How to install an Internal SSD Drive in your PS5

August 17, 2021

4 Internal SSDs next to a playstation 5 with Chevrons

The launch of the PS5 includes some pretty impressive games, and whilst most of these games offer improved graphics and storylines, they tend to take up increasingly more storage space. Take for example 'Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart' which takes up to 33GB, or 'Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales' at 38GB all the way up to 'Demon Souls' which takes up a whopping 66GB.

When you consider this, and then factor in the fact that the PS5 mandatory system files take up around 158GB, your generous 825GB console may not seem so generous after all. As you’re left with around 667 GB, you may find that you quickly run out of space, especially as you look to expand your library of games.

Luckily, this isn’t too much of a problem, as a dwindling amount of storage space can be easily fixed with an M.2 SSD. In this Blog, we’ll talk you through the 10 easy steps to installing an internal SSD in your PS5, including how to format the SSD ready for use.

We have also popped the link to a video at the bottom, for a hands-on tutorial.

What type of SSD can I use with my PS5?

We have great news for Sony owners, as unlike Microsoft with the Xbox, Sony aren’t making official drives in a unique form factor. This means you can save serious money by selecting from a range of compatible PC NVMe SSD drives from a range of manufacturers. However, it’s not super simple as there are some requirements for the SSD to run smoothly.

How will I know which SSDs are compatible?

If you want an easy way to find suitable SSDs, you can click here to go straight through to our blog that lists all compatible models on our site as well as the requirements needed. Otherwise, we have included a couple of compatible models at the end of this article.

10 Steps to installing an internal SSD in your PS5

So now you know which SSDs will work, and you have purchased a compatible SSD, let’s get into the installation!

Step 1) Ensure the console is unplugged from any electrical source. Turn the console so it’s lying flat on its side with the disk slot visible upwards.

Step 2) Hold both sides of the PS5 and lift the right side slightly, then pull the left slightly to the side. The panel should then unclip from the main body and slide off.

Step 3) Now the console is opened up, take a look at the metal cover by the fan, as it’s held in with one screw which you’ll need to remove.

Step 4) Now you’re ready to install your M.2 SSD, you just need to ensure the heat sink is fitted.

Step 5) Now the heat sync and SSD are combined, you’ll see a screw and spacer at the end of the SSD slot. Use the size of your SSD to determine which of the screws need to be removed.

Step 6) Then place the spacer into the screw hole underneath the SSD and then insert the SSD into the slot - ensuring you have correctly aligned the contacts. You’ll then find it will lock into place with a little push, then you just have to fit the screw to keep it firmly in place.

Step 7) Now you just need to assemble the PS5, you first need to refit the SSD slot cover with a screw and then fit the PS5 panel back on.

Step 8) As the SSD is now physically installed, you’ll need to format it in order to be able to use it to save your games on. As you switch your console back on, you’ll see a message giving you the options of ‘Don’t format and turn off PS5 or ‘Format M.2 SSd’, click the format option.

Step 9) Once this is formatted you will see some information on the screen such as the read speed, and then a confirmation. There you have it, you have installed extra storage!

Step 10) If you want to make the new SSD your primary location for installation, just head to settings, click storage, and click ‘installation location’ at the bottom. You can then select the additional SSD as the primary memory selection.

There you have it, a step by step guide on how to install an Internal SSD in your Playstation 5!

We hope you have found this article helpful, for similar content such as ‘How to pair your AirPods Pro with the PS5’ and 'The Best 2021 TVs with HDMI 2.1', then feel free to check out our Box blogs page. But before we leave you there, here are a couple of our compatible SSDs, click here for the full list.