At the moment, the PlayStation 5 doesnt support copying save data onto external storage devices. Instead, the consoles only option for moving save files from one PS5 to another, or backing up save data, will be to use Sonys cloud storage which is available exclusively to PlayStation Plus subscribers.
This is different from how it works on PlayStation 4, which allows users to back up save data to a USB drive as well as cloud storage. Without that option, PS5 owners are at risk of losing their save files if some catastrophe befalls them like their console getting stolen in a robbery, or destroyed in a flood, or bricked by a firmware update unless they pay for an active PlayStation Plus subscription.
The PS4/PS5 difference becomes clear in the PS5s system settings. In the Saved Data and Game/App Settings page of the menu, theres a section labeled Saved Data (PS4). There, players can choose to copy PS4 save files to a USB drive or Sonys cloud storage, or delete those files from the console. The other option is to change the way that the PS5 handles the automatic upload of PS4 save data to cloud storage.
Note the USB Drive option for PS4 save files.
Image: Sony Interactive Entertainment via Polygon
However, the Saved Data (PS5) menu lacks the USB Drive option. Instead, the only things to do with PS5 save files are to manually copy them from the consoles internal storage to Sonys cloud storage, or to delete them.
Hey, whered the USB Drive option go?
Image: Sony Interactive Entertainment via Polygon
If you click Console Storage on this page, youll get to a screen that offers just two options: Upload to Cloud Storage and Delete. The former has a PlayStation Plus logo next to it which means its restricted to subscribers.
Image: Sony Interactive Entertainment via Polygon
While cloud storage is certainly nice, and likely to be the way that the majority of PS5 users back up their save data, a few things make it inconvenient. Aside from the fact that PS5 save backup is locked behind the PlayStation Plus paywall, cloud saves require network connections to access. That leaves players out of luck if their internet goes down, whereas theyd be able to restore save files from local storage if they could back them up to it.
Of course, this is the way Nintendo handles save files on the Nintendo Switch users can back them up to cloud storage only if they pay for a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. (When the console launched in early 2017, it didnt even have that feature.) Meanwhile, Microsoft offers free cloud saves on Xbox One (and theyll soon be free on Xbox 360, too).
Its worth noting that save data isnt the only thing that the PS5 wont let you transfer to a USB device. The console also blocks players from moving entire games to external storage. While its no surprise that players cant play PS5 games from external storage, given the speed of the PS5s internal SSD, it is a little surprising that Sony wont let players use external USB drives as cold storage to free up space on the SSD without having to re-download games.