External Drives: HDD & SSD Use Across Consoles

The expansion slot on the outside

External drives are the fastest way to add space without opening a console. But every platform uses them differently - and using one wrongly can store a game you then cannot play. Know the rules per console.

PS4

• Plug in via USB 3.0 and the console prompts to format it
• Supports up to two external drives, each up to 8 TB
• Games, apps and captures can live on the external drive
• USB 3.0 required for external games - USB 2.0 drives are too slow

PS5

• USB drives store PS5 games but only PS4 games play directly from them
• PS5 games must be moved to internal or M.2 storage to play
• Use a USB 3.0+ drive with good speed for smooth transfers

Xbox

• Xbox One and Series - external USB 3.0 drives run older-gen games directly
• Series S/X games require the internal drive or the official expansion card
• The console formats external drives specifically for games

The rules that apply everywhere

• Use USB 3.0 or faster for game storage
• Let the console format the drive - do not pre-format it for games
• Eject safely before unplugging, or power off
• Keep the drive cool and ventilated - external HDDs get warm

Warning: Do not daisy-chain external drives through a USB hub with a game running - power dips and latency cause read errors. Plug game drives directly into the console.