What does copying update files on PlayStation 4 mean? Why is your PS4 copying update files? Why does copying to PS4 take so long? A while back PlayStation 4 switched to a new method when it comes to downloading and installing patches for your favorite games. Once you've downloaded an update, the PS4 then begins a tedious "copy" process, which can take some time. It's a pretty frustrating part of updating your games, but what does copying actually mean? What is it doing and why is it taking so long to complete? We will try to answer these questions below.
What is PS4 Update File Copy?
When your PS4 downloads a game update, it only downloads the changes to the game. This may seem obvious, but it means the initial download is faster because you don't have to download the updated version of the game itself. Did we say “download” enough times?
Either way, once done, the copying begins. So your PS4 has downloaded the update file for, say, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. He then has to install it, and he does this by essentially copying the entire game file, and adding the patch in the process. The advantage of this method is that it avoids file corruption.
Why is copying PS4 update files so slow?
The speed of the copy process will vary from game to game. Some games on PS4 are not even 1 GB, so the copying process will be quite fast. However, many of the most popular games can be tens or even hundreds of gigabytes. The larger the game size, the longer it will take your PS4 to complete the copy process. Games such as Gran Turismo Sport or Call of Duty: Warzone, for example, take a long time due to frequent updates and heavy file size to start.
How can you speed up the PS4 update file copy process?
The only thing you can do to speed up copying on your PS4 is to install a faster internal hard drive. Your best bet is an SSD, as they're generally faster than regular hard drives. However, no matter how fast the drive is on your PS4, you'll still need to accept the copy. Replacing the internal drive will make a small difference, but it won't bring any drastic improvement. The good news is that the PS5, with its super-fast custom SSD, will effectively eliminate this process. Upgrade to the next generation!
Hope this answers some of your questions regarding the lengthy copying process on PS4. If you have more, feel free to ask in the comments below.
