How to Upgrade PS5 SSD [Step-by-step Guide]

The PlayStation 5 comes with 1 TB, but apart from the space taken up by the operating system and firmware, you effectively have around 667 GB available for games. With modern games' sizes increasing rapidly, you'll quickly run out of the 667.2 GB. Many gamers might find themselves frequently deleting and re-downloading games. Let's consider a real scenario from Reddit:

Compared to the PS3 and PS4, it's significantly easier to expand your PS5's internal storage due to its built-in, empty SSD slot. If you wish to avoid deleting your valuable games, installing a high-speed NVMe SSD into your PS5 console is an excellent option. Fortunately, this article will provide you with a comprehensive guide on how to upgrade your PS5 SSD using the right tools.

How to Upgrade PS5 SSD - Full Tutorial

This section will guide you through the step-by-step process of upgrading your PS5 SSD, whether by adding a new NVME SSD or replacing the current one with a superior model. Before beginning, you can refer to the table below for an overview of the tutorial:

Guide 1: Installing a New NVME SSD for PS5 SSD Upgrade

Gamers around the world were ecstatic when Sony revealed that the PS5 comes with an integrated NVME SSD slot for upgrading the console's internal storage. You can easily expand your storage capacity by simply using a screwdriver to install a compatible SSD alongside the PS5's hard drive. Follow the detailed steps outlined below:

**Step 1. Select a suitable SSD for upgrading the PS5.**

This is likely the most challenging aspect of installing a new SSD. Here are some references to consider when selecting the best PS5 SSD:

-
• Choose an M.2 NVMe SSD that uses the PCIe Gen4 protocol.
-
• You can select an SSD with a capacity ranging from 250 GB to 4 TB.
-
• Opt for a pre-installed or self-adhesive heatsink, as required.

Before you begin, turn off the PS5 console, unplug all cables, and make sure the console is facing down.

You can grip the faceplate at the top corner and lift it with little force.

1. Then, use a cross-head screwdriver to unscrew the SSD slot cover. (The SSD is held in place by various holes depending on its length.) 2. Locate and remove the screw and spacer near the end of the SSD enclosure.

Remove the SSD cover

Step 3. Insert the new SSD into the expansion slot.

• Insert the SSD into the slot at an approximate 45-degree angle. Once you feel it click into place, secure the SSD by tightening the mounting screw.
• Reinstall the expansion slot cover using the appropriate screw. Similarly, replace the PS5's faceplate. Connect the HDMI cable and power source to the console.

Insert the SSD into the slot.

Step 4. Format the new SSD to be compatible with the PS5. Format the new SSD using the appropriate file system for the PS5, which is typically exFAT or FAT32. This ensures compatibility and allows the console to recognize the drive.

Turn on the PS5, and it will display a formatting screen, prompting you to format the NVME SSD. This process should only take a few seconds. However, if you have important data on the SSD, it's crucial to back it up in its entirety, as formatting will delete all the data.

The PS5 supports exFAT or FAT32 file systems. To format the SSD efficiently before installing it in the PS5, you can rely on a reliable third-party tool like tools Partition Master. This tool offers a user-friendly interface that enables you to format your new SSD effortlessly with just a few clicks. Moreover, it supports formatting your drive to exFAT, FAT32, NTFS, EXT2, EXT3, and EXT4 file systems. To correctly and promptly format your new SSD, download and install tools Partition Master, then follow these helpful steps:

Also Read: How to Format New SSD, Transfer Save Data from PS4 to PS5

Guide 2: Upgrading the PS5 SSD with a Superior Model

As we know, SSD iteration is particularly fast nowadays. If you don't want your PS5 to become obsolete, keep up with the pace of upgrading the PS5 SSD. The first step in swapping out a new SSD for your PS5 is to clone all your games and data from the old SSD to the new one. I recommend using professional disk cloning software to avoid any unnecessary complications.

tools Partition Master integrates multiple functions, such as resizing/extending partitions, cloning external hard drives, formatting drives, and cleaning disks. Utilizing its "Disk Clone" feature, you can fully copy all data from your old PS5 SSD to the new one in one go.

Install the tools Partition Master and connect both the old and new SSD for PS5 to your computer.

Step 1. Select the source disk.

1. Click "Clone" from the left menu. Select "Clone OS Disk" or "Clone Data Disk" and click "Next".
2. Select the source disk and click "Next".

Step 2. Select the target disk.

Translate the following sentences into English: - Select the desired HDD/SSD as your destination and click "Next" to proceed. - Read the warning message and confirm by clicking the "Yes" button.

Step 3. View the disk layout and edit the target disk partition size.

When the program warns you that it will erase all data on the target disk, click “Continue” (If you have valuable data on the target disk, back it up in advance).

Here, you can choose to "Autofit the disk," "Clone as source," or "Edit disk layout" to customize your disk configuration. (Select the last option if you want to allocate more space to the C drive.)

Step 4. Click "Start" to begin the disk cloning process.

Once cloned, you can install the new M.2 SSD into your PS5, power on the PS5, and format this SSD.

