How to Upgrade Your PS4 Hard Drive [Step-by-Step Guide]

Key Takeaways: These are the main points or important lessons to remember from a piece of content. In English, they are often referred to as "key points" or "important takeaways."

• Prepare fully for PS4 hard drive replacement.
• Obtain a step-by-step guide to upgrade the PS4 hard drive to a larger hard drive or SSD without data loss.

When you use your PS4 for an extended period, you might face various issues, such as insufficient PS4 storage space, the PS4 running slow, or lengthy loading times. To improve your gaming experience and boost performance, you might consider upgrading your PS4 hard drive or even upgrading it to an SSD.

No worries! Regardless of whether you have a PS4, PS4 Pro hard drive, or a PS4 Slim hard drive, you can follow the step-by-step instructions in this tutorial to perform a PS4 hard drive replacement without losing your data.

Check out the following necessary information to upgrade your PS4 hard drive: Make sure to review the essential information below for upgrading your PS4 hard drive:

"Could you into American English?"

How to Upgrade Your PS4 Hard Drive

The PS4 system storage capacity often falls short of meeting the demands of gaming enthusiasts. Consequently, it becomes necessary to discover the maximum ps4 hard drive upgrade size and enhance the PS4's hard drive performance. As per the research conducted by PS4 Storage, an SSD can surpass the PS4's built-in hard drive storage constraints: the PS4 can potentially support up to 16TB, while both the PS4 Pro and the PS4 Slim can accommodate 10TB of storage.

The most traditional method to upgrade your hard drive is by replacing your old one with a new one. This process is not complicated. This guide will offer detailed, step-by-step instructions for upgrading the hard drive on your PS4, with the following steps guiding you through each stage: 1. **Preparation**: Gather the necessary tools, such as a screwdriver, and backup any important data on your existing hard drive. 2. **Shut Down the PS4**: Ensure your PS4 is completely turned off and disconnected from power. 3. **Remove the Hard Drive Cover**: Carefully remove the hard drive cover using a screwdriver. 4. **Disconnect the Old Hard Drive**: Unscrew and disconnect the old hard drive from its tray. 5. **Insert the New Hard Drive**: Place the new hard drive into the tray, ensuring it fits securely. 6. **Reconnect and Secure**: Reattach the hard drive tray with screws and connect it back to the console. 7. **Replace the Cover**: Put the hard drive cover back in place and secure it with screws. 8. **Boot Up and Install System Software**: Connect your PS4 to the internet and follow on-screen prompts to install the latest system software. 9. **Restore Backup**: Once the software is installed, restore your saved data from the backup you made earlier. 10. **Enjoy Your Upgraded PS4**: After the restoration is complete, your PS4 should be ready to use with the new hard drive. Remember to refer to your PS4's official user manual or online resources for specific details related to your model.

Translate the following into English:
1. What Do You Need to Upgrade PS4 Hard Drive
2. Choose the Best PS4 Hard Drive Replacement
3. Remove the Hard Drive From the Enclosure
4. Upgrade PS4 Hard Drive With Professional Tool
5. Install the Hard Drive

#1 What Do You Need to Upgrade PS4 Hard Drive When it comes to upgrading your PlayStation 4 (PS4) hard drive, you'll need a few essential tools and items to ensure a smooth process. Here's a list of what you'll require: 1. **New Hard Drive**: Choose a compatible hard drive to replace your existing PS4 HDD. The new drive must have a capacity of 250GB or more, and it can be an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive). Keep in mind that the PS4 supports 2.5-inch SATA III drives with a maximum height of 9.5mm. 2. **Phillips Head Screwdriver**: This is necessary to open the PS4 console and remove the old hard drive. 3. **Backup USB Drive**: Before replacing the hard drive, it's crucial to back up your saved data. You'll need a USB flash drive with at least 8GB of free space, formatted in the FAT32 file system. 4. **PS4 System Software**: Download the latest version of the PS4 System Software from the official Sony website onto your PC or Mac. This will be used to install the operating system on your new hard drive. 5. **Instructions/Guide**: Familiarize yourself with the step-by-step process of upgrading the PS4 hard drive. You can find detailed guides online. 6. **Optional: External Enclosure**: If you plan to repurpose your old PS4 HDD, you might want to buy an external enclosure to turn it into an external hard drive. 7. **Optional: PS4 Hard Drive Cloning Tool**: Instead of backing up your data and reinstalling the system software, you can use a cloning tool to copy your old drive's contents directly to the new one. This requires a cloning cable or a second computer with a spare SATA port. Once you have all these items, you're ready to upgrade your PS4 hard drive. Remember to follow the instructions carefully to avoid any potential issues during the process.

