How to use an external drive as local storage on the playstation 4 or pro

If your PS4 doesn’t have enough space to install a game, you can use an extended storage device to add more storage.

What you need to get started

When you format a storage device for use as extended storage, you can use it to install your applications. You can also move applications from PS4™ system storage to extended storage.

1. PS4 system with system software version 4.50 or later.
2. External hard disk drive (HDD)*.

• SuperSpeed USB 5Gbps or later.
• 250 GB minimum, 8 TB maximum capacity.

*Proper operation is not guaranteed for all external hard disc drive models.

The following SuperSpeed USB connections are supported on PS4 consoles:

• SuperSpeed USB 5 Gbps (USB 3.0/USB 3.1 Gen1/USB 3.2 Gen1)
• SuperSpeed USB 10 Gbps (USB 3.1 Gen2/USB 3.2 Gen2/USB 3.2 Gen1x2)
• SuperSpeed USB 20 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen2x2).

What you can store on the formatted extended storage device

• You can only install applications and add-ons on extended storage.
• You can download add-ons to extended storage, even if the related application is installed in system storage.
• Updates are downloaded to where their corresponding applications are installed.
• You cannot save application saved data, themes or screenshot/video clips to extended storage.

• Applications installed on extended storage appear in the content area as normal.
• Applications installed on extended storage do not disappear from the content area when you disconnect the extended storage device.

An error message will appear if you start an application installed on extended storage when the extended storage device is disconnected.

• You can only use one device for extended storage at a time. Even if you have connected two devices that are formatted for use as extended storage, only one can be active as extended storage.
• You can connect a second HDD for use with Media player, but you can’t connect two HDDs for Games, apps and add-ons.
• Connection via a USB hub is not supported. You’ll need to connect the extended storage device directly to your PS4™ system.
• Make sure you do not disconnect during the shutdown process or when putting the PS4™ into rest mode.

How to format the HDD as PS4 extended storage

1. Go to Settings >Devices >USB Storage Devices.
2. Select the USB storage device to format and choose Format as Extended Storage .

To change the install location of your applications, you need to choose where you would like to save them. You cannot change the application install location during a download.

1. Select Settings >Storage, and then press the OPTIONS button.

1. Select Application Install Location >Extended Storage.

1. Applications will now be set to install on extended storage.

You can move saved applications between the PS4™ system storage and extended storage.

Reminders: If an application is found both in system storage and on extended storage, you’ll need to delete it from either system storage or extended storage to use the extended storage device. You can install add-ons on extended storage, even if the related application is installed in system storage.

1. Select Settings >Storage.
2. Select the storage where the application you want to move is located, and then select Applications.

If your PS4 doesn’t have enough space to install a game, you can use an extended storage device to add more storage.

What you need to get started

When you format a storage device for use as extended storage, you can use it to install your applications. You can also move applications from PS4™ system storage to extended storage.

1. PS4 system with system software version 4.50 or later.
2. External hard disk drive (HDD)*.

• SuperSpeed USB 5Gbps or later.
• 250 GB minimum, 8 TB maximum capacity.

*Proper operation is not guaranteed for all external hard disc drive models.

The following SuperSpeed USB connections are supported on PS4 consoles:

• SuperSpeed USB 5 Gbps (USB 3.0/USB 3.1 Gen1/USB 3.2 Gen1)
• SuperSpeed USB 10 Gbps (USB 3.1 Gen2/USB 3.2 Gen2/USB 3.2 Gen1x2)
• SuperSpeed USB 20 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen2x2).

What you can store on the formatted extended storage device

• You can only install applications and add-ons on extended storage.
• You can download add-ons to extended storage, even if the related application is installed in system storage.
• Updates are downloaded to where their corresponding applications are installed.
• You cannot save application saved data, themes or screenshot/video clips to extended storage.

• Applications installed on extended storage appear in the content area as normal.
• Applications installed on extended storage do not disappear from the content area when you disconnect the extended storage device.

