Wondering How Much Storage Does the PS5 Have? Here‘s What You Need to Know

The PlayStation 5 (PS5) is the latest and greatest console from Sony. With incredible graphics, super-fast load times, and immersive gameplay, it represents a massive leap forward for gaming.

However, one area that some gamers are concerned about is the PS5‘s storage capacity. With modern games frequently exceeding 100GB in size, the PS5‘s 825GB of usable storage can fill up quickly.

So how much storage does the PS5 really have? What can you do if you need more capacity? This article will break down the PS5‘s storage in detail and provide tips on expanding it with external drives.

Understanding the PS5‘s Internal Storage

The PS5 contains a custom 825GB solid state drive (SSD) for storage. This SSD uses the PCIe Gen 4 interface and delivers extremely fast data transfer speeds, which helps slash loading times in games.

However, the full 825GB capacity is not usable for storing games and apps. When you first set up your PS5, only 667.2GB out of the 825GB is available. Here‘s how the storage breaks down:

825GB – Total physical capacity of the internal SSD
158GB – Reserved system software, firmware, and system updates
667GB – Usable space for games, apps, and media

The reserved 158GB is necessary for the PS5‘s system files and future software updates. You cannot use this space for games or media.

To view your available storage, go to Settings > Storage > Console Storage. This screen shows your total usable space and how much is currently free.

The 667GB of usable space is a decent amount for a game console. However, as modern triple-A games continue to balloon in size, this storage can still fill up faster than expected.

For example, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare takes up over 100GB on PS5. Grand Theft Auto V requires around 95GB. Even indie games like Death Stranding and Final Fantasy 7 Remake eat up over 60GB each.

Installing 10-15 of these major titles could completely occupy your PS5‘s usable storage, leaving no room for captures, downloads, or future games. That‘s why adding external storage is so important.

The Benefits of Expanding Your PS5‘s Storage

Here are some of the key benefits of adding external storage drives to your PS5:

Store More Games – Extra storage lets you keep more of your games installed and ready to play. You don‘t have to delete older games to make room for new ones.
Faster Downloads – Games and updates can download directly to external storage, avoiding your limited internal SSD space.
Quick Data Transfers – You can transfer games back and forth from external to internal storage very quickly.
More Capture Storage – Save more gameplay clips, screenshots, and game recordings externally instead of filling up the PS5‘s precious SSD space.
Future Proofing – As game file sizes continue to increase, external storage gives you breathing room so you don‘t outgrow your PS5‘s internal capacity.

The bottom line is that a good external drive enhances your gaming experience. You can easily access a bigger library of games while keeping your most-played titles on the internal SSD for peak performance.

Choosing the Right PS5 External Storage Drive

Not all external drives will work optimally with the PS5. To get the best performance, there are some key factors to consider:

Interface – The drive must have a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 or faster interface to work with PS5 games and apps. Slower USB drives can only be used for backups.
Form Factor – For physical external drives, a compact form factor allows neat, out-of-the-way placement and avoids damage to connectors. M.2 NVMe SSDs (covered below) offer the smallest footprint.
Capacity – Aim for 1-4TB to dramatically expand your storage. Larger capacity means you can store more games and media externally.
Speed – Faster drive speeds allow quicker transfers back and forth from the internal SSD. Look for solid state drives (SSDs) rather than traditional hard disk drives (HDDs).

For the absolute best performance, an M.2 NVMe SSD is recommended, but they are more expensive than traditional external SSDs and HDDs. We‘ll cover some top options below.

How to Add External Storage to Your PS5

Adding external storage to your PS5 only takes a few minutes. Here are the steps:

Update your PS5 to the latest system software. Sony enables more external storage options with firmware updates.
Connect your external drive to your PS5 via the USB-C or rear USB-A ports.
Go to Settings > Storage > USB Extended Storage > Format as USB Extended Storage. This will format the drive for PS5 game storage.
Follow the on-screen prompts and your drive will now show under External in the Storage menu once formatted.

That‘s all there is to it! Your external drive is now ready for use. You can select it as the download location for new games and media.

Our Recommended External Drives for PS5

Here are some excellent external drive options for expanding your PS5 storage capacity:

Fantom Drives VENOM8

The Fantom Drives VENOM8 is an M.2 NVMe SSD that offers a simple way to add lightning-fast storage to your PS5. It comes pre-formatted for PS5 use and slots right into the PS5‘s M.2 expansion bay with the included heatsink.

With read speeds up to 7400MB/s, the VENOM8 can transfer games to and from the internal SSD extremely quickly. It‘s available in 1TB and 2TB capacities. The integrated heatsink prevents thermal throttling as well, even after long gaming sessions.