Before you begin, gather the following tools:

Here are the translations of the provided items into English:
1. 1 PlayStation 4 (PS4)
2. PS4 controller
3. A Phillips head screwdriver
4. A functioning Windows computer
5. An external storage device with at least 1 GB of free space
6. A standard SATA II hard drive or a solid-state (flash) drive not exceeding 9.5 mm in thickness

Choose the Best PS4 Hard Drive Replacement

Before disassembling the hard drive of your PS4, PS4 Slim, or PS4 Pro, you'll need to choose a suitable replacement. Look for a PS4-compatible drive that is no thicker than 9mm and has a capacity greater than 160GB. Here, we've gathered some drive reviews from Android Central, and we're presenting three popular options compatible with the PS4: 1. Drive Option 1 2. Drive Option 2 3. Drive Option 3 Feel free to check out the reviews for more detailed information on each drive's performance and suitability for your PS4.

Here are the translations in English:
• Seagate FireCuda Gaming SSD
• Seagate Game Drive for PS4
• Western Digital Blue SSD

For more information about PS4 hard drive, check out: Best External Hard Drive for PS4

The PS4 hard drive replacement cost tends to be slightly more expensive. For a 1TB or 2TB drive, the cost ranges between $110 and $224. Meanwhile, 4TB and 8TB options can go up to $450 and $899. You have the option to choose from budget-friendly, high-speed SSDs, or traditional HDDs.

## Remove the Hard Drive From the Enclosure Now that you have access to the hard drive enclosure, it's time to safely remove the hard drive from its casing. Follow these steps to do so: 1. **Disconnect any attached cables:** Before proceeding, make sure to disconnect any power or data cables connected to the external hard drive enclosure. 2. **Locate the screws or latches:** Most enclosures have screws securing the hard drive in place. Check the sides, bottom, or top of the enclosure for screws. Some enclosures may have latches or clips instead. 3. **Remove the screws or release the latches:** Use a screwdriver to unscrew the retention screws, and carefully set them aside. If your enclosure has latches, gently press or slide them to release the hard drive. 4. **Slide the hard drive out:** Once the screws are removed or latches released, you should be able to slide the hard drive out of the enclosure, usually by gently pushing it from one end. 5. **Handle the hard drive with care:** Hard drives are sensitive components, so handle them carefully to avoid damaging the read/write heads or the platters. Avoid touching the exposed parts, and hold the drive by its edges. 6. **Place the hard drive on a clean surface:** Set the hard drive down on a clean, static-free surface, like a microfiber cloth or an antistatic mat. Now that the hard drive is out of the enclosure, you can proceed with your intended task, such as installing it into a new computer or using it with a different enclosure.

Once you've selected the hard drive to upgrade, you'll need to remove the PS4's hard drive in order to replace it. The exact process varies depending on which version of the PS4 you have. Follow these steps to remove the internal hard drive from your PS4:

Step 1. Turn off your PS4: Go to Power > Power Options > Turn off PS4 to fully power down your PS4. After that, disconnect all PS4 cables.

Step 2. Turn on the hard drive. The location of the lid differs slightly among different PS4 models:

Here are the translations in English:
• Original PS4: Place the PS4 flat and slide the glossy panel on top of the console to the left.
• PS4 Slim: Turn the console over, apply pressure to the left side of the port, and remove it.
• PS4 Pro: Place the system upside down on a flat surface, locate the notch on the side, and use the small tab adjacent to the Ethernet port to eject the panel.

Step 3. Remove the hard drive: With the cover unbolted, the hard drive doesn't fully come into view. You'll need to use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the screws and loosen the frame holding the drive in place.

Uninstall Hard Drive

Upgrade PS4 Hard Drive with Professional Tool

After removing the PS4 hard drive, connect the original PS4 hard drive and another better one to your computer. Then, use a professional disk tool - tools Partition Master to upgrade the hard drive. This tool is a powerful and secure hard drive management utility that offers a clean interface to assist you in dealing with both new and old hard drives.

Download and use this tool for free to help you upgrade your PS4 hard drive without losing data: Download this tool for free to assist you in upgrading your PS4's hard drive without compromising your data.

1. Initialize the New Hard Drive

If it's a new hard drive, you'll need to initialize it first to either the MBR or GPT format. 99% of all disks are typically pre-initialized. If you encounter an error indicating an uninitialized hard drive, follow these steps:

Step 1. Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant and go to Partition Manager.

