To move from a standard PS5 to a PS5 Pro, update both consoles, sign in with the same account, back up your saves and use the console’s built-in data transfer. Then sort out the disc drive and adjust the Pro’s display settings.
Prepare these items before you start
Interest in the Sony PS5 Pro is high in the UK. Google search data shows people searching for the console alongside the wider PlayStation brand. This guide is for readers who already own a PlayStation 5 and want to move their library, saved games and settings to the Pro model with as little re-downloading as possible.
You will need:
- Both consoles, set up near each other and near your router if possible.
- Your PlayStation Network account email and password. If you use two-step verification, have that device to hand.
- A television or monitor for each console, or one display you can swap between them.
- An Ethernet cable. It isn’t strictly required, but it makes the transfer more reliable.
- A USB storage drive formatted for the PS5, if you want a local backup.
- A PlayStation Plus subscription, if you plan to use cloud saves.
- The disc drive, if you play physical games. Read the disc drive step below before you buy anything.
Set aside an uninterrupted block of time. How long the transfer takes depends on how much data you have and on your network, so nobody can give you a reliable figure in advance.
Back up your saved games first
The transfer copies saves directly, but a separate backup protects you if it fails partway through. If you have PlayStation Plus, go to the saved data settings on your old PS5 and check that cloud upload is turned on for every game you care about. If you don’t have PlayStation Plus, copy your saves to a USB drive through the same saved data menu.
Some games store progress on the publisher’s own servers rather than on the console. Online titles often do this. For those, signing in with the same account is usually all you need, but check the game’s own help pages if you’re unsure.
Update the system software on both consoles
Before connecting anything, open the system software update option on the old PS5 and install any pending update. Do the same on the PS5 Pro during its first setup. The data transfer tool works best when both machines run current firmware, and it may refuse to start if one of them is out of date.
Sign in with the same account
During the PS5 Pro’s first setup, sign in with the PlayStation Network account you use on your existing console. Your digital purchases, trophies and licences are tied to that account, not to the hardware. If several people share the old console, each of them needs to be added to the new one, and each person’s saves only transfer when their profile is included.
Decide which console should be your primary console for that account. The primary console lets other users on it play your digital games. Many people switch this setting to the PS5 Pro once the move is finished.
Run the data transfer
The PS5 Pro offers to transfer data during initial setup. You can also start a transfer later from the system settings menu. Follow the on-screen prompts. The new console will ask you to keep the old one switched on and on the same network.
For the most stable result, connect both consoles to your router by cable. Or connect them directly to each other with an Ethernet cable if the prompts offer that option. Wi-Fi works, but it is slower and more likely to drop.
You’ll be asked to choose what to copy: games and apps, saved data, and settings. If storage space is tight, leave out large games you no longer play. You can download them again from your library later. Don’t switch off either console or unplug anything until the new console confirms the transfer has finished.
Sort out the disc drive
Out of the box, the PS5 Pro has no disc drive. If you play physical games or watch discs, you need the detachable disc drive designed for the newer, slimmer PS5 models. If your current console is a slim model with a detachable drive, you may be able to move that drive across. If you own an original PS5 with a built-in drive, the drive can’t be removed, and you’ll need to buy the detachable drive separately.
The detachable drive normally needs an internet connection to pair with a console the first time. Plan for that if your setup is offline.
Adjust the display and performance settings
Once your games are in place, open the screen and video settings. Make sure the output resolution, HDR and refresh rate suit your television. The Pro model is designed to improve image quality and frame rates in games that support it. Some of these games label their enhanced modes separately. In-game graphics menus vary, so look at each title’s own options to see whether it offers a quality mode, a performance mode or a Pro-specific setting.
Use a cable that your television supports at its highest refresh rate, and plug it into a port that supports that refresh rate. Otherwise some options may be greyed out.
Avoid the mistakes people commonly make
- Skipping the backup. If the transfer fails partway through, unsynced saves can be lost. A cloud or USB backup takes minutes.
- Factory resetting the old console too soon. Keep the old PS5 untouched until you have launched several games on the Pro and confirmed your saves loaded.
- Forgetting the disc drive. Owners of physical games often realise only after unboxing that the Pro has no disc drive.
- Transferring everything by default. Copying the entire library can fill the new storage with games you rarely play.
- Leaving the old console as primary. This can cause odd licence behaviour, such as games asking for a connection to verify ownership.
- Not deactivating the old console before selling it. Sign out, remove your account and reset the console so the next owner can’t reach your purchases or payment details.
Know when this approach is the wrong choice
A full console-to-console transfer isn’t always worth it. If your library is mostly digital and your internet connection is fast, it can be simpler to set up the Pro fresh, download the games you play from your library and rely on cloud saves. If your old console is faulty or won’t stay on reliably, a direct transfer may fail. Use cloud or USB backups instead.
The upgrade itself is also a judgement call. If you play mainly on a television that doesn’t support higher resolutions or refresh rates, or you mostly play games that don’t take advantage of the Pro hardware, the visible difference may be small. Check whether your favourite titles support Pro enhancements before you buy. Current pricing and specifications aren’t covered here, so confirm them with Sony or a retailer.
Frequently asked questions
Can I transfer games from PS5 to PS5 Pro without the internet?
The transfer runs over a local network or a direct cable between the two consoles, so the copying itself doesn’t depend on internet speed. You’ll still need to sign in to your PlayStation Network account during setup, and system updates and disc drive pairing usually need a connection. In practice, have internet access available during setup even if most of the data moves locally.
Will my saved games carry over to the PS5 Pro?
Yes, if you include saved data when you run the console’s data transfer, or restore it from a cloud or USB backup. Saves belong to user profiles, so each person who shared the old console needs their profile on the new one. Games that store progress on publisher servers usually resume once you sign in with the same account.
Does the PS5 Pro come with a disc drive?
No. The PS5 Pro ships without a disc drive, so you need the separately sold detachable drive to play physical games or watch discs. Owners of slimmer PS5 models with a detachable drive may be able to move it across. Owners of an original PS5 can’t remove its built-in drive and would need to buy the detachable version.
Do PS5 games look better on the PS5 Pro automatically?
Not always. Some games have been updated to use the Pro hardware for sharper images or smoother frame rates. Others behave much as they do on a standard PS5. Each game decides what it supports, often through its own graphics menu. Check a game’s settings or its store listing to see whether it offers Pro-specific enhancements before you expect a difference.
Sources and further reading
- Google Trends data for Great Britain, showing searches for the Sony PS5 Pro and the PlayStation brand.
- PlayStation’s official support pages, covering data transfer, saved data and system updates.
- The PS5 Pro and detachable disc drive user documentation, covering setup and drive pairing.
- Independent technology and games publications that review console hardware and the game updates released for it.
Surfaced from the google:GB signal “games console upgrade interest”. AI-assisted draft, editorially reviewed.
