Modern games are huge. Install three or four big releases, add their updates, and the "Not enough free space" message appears sooner than anyone expects. With Sony confirming that new PlayStation games will be digital-only from January 2028, storage is becoming the most important upgrade a PS5 owner can make.
This guide explains how much space you really have, the quickest ways to free some up today, and how to add an M.2 SSD safely, step by step.
How much storage does your PS5 really have?
Part of every SSD is reserved for the system software, so the space you can use is less than the number on the box.
| Model | SSD on the box | Space for games |
|---|---|---|
| Original PS5 (2020, CFI-1000) | 825GB | About 667GB |
| Current PS5 Disc and Digital (CFI-2000) | 1TB | About 848GB |
| PS5 Digital Edition, European revision (from Sept 2025) | 825GB | Less than the 1TB model |
| PS5 Pro | 2TB | Most of the 2TB |
To see exactly what is using your space, open Settings > Storage > Console Storage. The PS5 lists games and apps by size, plus media gallery, saved data and other files.
Not sure which console to buy in the first place? Our PS5 Disc vs Digital Edition guide covers the full comparison.
9 quick ways to free up space today
- Delete games you have finished. Your saves stay on the console (and in the cloud with PS Plus), and digital games can be downloaded again any time from your library.
- Remove parts of a game you never play. Some games let you delete single-player or multiplayer content separately. Highlight the game, press Options and choose Manage Game Content to see what can be removed.
- Clear old screenshots and video clips. Gameplay videos are big. Go to the Media Gallery, select old clips and delete them, or copy the ones you want to a USB drive first.
- Stop automatic video captures. In Settings > Captures and Broadcasts, turn off automatic trophy videos if you never watch them.
- Delete PS4 games you can run from USB. PS4 games play directly from USB extended storage, so move them there and keep the fast SSD for PS5 games.
- Remove leftover PS4 versions. If you upgraded a game to its PS5 version, the old PS4 version is often still installed. Check Console Storage for duplicates.
- Delete demos and trials you have already tried.
- Uninstall apps you do not use. Old streaming apps and free-to-play games add up.
- Use the cloud for saves. With PS Plus, saves upload automatically, so you can delete and reinstall games without losing progress.
Big updates need extra room while they install, often more than the final size of the update. If an update refuses to install, free up a bit more space than it asks for and try again.
USB extended storage: cheap, but with limits
Any USB 3 hard drive or SSD of 250GB to 8TB can be used as extended storage. Plug it into a rear USB port, then format it from Settings > Storage > USB Extended Storage.
- PS4 games can be installed and played directly from USB storage.
- PS5 games can be stored there to avoid downloading them again, but must be copied back to the internal SSD or an M.2 SSD before you can play.
- Copying from USB is much faster than a fresh download on a slow connection, so USB storage is a great "parking garage" for games you return to now and then.
The real fix: adding an M.2 SSD
Every PS5 model has an empty expansion slot for an M.2 SSD. Games installed there play exactly like games on the internal drive, so this is the best way to add space permanently.
Sony's official requirements
| Requirement | What you need |
|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 NVMe SSD (M.2 SATA drives do not work) |
| Capacity | 250GB to 8TB |
| Read speed | 5,500MB/s or faster recommended |
| Sizes | 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280 or 22110 |
| Maximum size with cooling | 25mm wide, up to 11.25mm thick |
| Cooling | Required: heatsink or heat-transfer sheet |
- A Gen4 NVMe SSD sold with a slim heatsink and marked "PS5 compatible"
- 2TB is the sweet spot for price per GB for most players
- Well-known brands with a 5-year warranty
- M.2 SATA drives, they will not be detected
- Gen3 drives or drives slower than about 5,500MB/s
- Tall gaming heatsinks that stop the cover closing
- Adding a second heatsink to a drive that already has one
How to install it, step by step
You need a #1 Phillips (cross-head) screwdriver, a clear table and about 15 minutes. Update the console to the latest system software first.
- Power off fully, unplug every cable and let the console cool down. Touch a metal object to discharge static.
- Remove the cover. On the current PS5 and PS5 Pro, remove the outer cover that Sony's guide calls the triangle cover. On the original PS5, lay it flat with the logo facing down, lift the corner of the side panel and slide it off.
- Open the expansion slot by removing its screw and metal cover.
- Move the spacer to the hole that matches your SSD's length (most are 2280).
- Insert the SSD at a slight upward angle until it is fully seated, then press it down and fix it with the screw.
- Close everything up, reconnect the cables and switch on. The PS5 will ask to format the drive. This erases everything on it, so do not install a drive with files you need.
After formatting, go to Settings > Storage > Installation Location and choose where new PS5 games should install. You can also move games between the internal SSD and the M.2 SSD at any time.
Will it void the warranty? No. The slot is designed to be opened by owners and Sony publishes the official steps. Just follow them carefully and do not force anything.
How much storage do you actually need?
- Casual player (2 to 3 games installed): the built-in 1TB is usually enough if you delete games you finish.
- Regular player (5 to 8 games plus a big online game): add a 1TB or 2TB M.2 SSD.
- PS Plus Extra or Premium fan, or slow internet: go for 2TB to 4TB so you never have to re-download.
Clean up captures, duplicate PS4 versions and finished games first. Use a cheap USB drive for PS4 games and as a backup garage. When you are tired of deleting, a 2TB Gen4 M.2 SSD with a heatsink is the single best upgrade for any PS5, and it matters even more as PlayStation moves to digital-only games in 2028.
Free space low and nothing to play while you wait? These browser games need zero storage:
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More help: make browser games run smoother and the best PS5 games of 2026.