An error message will appear if you start an application installed on extended storage when the extended storage device is disconnected.

• You can only use one device for extended storage at a time. Even if you have connected two devices that are formatted for use as extended storage, only one can be active as extended storage.
• You can connect a second HDD for use with Media player, but you can’t connect two HDDs for Games, apps and add-ons.
• Connection via a USB hub is not supported. You’ll need to connect the extended storage device directly to your PS4™ system.
• Make sure you do not disconnect during the shutdown process or when putting the PS4™ into rest mode.

How to format the HDD as PS4 extended storage

1. Go to Settings >Devices >USB Storage Devices.
2. Select the USB storage device to format and choose Format as Extended Storage .

To change the install location of your applications, you need to choose where you would like to save them. You cannot change the application install location during a download.

1. Select Settings >Storage, and then press the OPTIONS button.

1. Select Application Install Location >Extended Storage.

1. Applications will now be set to install on extended storage.

You can move saved applications between the PS4™ system storage and extended storage.

Reminders: If an application is found both in system storage and on extended storage, you’ll need to delete it from either system storage or extended storage to use the extended storage device. You can install add-ons on extended storage, even if the related application is installed in system storage.

1. Select Settings >Storage.
2. Select the storage where the application you want to move is located, and then select Applications.

You can use a USB storage device as extended storage to install your applications. You can also move applications from PS4™ system storage to extended storage.
Use a USB storage device that meets the following conditions.

• SuperSpeed USB or faster
  • SuperSpeed USB 5 Gbps (USB 3.0/USB 3.1 Gen1/USB 3.2 Gen1)
  • SuperSpeed USB 10 Gbps (USB 3.1 Gen2/USB 3.2 Gen2/USB 3.2 Gen1x2)
  • SuperSpeed USB 20 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen2x2)
• 250 GB minimum, 8 TB maximum capacity

The first time you use a USB storage device, you’ll need to format it. Select a device to format in (Settings) > [Devices] > [USB Storage Devices], and then select [Format as Extended Storage]. When formatting is complete, the device is automatically set up as an install location for your applications.

• Connect the USB storage device directly to your PS4™ system to use it as extended storage. Do not connect to a USB hub.
• You can only use one extended storage device at a time.
• The following data is saved only to system storage, and cannot be saved to extended storage.
  • Screenshots and video clips
  • Saved data
  • Themes
• USB storage devices formatted as extended storage are also compatible with a PS5™ console.
• There is no guarantee that all USB storage devices are compatible with your system.

Moving applications

You can move saved applications between PS4™ system storage and extended storage.

1. Select (Settings) > [Storage]. 2. Select the storage where the application you want to move is located, and then select [Applications]. 3. Press the OPTIONS button to select the destination, and then select the applications you want to move.

Changing the application install location

Select (Settings) > [Storage], and then press the OPTIONS button to select an install location in [Application Install Location].

Disconnecting extended storage devices

When you want to disconnect an extended storage device while your PS4™ system is on, use one of the following methods to ensure safe removal of the device.

• Select [Sound/Devices] > [Stop Using Extended Storage] on the quick menu.
• Select the extended storage device to disconnect in (Settings) > [Devices] > [USB Storage Devices], and then select [Stop Using This Extended Storage].

Notice

If you disconnect the extended storage device while the power indicator is lit or blinking, data might be lost or corrupted, and you might damage your system. Be sure to disconnect safely.

PS4 with a connected Seagate 5 TB HDD

Credit: Kevin Murnane

It was a long time coming but you can finally connect an external hard disc drive (HDD) to your PlayStation 4 (PS4) or PS4 Pro. The days of swapping games in and out of the meager 500 GB (Gigabyte) internal drive in the PS4 or the larger 1 TB (Terabyte) drive in the PS4 Pro are over. Connecting the HDD to either console is easy and only takes a few minutes. Here’s how to do it.

