Want to expand your PS5's storage and play your games from an external hard drive? This guide will walk you through the process, covering everything from selecting the right drive to troubleshooting common issues. Playing your PS5 games from an external drive is a great way to maximize your gaming library without constantly deleting and reinstalling titles.
Choosing the Right External Hard Drive
Before you start, it's crucial to choose a compatible external hard drive. The PS5 supports USB 3.0 and USB 3.1 external hard drives. Crucially, it does not support NVMe SSDs or any drives formatted using APFS. Here's what to look for:
- USB 3.x Interface: Make sure your drive uses a USB 3.0 or 3.1 connection. While USB 2.0 drives might work, they'll be significantly slower.
- Sufficient Storage: Consider how many games you want to store. Games can range from a few gigabytes to over 100GB, so choose a capacity accordingly. Options ranging from 1TB to 8TB are readily available.
- External Enclosure (if needed): If you have an internal drive, you'll need an external enclosure to connect it to your PS5.
Important Note: You can only play PS4 games from an external hard drive. PS5 games must be installed on the internal SSD for optimal performance.
Connecting Your External Hard Drive
Connecting your external hard drive to your PS5 is straightforward:
- Power Off Your PS5: Ensure your PS5 is completely turned off before connecting the drive.
- Connect the Drive: Plug your external hard drive into one of the USB ports on your PS5.
- Power On Your PS5: Turn your PS5 back on.
- Format the Drive (if necessary): The PS5 will likely prompt you to format the drive. This will erase all data on the drive, so back up anything important before proceeding. Choose the option to format it as extended storage for PS4 games.
Accessing and Playing Your Games
Once the drive is formatted and ready, you can access your PS4 games stored on it:
- Navigate to the Game Library: Go to your game library on the PS5 home screen.
- Select Your Game: Choose the PS4 game you wish to play from the external drive.
- Start Playing: The game will launch as usual.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
- Drive Not Recognized: Check the USB cable and ensure it's properly connected to both the drive and the PS5. Try a different USB port. If the problem persists, try a different drive.
- Slow Loading Times: Using a USB 3.0 drive will lead to slower loading than the internal SSD. This is expected. Consider using an external SSD for faster loading speeds.
- Game Crashes: If a game crashes repeatedly when played from the external hard drive, try reinstalling the game.
Maximizing Your PS5 Gaming Experience
Adding an external hard drive significantly extends your PS5's storage capacity, allowing you to keep a larger library of PS4 games readily available. Remember to choose a compatible drive and follow the steps outlined above for a seamless experience. Enjoy your expanded gaming world!
