified one universal Prism-cover fit for every CFI-1000, CFI-2000, and CFI-7000 chassis, verify compatibility before buying or installing a cover.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my trophies transfer to the new PS5?
Trophies are not included in a USB backup. Synchronize trophy information with PlayStation Network on the old console before moving, then sign in to the same account on the new PS5 so the synchronized record is available.
Can I transfer data if the old PS5 no longer turns on?
Data Transfer requires the source console to be available. In that situation, recover saves from PlayStation Plus cloud storage if they were synchronized, restore a previously created USB backup, redownload digital games from Game Library, and reinstall disc games from their discs.
Do PS5 game licenses move with the save files?
Licenses are associated with your PlayStation account, not with a Prism cover or a USB save file. Sign in to the purchasing account on the destination and use Game Library or the original disc to install the game.
Can I transfer to a PS5 Pro without buying a Prism console cover?
Yes. Prism accessories are cosmetic and are not required for PS5-to-PS5 or PS5-to-PS5 Pro migration. The same Data Transfer, cloud, backup, and storage-drive procedures apply regardless of the destination’s exterior.
What happens if the transfer is interrupted?
Sony warns that turning off a console or changing network settings during Data Transfer can damage or lose data. Leave both systems powered, retry from the transfer menu if necessary, and do not initialize the source until the destination has been checked.