You can use any external HDD that has a USB 3.0 connection. The PS4 and PS4 Pro will address up to 8 TB of storage. I used a Seagate 5 TB Expansion drive and the process went very smoothly.

The external drive needs to be formatted to work with the PS4s and after formatting, I had 4.6 TB of usable storage space. Keep that large footprint in mind when considering the size of the external HDD you plan to use.

The PS4s will only recognize one external storage drive at a time. If a drive that has been previously formatted for external storage on the console is connected, it will not format a second drive and will not recognize a previously formatted second drive. Also, the external drive cannot be connected to the console through a USB hub, it must be directly connected to one of the USB ports on the PS4 or PS4 Pro.

Format as extended storage

Here’s how to connect the external HDD.

Connect the drive to one of the USB 3.0 ports. The PS4 has two ports on the front of the console; the Pro has two on the front and a third on the rear. You’ll see a message on the screen saying the USB device is not supported because the drive hasn’t been formatted to work with the console.

Under Settings, go to Devices.

Under Devices, go to USB Storage Devices.

Under USB Storage Devices, press Format as Extended Storage.

That’s all there is to it. My 5 TB drive took less than a minute to format.

The external HDD will now show up as Extended Storage under Storage (which is located in Settings). The external drive is set as the default destination for any game you purchase or download from your Library.

You might think setting the PS4’s internal drive as the default storage location is a good idea because load times would be faster from the internal drive. Surprisingly, that’s not the case. Digital Foundry compared load times from a Seagate 4 TB Expansion drive and the PS4’s internal drive and found the external Seagate drive was noticeably faster on every game they tried running on either the base PS4 or the PS4 Pro. Even faster load times can be had with an external SSD (solid state drive) if you’re willing to pay a much higher cost per GB of storage and do some after-market work to slot the SSD into a USB enclosure.

Move to Extended Storage

Games are easily moved from the internal to the external drive. Press the Options button while you’re in Storage and an option to move to extended storage will appear. Movement is fairly slow so you might want to run a test with a small game before you launch a move for everything you want to get off your internal drive. Wherever a game is stored, save files, screenshots and video clips are stored on the internal drive.

If you disconnect the external drive while the console is powered on, data loss or corruption may occur. To disconnect the external drive go to [Settings] > [Devices] > [USB Storage Devices] and press Stop Using This Extended Storage.

If the system is not shut down correctly, you may get a message that the external storage drive needs to be repaired. When it happened to me, the process didn’t take long and I didn’t notice any loss of data.

Eight TB is a lot better than 500 GB or 1 TB but sooner or later you’ll fill it. However, with that much storage, it should be easier to decide which games to banish to your Library when you need to make room.

[Updated to include more recent information.]

Learn how to format a USB drive as USB extended storage, which USB drives can be used as USB extended storage, and what can be stored in USB extended storage.

What you can do with a formatted USB extended storage drive

If you want to use a USB extended storage drive that you were previously using with your PS4 console, simply connect it to your PS5 console. You’ll be able to access any PS4 games on the drive.

USB extended storage requirements on PS5 consoles

• SuperSpeed USB 5 Gbps or later.
• 250 GB minimum, 8 TB maximum capacity.
• Not all devices are guaranteed to work with the PS5 console.
• You can’t connect the drive through a USB hub.
• Two or more USB extended storage drives can’t be connected at the same time. You can connect multiple USB drives to your console, but you can use only one at a time.

The following SuperSpeed USB connections are supported on PS5 consoles:

• SuperSpeed USB 5 Gbps (USB 3.0/USB 3.1 Gen1/USB 3.2 Gen1)
• SuperSpeed USB 10 Gbps (USB 3.1 Gen2/USB 3.2 Gen2/USB 3.2 Gen1x2*)
• SuperSpeed USB 20 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen2x2**).

* USB 3.2 Gen1x2 devices are supported but as single-lane USB3.2 x1 connections (5Gbps).

