Stop deleting your favorite games and learn how to add external storage to ps5 today. Follow our easy guide to format drives correctly and fix unsupported USB errors instantly.
Many gamers ask if you can add storage to a PS5, and the answer is yes. You have two main options to expand your storage space. You can install an internal M.2 SSD to play PS5 games directly, or you can plug in an external USB hard drive to store games and play older PS4 titles. To use an external USB drive, the console requires the drive to use the exFAT file system. You can format the drive directly in the PS5 settings menu. If the console rejects your USB drive and says it is unsupported, you must connect the drive to a Windows computer and use professional partition software to clear hidden files and format it to exFAT properly.
Upgrading your console is simple once you know what kind of drive you need. You must choose between an internal drive and an external drive based on how you want to play your games.
When players ask how to get more storage on their PS5, they usually want to download more new games. However, Sony has strict rules about where games can live and run. You cannot just buy any hard drive and expect it to do everything. You have two distinct choices for expanding your space.
The first choice is an internal M.2 SSD. This is a small, ultra-fast memory stick that you install physically inside the console. Because it matches the speed of the original PS5 hardware, you can download and play brand-new PS5 games directly from this drive.
The second choice is an external USB drive. This is a standard hard drive that plugs into the back of your console. External drives are much slower than internal drives. Because of this speed difference, you cannot play PS5 games directly from a USB drive. You can only use the USB drive to store your PS5 games. When you want to play them, you must move them back to your main console storage. However, you can play older PS4 games directly from the USB drive without any issues.
Using a portable hard drive is the cheapest and easiest way to hold massive game libraries. You just need to make sure the drive uses the correct file format before you plug it in.
Learning how to add external storage to PS5 requires a quick setup process. The PlayStation operating system cannot read drives formatted for standard Windows computers. It requires a specific format called exFAT. You can format the drive using your console, but sometimes older computer drives need extra help from a PC.
Sony includes a built-in formatting tool in the console settings. This tool works great if you bought a brand new hard drive straight from the store. You must use the USB ports on the back of your PS5 for external storage. The front USB port is not fast enough to handle game data. If your drive is new, the console will format it in just a few seconds.
Step 1: Plug your external USB hard drive into one of the fast USB ports on the back of your PS5 console.
Step 2: Turn on the console and go to the home screen. Select the Settings gear icon at the top right of the screen.
Step 3: Scroll down the list and select Storage.
Step 4: Choose USB Extended Storage from the menu on the left side.
Step 5: Select the Format as exFAT button. The console will warn you that all data on the drive will be deleted. Confirm the prompt to finish the setup.
Sometimes the PS5 will reject the drive and show an error saying "This USB drive is unsupported." This happens if you are trying to use an old Windows PC hard drive. The PS5 cannot delete hidden Windows system files. To fix this, you must use a computer to wipe the drive first.
When your console refuses to accept a USB drive, you need a stronger tool to wipe it clean. Professional computer software can easily remove hidden files and force the drive into the correct format.
AOMEI Partition Software is the best visual tool for fixing stubborn hard drives. If you want to repurpose an old PC hard drive for your PS5, you can use the Disk Clone feature to safely copy your computer data to a new drive first. This ensures you do not lose any personal files before wiping the old drive. Once your data is safe, you can use the Wipe Hard Drive tool to destroy the hidden Windows partitions that confuse your console. Finally, the Format Partition feature will set the drive to exFAT, so the PS5 accepts it instantly.
A free and reliable disk partition software that helps you resize partitions, migrate OS, convert disks, and optimize PC efficiently.
Step 1: Download and open AOMEI Partition Software on your Windows PC. Plug your external hard drive into the computer. Right-click the block representing your external drive and select Format Partition.
Step 2: A new window will pop up. Click the drop-down menu next to File System and select exFAT. You can also type a name like "PS5 Games" into the label box. Click OK.
Step 3: Click Apply at the top left of the screen, and then click Proceed. The software will wipe the drive and format it perfectly for your console.
Once the process finishes, unplug the drive from your computer and plug it into the back of your PS5. The console will recognize it immediately.
Installing a memory stick inside your console gives you the ultimate gaming experience. It takes a few minutes of physical work, but it lets you play new games directly from the expanded storage.
To add internal storage, you must buy a very specific type of memory. You need a PCIe Gen 4.0 M.2 NVMe SSD. The drive must also have a metal heatsink attached to it. The heatsink keeps the drive from melting during heavy gaming. Once you have the correct drive, installing it is very easy.
Step 1: Turn off your PS5 completely and unplug all cables. Place the console flat on a table.
Step 2: Grab the top corner of the white plastic side panel and pull up gently. Slide the panel down toward the bottom of the console to pop it off.
Step 3: Look for a long rectangular metal cover near the fan. Use a small Phillips screwdriver to remove the screw and take off the metal cover.
Step 4: Inside the slot, you will see a tiny screw and a metal spacer ring. Remove the screw and move the spacer ring to fit the size of your new SSD.
Step 5: Insert your M.2 SSD into the connector slot at a slight angle. Press it down gently so it rests flat on the spacer ring.
Step 6: Use the tiny screw to lock the SSD in place. Put the metal cover back on and screw it down.
Step 7: Slide the white plastic side panel back onto the console until it clicks. Plug your console in and turn it on.
Step 8: The PS5 will turn on and immediately detect the new drive. A screen will pop up asking you to format the M.2 SSD. Select the format option, and your new internal storage is ready to use.
Running out of room for your games is frustrating, but fixing it is an easy process. You just need to decide how you want to manage your game library.
Knowing how to add storage to PS5 gives you total freedom over your games. If you want a cheap way to hold massive amounts of data and play older games, formatting an external USB drive to exFAT is the perfect solution. If your console rejects the USB drive, AOMEI Partition Software will fix it in seconds. If you want the fastest speed possible to play new games, installing an internal M.2 SSD is the best choice for your console.
1. Can I play PS5 games directly from an external USB drive?
No, you cannot. PS5 games are designed to load data incredibly fast. USB cables are simply too slow to handle this data speed. You can store your PS5 games on the USB drive to save space, but you must copy them back to the console storage before you can play them. You can, however, play older PS4 games directly from the USB drive.
2. What kind of internal SSD does the PS5 take?
The console requires a very fast PCIe Gen 4.0 M.2 NVMe SSD. It must have a read speed of at least 5500 MB/s. It also absolutely requires a metal heatsink to keep it cool. If you install a drive without a heatsink, your console will overheat and shut down during gameplay.
3. Why does my PS5 say the USB drive is unsupported?
This error happens when the console cannot read the file system on your portable drive. It usually means the drive is formatted for Windows or has hidden computer recovery files on it. The PS5 does not have the power to delete these hidden files. You must plug the drive into a computer and use software to wipe it clean and format it to exFAT.