If these PS5 SSD upgrade methods give you a fresh perspective, share this page on your social media to help more PS5 gamers:

Why Should We Upgrade the PS5 SSD?

A high-quality PS5 SSD can be quite expensive. So, why should we bother upgrading the PS5 SSD? In this section, we will explore the main reasons why upgrading your PS5 SSD is well worth the investment:

The American English translation for "Expand Your Game Library" is: Grow Your Game Collection

There are so many fantastic games out there for you to play and enjoy, but most of them are quite large in size. It's time to enhance your PlayStation 5's storage capacity and expand your gaming library. SSDs for the PS5 are available in a broad range, from 250 GB all the way up to 4 TB, allowing you to install more games without worrying about running out of space.

Improve Your PS5's Performance Translate this into English: Enhance Your PS5's Performance

Installing an internal SSD is the most substantial upgrade you can make to your PS5. It provides your PS5 console with additional storage space for games and enhances its performance. The read/write speed of your PS5 is 5500 MB/s. Certain M.2 SSDs designed for the PS5 can function at speeds reaching 7000 MB/s or even higher. This boost in speed improves overall performance and accelerates the loading times of your PS5 games.

< strong >Easily Transfer Your PS4 Games to PS5

Almost all PlayStation 4 games are compatible with the PlayStation 5. As such, you can transfer digital games from your PS4 console to the PS5. This way, you can continue enjoying your old favorites while still having space to install new PS5 titles.

Conclusion

This article explores two practical approaches to upgrading your PS5's SSD, complete with step-by-step guides. These methods involve installing a new SSD in your PS5 and cloning the data from your old PS5 disk to a high-performance SSD. Additionally, we feature an exceptional software tool, Partition Master, which enables users to format the SSD to the compatible file system for the PS5's hard drive or effortlessly clone games from the old SSD to the new one. Download this versatile tool to expand your PS5's internal storage capacity. To ensure optimal SSD performance, it's advisable to regularly monitor its speed:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Upgrading the PS5 SSD

Here are the top three highly relevant queries about upgrading the PS5 SSD. If you're experiencing any of these issues, you can find solutions here.

< strong >1. Is upgrading the PS5 SSD worth it?

Yes, upgrading the PS5 SSD is absolutely worth considering. Here's why: A PS5 SSD upgrade will significantly enhance your storage capacity for your digital game library. Additionally, installing a larger SSD can potentially improve the overall performance of your PS5 console.

2. What is the maximum SSD capacity for PS5?

The PS5 supports an M.2 SSD that communicates via the NVMe protocol and features one M.2 expansion slot, enabling you to add an SSD with capacities of 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, or even 4TB. To ensure optimal performance, you should look for a PCIe 4.0 x4 model capable of achieving up to 5,500 MBps in sequential read speed.

3. How to install and set up an external SSD on PS5? To install and set up an external SSD on your PlayStation 5 (PS5), follow these steps: 1. **Purchase a compatible SSD**: Ensure you get a USB 3.2 Gen 2 or Thunderbolt 3 external SSD with a minimum of 250GB storage and transfer speeds of at least 5,500 MB/s for optimal performance. 2. **Format the SSD**: Before using it with your PS5, you'll need to format the SSD. Connect the SSD to your computer and use the disk management tool to erase and format it. Choose the exFAT file system as it's compatible with both PS5 and PC. 3. **Prepare the SSD enclosure**: If your SSD doesn't come with an external enclosure, purchase one that's compatible with your SSD's interface (SATA or NVMe). Install the SSD into the enclosure following the manufacturer's instructions. 4. **Connect the SSD to PS5**: Plug the USB cable from the external SSD enclosure into one of the USB ports on the back of your PS5 console. Make sure to use the high-speed USB port (indicated by a small symbol). 5. **Format the SSD on PS5**: Power on your PS5 and go to the home screen. Navigate to the left and select "Settings" > "Storage." 6. **Set up the new storage**: In the "Storage" menu, choose "External Storage." Press the "Options" button and select "Format as Extended Storage." Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the formatting process. 7. **Transfer games**: Once formatted, you can now move games from your PS5's internal storage to the external SSD. Go to "Storage," select "Games & Apps," press the "Options" button, and choose "Move." Select the games you want to transfer and confirm the action. 8. **Play from the external SSD**: After the transfer is complete, you can play your games directly from the external SSD. The PS5 will automatically load games from the external drive when you select them. Remember that while the PS5 supports installing and playing PS4 games from an external SSD, PS5 exclusive titles must be installed on the internal storage.

Connecting an external SSD to your PS5 is straightforward: just connect it to the console using a USB interface. Following that, you should format the external hard drive for PS5 as instructed.

Step 1. On your PS5, go to "Settings" > "Storage" > "Extended Storage," and you'll find the external SSD listed.

Step 2. Choose the "Format as Extended Storage" option and begin formatting it.

(Back up your data beforehand, as this process will erase everything on your USB drive.)

Step 3. Click "Yes" to confirm the format.