** USB 3.2 Gen2x2 devices are supported but as single-lane USB3.2 x1 connections (10Gbps).

Important connection information

If the USB drive isn’t disconnected properly, there may be data loss, corruption, or damage to your console or USB drive. Safely remove a USB drive.

How to format a USB drive as USB extended storage

When you format a USB drive, any data saved on the drive is erased. Data erased this way cannot be recovered, so be careful and make sure you do not erase important data.

USB drives that you used as USB extended storage on your PS4 console don’t need to be re-formatted.

When you first start using a USB drive with a PS5 console, format the drive as USB extended storage by following these steps:

Connect your USB drive to a USB port on the back of your PS5 console.

Go to Settings > Storage.

Select USB Extended Storage > Format as USB Extended Storage.

When there are multiple USB drives connected, you can change which USB drive you format by choosing Select Another USB Drive.

Do not turn off the power or disconnect the USB drive while it’s being formatted. Doing this may cause data loss, corruption, or damage to your PS5 console or USB drive.

Move games between USB extended storage and PS5 console storage

1. Go to your Game Library and select the game you want to move.
2. Press the options button and select Move to USB Extended Storage, Move to Console Storage (PS4 games) or Copy (PS5 games).

To play PS5 games that are in USB extended storage, you need to go to your game library, and copy the game to console storage from the options menu. Copying games is faster than redownloading them. It’s also faster than reinstalling them from the disc if the game on USB extended storage has add-ons or has been updated.

You can play PS4 games directly from your USB extended storage drive.

Automatically download PS4 games to USB extended storage

To make your USB extended storage drive the default location to store new PS4 games downloaded on your PS5 console:

1. Go to Settings >Storage >Extended Storage.
2. Turn on Install PS4 Games to USB Extended Storage.

Now that you have a Crucial portable solid state drive (SSD), you may want to use the drive with your PlayStation® 4 to expand game and app storage. PlayStation® allows only one external drive to be used at a time with a minimum capacity of 250GB and maximum of 8TB. Storing your content has never been easier. It only takes a few easy steps to expand your console’s storage.

Improve Gameplay on PlayStation 4 with a Portable SSD

Step 1. Plug your X6 or X8 into your PlayStation 4

To get started, plug your Crucial portable SSD into the console. Plug one end of the USB C cable into the drive. Plug the other end of the USB C cable into the included USB A adapter and then plug into your PlayStation 4.

Note: Make sure the USB A adapter aligns with the marks on the cable, or the drive will not operate.

Step 2. Format your Crucial X6 or X8

Power up your console. Once the system is on go into settings. Select “devices,” and then select “USB storage device.” Finally, click “format as extended storage”. Your Crucial drive has now been formatted to your PS4. Now, you will you need to configure your download options.

Step 3. Change your PS4 storage settings

Your X8 won’t store anything until you change your PS4 settings to establish the X6 or X8 as its data destination. So it is important to set where your information is downloaded to prior to downloading. Go into settings, select “Options”, then select “Application Install Location”, finally click “Extended Storage”. Your downloads will now go to your external SSD.

Step 4. Move applications between your external SSD and your PS4

Now that your drive is formatted and the download location is set to “extended storage,” you can move applications, games, and save files between the external and internal drives. Go into the settings of the PS4 and select “storage.” Select the storage that has the application you want to more (either the system or extended). Select the app that you want to move, press the options button on your controller, and select either “move to extended storage” or “move to system storage.” Once selected, click the “move” button and select either “OK” or “cancel.” Applications, games, and save files on both the extended and system drive will appear in the content.

Step 5. Properly disconnect your portable SSD

When the time comes, you will need to disconnect and remove your external SSD from your PS4. Disconnecting your SSD improperly can cause data corruption or complete fie loss. Never disconnect the drive while the system is in the process of shutting down or in rest mode. Go into the “Quick Menu” and select “Sound/Devices.” Select “Stop using Extended Storage.” Once you select “Ok,” your drive is safe to disconnect from your PS4. If your drive was removed incorrectly, you likely will receive an error message.

