System and "off-system" methods of copying discs to PS4

When it comes to copying discs on the PS4, you have to distinguish between legally performed operations provided by the console developer and illegally performed when the user conflicts with copyright law.

Legal copying from Sony

The possibility of such a copy appeared with the release of the update used software version 4.50. The update supports external hard drives on the PlayStation 4. This led to the fact that the console can now additionally purchase up to 8 TB of memory if the external drive supports the USB 3.0 HD connection standard.

Thus, the problem of copying a stationary disk will be solved - we just transferred the information to an external one. The connection is made elementary - we insert the screw cable into the console slot, and it takes literally a couple of seconds to recognize and install. If the recognition did not pass, then, most likely, the connector did not fully enter - this happens with some constructions. The following actions are:

  • Go to the menu "Settings / Devices / USB-keeper."
  • In the submitted operations, select "Format as an additional disk." Please note that the process must necessarily be completed to the end, if you do not want to interrupt, just throw the disc. FAT and exFAT format discs are supported.
  • After completing the formatting proceed to the transfer of games.
  • This is done in the Settings / System Memory / Applications menu.
  • Next, go to Option and select "Move to external data storage."
  • We are offered a full list of games that are on the console and which can be copied.
  • Please note that when a new disk is formatted, now by default it is recognized as a place for future installations and downloads.
  • Therefore, it is now possible to play from an external hard drive.
  • One caveat - in this way screenshots and save files of games are not copied, it is still acceptable to copy only to flash drives.

A backup copy of the disk is created in a very similar way, which can be used, as always, to recover information after failures. The order of work in this case is as follows:

  • We connect the screw all to the same USB-connector.
  • Go to the "Settings / System / Backup and Restore."

    Backup and Restore

  • We choose this or that operation, which after launching can no longer be canceled without damaging the disk; in this case, it will already be worthless.
  • If recovery is selected, then all information available on the main disk is lost and it will be impossible to recover it.

When you save a backup file, the name of the file is set by the system itself - it consists of the number and date of the operation. It is possible to add your comment by entering it in the "Description" field.

Please note that prizes of games are not subject to conservation. To save prizes that are on PlayStation Network servers, you need to do the following:

  • among the functions, select “Prizes”;
  • then press the Options button,
  • the transfer itself is accomplished by choosing “Sync with the PlayStation Network”.

If you need to restore to another PS4 console, then use the PlayStation ™ Network again. Restoring to the same place where the backup was created from, is done by a simple restore command. In this case, the main thing is that the versions of the system software match.

If it becomes necessary to delete the backup created earlier from the disk, then this is done by the “Delete backup data” command.

Several other tricks without any guarantee

But there are other techniques for copying files to PS4. They do not all work with a 100 percent guarantee and more for risky craftsmen, but may be interesting to those who want to do and know a little more of what is given in the official manuals.

The first method involves the use of "Clouds":

  • Copy the saving of the game in the "Cloud" or on a flash drive.
  • We cancel activation of accounts.
  • We cancel console initialization - at the same time all data is lost and it will be impossible to restore them.
  • On the new console, create and activate a new account.
  • Let's copy on the screw of the new console all information from a cloud or a flash drive.
  • Download all content from PCStore.

The second trick is also associated with the cloud - it is for PlayStation + subscribers:

  • Go to the "Settings / Manage Saved Application Data."

    Managing Saved Application Data

  • Further, in the “Data stored in the system storage”.
  • Use the button “Upload to online storage” to start the process.
  • The system suggests choosing a game, the data of which will be saved.
  • Select the data and click "Send".