How to Back Up and Restore Data on Your PS5 [CNET]

Your PS5’s cloud saves aren’t always reliable. Here’s a better way to back up your data.

I love my Playstation 5, but it’s not without its issues, especially when it comes to saved data. Out of nowhere, a game I have installed but haven’t played for months had its data corrupted, and I have to pull from the cloud the last save I had, usually at a loss of progress. 

Who knows, maybe it’s game related. Maybe it’s just back luck. The worst of that luck with a PS5 game was Resident Evil: Village, where both cloud and storage data became corrupted on multiple occasions, and the hours sunk into the game went out the window — something that’s also happened to some friends as well. And while this is atypical of the PS5 experience, it goes to show you that having a physical backup can be helpful.

Below, we’ll go over the fairly straightforward way of backing up and restoring your PS5 data so you aren’t completely dependent on cloud saves. 

For more, check out how to factory reset your PS5 if it’s buggy or you’re prepping to sell it. 

How to back up your PS5 data 

To back up your data from your PS5, you’ll need a USB drive that’s formatted in either EXFAT or FAT32 via a PC or Mac. Here’s what to do when you’re ready.

• Insert the USB into your PS5.

• Go to Settings > System. 
  

• From there, System Software > Back Up and Restore > Back Up Your PS5.

• Select the drive you want to back up your data to.

• Check the box next to the data type you want to back up.

• Select next > Backup.

From here, your PS5 will restart and the backup will begin. You’ll see a “backup complete” screen once it finishes, and your console will restart. 

Manually sync your trophies

Another thing to keep in mind is that game trophies are not saved to a backup, so here’s how to make sure they’re synced with the PlayStation Network.

• From the PS5 home, select your profile photo, and then Trophies.

• Press the Options button on your controller and then Sync with Playstation Network.

  How to restore data on your PS5

  Restoring data on your PS5 is just as easy as backing it up. When restoring from a backup, you’ll need to make sure your console’s system software version is the same or a newer version of the backup’s system version. 

  • Insert the USB into your PS5.

  • Go to Settings > System.

  • From there, System Software > Back Up and Restore > Restore.

  • Select Restore > Yes.

  The PS5 will restart and begin the restore process. Once it’s complete, you’ll receive a confirmation on the screen and the console will restart again. 

  Regardless if you’re backing up or restoring your PS5, if you have installed a M.2 SSD card for extended storage, it will not be affected. 

  For more, don’t miss everything we know about the PS5 Pro.