Step 2. Right-click the target disk (HDD or SSD) and choose "Initialize to MBR" or "Initialize to GPT". Click "Execute Task" and "Apply" to save the changes.

0:00-0:18 Initialize to MBR; 0:19-0:44 Initialize to GPT;

Once initialization is complete, you can proceed to use the tool to clone the game data and settings to a new hard drive for use.

2. Clone PS4 Hard Drive to a New One

Using a tool like Partition Master to clone an old hard drive to a new one can save you a great deal of time and effort. It can also clone only the used space. Download this tool and follow these steps:

Step 1. Select the source disk.

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

Step 2. Select the target disk.

• 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 important data on the target disk, back it up beforehand).

Here, you can choose to "Autofit the disk", "Clone as the source", or "Edit disk layout" to customize your disk arrangement. (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.

This utility can also diagnose issues with your original PS4 hard drive and fix them. With this tool, you can also effortlessly upgrade the Steam Deck SSD.

As a PS game user, you might also be interested in the following topics:

Install the Hard Drive

Once the cloning is complete, install the new hard drive into the PS4 console to replace the old one: you'll need to put the new hard drive into the hard drive case and reverse the process of removing the old one:

< strong > Step 1. < /strong> & nbsp ; Place the new hard drive into the hard drive cage.

Step 2. Screw the four screws back into the sides, and then slide the hard drive tray back into the PS4.

Step 3. Secure the tray case and place the plastic hard drive cover back on.

Once you've reinserted the hard drive into the PlayStation 4, you can plug the power cord back in. Turn it on and use it as normal.

Heads up: The tool Partition Master can help you clone your PS4's hard drive and everything on it as it is. If the cloned SSD isn't working right, there might've been a problem with the cloning. Try cloning again or boot your PS4 into Safe Mode, initialize the new hard drive, and redownload your PS4 software.

For PS4 hard drive replacement, if you still have queries regarding the disk, you can refer to the comprehensive tutorial on YouTube by Austin Evans:

That's all for the detailed guide on how to upgrade the PS4 hard drive. By upgrading your PS4 hard drive to a larger one, you can also expand your PS4 storage space and resolve the "PS4 storage full" error. For more methods to gain additional storage on your PS4, click on the link below:

PS4 Storage Full? Learn How to Get More Storage on PS4

Having a full PS4 storage can be frustrating. Want to know how to get more storage on PS4? If so, check out this fantastic guide that can assist you with the issue.

Conclusion

This guide offers a comprehensive walkthrough for upgrading your PS4 hard drive. It enables you to enhance your PS4's storage without the need to reinstall games or download software. The tool, Partition Master, facilitates initializing a new hard drive and assists in cloning games and data onto the new drive. Upon completing the PS4 hard drive replacement, you will benefit from reduced game loading times, enabling you to dive into your games swiftly.

If you find this guide helpful for upgrading your PS4, feel free to share the guide through the social buttons below, to assist others who might be in need.

Frequently Asked Questions About Upgrading Your PS4 Hard Drive

This section offers some additional questions about upgrading your PS4 hard drive. If you're interested, please continue reading.

< strong > 1. What is the best PS4 internal hard drive format? < / strong > The best PS4 internal hard drive format is typically FAT32 or exFAT. FAT32 is compatible with all PlayStation 4 models, while exFAT allows for larger file sizes, which may be necessary for certain games or media files. However, if you're specifically looking to increase storage capacity, you might want to consider using the more efficient NTFS format, but note that this is not officially supported by Sony, and you'll need third-party software to make it work. Always ensure that you back up your data before formatting.

The PS4 employs a 2.5-inch SATA HDD with an exFAT file system format. exFAT is the optimal PS4 internal hard drive format, enhancing space allocation, providing better technical support, and ensuring more secure file storage.

The PS4 supports any USB 3.0 drive with a storage capacity of up to 8TB.

**3. Can I upgrade my PS4 to 2TB?**

Certainly, you can upgrade your PS4 to a 2TB hard drive. The PS4 has a maximum storage capacity of up to 8TB. If you upgrade from the original 500GB to a 2TB drive, it means you will gain additional storage space.

Certainly. There are several advantages to upgrading your PS4's hard drive. If you upgrade to a larger hard drive, you'll have more storage capacity to save your games. If you replace the PS4's hard drive with an SSD (Solid State Drive), it can significantly enhance game loading speeds and decrease the occurrence of game crashes.