Checklists
Things to Do First
Congratulations on your PS5! While you may be eager to jump into the latest game offerings there are a few things you can do to make the experience smoother: from transferring data from your PS4 to your PS5 to customizing your options and more.
10 Things to Do First With Your New PS5
- Make Sure You're Using the Right HDMI
- Transfer Data from Your PS4 to PS5
- Lock in PlayStation Plus Games
- Preset Game Options
- Explore Accessibility Features and Settings
- Adjust 3D Audio
- Save Your Controller Battery
- Adjust Notifications
- Turn on Automatic Updates for Pre-downloading
Make Sure You're Using the Right HDMI
The HDMI cable that's included with your PS5 is the recommended one you use. But if you need a new one or want another one, use any Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable that supports HDMI 2.1. A standard HDMI cable works but isn't ideal, especially if you want to future-proof.
HDMI 2.1 is the most recent update of the HDMI specification and supports a range of higher video resolutions and refresh rates. According to Sony, "The PS5 supports the HDMI 2.1 specification. HDMI 2.1 supports 4K 120Hz, but HDMI 2.1-compatible 4K TVs have not yet fully penetrated the market."
Transfer Data from Your PS4 to PS5
Bring over the PS4 games you're excited to keep playing on your PS5. The games come over pretty easily but save data is not automatically transferred in that process.
You can bring data over all data, transfer via Cloud Storage (PS Plus required) or via USB transfer if you don't have a PS Plus membership or internet connection.
How to Transfer All Data from PS4 to PS5
Depending on your situation, and if you have a great number of games, apps, and other features you wish to move over from your PS4 quickly, this may be the most straightforward option - but will involve a lot of moving parts. This method will only transfer data from one user, and does not apply to any data stored in extended storage. For this method you'll need:
- Powered PS4 with an internet connection (Wired recommended)
- Powered PS5 with an internet connection (Wired recommended)
- TV or monitor to view progress (2 is ideal, otherwise you may have to swap out HDMI cables to see progress on your PS4)
First, please ensure your PS4 has the latest software update possible.
On your PS5, after you complete your initial setup, the option for a full Data Transfer may appear. If you declined it at the time, you can find it again by going to Settings > System > System Software > Data Transfer.
At this point, you'll be asked to have both consoles turned on and connected to the internet. If you only have wifi available in your current setup, it is highly recommended you at least connect a LAN cable between the two consoles for faster transfer speeds.
Once both consoles are signed in on the same account, continue with the transfer process until you are told to press the power button down on the PS4 for one second until you hear a beep. This will restart the PS4, and upon reset, you will see it begin to prepare for the data transfer. Be sure not to touch either console or any LAN cables that may be attached during this period.
When preparations are complete, you'll be taken to a screen to select any full games or apps saved on the PS4. Given the large file size of certain games, this can save time instead of re-downloading them via the internet on your new PS5, but it will still take some time, regardless. Ensure to note the full file sizes of what you're selecting and the storage amount of your PS5.
After selecting all the games and other files you wish to transfer, select next until you reach the Ready to Transfer screen. Depending on your setup, this should indicate how long your transfer will take. If the duration is expected to be faster or slower than you thought, you can always hit cancel to add or remove selected files first before starting the transfer.
During this process, your PS4 may turn off at certain points - this is normal to experience a restart period and may take a few minutes to cycle through.
After the PS4 restarts and the transfer is complete, the PS5 will also restart. Please note, however, that the PS5 may need additional time to unpack and install game files - your PS4 may still say it is transferring until you get the notification that your PS5's transfer is fully complete, game files become viewable in your storage options, and the PS5 restarts one final time.
How to Transfer PS4 Save Files via the Cloud
Since PlayStation Plus users have access to the Cloud Storage, there is a chance your save files were uploaded at an earlier date - just remember that this process must be manually activated, so there’s a chance you may have forgotten to upload your save data. You can check which game files have save data in the cloud by going to Settings > Application Saved Data Management > Saved Data in Online Storage, and then selecting the Download to System Storage option to view which files are being stored. If you already see the files you need, you can skip the next few steps and boot up your PlayStation 5. If not, follow the steps below:
First, you can check that your PS4 system has the save data you wish to transfer to the PS5 by going to Settings > Storage > System Storage > Save Data.
Once you are certain the save data you wish to transfer is available, go to Settings > Application Saved Data Management > Saved Data in System Storage, and then choose Upload to Online Storage.
Select the game you wish to upload save data from, and then individually select the save files (or select them all) before hitting the Upload button. Do this for as many PS4 games as you plan to play on your PS5.
How to Download PS4 Save Data from the Cloud
Please note that just having your save data in the Cloud Storage will not automatically apply it to games you play on the PS5. You must manually download the save files to your storage for them to work.
Now that the files are on the Cloud Storage, access your PS5 and go to Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Save Data (PS4), and select Cloud Storage.
