Convert Playstation Disc Games to Digital Version

Getting a physical Playstation disc in your hands feels great, but a digital PS game’s mobility sounds attractive too. Converting between a Physical Playstation disc and a Digital version is not easy, but it is not impossible either.

Everybody (myself included) loves that fresh feel of a physical disc box; ripping open a disc game to try that new AAA title brings back so many memories.

On the other hand, it is a bummer when you want to play on your account at a mates house, and you forgot to carry your disc with you. I mean, who carries discs around in 2020?

Digital versions allow you to log in to your account, and just like that, you are ready to play! Mobility: 101.

Playstation does not allow you to convert a physical disc game into a digital version or vice versa. To do so, you need to buy the same game digitally while selling the disc version.

The main caveat for most players would be the loss of saving files and game data, but all hope is not lost as you can save your game saves and continue your games right away on the new digital or disc version of the game.

1. Convert Disc to Digital: Save Files Included

The first step to converting to a Digital version from a Disc version is to buy the digital copy of the game you want to convert. The disc will now be useless for you; either you can sell it or keep it as a novelty if you ever want to switch back.

Playstation will not allow you to install the digital version while you still have the disc version installed, so go ahead and uninstall the game; your game save files will not be affected.

2. How to Uninstall Disc Version (Without Deleting Game Save Files)

1. In the Library, navigate to the game you want to convert.
2. Press the options button on your controller to option the options page.

3. Head down and select ‘Delete’ and confirm your choice. (This will only delete the game data, not the saved files.)

After you’ve uninstalled the disc game, you can install the digital version from the PS store, and it will recognize your saved files, allowing you to continue from the point you left the game in.

Do note; digital versions usually require an internet connection to authenticate and play the games.

3. How To Go Disc From Digital: With Save Files

Suppose you have the digital version, but you want that collector’s edition disc set so bad but don’t want your saved files to vanish.

To convert a digital Playstation game into a disc version, you will need to buy the physical disc. The digital copy will now be useless, and selling it is not possible since it is tied to your PlayStation account and cannot be transferred. 

The digital version needs to be removed from the Playstation hard disk to install your physical disc as you cannot have two copies of the same game. Follow the steps exactly to uninstall the game but keep the saved files.

4. Uninstall Digital Games While Keeping the Save Files:

1. In the Library, navigate to the game you want to convert.
2. Press the options button on your controller to option the options page.
3. Select ‘Delete’ and confirm your choice by clicking ‘OK.’ (This method will delete the game files but preserve the save data for future installs.)

Now go ahead and install your disc game, the game will automatically find the saved files, and your progress can be continued.

5. Skip Downloading Game Data Again: Switching From Disc To Digital

Playstation will not allow you to keep the game data files as you switch from a disc version to a digital version, so there is no way to save the bandwidth when you make the switch.

Players are advised about the bandwidth requirements when switching from a disc version to a digital version, as modern games require lots of data to be downloaded.  

6. Playing PS4 Games Without Disc

Games that are bought on the disc cannot be played without inserting the disc. Though you can convert the game to a digital license using the above method, digital versions do not require you to insert a disc, thus eliminating the extra hassle.

A digital license is preferred as it eliminates the cumbersome disc box, which occupies space and requires you to insert the disc every time you want to play a game. The disc can be sold off if you do not want to convert from digital to disc in the future.