PS4 running out of storage? Learn how to get more space on your PS4

Updated By

Linda 

Authored By

Cici 

Last Updated on April 22, 2024

The gaming industry is evolving at a breakneck pace. We've already seen consoles like the PS4 launch with 500GB of storage, which at the time could hold about 12-14 games. With new releases like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, which takes up a minimum of 175GB of storage, that means you can now store only 4-5 games on your PS4.

A full PS4 hard drive doesn't mean you're out of luck expanding your PS4's storage. If you want to play modern, large games on your PS4, it's absolutely possible to upgrade the PlayStation 4's hard drive. Follow along with this guide, and the tools will help you get more storage for your PS4.

Article Summary

How to Increase Storage on Your PS4

< a id="Buy_External_HDD" name="Buy_External_HDD">Purchase an External Hard Drive

1. Buy a compatible hard drive. Your PS4 will need an external hard drive with a USB 3.0 connection and at least 250 GB of storage. However, considering the size of game files, it's recommended to get a 1 or 2 TB drive. The smaller the drive, the better, so it doesn't take up too much space.
2. Backup your game data. If you plan on transferring games from the internal to the external drive, it's a good idea to back them up to a USB flash drive first, just in case anything goes wrong. You can install games directly onto the new drive, but if there's an issue, you might lose all your progress.
3. Format the hard drive. Connect the external hard drive to your PS4, then select "System" from the Settings menu. Click "Format as Extended Storage," then follow the on-screen prompts.
4. Install games and apps to the external hard drive. Open the "Games" or "Apps" menu, select the game or app you want to move, and press the "Options" button on your controller. Choose "Move" and then relocate the game or app to the external hard drive.

< a id="Use_an_Internal_HDD" name="Use_an_Internal_HDD">Use an Internal HDD

1. Buy a compatible hard drive. To replace your PS4’s internal hard drive, you’ll need to purchase a 2.5-inch SATA III hard drive with a rotation speed of at least 5400 RPM. When shopping for the drive, pay attention to its dimensions. Most 2.5-inch drives are 9.5 mm thick, but the PS4 can only accommodate a 7 mm thick drive.
2. Backup your game data. Before replacing the hard drive, it’s a good idea to back up your game data to a USB flash drive. You can simply reinstall games on the new drive, but if something goes wrong, you could lose all your progress.
3. Power down the PS4, unplug it, and remove the hard drive cover. Make sure that the PS4 is completely powered off, then unplug the power cord. Loosen the four screws securing the hard drive cover, then remove the cover.
4. Remove the hard drive. Loosen the two screws securing the hard drive, then slide it out.
5. Install the new hard drive. Slide the new drive into the hard drive bay, then secure it with the screws.
6. Reassemble the PS4 and start the System Update Assistant. Replace the hard drive cover and tighten the screws, then plug in the power cord. Power on the PS4 and follow the on-screen prompts.
7. Restore your game data. Restore your game data from the USB flash drive, or just reinstall your games directly onto the new hard drive.

< a id="Free_Up_Space" name="Free_Up_Space">Free up disk space

1. Remove unnecessary games. Get rid of games you don't play often to make room for new ones. Go to the "Games" menu, select the game you want to delete, and press the "Options" button on your controller. Choose "Delete," then confirm again.
2. Uninstall unused apps. You can find all installed apps in the "Apps" menu, and uninstall the ones you don't use often.
3. Delete system updates and cache. In the "Settings" menu, choose "System Storage Management," then select "System Software." Tap "Delete All," and confirm again. After that, go back to "System Storage Management," choose "Cache," and tap "Delete All."
4. Backup game data to a USB flash drive. If you don't want to delete games, you can back them up to a USB flash drive instead, and then remove them from your hard drive.

Tip

• If you don't mind spending a bit more, consider getting a PS4 Pro, which has a 1TB hard drive.
• The PS4 Pro can run all PS4 games, but they'll look and run better with higher frame rates.
• If your games are taking up too much space, consider backing them up to a USB flash drive and deleting them from the hard drive.
• If you run out of hard drive space, you can upload your game data to the PlayStation Plus cloud storage and delete it from the hard drive.

To resolve a full PS4 storage issue and increase the PS4's storage capacity, you can explore the following solutions. These methods will help you easily expand your PS4's storage space:

Please provide the English content you want to translate, and I'll promptly translate it into Chinese for you.

Each of these methods effectively resolves the issue of low PS4 storage. Choose the one that suits you best, and we'll provide detailed steps for each. If you found this tutorial helpful, feel free to share it with others who need to free up space on their PS4:

Solution 1: Add More Storage Space to Your PS4 – The Most Effective Way

If you're wondering how to get more storage on your PS4 without a USB, we recommend increasing the internal hard drive capacity from 500GB to the desired storage amount. This method involves a three-step process to expand your PS4's storage space.

• Phase 1: Remove the PlayStation 4 Hard Drive
• Phase 2: Clone the PlayStation 4 Hard Drive to the New One
• Phase 3: Install the Cloned Hard Drive into the PlayStation 4

Phase 1: Remove the PS4 Hard Drive

After the first step, you'll need to remove the hard drive from your PS4. This will require some tools, like a screwdriver, to help you extract the drive.

Step 1: Start by prying up the glossy top of the PS4 lid with your thumb. Once it pops up, lift it back to remove it from the console.

Step 2: Unscrew the hard drive bracket so the hard drive tray can be removed easily. Be extra careful when pulling it out, as the internal components are fragile and susceptible to damage from sudden impacts.

Step 3: With the hard drive successfully removed from the enclosure, you will now need to remove the screws on either side of the drive bracket. Once these side screws are removed, the hard drive should easily slide out of the bracket, allowing you to proceed to the next step.

Phase 2: Cloning Your PS4's HDD to the New Drive

Now that you have the hard drive out of the console, connect both the old and new drives to your computer. You can then use different cloning software to copy the files from the old hard drive to the new one.

We recommend using the powerful disk partition tool Partition Master. This is a very practical software that allows users to perform various tasks, such as cloning disks and allocating disk space. You can use the partition manager to transfer all data from the old hard drive to the new one.

To follow through and get more storage space on your PS4, check out the simple steps below:

Step 1: From the left-hand menu, select "Clone." Click "Clone Partition" and "Next."

Step 2: Select the source partition, then click Next.

Step 3: Select the partition that you wish to back up and click "Next" to proceed.

If you clone to an existing partition, you should move or back up your data on it to avoid overwriting. Please view the warning message and click “Yes” to confirm.

Step 4. Click Start, and wait for the clone to finish.

You can see how to clone a partition or the System Reserved partition in this video tutorial.

Further reading: PS4 External Hard Drive Not Working

Phase 3: Insert the Cloned Drive into Your PS4

After you've cloned your old hard drive to the new one, follow the steps in Phase 1 in reverse order. This will allow you to reinstall the new hard drive in your PlayStation 4. Plus, it will give you extra storage space to keep more games on hand, as you prefer.

For detailed instructions on how to upgrade the PS4 hard drive to a larger capacity drive, please click on the link below:

How to Upgrade PS4 Hard Drive [Step-by-Step Guide]

Do you know how to upgrade your PS4 hard drive for a better gaming experience or more storage? This article shows you a full guide on how to change PS4 hard drive without losing data.

Solution 2: Add an External Hard Drive to Your PS4

If you can't afford to upgrade your PS4's hard drive, don't worry. Here, we'll guide you on how to get more storage on PS4 using a USB drive. Follow the instructions below, and you'll be able to easily connect an external hard drive to your PS4 and store games on it. This way, you can enjoy different games without any storage issues.

• 1️⃣ Stage 1. Formatting the PS4 Hard Drive
• 2️⃣ Stage 2. Changing the Application Install Location
• 3️⃣ Stage 3. Moving Applications and Games to an External Hard Drive

But before you start connecting external hard drive to PS4, you'd better check the new PS4 external hard drive to avoid the issue of PS4 not reading USB:

1. To connect an external drive, such as a USB, to your gaming console, ensure that you have the latest firmware version installed on your PS4. 2. Select the best external hard drive for your PS4. Your USB device should have a minimum storage capacity of 250GB and can go up to 8TB to accommodate games with ease. 3. Keep in mind that you can only connect one external drive at a time, and it should be a flash drive that supports USB 3.0.

Once your external hard drive is prepared, follow these steps to add it to your PS4:

1️⃣ Stage 1: Formatting the PS4 Hard Drive

First, set your PS4's hard drive to be used as an external drive, and format the external drive. This is important because it ensures that your USB device has the correct formatting for the PS4 system. Begin the formatting process by doing the following:

Step 1: Connect the external hard drive to your PS4 correctly. Then, on the console's home screen, open the "Settings" app and select "Devices" followed by "USB Storage Devices".

Step 2: Next, select the external hard drive that's connected to your PlayStation 4, and press the “Format as Extended Storage” button. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the USB formatting process for your PS4.

Try the solutions below: How to Format External Hard Drive for PS4

2️⃣ Stage 2: Changing the App Install Location

Once your external drive is formatted, you'll want to change where your applications install to put new data on it. To do this, follow these steps:

Step 1: From the PS4 home screen, go to Settings > Storage to choose where to install the app.

Step 2: Next, tap the "Options" button, and select "Install Location." Among the options, choose "Extended Storage." After a few seconds, your PS4 will switch the default storage to the external hard drive.

3️⃣ Stage 3: Move Apps and Games to the External Hard Drive

Now that your external hard drive is formatted and the app's save location has been changed, it's time to move the game over. To move the app without any hesitation, do the following:

Step 1: Navigate to the PS4's Settings menu and select “Storage” from the available options. From there, click on “System Storage,” which holds all your apps and games, and then choose “Apps.”

Step 2: Tap "Options" and then select "Move to External Storage." You can choose which games and apps you want to move to the external hard drive here. Once you've made your choices, tap "Move" and then "OK" to confirm. Your apps and games will be moved in a few seconds.

Tap on “Move to External Storage”.

Solution 3: Delete unnecessary games and apps

Now that you've looked at your previous options, it's time to expand your PS4's storage space with a different method. Follow the steps below to free up room on your PS4 by deleting games you no longer need so you can store newer titles. Read on for instructions:

Step 1: Navigate to the “Settings” window on your PS4, then click on "System Storage Management". This will open a new window where you should click on "Applications".

Step 2: You'll see a list of apps. Check the box next to any game or app you want to uninstall. Then, tap "Delete" and the selected apps will be removed.

Press the Delete button.

Solution 4: Delete Screen Shots and Video Clips

If you're a content creator or someone who enjoys recording game clips or taking screenshots for various purposes, you might want to look into your gallery. This is because your Captures folder can take up more PS4 storage space than necessary. Thus, deleting game screenshots and recorded videos can help free up more room.

Here, you might need to delete more than one video or screenshot, so follow the step-by-step guide below for how to free up PS4 storage without a USB.

Step 1: On the PS4 home screen, navigate to "Settings", then go to "System Storage Management". From there, access the "Capture" tab and choose "Playroom".

Step 2: Next, select the specific game or games whose screenshots and recordings you want to delete. Click on the "Delete" option, and your game videos or screenshots will be removed.

Click the Delete option.

Solution 5: Delete saved game data from system storage

If you still wonder how to get more storage on PS4 without USB, then you can follow this solution to free up space on your console drive. In this solution, you need to know that the games you delete may save data on the drive.

As such, you need to manually check and make sure to get rid of this unnecessary data so that your drive has more storage space. To do this, follow the simple step-by-step guide below:

Step 1: Navigate to the "Settings" on your PS4, and then click on "Application Saved Data Management" within the settings. Here, you can select the game data you want to delete by checking the box next to each saved game.

Select "Manage saved data for the application"

Step 2: After selecting the game data, tap Delete to remove all saved game data from the PS4 storage.

Deleting unnecessary data frees up space on your PS4's hard drive, allowing you to enjoy better performance. This can also fix issues with your PS4 running slowly. For more information, click the link below:

How to Fix a Slow PS4: Reasons and Solutions

Fortunately, there are several solutions you can try. In this article, we'll discuss the reasons why your PS4 might be running slow and the different fixes you can apply.

What is taking up space on my PS4?

One of the most important things you can do is check which apps are using your console's hard drive storage. This will give you an idea of how different applications, themes, and so on are utilizing your drive.

Furthermore, you can review the following list of solutions:

• View PS4 Storage on a PS4
• View PS4 Storage on a Computer

Then, you can delete this unnecessary data to free up some space on your PS4's hard drive.

1. Check PS4 Storage on a PS4

There are different ways you can check the usage of your gaming console's hard drive. One way is by examining the storage space on your PS4. Here's how:

Step 1: On the home screen of your console, press up on the D-pad to access the “Menu” bar.

Step 2: Next, select "Settings," and then hit the "X" button on your console to open a new window. Here, you can click on "System Storage Management." A new window will appear showing what is taking up space on your PS4's storage, including saved data, applications, and the Capture Gallery.

2. Check PS4 Storage Space on PC

If you want to check the storage of your PS4 hard drive on your computer, don't worry. We recommend using Partition Master, one of the best free disk space analyzers, to analyze the hard drive on your computer. This is because Partition Master is an innovative and practical software that offers multiple excellent features to users.

In addition to analyzing, you can also use it to resize partitions, merge them into one, format disks, and more. To learn how to use this tool to check your PS4 hard drive, follow the step-by-step instructions below:

Step 1: Launch Partition Master, and then go to "Discovery". Under "Common Tools", find and download "Space Analyzer".

Step 3: Wait for a moment, and you will see the detailed data. You can click on Files/Folders to view data of different types. Click the small folder icon to view more information in the file.

View detailed information

Conclusions

In a nutshell, with the help of these solutions, you can quickly fix the PS4 storage full error, increase the storage of your PS4, and store multiple games on it. Also, with the Partition Master tool, you can efficiently manage the console's hard drive.

In addition, you can easily partition a hard drive, clone the system, and format the hard disk; therefore, we recommend using the Partition Master tool for more efficient disk management tasks.

Frequently Asked Questions on How to Get More Storage Space on PS4 (UTF-8)

If you have more questions, look over the article on "How to Get More Storage on Your PS4" for the answers you need.

< strong > 1. Can I use an external hard drive to expand the PS4's storage?

Yes, you can easily use an external hard drive for your PS4. In addition, you can use certain external USB hard drives to expand the PS4's storage, so you can store more games on it.

< strong > How can I expand my PS4's storage via USB?

To add more storage space to your PS4, follow these steps:

One of the best ways to add storage is with an external USB drive. You'll need to format your USB drive and then connect it to your PS4.

Step 2: You can then change the app location to the expanded storage in your console's settings. This lets you easily free up space for new games by using a USB drive.

3. How can I add storage to my PS4 without deleting games?

There are several ways you can free up space on your PS4 without deleting games, such as:

Method 1: You can connect an external hard drive to the PS4 to expand its storage without deleting any games.

Method 2: You can also use an external hard drive to add some extra storage space to your laptop by replacing the current hard drive.