Tutorial with all the options to expand the storage capacity of your PlayStation 5
Next we are going to see how to expand the storage memory of PS5 , so that you have more space on your consoles to store more video games. And it is that as it happens with PS4 , PlayStation 5 also offers the possibility of increasing the internal storage memory ; although in the case of Sony’s next-gen console , it can be done through two methods. Recall that PS5 offers a limited amount of storage due to SSD technology (much faster and more efficient, but also more expensive), so it is very interesting to expand its memory so as not to have to be removing and installinggames constantly. Let’s see how to expand the internal storage memory of PlayStation 5 .
PS5: how to expand storage
PS5 offers a total of 825 GB of internal SSD storage , of which a total of 667 GB is free for the installation of games (due to the space required for the console’s operating system). With an increasing size of the games, it seems very necessary to expand the storage capacity of PlayStation 5. And for this we have two options: through an internal SSD disk or through an external HDD via USB 3.0 . Let’s see how to expand PS5 storage with both methods.
Index of contents
- How to expand PS5 storage via internal SSD
- How to expand PS5 storage via external HDD
How to expand PS5 storage via internal SSD
The first option to expand the PS5 storage is through an internal bay of the console in which to install an NVMe SSD . For this, it will be necessary to buy a unit of this type of SSD and proceed with its installation. First of all, let’s see some recommended models of NVMe SSD drives for PlayStation 5:
- WD_BLACK SN850
- Samsung 970 Evo Plus
- Sabrent 1TB Rocket
- Kingston A2000
- Crucial P5
Once you have purchased a PS5 compatible NVMe SSD, it is time to install it. To do this you will have to remove the upper plastic casing of the console to access its interior; fear not, the two white PlayStation 5 cases can be easily removed by gently pulling them away from the black center block.
Both plastic housings are attached and no tools are required ; just pull them with a little pressure and you can remove them. When you have removed the case from the top of the console you will have to find the SSD expansion bay , located next to the large internal fan of the console. And it is that the storage of PS5 cannot be replaced as it happened with PS3 or PS4 , since the internal storage SSD units are soldered to the motherboard of the console. In this case we can only expand its internal storage by adding a second NVMe SSD .
When you have located the expansion bay, remove its metal plate with a screwdriver to expose the SSD expansion port. Now you can insert the NVMe SSD you have purchased to increase the internal storage of the console. Again placing the metal plate bay expansion with the screwdriver and put back the outer casing PS5. When you turn on your PS5 again, the system will automatically recognize the new storage drive.
How to expand PS5 storage via external HDD
Another option is to expand the storage memory through an external hard drive via USB , as could already be done on PS4. Of course, in the case of PS5 there is an important handicap: we can only store PS5 games but not run them . To run a PS5 game you will first have to copy it from the external HDD to the internal SSD storage . It is a solution that will allow us to store PS5 games and copy them faster than if we downloaded them again.
On the other hand, we can play PS4 games stored on the external HDD without having to copy them to the internal SSD. In this case, it is an ideal option for saving PS4 games to PS5. Also, if you already have an external HDD on PS4 , you can use it directly without formatting it on your PS5. To do this, always remove HDD hard drives safely to avoid data loss; in addition, both consoles will have to have the same PlayStation user.
The requirements to use an external HDD hard drive through a USB 3.0 port is that the drive has a USB 3.0 connection . There are many external HDD hard drives of various capacities: 1TB, 2TB, 3TB, 4TB and more. The higher the capacity, the higher the price, although in this case they are much cheaper than NVMe SSDs. To do this, connect the HDD 3.0 hard drive to one of the two USB 3.0 ports on the back of the console, turn on your PS5 and the operating system will take care of formatting the external hard drive.
Now you know how to expand the internal storage of PS5 through its two methods. Choose the one that best suits your needs or possibilities (you can also combine both for more extra storage) and enjoy all your PS5 games.