As newer console games require more storage, the need for an external storage device such as the Crucial X8 portable SSD has never been higher. Utilizing your Crucial X6 or X8 portable SSD is a fast and effective way to expand your PS4 gameplay and system storage capabilities.

PlayStation 4

PlayStation 4

• Topic Archived

• First
• Page 2 of 2

1. Boards
2. PlayStation 4
3. Apparently external hard drive “hubs” won’t work as extended storage..

User Info: Rayder

User Info: AkimboSlice1

User Info: MysticMask

@Cryptics
So long as it doesn’t have any extra USB ports (as in, aside from the one needed to actually connect it with the PS4), it should be good.

@Project575
How do you mean by extra voltage? If you mean it might be using too much power, that shouldn’t be the case since mine uses its own power supply via AC adaptor.

Do the usb function like regular usbs that transfer data? If they do maybe thats why is not recognized or at least needs drivers since the way it works is different to a regular drive

I believe so. In reviews and stuff I seem to recall someone saying they used a wired mouse through it, so that does seem to be the case. The PS4 does recognize it as an external storage unit (since it mentioned it as such in the error message), but I guess it doesn’t have the drivers for it. Then again, haven’t people said they used steering wheel peripherals and such using a USB hub? So if so, that’d mean the console would have the drivers for it, no?

PlayStation 4

PlayStation 4

• Topic Archived

• Page 1 of 2
• Last

1. Boards
2. PlayStation 4
3. Apparently external hard drive “hubs” won’t work as extended storage..

User Info: MysticMask

Sooo this is really annoying. I have the Backup Plus Hub 4TB External USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive that I’m trying to use for the PS4’s “extended storage” (as it puts it).

On the formatting step, I get the error message:
“Cannot format this USB storage device as extended storage. A USB storage device that meets the following conditions must be used. (CE-41899-1)”

It then goes on to list all the requirements needed for a proper hard drive, but after looking through the support page that code means that the last requirement is the issue – “Directly connected to the PS4” (why in the hell the error message on the PS4 didn’t directly state that, I have no bloody idea). After poking around on the internet a bit, all I’ve found is people saying that apparently the “hub” type externals (those that also have extra USB ports) won’t work with the PS4 as storage. The logic there being (I assume) that on the inside of the hard drive, the connection goes through that hub bit before getting to the actual drive itself, thus making it not “directly” connected to the PS4.

Has anyone with a hub actually gotten theirs to work, thus proving all the above wrong by any chance?

Each user can manage saved data in PS4™ system storage. Select (Settings) > [Application Saved Data Management] > [Saved Data in System Storage].

Upload to Online Storage

To upload saved data to online storage, select the saved data and then select [Upload]. When you save data to online storage, you can then download the data to a PlayStation®5 console or another PS4™ system.
To use this feature, you must be a PlayStation®Plus subscriber.

• You can also upload saved data from the home screen. Highlight the game, press the OPTIONS button, and then select [Upload/Download Saved Data].
• It’s also possible to use the automatic upload feature. For details, see “Auto-Upload”.
• Online storage can have up to 100 GB of saved data from PS4™ games and 100 GB of saved data from PS5™ games.
• To view the progress of uploads, select (Notifications) from the function screen.

Copy to USB Storage Device

As a backup, you can copy saved data to a USB storage device connected to your PS4™ system. Copy saved data from the USB storage device to a PS5™ console or another PS4™ system.
For each game, you can select the saved data to copy.

• To use this feature, you need to have signed in to PlayStation™Network at least once.
• FAT and exFAT formatted USB storage devices are supported.
• Be sure to fully insert the USB storage device into the USB port. Some devices are not compatible due to shape or design.

Delete

Use this function to delete saved data in PS4™ system storage. You can select the saved data to delete for each game.