You will have the option to see how much storage has been taken up, and Download to Console Storage. Choose the game or games that you wish to access save files from, and download each of them to your Console Storage. After this, you can double-check that the files are there by going to Settings > Storage, choosing Saved Data in the Console Storage section, and selecting PS4 Games.
Once this is confirmed, simply launch your PS4 game and it should show your save files when you attempt to load them up.
How to Transfer PS4 Save Files via USB Storage Device
If you do not have access to your Cloud Storage due to lack of internet or because you do not have a PS Plus subscription, there is an alternative to getting your save files to appear on the PS5.
For this, you must have an external storage device - either a hard drive or a memory stick that can be connected via USB.
Make sure your PS4 has been updated to the most current version before doing this.
Make sure your device has spare memory, and insert it into your PS4. You may have to format the USB drive to "exFAT" for it to work.
From here, select Settings > Application Saved Data Management > Saved Data in System Storage, and select Copy to USB Storage Device. Select each game you plan to play on your PS5 and choose all the save files you want to bring over.
Then remove the USB storage after the files have been copied.
Now, insert the USB device into your PS5. Note that the files will not automatically be detected, you will need to manually copy them from the USB storage to the PS5’s local storage. Go to Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Saved Data (PS4), and select the USB Drive option, and then Copy to Console Storage.
Once this is confirmed, simply launch your PS4 game and it should show your save files when you attempt to load them up.
Lock In PlayStation Plus Monthly Games
While the awesome PlayStation 5 features the?PlayStation Plus?Collection -- a launch program available to?PlayStation Plus?users allowing them to download and play a large library of over a dozen PS4 games at -- isn't available anymore, you do of course still get monthly games to download if you have a PlayStation Plus subscription. The trick is that if you missed them, they're gone forever. So head to the PlayStation Plus section all the way to the left of the PlayStation 5's home meny and see which monthly games are available.
You don't have to downlad them now. Just be sure to add them to your library as the selection gets refreshed at the beginning of each new month. The games you've added to your library remain available to you as long as your subscription is active.
Preset Game Options
Go to Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Game Presets.
While you can choose to let the game pick a default option, you can also have your PS5 set each applicable game option from the start.
This includes:
- Difficulty - Allows you to preset a game difficulty between Easiest, Easy, Normal, Hard, or Hardest (or whatever the game’s version of those difficulty modes are called) when applicable. If the game does not have the exact settings, it may pick the closest available option if it can.
- Performance or Resolution - Allows you to preset a game’s visual mode to either prioritize a smoother experience or a higher fidelity resolution, if the game has those applicable options.
- Camera Controls - Allows you to set both First Person and Third Person camera controls between normal camera movement and inverted control schemes. Both versions can be set independently of each other.
- Subtitles and Audio - Allows you to ensure that your audio options either default to the PS5’s console settings, or utilize the game’s original audio language, and automatically have subtitles be on or off.
Explore Accessibility Features and Settings
Go to settings > Accessibility and explore your options across the following categories:
- Display
- Screen Reader
- Controllers
- Closed Captions
- Chat Transcription
Adjust 3D Audio
Once you have a headset, either through Bluetooth or through your controller port, go to Settings > Sound > Audio Output.
If you normally listen to audio through your TV or monitor, you won’t be able to adjust your headphone settings, so be sure to switch your Output device from HDMI to Headphones.
Doing this will unlock the Headphones section of the audio menu, and you will be able to turn a slider for Enable 3D Audio if it hasn’t automatically been turned on. Additionally, you can change the level at which the standard 3D Audio comes through by adjusting the Audio Profile to one of 5 types, depending on your ear level.
Save Your Controller Battery
You can save controller battery by turning down the power of the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers but the easiest way to save battery without interfering with your games is to set an idle timer. By default your controller is set to never turn off, even when idle. Co to System > Power Saving > Set Time Until Controllers Turn Off and change it to 10 minutes, 30 minutes, or 60 minutes.
Adjust Create Button Shortcuts
You can change what the create button does in the settings,> Captures and Broadcasts including shortcuts for taking screenshots and videos, and how long the recent gameplay clips last (which goes up to a full hour!)
Adjust Notifications
You can change what the create button does. By default, it’ll snap a screenshot with just a press and hold, but if you open up the settings. There you’ll be able to map the button to whatever create option you’d like, including telling it to only take screenshots or to record gameplay clips up to an hour in length.
Go to settings > notifications and adjust them to match your preferences.?
Turn on Automatic Updates for Pre-Downloading
After the April 14th update in 2021, users can now take advantage of pre-downloading games that have been enabled for this feature by the developers so that you can play the latest version of a game right after the update's release.
- Go to Settings, and then to System, and select System Software Update and Settings.
- Ensure that the option for Download Update Files Automatically is turned on, and games you have installed will update automatically when your console is either on, or in Rest Mode.
For more to get you started with the PlayStation 5 check out these helpful guides: