For fewer update waits, enable automatic system-software downloads and game or app downloads on both consoles. On PS5, decide separately whether to let the console install game updates in Rest Mode: turn on Auto-Install in Rest Mode for unattended installation, or leave it off if preserving a suspended game matters. On PS4, enable Allow Restart if you want system updates that require a restart to install automatically. For downloads while a console is in Rest Mode, enable Stay Connected to the Internet.
At a glance
| Name | Best for | Key spec | Platforms | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic downloads; choose PS5 rest-mode installation separately | Reducing update waits while deciding whether unattended installation is worth it | Stay Connected to the Internet enables rest-mode downloads; PS4 also has Allow Restart for certain system updates | PS5 and PS4 | Nov 2026 |
The key distinction is that downloads and installations are not always the same choice. PS5 lets you download game updates automatically while postponing installation; PS4 offers an Allow Restart option for system updates that need a restart. The settings are free console options, not a subscription or purchase. Sony’s automatic-update guide gives the current US menu paths.
Which automatic update settings should I enable?
Enable the automatic download settings for both system software and games or apps if convenience is your priority. Then configure Rest Mode separately: keep the console connected to the internet for overnight downloads, and on PS5 decide whether it should also install game updates without your input.
Recommended setup for PS5
- Open Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings. Turn on Download Update Files Automatically. Turn on Install Update Files Automatically if you want system-software update files installed automatically when possible.
- Open Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Automatic Updates. Turn on Auto-Download to have game and app updates download automatically.
- Decide whether to turn on Auto-Install in Rest Mode. Enable it if you want game and app updates installed while the console is in Rest Mode. Leave it off if you want to protect a suspended game from being closed; you can still allow the download and deal with installation after returning.
- Open Settings > System > Power Saving > Features Available in Rest Mode and turn on Stay Connected to the Internet if you want downloads to proceed while the console is in Rest Mode.
Recommended setup for PS4
- Open Settings > System > Automatic Downloads and select System Software Update Files.
- On that same screen, select Application Update Files for game and app updates.
- If you want a system-software update that requires a restart to install automatically, select Allow Restart as well. The PS4 user guide documents this additional setting.
- Open Settings > Power Saving Settings > Set Features Available in Rest Mode and turn on Stay Connected to the Internet for Rest Mode downloads.
Sony’s PS5 and PS4 automatic-update instructions describe these options. The PS4 user guide says automatic downloads can be enabled while the console is on or in Rest Mode; a console that is fully powered off is not Rest Mode.
Should I enable Auto-Install in Rest Mode on PS5?
Enable it if you prefer updates to install while you are away and you do not need the console to preserve a suspended game. If keeping a suspended game open is more important, leave Auto-Install in Rest Mode off and enable Auto-Download only.
Sony’s guidance is explicit: “When you don’t want to close your suspended game, only turn on Auto-Download.” That separates the download from the decision to install. The downloaded update can wait until you resume play and choose when to install it. This setting is most useful for people who want their downloads ready without accepting the possibility that unattended installation will interrupt a suspended session.
Turning off automatic installation does not mean a game can never prompt you about an update. Sony says a game or app checks for its newest available version when launched. The console may also require approval for some updates, so automatic settings should not be treated as a guarantee that every game or firmware update will finish without intervention.
Why do rest-mode downloads need an internet setting?
Rest Mode does not automatically mean that every online feature is active. For update downloads while the console is resting, enable the specific Stay Connected to the Internet option in the Rest Mode settings for that console.
Do not confuse this with Enable Turning On PS5 from Network or its PS4 equivalent. Sony describes network wake as allowing the PlayStation App or Remote Play to turn on a console in Rest Mode. It is optional for that remote-control use; Sony identifies Stay Connected to the Internet as the setting for rest-mode downloads. The relevant options are listed on Sony’s power-saving support page.
Remote game downloads from the PlayStation App are a related but separate convenience. They require a paired PS4 or PS5 in Rest Mode with Stay Connected to the Internet enabled; PS4 pairing is for the primary console. This lets you initiate a game download remotely, but it is not another automatic game-update toggle. Sony explains the feature in its PlayStation App guide.
Could Rest Mode features use more power?
Yes. Sony says enabling any PS5 Rest Mode feature prevents the console from automatically reducing power consumption below 0.5 W when it enters Rest Mode, and that enabling additional features uses more power. The 0.5 W figure is Sony’s published guidance; the page does not state a publication year. Avoid enabling unrelated Rest Mode functions just because you want updates.
