Credit:
Sony / Samsung
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It’s been more than two years since Sony debuted the Playstation 5; with its selection of games ever-increasing and their file sizes only getting bigger, it’s no secret that many of us struggle with micromanaging our game library when the PS5’s internal storage is 825GB (with only 667GB reserved for games). With many modern games such as Final Fantasy VII: Remake Intergrade and God of War: Ragnarok taking over 80GB of space (not to mention Marvel’s Avengers (184GB) and Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (225GB))_, uninstalling and reinstalling games can become a chore.
That’s where adding a second SSD card comes in handy. With some offering up to 4TB of space, they’re the best solution to the storage problem. In this guide, we will direct you through the necessary steps to installing an SSD card and expanding your available games. It’s a simple process that only takes about 10-20 minutes.
What you will need
Opening up your PS5 and inserting the SSD card is a very simple and short process that only requires one simple tool.
If you are reading this article, we assume you have your own PS5 system. As for SSD cards, there’s a decent selection to choose from but for this guide I used the 1TB Samsung 980 Pro. The only real tool you’re going to need for this process is a Phillips 1 screwdriver.
Installation
Step 1
After disconnecting and picking up your PS5, set it flat on a table (especially if you have pets) with the PS logo side facing down. Grab the top right corner and lift it up before sliding it down to open up the console. You should see the cooling fan, the disc reader cover (if you have the disc version of the system) and the expansion slot where you will be inserting your SSD card.
This is arguably the trickiest step since you have to apply some light force on the cover to take it off, so it might take a moment before getting it right. We promise it’s not as bad as it seems—just remember to be gentle.
Step 2
Be extra careful that the screw doesn’t fall into the fan!
With your screwdriver, unscrew the expansion slot cover. (Be careful not to drop the screw inside the fan.) Once you open it, you will see a green area with more screw holes inside. Unscrew the top screw (again, careful not to drop it in the fan) and place the spacer in the hole that corresponds with the size of your card.
Step 3
The extra screw holes will ensure you can insert and fasten cards of different sizes so you won’t be limited.
Now for the fun part—insert your SSD card in the slot and all the way into the terminal opening. The SSD will point upward if you remove your fingers, so you’ll need to hold it down as you use the screw you just removed to adhere the SSD to the green area. (Make sure to align the hole at the end of the SSD with the hole on the green board before doing this.)
Step 4
The card is now installed. Simply reattach the expansion slot cover, screw it in again, and then slide the console cover back into place. Make sure you listen for a light clicking sound to make sure the cover is back in place. After that, you are free to hook-up your PS5 to your TV or monitor.
Step 5
The PS5 will not operate until you format the M.2 SSD card, so make sure you choose to do so before proceeding to download more of your favorite games.
With the PS5 back in place and ready to go, turn it on and you’ll be greeted with a notice to format the SSD card. Select Format M.2 SSD and wait a few minutes for the process to be completed.
That’s it! You can now store more games without having to delete any from the primary SSD.
Which M.2 SSD cards are compatible with the PS5?
Only PCIe 4.0 SSDs are compatible with the PS5, and they must have a built-in heatsink to operate properly and avoid overheating. PCIe 4.0 SSDs have high throughput, which means they can get really hot really fast, especially when you’re running a demanding game on your PS5.
Playstation support has you covered if you need more general details, including warranty information and a video walkthrough of this process.
Still not sure which card to get? Our list of the best SSD cards will surely help you with that, and they are all compatible with the system.
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