PS4 saved games sync through PlayStation Plus online storage, and the PS4 does it differently from the PS5: it uploads automatically from your primary PS4 when Enable Automatic Uploads is ticked under Application Data Management, Auto-Upload, and Stay Connected to the Internet is ticked in rest mode, but it never downloads on its own. You download saves by hand from Saved data in Online Storage. Without a PlayStation Plus subscription you can still copy saves to a USB drive or back up the whole console.
Differential
Likely causes of “PlayStation 4 (Slim and Pro) saved games will not sync”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
No active PlayStation Plus subscription
What separates it The online storage options are missing or grayed out because there is no active PlayStation Plus subscription
How to confirm Check the subscription is active; online storage needs PlayStation Plus
- 2
Automatic uploads are off or the console is not your primary PS4
What separates it Saves are not on another console after you close the game
How to confirm Tick Enable Automatic Uploads under Settings, Application Data Management, Auto-Upload; Sony says automatic uploads add saved data from your primary PS4
- 3
The console does not stay online in rest mode
What separates it Saves only upload when you do it by hand
How to confirm Tick Stay Connected to the Internet under Settings, Power Saving Settings, Set Features Available in Rest Mode
- 4
A save that needs a manual download
What separates it The newest save is in online storage but not on this console
How to confirm Go to Saved data in Online Storage and choose Download to System Storage; automatic upload does not download
- 5
An overwrite that replaced the wrong file
What separates it An older save replaced a newer one after a copy
How to confirm Check the date and time shown for each version before you say Yes to overwrite, as the PS4 prompts you to
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The game and the date of the save on each console and in online storage
- Whether Auto-Upload and Stay Connected to the Internet are on
- Whether the console is your primary PS4 and whether PlayStation Plus is active
- Whether a USB backup exists and its date
Try in this order
0 of 8 completedConfirm PlayStation Plus is active
ReversibleOnline storage needs a PlayStation Plus subscription. Without it you can still copy saved data to a USB drive.
Set up automatic uploads
ReversibleGo to Settings, Power Saving Settings, Set Features Available in Rest Mode and tick Stay Connected to the Internet. Then Settings, Application Data Management, Auto-Upload, and tick Enable Automatic Uploads.
Upload manually to be sure
ReversibleSelect your user and go to Settings, Application Data Management, Saved Data in System Storage, Upload to Online Storage. Pick the title, then the file, and choose Yes to overwrite the cloud file.
Download from online storage
ReversibleGo to Settings, Application Data Management, Saved data in Online Storage, Download to System Storage. Pick the title and file and choose Yes to overwrite the console file.
Read the dates before overwriting
ReversibleWhen the PS4 asks whether to overwrite saved data, the date and time shown for each version tell you which is newer. Say Yes only when the copy you are replacing is the older one.
Copy saves to a USB drive
ReversibleConnect a USB drive and go to Settings, Application Data Management, Saved Data in System Storage, Copy to USB Storage Device. Select a game, tick the data and choose Copy. You must be signed in.
Back up the whole console
ReversibleUse Settings, System, Back Up and Restore with a FAT32 or exFAT USB drive that has at least double the storage of the backup. Sync trophies first; trophies are not in the backup.
Restore only when you must
ReversibleRestoring erases all data on the console and cannot be undone even if you cancel. To return data without restoring, use USB extended storage or online storage instead.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- What automatic upload covers
- Sony says automatic uploads add saved data from your primary PS4 console to online storage, which is why a console that is not activated as your primary one may not upload.
- Backup contents
- Games and apps, saved data, screenshots and video clips and settings, excluding trophies, on a FAT32 or exFAT USB drive with at least double the space of the backup.
- Tools and supplies
- A USB drive, a phone to check PlayStation Plus status and a notepad to record save dates.
- Support details
- If you contact Sony give the game name, the console model number and the account ID; a part number is not needed.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the PlayStation 4 Pro.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the newest save cannot be found on any console, USB drive or online storage, contact PlayStation support before deleting anything
- !If a backup restore is needed, make a fresh backup of the current state first
- !If online storage reports an error, note the message and contact Sony
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Where the manufacturer's article stops. Sony writes these for the PS4; the PS5 cloud storage rules (sync in both directions, 100 GB limits) are different and are on the PS5 page.
Auto-upload, manual upload and download.
Backup and restore steps and warnings.
Copying saved data to and from USB storage.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why won't my PS4 saves upload?+
Check PlayStation Plus is active, Enable Automatic Uploads is ticked and the console is set to stay connected to the internet in rest mode. Sony says automatic uploads add saved data from your primary PS4.
Does the PS4 download saves automatically?+
No. Automatic upload only uploads; you download by hand from Saved data in Online Storage.
How do I move a save to another PS4?+
Upload it to online storage or copy it to a USB drive, then sign in on the other console and download or copy it there. You must be signed in.
What does a backup include?+
Games and apps, saved data, screenshots and video clips and settings; trophies are excluded. Sony says to sync trophies with PSN first.
Can I restore a backup to a different PS4?+
Only if you signed in to PSN before backing up; Sony says users who have never signed in can restore only to the original console.
Does restoring delete my current data?+
Yes. Sony says restoring erases all data saved on the console and cannot be undone.
Do the Slim and the Pro sync differently?+
No. Saved data works the same on both; PS4 saves can move to a PS5 through the PS5's own transfer and cloud steps.