USB extended storage on PS5 consoles

USB extended storage on PS5 consoles

Learn how to format a USB drive as USB extended storage, which USB drives can be used as USB extended storage, and what can be stored in USB extended storage.

What you can do with a formatted USB extended storage drive

  • You can store PS5 games and PS4 games.
  • You can play PS4 games directly from USB extended storage, which lets you save space on your PlayStation®5 console storage for PS5 games. 
  • To play PS5 games, you need to copy game data from your USB extended storage drive back to your PS5 console's internal SSD storage. It’s much quicker to copy a PS5 game from USB extended storage than to re-download it.

If you want to use a USB extended storage drive that you were previously using with your PlayStation®4 console, simply connect it to your PS5™ console. You'll be able to access any PS4 games on the drive.

USB extended storage requirements on PS5 consoles

  • SuperSpeed USB 5 Gbps or later.
  • 250 GB minimum, 8 TB maximum capacity.
  • Not all devices are guaranteed to work with the PS5 console.
  • You can't connect the drive through a USB hub.
  • Two or more USB extended storage drives can’t be connected at the same time. You can connect multiple USB drives to your console, but you can use only one at a time.

The following SuperSpeed USB connections are supported on PS5 consoles:

  • SuperSpeed USB 5 Gbps (USB 3.0/USB 3.1 Gen1/USB 3.2 Gen1) 
  • SuperSpeed USB 10 Gbps (USB 3.1 Gen2/USB 3.2 Gen2/USB 3.2 Gen1x2*) 
  • SuperSpeed USB 20 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen2x2**). 

* USB 3.2 Gen1x2 devices are supported but as single-lane USB3.2 x1 connections (5Gbps). 

** USB 3.2 Gen2x2 devices are supported but as single-lane USB3.2 x1 connections (10Gbps).

Important connection information

If the USB drive isn't disconnected properly, there may be data loss, corruption, or damage to your console or USB drive. Safely remove a USB drive.

How to format a USB drive as USB extended storage

When you format a USB drive, any data saved on the drive is erased. Data erased this way cannot be recovered, so be careful and make sure you do not erase important data.

USB drives that you used as USB extended storage on your PS4™ console don’t need to be re-formatted.

When you first start using a USB drive with a PS5 console, format the drive as USB extended storage by following these steps: 

  1. Connect your USB drive to a USB port on the back of your PS5 console.

  2. Go to Settings > Storage.

  3. Select USB Extended Storage > Format as USB Extended Storage.

    When there are multiple USB drives connected, you can change which USB drive you format by choosing Select Another USB Drive.

Do not turn off the power or disconnect the USB drive while it's being formatted. Doing this may cause data loss, corruption, or damage to your PS5 console or USB drive.

How to move games between USB extended storage and PS5 console storage

  1. Go to your Game Library, highlight the data you want to move, press the options button, and then select Move Games and Apps.
    If you're using both M.2 SSD storage and USB extended storage, go to the Items You Can Move to USB Extended Storage tab. 
  2. Select Move. 

To play your PS5 games, you need to copy game data from your USB extended storage back to your PS5 console storage. To do this, go to your games home and select Game Library. From the Your Collection tab, you can find the games that are only saved on your USB extended storage drive labeled USB Extended Storage. Highlight the game you want to copy back, press the options button, and then select Copy. You can play PS4 games directly from USB extended storage.

How to automatically download PS4 games to USB extended storage

You can set PS4 games to install directly to your USB extended storage. Go to Settings > Storage > Installation Location.

Delete data on a USB extended storage drive

  1. Go to Settings > Storage.
  2. Select USB Extended Storage > Games and Apps.
  3. Select the Delete Content tab.
  4. Select the data you want to get rid of and select Delete.

Safely remove a USB extended storage drive

When you want to temporarily stop using your USB extended storage drive, or you want to use your drive on another PS5 console or PS4 console, make sure your console's power indicator is completely off before disconnecting the USB extended storage drive from your console.

If you want to disconnect a USB extended storage drive while your console is turned on, follow these steps:

  1. Go to Settings > Storage.
  2. Select USB Extended Storage > Safely Remove from PS5.
  3. Disconnect the USB extended storage drive from your PS5 console.

When you want to use the USB drive again, connect it to a USB port on the back of your PS5 console.

  • Before you disconnect the cable, select Settings > Devices > USB Storage Devices > Stop.

How to format (delete or wipe) USB extended storage on a PS5 console

You can format a drive when you no longer want to use it as a USB extended storage drive for your PS5 console. When you format the USB extended storage drive, all game data saved on the drive is erased.

  1. Go to Settings > Storage > USB Extended Storage.

  2. Select ... (More) > Format as exFAT.

Do not turn off the power or disconnect the USB drive while it's being formatted. Doing this may cause data loss or corruption, or damage to your PS5 console or USB drive.

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