How to optimize your PS5’s storage space so you don’t run out immediately

Maximize Your PS5 Storage: A Guide to Managing Games and Data

Cloud gaming is convenient, but nothing beats the speed and reliability of local gaming. That's why the PlayStation 5 boasts an 825GB SSD, though only about 80% is usable after accounting for system software. This space can fill up quickly with AAA titles. To keep your PS5 running smoothly, understand how its storage works and learn how to free up space.

Understanding Your Storage

Checking your PS5's storage is easy: Navigate to Settings, then Storage, and finally Console Storage. The available space is displayed prominently. You'll also see a breakdown of storage usage by category (game data, media files, etc.). Selecting a category provides a more detailed view. To identify space-hogging games, choose Games and Apps. The list shows installed games and their sizes; recently played games appear at the bottom. Use the Sort icon to organize by name, size, or last played date.

The Storage screen also shows details for any connected USB drives (USB Extended Storage). Note that PS4 games and their saved data are handled separately from PS5 titles.

Freeing Up PS5 Storage

To delete a game, go to Settings, Storage, Console Storage, and Games and Apps. Select the game and choose Delete. The space reclaimed is shown before confirmation. You can delete other data (screenshots, videos) through the Console Storage categories. Use Select Multiple to delete multiple files simultaneously, or select a single file and choose the Delete icon.

Moving Data to External Storage

A compatible external USB drive offers an alternative to deletion. However, you must choose between storing games or media files; both aren't possible simultaneously. For media (screenshots, videos), the drive needs FAT32 or exFAT formatting (most drives are pre-formatted). Reformatting can be done on a Windows or macOS computer.

Connect the formatted drive, then navigate to Settings, Storage, Console Storage, and Media Gallery. Select files, click the three-dot button, and choose Copy to USB Drive. Check your drive's contents via USB in the Media Gallery.

PS4 saved game data (from PS4 games moved to your PS5) can also be stored on a FAT32 or exFAT drive. Go to Saved Data, PS4 Games, and select Copy to USB Drive.

Moving PS5 games to external storage is possible, but they can't be run from there; you'll need to copy them back to the internal drive to play. This is faster than reinstalling. From Storage, Console Storage, Games and Apps, select Move PS4 Content or Move PS5 Games. Alternatively, use the Options button on a game in the Game Library to choose Move to USB Extended Storage.

Cloud Storage and Future Improvements

PlayStation Plus subscribers can use cloud storage for saved games. Use the Upload to Cloud Storage button in Saved Data.

The PS5's NVMe SSD expansion slot will eventually support both storage and execution of PS5 games. Currently, only the internal SSD provides sufficient speed for this. Sony will release a firmware update and a compatibility list for NVMe SSDs in the future.

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