The short answer is yes, but only for PS4 games. You can play PS4 games on external hard drive PS5 setups directly from a compatible USB drive, but PS5 games can only be stored there, not played. If your drive isn't being detected at all, see this PS5 not reading external hard drive fix before troubleshooting further. To play PS5 titles from expanded storage, you must use an internal M.2 SSD installed in the console's expansion slot.
The crucial difference: playing vs. storing games on a PS5 external drive
Before you buy or plug in any USB storage, understand this key limitation: your PS5 console treats external drives differently depending on the game's version. PS4 games are fully playable from an external USB hard drive or SSD. You can launch them, play them, and save progress directly to that drive, and you can even transfer PS4 games from one external hard drive to another without re-downloading. PS5 games, however, are not playable from any external USB drive. The console will let you store PS5 game files there to free up internal space, but you must copy them back to the internal SSD before you can start playing. This is a hardware and software restriction built into the PS5 to ensure optimal performance for next-gen titles.
So if your goal is to expand storage cheaply for a large PS4 backlog, an external drive is perfect. If you need more space for PS5 games, you'll need to invest in an internal M.2 SSD. This guide focuses on the external drive method for PS4 games, with a clear section on how to handle PS5 game storage separately.
Requirements for your external USB drive
Not every USB drive works with the PS5. Sony enforces strict technical specifications to ensure reliable performance and data integrity. Your external drive must meet all of these conditions:
- SuperSpeed USB 5 Gbps (USB 3.0) or later: The drive must support at least USB 3.0 speeds. Older USB 2.0 drives will not work for extended storage. Check the drive's packaging or specs for "SuperSpeed USB" or "USB 3.0" or higher.
- Capacity between 250 GB and 8 TB: The minimum is 250 GB, and the maximum is 8 TB. Smaller drives won't be recognized, and larger ones will be rejected. This applies to the drive's total formatted capacity.
- No USB hubs: You must connect the drive directly to one of the PS5's USB ports. Do not use a USB hub, even a powered one. The console may fail to detect the drive or may disconnect it during gameplay.
- Only one drive at a time: The PS5 supports only one USB extended storage drive connected at any given moment. Even if you plug in two compatible drives, only the first one you set up will be used. The second will be ignored.
- Connect to the back USB ports: For the most stable connection, plug the drive into one of the USB ports on the back of the PS5 console. The front USB-C port can work, but the back ports are recommended for extended storage.
If your drive meets these specs, you're ready to set it up. If not, you'll need to get a compatible one before proceeding.
How to set up and play PS4 games from your external drive
Once you have a compatible drive, the setup process takes about two minutes. Follow these steps to format the drive and start playing PS4 games from it.
Step 1: Format the drive as extended storage
Connect your external drive to a USB port on the back of your PS5. Turn on the console. Go to Settings > Storage > Extended Storage. Select Format as Extended Storage. The console will warn you that formatting erases all data on the drive. Confirm the action. The PS5 will format the drive with a special file system optimized for game data. This takes a few seconds. Once done, the drive appears as "Extended Storage" in your Storage menu.
Step 2: Move PS4 games from console storage to the external drive
Now you can move existing PS4 games. Go to Settings > Storage > Console Storage > Games and Apps. You'll see a list of all installed games. Highlight a PS4 game (they have a "PS4" label). Press the Options button on your controller. Select Move to Extended Storage. You can select multiple games at once by checking the boxes. Confirm the move. The game files transfer to the external drive. The process takes a few minutes depending on the game size. After moving, the game still appears in your Game Library, but it launches from the external drive.
Step 3: Set the external drive as the default install location for PS4 games
To make future PS4 game installs go directly to the external drive, change a simple setting. Select Install PS4 Games to Extended Storage and toggle it on. Now, when you install any PS4 game from the PlayStation Store or a disc, it will automatically install to the external drive. You can still choose to install to console storage on a per-game basis by changing this setting temporarily. When you launch a PS4 game from the external drive, it plays exactly as it would from internal storage. Load times may be slightly slower on a traditional HDD but faster on an external SSD.
How to manage PS5 games with an external drive
PS5 games cannot run from the external drive. You can only store them there to free up internal space. When you want to play a stored PS5 game, you must move it back to the console's internal SSD. Here's the walkthrough:
You'll see a list of PS5 games stored on the external drive. Highlight the game you want to play. Press the Options button and select Move to Console Storage. The game copies to the internal SSD. You can also select multiple games and move them all at once. Once the move is complete, launch the game from your Game Library. The copy process takes a few minutes for large games. Remember, you cannot play a PS5 game while it's on the external drive. You must always move it back first. If you have many PS5 games, this back-and-forth can be inconvenient, which is why an internal M.2 SSD is the better long-term solution for PS5 titles.
A faster alternative: internal M.2 SSD for playing PS5 games
For playing PS5 games from expanded storage, the only supported method is installing a compatible internal M.2 SSD. This is a small drive that fits into a dedicated slot inside the PS5 console. The requirements are strict: the drive must be a PCIe Gen4x4 NVMe M.2 SSD with a read speed of 5500 MB/s or faster. It must also have a heatsink for cooling. Sony provides a list of recommended drives, but any drive meeting the specs will work. Installing an M.2 SSD requires opening the console's side panel, inserting the drive, and securing it with a screw. Once installed, you can set it as the default install location for PS5 games. Games on the M.2 SSD play directly from it with no need to copy back to internal storage. Load times are comparable to the built-in SSD. This solution is more expensive than an external USB drive, but it's the only way to expand playable PS5 game storage. If you primarily play PS4 games, stick with the external USB method.
"PS5 storage capacity, discs and expansion" (PS5 Storage: Capacity, Discs and Expansion) Facts
Here are the verified facts about PS5 storage you need to know:
- You cannot play PlayStation 5 (PS5) games directly from an external hard drive or external USB SSD.
- You can use an external hard drive (HDD) or external SSD to store PS5 games, but you must transfer them back to the PS5's internal SSD to play them.
- You can play PlayStation 4 (PS4) games directly from an external USB hard drive or external SSD on your PS5 console.
- To use an external drive for extended storage, it must be a SuperSpeed USB 5 Gbps (USB 3.0) or later device.
- The external storage device must have a minimum capacity of 250 GB and a maximum capacity of 8 TB.
- Only one USB extended storage drive can be used at a time, even if multiple are connected.
- To set up an external drive, connect it to a USB port on your PS5, then go to Settings > Storage > Extended Storage and choose Format as Extended Storage.
- To move games from console storage to extended storage, go to Settings > Storage > Console Storage > Games and Apps, select the games, and choose Move.
- To move games from extended storage back to console storage, go to Settings > Storage > USB Extended Storage, select the game, and choose Copy or Move to Console Storage.
- An internal M.2 NVMe SSD, installed in the PS5's expansion slot, does allow you to store and play PS5 games directly from it.
These facts are confirmed by official PlayStation documentation and reputable gaming sources. Always check your drive's specs against these requirements before purchasing.
