How Much Storage Does the PS5 Have?

Dusan Vasic

Updated: May 6, 2023

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There were plenty of mixed reactions when Sony initially announced that the PlayStation 5 would have 825 GB of storage for games. Why 825 GB and not 1 TB? How much storage space is taken up by the operating system? Some gamers got what they were hoping for, while others were concerned that it might not be enough.

Still, in less than two years, Sony sold over 20 million PS5 units despite the hardware shortages, but only time will tell if the console will reach the popularity of the PlayStation 2.

So, how much storage does the PS5 actually have? That’s what we’ll answer here, and we’ll also take a look at how the console’s storage capacity can be expanded. 

How Much Space Does the PS5 Have for Games?

While the PS5 officially has 825 GB of internal storage space, it only has 667.2GB free for games, as system files take up the remaining 157.8 GB. This is generally more than enough space if you want to install multiple PlayStation 5 games. 

However, if you installed some of the more memory-hungry titles, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops – Cold War (225.3 GB) or Marvel’s Avengers (184.1 GB), you can quickly run out of space. 

Thankfully, some options are available for gamers who need additional storage space.  

Expanding PS5 Storage With an External Drive

Sony’s latest console supports using an external drive as a means of expanding storage. So, if you need more space, you can always buy an external hard drive or solid-state drive and plug it into your PS5. 

You’ll want a drive with at least SuperSpeed USB 5 Gbps and a storage capacity between 250 GB and 8 TB. 

Remember that not all devices are guaranteed to work with the PS5, and you can’t connect the external drive through a USB hub. Only one drive can be connected at a time.  

Before you move your games to the external storage for PS5, there are a few steps you need to take, such as formatting the drive. To start using additional space, follow these steps:  

1. Use the back USB port to connect the USB drive 
2. Access Settings and then the Storage submenu
3. Open USB Extended Storage and choose the Format as USB Extended Storage option.

Now, you can use the additional space to store your game files. Remember that you can’t play games directly from this external storage; rather, you can move them to internal memory rather than download them again. 

Increasing PS5 Storage Size by Adding an M.2 SSD

The best way to increase your game storage is by installing another M.2 SSD into the PS5’s expansion slot. With these high-speed SSDs, you can have more space to launch games directly and load them much faster. You’ll need a compatible drive with the following specs: 

• Capacity between 250 GB and 4 TB
• M.2 NVMe SSD with a PCI-Express Gen4x4 interface 
• Sizes 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280, and 22110
• Read speed of 5,500 MB/s or higher,
• Socket 3
• Width up to 25mm 
• Lengths 30, 40, 60, 80, 110 mm
• Thickness up to 11.25 mm

The space reserved for expandable PlayStation 5 storage allows enough room to install an M.2 NVMe SSD with a heat sink. If you bought one without cooling, you can always buy the heat sink separately. 

The installation process is straightforward, and it only takes a few steps to physically install an M.2 SSD. 

1. While the PS5 is turned off and unplugged, place the console flat on the desk and remove the base cover. 
   
   
2. The slot for the M.2 SSD is located under a metal cover and secured in place with a Philips head screw.
   
   
3. There, you’ll find another screw and spacer, which you should use to secure your PS5 console’s storage in place.
   
   
4. Depending on the length of the M.2 SSD, place the spacer on the marked spot. Then, insert the drive at a 30-degree angle.
   
   
5. Secure the expansion slot panel back in place.
   
   
6. Close the console before plugging it in and configuring the SSD.
    
   
7. When you power on the PS5, follow the on-screen instructions.

Conclusion – Why Do You Need Extra PS5 Storage?

As we’ve seen, some PlayStation 5 game data can take up a lot of storage space. As your library expands, you’ll want to keep more than a few games installed and ready to play at all times. 

Maybe you are one of more than five million proud owners of PSVR and have various games prepared to demonstrate how fun VR is to your guests. In that case, you’ll likely need extra PS5 storage capacity sooner rather than later.

Moreover, PlayStation 5 is much more than a gaming console. It’s also an entertainment center that plays 4K Blu-ray movies, music, and TV shows. With so many features, it’s no wonder that games and other files can quickly fill up the 667 GB of usable storage. 

With more space for video content, you can conveniently use streaming apps such as Netflix and even have enough room for content that your gaming VPN can unlock, such as Hulu, YouTube, and others.