Checklists
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Upgrading Storage
The best way to boost storage on the PlayStation 5 is to take advantage of the internal M.2 SSD expansion slot available in every variant of the console. By screwing a great gaming SSD into that slot, you’ll enjoy a performance nearly identical to the stock storage on the consoles. Beyond expanding storage with an SSD, the best external hard drives can be used to save PS5 games and even play backward-compatible PS4 games. However, since you can’t run PS5 games directly from the external drive, a compatible SSD is the best option.
| Console | PlayStation 5 (2020) | PlayStation 5 (Slim, 2023) | PlayStation 5 Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storage Expansion | M.2 SSD expansion slot, external USB port | M.2 SSD expansion slot, external USB port | M.2 SSD expansion slot, external USB port |
| Storage | 825GB SSD | 825GB/1TB SSD | 2TB SSD |
Storage space varies across the PlayStation 5 models. The original PlayStation 5, released in late 2020, came with 825GB, and the PlayStation 5 Slim, which is now the default PS5 model, got a storage boost and comes with 1TB. Unfortunately, in late 2025, Sony reduced the storage on the PS5 Digital Edition(Slim). It now only comes with an 825GB capacity. The highest-capacity console option is the PlayStation 5 Pro, offering 2TB. Just note that around 150GB of base storage is used on each PS5 variant for the system OS, updates, and firmware.
Do you need to upgrade your PS5 storage?
With storage capacities ranging from 825GB to 2TB, some might find upgrading unnecessary. However, many of the best PS5 games will fill up that space faster than you’d think. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and God of War Ragnarök can each exceed 160GB, and plenty of other popular titles eat up 100GB of space or more. If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of constantly installing and uninstalling games, storage expansion is a must.
Installing an SSD
Before installing an SSD in your PlayStation 5 or PlayStation 5 Pro, you need to find a compatible drive. The internal M.2 SSD expansion slot supports all PCIe 4.0/Gen 4 drives or better, ensuring speeds up to 7,500 MB/s to match the console’s capabilities. The minimum speed requirement is 5,500 MB/s. It’s perfectly fine to grab a PCIe 5.0 SSD instead, but it won’t boost performance. PCIe 3.0 drives are not compatible.
Any size M.2 drive can fit into the console's expansion slot. Our tech experts recommend grabbing the M.2 2280 drive, as it’s the most common and often offers the best price-to-performance ratio.
When choosing a drive, we’d also recommend grabbing a heatsink; an SSD with one included is ideal, but you can also purchase a heatsink separately. The expansion slot on the PS5 is tight with minimal airflow, and PCIe 4.0 drives tend to run hot, so a heatsink helps prevent overheating and throttling. Just note that the heatsink can’t be taller than 11.25mm, or it won’t fit.
Beyond these specification requirements, you’ll need to determine the ideal storage capacity based on your needs and gaming library. Generally, a 1TB or 2TB drive to supplement your system works for most. For serious storage requirements, the PS5 supports drives up to 8TB. To help in your search, IGN’s gaming hardware expert, Jackie Thomas, has put together a comprehensive guide to the best PS5 and PS5 Pro SSDs. All of these selections work seamlessly with the console. Check out all the top options below:
If you haven’t tinkered around with gaming PCs before, installing an M.2 SSD on the PS5 may seem daunting. Luckily, Sony has made the process as straightforward as possible. All you’ll need is a #1 Phillips head screwdriver, good lighting, and the SSD.
Start by powering off the console, then remove the cover. The original PS5 has a slightly different process from the PS5 Slim and PS5 Pro, but no tools are required, and it should come off easily. That’s also how you’d go about installing the best PS5 faceplates, too.
Once the cover is removed, locate the M.2 socket near the fan, and unscrew the panel covering the slot. Inside will be a perfect little nook for your SSD. You’ll need to remove the screw and move the spacer from its current position to the appropriate size (most will use 80). After that, slot in your SSD with the heatsink, fasten it with a screw, and reassemble the console.
When you power back on the PlayStation 5, the drive should appear with formatting instructions. If you’re moving a drive between PS5 consoles, formatting isn’t required. However, if it's your first time formatting the SSD, any data stored on the drive from other devices, like a PC, will be erased. Following a successful formatting, you should be able to begin storing games on the SSD.
Below is a helpful video on how install an SSD into the PlayStation 5:
Installing an External USB Drive
Our tech experts would recommend grabbing an SSD to expand your PlayStation 5’s storage. However, it’s also possible to use one of the best external USB-C drives or other hard disk drives to store PlayStation 5 games and PlayStation Plus titles, and even play the top PlayStation 4 games that are backward compatible directly from the drive. It’s also a great way to transfer your PS4 data to the new console.
When looking for an external USB drive to expand PS5 storage, there are minimum requirements: it must support SuperSpeed USB 5 GB/s or higher and offer a storage capacity between 250GB and 8 GB. We’d also recommend grabbing an external solid-state drive over traditional HDDs for significantly better performance and future-proofing. Personal storage needs when grabbing these drives must also be considered. Most users will be fine with 1TB to 2TB, especially if you’ve already got an additional internal SSD. Below are a few compatible external USB drives that we’d recommend grabbing:
Connecting an external USB drive to your PlayStation 5 is straightforward. All you need to do is plug the drive directly into your console’s rear USB-A ports or the front USB-C port to ensure the best speeds. Just note that drives are not compatible with a USB hub. From there, all you need to do is navigate to the console’s storage settings and then find the USB Extended Storage section. The drive must be formatted before it can be used for storage, unless it’s already been used with another PS5 or PS4 console. Any previously saved data on the drive will be deleted during formatting.