USB power supply is a separate Rest Mode function, not a prerequisite for internet downloads. If you do not need USB charging while the console rests, there is no update-related reason in Sony’s guidance to turn it on. Sony’s power-saving page explains the available features.
Are automatic updates the same as cloud-save backups?
No. Game or system updates change software; cloud storage syncs saved data and requires PlayStation Plus membership. Treat save syncing as a separate setup task rather than assuming that automatic game updates protect your progress.
Set up cloud saves on PS5
- Make sure Settings > System > Power Saving > Features Available in Rest Mode > Stay Connected to the Internet is enabled if you want syncing while the console rests.
- Open Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Saved Data (PS5) > Sync Saved Data > Auto-Sync Saved Data, then enable Auto-Sync.
- For PS4 games played on PS5, open Saved Data (PS4) > Auto-Upload and enable Auto-Upload.
Set up cloud saves on a primary PS4
After enabling Rest Mode internet access, open Settings > Application Data Management > Auto-Upload and enable Automatic Uploads. Sony’s cloud-storage instructions list the controls and PlayStation Plus requirement. Its US support page states allowances of 100 GB for PS5 saved data and 100 GB for PS4 saved data, with a limit of 1,000 PS4 saved-data files; these are published storage limits, not estimates of how much space a particular player will use.
What should I check if updates do not download overnight?
Check the settings in sequence rather than assuming that an automatic-download toggle guarantees a completed installation. The most useful first checks are whether the console is in Rest Mode rather than powered off, whether Stay Connected to the Internet is on, and whether the relevant system or game download option is enabled.
- Downloads do not start while resting: Confirm the console is in Rest Mode and that Stay Connected to the Internet is enabled in the console-specific Rest Mode menu.
- System updates do not install automatically on PS4: Confirm System Software Update Files is selected. If an update requires a restart, also check Allow Restart.
- PS5 game updates download but do not install: Check whether Auto-Install in Rest Mode is off. That may be intentional if you are preserving a suspended game.
- An update still asks for approval: Some updates may require approval, according to Sony; automatic settings do not remove every possible prompt.
- A system-software update fails: Sony provides a manual recovery procedure for both consoles using a computer and a USB drive formatted FAT32 or exFAT. Follow the separate PS4 or PS5 directions for folder names and update-file names rather than improvising. See Sony’s system-software update and Safe Mode instructions.
Do I need more storage to enable automatic updates?
No additional drive is required just to switch on automatic updates. If a console is genuinely short on game storage, external storage or, for PS5, a compatible internal M.2 SSD can provide more space; those are capacity choices, not update prerequisites.
USB extended storage for PS4 and PS5
Sony lists SuperSpeed USB at 5 Gbps or later and 250 GB to 8 TB capacity for extended storage on both consoles. These are Sony’s published compatibility requirements, not performance test results for any particular drive. Updates download to the location where the corresponding application is installed, according to Sony’s PS4 extended-storage guidance.
PS4 games can be played from PS5 USB extended storage. PS5 games can be stored there, but must be copied back to the console’s internal storage or a supported M.2 SSD before they can be played. Sony’s USB extended-storage guidance covers the PS4 requirements and usage.
PS5 internal M.2 SSD
For additional storage where PS5 and PS4 games can be downloaded and played, Sony supports compatible PCIe Gen4x4 M.2 NVMe SSDs with effective heat dissipation. Its published range is 250 GB to 8 TB, and it recommends sequential read speed of 5,500 MB/s or faster. Meeting the listed specifications does not guarantee that every third-party device will work, so check Sony’s compatibility cautions and physical requirements before buying. PlayStation App downloads can be directed to an installed M.2 SSD set as the default location. Sony’s PS5 M.2 installation guide has the complete requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do PS4 game saves uploaded to cloud storage automatically appear on PS5?
No. Sony says PS4-game saves uploaded to cloud storage must be downloaded manually to PS5 console storage. PS5-game saves, by contrast, sync in both directions.
Can an automatic update install if the game is stored on external storage?
Sony says updates are downloaded to the location where the corresponding application is installed. The console’s storage destination for that game therefore matters when you are checking available space.
Does PlayStation Plus affect automatic game updates?
No subscription is needed to enable automatic system or game downloads. PlayStation Plus is required for the cloud-storage save feature, which is separate from software updates.