Can PS5 Play PS4 Games? Discs, Saves and Upgrades

Can PS5 play PS4 games? Yes, most PS4 games work on PS5. If you own them on disc, you still need a PS5 with a compatible drive. If you bought them digitally, sign in with the account that owns them. Before selling your old PS4, check that the games you care about launch and that your progress opens on the new console.

Start with the one game you would be most disappointed to lose. Confirm the edition, how you acquired it and whether you need its save. A library of twenty games is much easier to move once you understand how that first title works.

Insert a compatible PS4 disc in a PS5 with a working drive and follow the installation prompts. Leave time for the copy and any updates. Keep the disc available when you launch the game later. Copying the game to storage doesn't remove the need for the disc. If your shortlist includes a Digital Edition, read the disc versus digital guide and check whether that exact model can take an add-on drive before making a purchase.

For digital titles, check your Game Library using the account that bought them. Look for the PS4 edition if the Store presents more than one version. If a game came through a subscription, confirm that you still have the relevant entitlement. If it belonged to someone else's account, the fact that it was installed on your old console doesn't establish that your own account can download it again.

Check add-ons too. A disc and downloadable content can have region requirements that affect whether they work together. Confirm the edition and region before buying an expansion for a physical copy. Sony's account region guidance explains why the region of a disc can matter for its add-ons.

Installing the game and copying your progress are separate jobs. Sony describes several routes for moving saved data, including console-to-console transfer, supported USB copying for PS4 saves and eligible PlayStation Plus cloud storage. Check which route suits your setup and use the same account associated with the save. If the consoles need to be on the network together, leave the PS4 connected until the transfer is finished.

Open the PS4 edition on the PS5 and load the save. Check the chapter, character or progress you expected to see. If siblings use the same console under different profiles, verify each profile separately. One person's successful transfer doesn't cover everyone else. Keep the old console or a backup available until you've tested the saves that matter.

If the game starts from the beginning, check the user profile and edition before creating new progress. Keep the original save until you know whether the transfer or the game version is the problem.

For a family with an uneven internet connection, moving data locally or copying an eligible save to USB may be more practical than depending on a cloud download during handover. Check the official instructions for your chosen route first. Don't erase the old PS4 just because the game appears in the new console's menu.

Some PS4 games offer a PS5 upgrade. It can be free, paid or unavailable, depending on the game, edition and offer. Check the title's game hub and Sony's upgrade instructions before buying another copy. If the upgrade depends on a PS4 disc, you'll need the drive and disc even though the PS5 version is downloaded.

A save that works with the PS4 edition on PS5 may not automatically work in the native PS5 edition. Check the publisher's instructions for that exact game. Some games offer an import through a menu and others handle progress differently. If you're halfway through a story and can't verify the upgrade path, keep playing the compatible PS4 edition until you know which version can continue your progress.

Sony's backward compatibility guide covers the small set of incompatible titles and feature limitations. Check special accessories separately, especially if you use older VR equipment. PS3 discs are a different format of purchase and aren't supported by PS5 backward compatibility. If a particular game or accessory is the reason for keeping your old console, verify it before letting the PS4 go.

If you're upgrading for the first time, bring a favourite PS4 disc to an inspection if the seller agrees. Check MacVault's PS5 selection and confirm today's price for the exact console and drive you need. Our original versus Slim guide explains how the drive options differ. Get the hardware that fits your library before paying for upgrades to games you can already play.

No. Keep the disc to launch the installed game. If an eligible PS5 upgrade uses that disc as proof of ownership, keep it for the upgraded version too.

Sony offers local transfer and USB options for supported PS4 saves. Use the official instructions and verify that the save opens under the correct account.

You can play the compatible PS4 edition on PS5 without buying or installing a native upgrade. Check the upgrade separately if you want its features or need to move a save into that version.