Overall, the VENOM8 is one of the best and easiest ways to add more storage without sacrificing speed or performance.

Capacity: 1TB, 2TB
Interface: PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe
Sequential Read: Up to 7400MB/s

WD_BLACK SN850 NVMe SSD

Designed specifically for gaming, the WD_BLACK SN850 hits all the right notes for PS5 compatibility. It meets Sony‘s performance standards and fits perfectly into the PS5‘s M.2 expansion slot.

With read speeds up to 7000MB/s, the SN850 keeps game load times lightning quick. The included heatsink allows it to maintain peak performance during marathon gaming sessions as well. Durable 3D NAND flash memory gives it excellent reliability.

The SN850 is available in capacities from 500GB to 2TB, providing flexible options to suit your game storage needs. It‘s one of the best SSDs to consider for expanding your PS5‘s capacity.

Capacity: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB
Interface: PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe
Sequential Read: Up to 7000MB/s

Samsung T7 Portable SSD

For an affordable and compact external SSD, check out the Samsung T7. Despite its small size, it delivers read speeds up to 1050MB/s over a USB 3.2 Gen 2 connection.

The rugged metal housing provides durability while the lack of moving parts gives it reliable performance. Drop protection helps prevent damage if the drive is accidentally dropped. The T7 works with PC, Mac, Android, and PS5.

With capacity options from 500GB to 2TB, the portable Samsung T7 is a versatile external SSD for expanding your PS5 storage.

Capacity: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB
Interface: USB 3.2 Gen 2
Sequential Read: Up to 1050MB/s

WD_BLACK P50 Game Drive SSD

The WD_BLACK P50 is a sleek desktop external SSD built for gamers. With read speeds up to 2000MB/s, it can transfer games to your PS5 significantly faster than traditional HDDs.

The bold black aluminum housing looks great next to your PS5 while helping shed heat from the drive. It has a shock-resistant design that‘s ready for transport as well. Available from 500GB up to 4TB, you can pick the perfect P50 capacity for your needs.

If you want great looks along with wicked fast speeds, the WD_BLACK P50 is one of the top external SSDs for PS5.

Capacity: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB
Interface: USB 3.2 Gen 2×2
Sequential Read: Up to 2000MB/s

Seagate FireCuda 530

As an M.2 PCIe Gen4x4 NVMe SSD, the Seagate FireCuda 530 offers some of the fastest speeds you can get in an external drive. With massive read/write speeds over 7000/6000MB/s, it will make short work of transferring even the biggest game files.

It has an IP55-rated enclosure that provides excellent dust and water resistance. The included heatsink keeps it running cool for long gaming sessions. For performance that rivals the PS5‘s internal SSD, the FireCuda 530 is a top choice.

Capacity: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB
Interface: PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe
Sequential Read: Up to 7300MB/s

Using an External HDD for PS5 Game Storage

While external hard disk drives (HDDs) work for PS4 game storage, they are not recommended for PS5 games. HDDs are far slower than SSDs, with maximum transfer speeds of around 100-200MB/s.

This means you‘ll experience slower loading times, textures popping in, and lagging gameplay if you try to run PS5 games from an external HDD. The performance just isn‘t adequate for the demands of today‘s AAA games.

External HDDs still work fine as cold backup storage for your PS5. You can store PS4 games on them as well. But for playable PS5 game storage, stick to high-speed SSDs rather than old-school HDDs.

Quick Tips for Managing Your PS5 Storage

Here are some useful tips for making the most of your PS5 storage space:

Set your external drive as the default download location for new games and media. This prevents filling up the internal SSD.
Avoid capturing clips and screenshots at 4K resolution. The massive file sizes quickly eat up SSD space.
Close games and apps fully when you‘re done playing to clear cached data.
Transfer PS4 games to a large external HDD to free up internal SSD room for PS5 titles.
Check for games with bloated file sizes that may have unwanted language packs installed. You can delete these to save space.
Uninstall games you haven‘t played for a long time to clear up storage room. You can always reinstall them later if needed.
Use the PS5‘s storage overview screen to monitor what‘s taking up space on your console.

Final Thoughts

Understanding the PS5‘s storage capacity and how to expand it properly enables you to build a massive game library. While the 667GB of usable internal SSD space provides excellent performance, investing in a fast external SSD or M.2 expansion drive can drastically improve your gaming experience.

With a good external storage solution, you‘ll never have to waste time deleting and redownloading games again. Loading times can be slashed while giving you space to capture more gameplay clips and screenshots as well.

So don‘t settle for the stock storage alone. Use this guide to enhance your PS5 with an upgraded external drive that suits your storage needs and budget. Pair it with some smart storage management practices, and you‘ll be gaming happily ever after.