When it comes to external hard drives for your PS4, there are two types to choose from: hard drives (HDDs) and solid-state drives (SSDs). Hard drives, also known as HDDs, are not as fast as solid-state drives (SSDs), but they are almost always less expensive. An external hard drive is an investment, so it’s important to find a hard drive with the speed and storage capacity you need. Some compatible hard drives may need reformatting before they can store PS4 data, and this is a process that may require a computer. However, not all hard drives are compatible with the PS4, and you will need a hard drive with a USB 3.0 connection.Įxternal hard drives come in different sizes and different capacities, too.

Thanks to the system software update 4.5, you can store downloaded games and game data on an external hard drive and play them as you normally would, even if they’re not on the PS4’s internal hard drive. Fortunately, increasing your storage can be as simple as plugging an external hard drive into one of the PS4’s USB 3.0 ports. Even 1TB PS4 models can run out of room after just a few years. Buying guide for best PS4 external hard drivesĮvery PlayStation 4 owner knows how quickly memory is eaten up by downloaded games, capture gallery videos, and Blu-ray game installation data.