MyRecover
How to Recover Data from Old PS4 Hard Drive on PC
Need to recover lost data from your old PS4 hard drive? You've landed the right page! Learn step-by-step methods to retrieve data including saved games, screenshots, videos, etc. from the old PS4 hard drive on Windows. Perfect for gamers looking to rescue precious gaming memories on PS4 hard drive.
By Aria / Updated on August 11, 2025
Is It Possible to Get Back My Data from an Old PS4 Hard Drive?
I lost my ps4 to a hardware failure but the hard drive is still good. I got an adapter to plug it into my laptop and tried various data recovery tools which could only go so far (far enough to confirm the data is still there) and charge for recovery which I don't want to pay unless I'm sure I can accomplish what I need.
Is there a surefire way to use a laptop to pull game saves out of the removed hard drive of a ps4 and make them available to read on another ps4 or ps5 console?
- Question from homebrew
Have an old PS4 hard drive lying around with important game data, saved progress, or screenshots you’d like to retrieve? Whether you're switching to a new console or your old PS4 failed unexpectedly, the good news is: yes, it is possible to recover data from an old PS4 hard drive in many cases.
Whether it’s a properly functioning PS4 hard drive or a faulty one, you can choose the most suitable method to recover the data you need based on your old PS4 hard drive actual situation.
How to Recover Data from Old PS4 Hard Drive
In this section, we’ll walk you through different recovery scenarios, tools, and troubleshooting methods to recover PS4 data from old hard drives, even if the drive no longer boots or seems to be corrupted.
Before You Begin: Determine Condition of the Old PS4 Hard Drive
Before attempting detailed recovery steps, you need to assess the current state of your PS4 drive. This helps you choose the most effective recovery method. There are three main conditions:
The drive is functional, and data is intact
The drive works, but data appears deleted or missing
The drive is non-functional or won’t boot
Let’s take a closer look at what to do in each case.
Scenario 1: Functional PS4 Drive with Accessible Data [Transfer Data to New Game Console]
When you only replace your game console like upgrading to PS5 and don’t want to lose your previous game data, this method is perfectly suitable. If your old PS4 hard drive is still functional and the data appears intact, you're in luck. Since the PS4 hard drive cannot be used directly on the PS5, transferring data to a new console or external storage is an effective and safe way.
Step 1. Sign in to the same account on your PS4 and PS5 console, and update the system software to its lasted version.
Step 2. Connect your PS4 and PS5 console to the same network.
Step 3. Go to "Settings" > "System" > "System Software" > "Data Transfer" on the new console.
Step 4. Click "Continue" and follow the on-screen instructions to set up the new console.
Step 5. Select the saved data, games and apps you want to transfer to your new game console and click "Next".
Step 6. Click "Strat Transfer" to begin the process, and your games and apps will be transfer in the background.
This process may take some time. Do not turn off your game console. After the data transfer is complete, your new game console will restart automatically.
Scenario 2: Drive Works But Data Is Missing or Deleted
If your PS4 hard drive is still functional but has lost some data, here are two methods to easily retrieve the lost data on PS4.
Option A. Redownload from Library
For digitally purchased games, recovery is straightforward: simply re-download them from your PS4 library. This is the easiest way to restore deleted data on your PS4 without PS Plus subscription.
Step 1. Go to the home screen on your PS4 console and scroll to the "Library".
Step 2. Select "Purchased" section, browse and choose the game you want to recover.
Step 3. Click "Download" to reinstall the game. Then log into the in-game account to recover your game progress.
Option B. Restore from Cloud Backup
If you previously subscribed to PlayStation Plus, your save data may have been automatically backed up. You can restore your game data from the cloud backup.
Step 1. Go to "Settings" > "Application Saved Data Management" > "Saved Data in Online Storage".
Step 2. Choose "Download to System Storage" to check the backup on the cloud.
Step 3. Select the game you wish to recover and click "Download" to restore any available backups.
Scenario 3: PS4 Drive Won’t Boot or Failed [Use MyRecover]
If your PS4 hard drive fails to boot up the console or keeps showing errors like a blue screen during startup, it may indicate that the PS4 hard drive is malfunctioning. In such cases, priority should be given to using professional data recovery tools like MyRecover to retrieve important data from the PS4 hard drive. It can scan all storage devices connected to Windows and provide opportunities to recover lost data from PS4 hard drive.
MyRecover- Easy to use, no technical skills required.
- "Quick Scan" for recently deleted files while "Deep Scan" for thoroughly searching lost data from formatted, corrupted, or inaccessible drives.
- Supports over 1000+ file types recovery, including documents, photos and videos (JPG, PNG, MP4, etc.), emails, compressed files, and more.
- Works on all modern windows versions like Windows 11, 10, 8, 7 and Server 2025, 2022, 2019, 2016.
- Supports hard drives of various brands of game consoles, such as PS4, PS5, Xbox, Nintendo and more.
100% SecureStep 1. Download and install MyRecover on your computer from a secure channel. Remove the PS4 hard drive carefully and connect it to your computer.
Step 2. Launch it and choose the PS4 hard drive to scan, then click "Scan".
Step 3. Choose files you wish to recover from the recoverable lists and click "Recover".
Step 4. Select a safe location to save the recovered files.
When the process is completed, you can access and check the recovered files by clicking on the "Browse" button or the destination folder path.
Bonus: How to Troubleshoot Failed PS4 Hard Drive
After completing the data recovery, if you want to make the PS4 hard drive usable again, you can try the following methods to repair it.
Rebuild Database
If your PS4 experiences issues like slow startup or game loading times, or displays error messages such as "corrupted database" due to hard drive problems, you can rebuild the database on your PS4. This can resolve system lag, data access issues, or corruption.
Step 1. Power off your PS4 completely and connect the controller with a USB cable to the PS4 console.
Step 2. Hold down the power button and until you hear two beeps to enter Safe Mode.
Step 3. Choose "Rebuild Database" in the menu and click "OK" to start the process.
This process scans the drive and creates a new file structure without deleting existing data.
Initialize PS4 Hard Drive
When your PS4 experiences a severe system crash and even fails to start, initializing the PS4 can reinstall the system and repair corrupted system files. However, this method will erase all data on the hard drive. Only try this if no recovery is needed or you've backed up data.
Step 1. Enter Safe Mode on your PS4 as the same way mentioned above and connect the controller.
Step 2. Choose "Initialize PS4" and "Full" or "Quick" reset based your needs.
Final Words
You now have multiple methods to recover data from old PS4 hard drive from simple cloud backups to advanced software solutions. If you’re dealing with a failed PS4 hard drive, the MyRecover is a smart investment. Once the data is recovered, you can repair your PS4 by rebuilding the database or initializing it.
As a professional data recovery tool, MyRecover covers most data loss scenarios. Additionally, it offers a Professional version to meet users' more advanced needs. It offers unlimited data recovery, full file previews, and supports recovering data from unbootable Windows.
100%
Clean & Secure
