Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsiTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
For most PS5 Pro owners, the built-in 2TB SSD is the right starting point. Add a 2TB M.2 NVMe SSD if you keep a broad active library of PS5 games, and choose 4TB when large installs, patches, and media routinely force you to uninstall games. A SuperSpeed USB drive is useful as a lower-cost archive, but PS5 games stored on USB must be copied back to the console or an M.2 drive before they can run.
PS5 Pro launched on November 7, 2024, with 2TB of internal solid-state storage. Sony does not publish a universal number of games per terabyte, so the practical choice depends on how many large titles you keep installed, how fast your internet connection is, and whether you tolerate moving games in and out of storage.
What storage does PS5 Pro include?
PS5 Pro includes a 2TB built-in SSD. Sony describes it as space to keep favorite games ready to play, and the launch specification also lists a 2TB solid-state drive. That capacity is substantially more generous than the smaller internal drives offered with earlier PS5 models, but it is not unlimited: modern games can be very large, and updates, language packs, downloadable expansions, and retained media can increase the space each title consumes.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →The built-in drive is the simplest option because it requires no purchase, installation, or game transfers. You can install and launch PS5 and PS4 games directly from it. Players who rotate a few games, regularly delete titles after finishing them, or have fast broadband for redownloading can stay with the internal 2TB for a long time.
#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
PS5 Pro can play more than 8,500 PS4 games, and Sony’s Game Boost can improve some PS4 and PS5 titles. A large backward-compatible library therefore affects storage planning even if many of those games are smaller than current-generation releases.
Choose capacity by the way you play
| Playing pattern | Recommended setup | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| You rotate a few games and can redownload quickly | Built-in 2TB | No expansion purchase is needed initially. Delete completed games or archive them when space gets tight. |
| You keep a broad active PS5 library | Add a 2TB M.2 SSD, for 4TB total | Provides direct-play expansion without making the system difficult to manage. |
| You keep many large games, patches, and media installed | Add a 4TB M.2 SSD, for 6TB total | Leaves more headroom and reduces repeated uninstall and reinstall cycles. |
| You want inexpensive long-term overflow storage | Use a 4TB–8TB SuperSpeed USB drive | It can hold PS5 games for storage, but each PS5 game must be copied back before play. |
These are practical capacity tiers rather than an official games-per-terabyte formula. Installation sizes vary by game, edition, patches, texture packs, language files, and whether you keep captures or other media on the console. Treat the table as a decision framework: count the games you insist on keeping available, then leave additional room for updates instead of buying exactly the amount your current library occupies.
How an M.2 SSD expands PS5 Pro
An M.2 SSD is the best expansion type when you want to launch PS5 games without moving them first. Sony’s support documentation says M.2 storage can download, copy, and launch PS5 and PS4 games, as well as media applications. Once installed and formatted, it behaves as a second high-speed game library alongside the internal drive.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Supported capacity and interface
- Supported M.2 capacities are 250GB to 8TB.
- The drive must be an NVMe PCIe Gen4x4 model with a Key M interface.
- Sony recommends sequential read performance of at least 5,500MB/s.
- A heatsink or another cooling structure is required.
Capacity is measured at the drive level, so a product advertised as 2TB, 4TB, or 8TB is the tier to compare when planning your library. Price and availability vary by model and market; Sony does not set a universal retail price for compatible third-party drives.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Physical size limits matter
The SSD and its cooling hardware together must be no more than 25mm wide and 11.25mm thick. A drive can meet the speed requirement and still be unsuitable if its factory heatsink is too tall or wide. Check the manufacturer’s dimensions for the complete assembled drive, not just the bare M.2 circuit board.
If the selected SSD does not include a compliant heatsink, use a separate heatsink and thermal pad that keep the finished assembly within Sony’s limits. Do not stack cooling parts or assume that a desktop-sized heatsink will fit the console’s expansion bay.
Installation and first use
- Choose an NVMe PCIe Gen4x4 Key M drive between 250GB and 8TB, with the recommended 5,500MB/s or faster sequential-read rating.
- Confirm that the drive’s heatsink, or the heatsink you plan to add, keeps the complete assembly within 25mm width and 11.25mm thickness.
- Turn off the console completely and follow Sony’s PS5 M.2 installation guide for opening the expansion bay, positioning the spacer, securing the drive, and replacing the cover. The guide is the authority for the hardware procedure and regional console revisions.
- Start PS5 Pro after the drive is secured. The console will prompt you to format a newly installed M.2 drive; formatting erases anything on it, so do not install a drive containing data you need.
- After formatting, select the M.2 location when downloading or moving games. Keep the internal SSD for titles you play most often and use the expansion drive for the rest if that division makes your library easier to maintain.
The important distinction is operational: an M.2 drive is not merely an archive. Compatible PS5 games remain playable from it, so adding 2TB gives you 4TB of direct-play space and adding 4TB gives you 6TB.
What a USB drive can and cannot do
PS5 Pro supports SuperSpeed USB storage from 250GB to 8TB for compatible PS4 and PS5 games. USB is usually the economical way to keep a large collection without buying a high-performance internal expansion SSD, especially when you have a slower or capped internet connection and want to avoid redownloading.
Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
PS4 games
PS4 games can be played directly from compatible USB storage. This makes a USB drive a practical permanent home for backward-compatible titles you play occasionally, freeing the internal and M.2 SSDs for PS5 software.
PS5 games
PS5 games can be stored on USB, but they cannot be launched from it. When you are ready to play one, move it back to the internal SSD or M.2 storage. Sony specifies the Library workflow: highlight the game, open the Options Menu, and transfer it to the console’s SSD. The copy is normally faster than downloading the entire game again, but it still takes time and requires enough free space on the destination drive.
When USB is the better purchase
- You want the lowest-cost way to retain games you are not currently playing.
- You have a large PS4 collection that can run directly from the drive.
- You can tolerate a transfer before starting a stored PS5 game.
- You need portable storage that can be disconnected and kept as an archive.
Use a SuperSpeed-rated drive and follow Sony’s compatibility and connection guidance. A generic USB device that lacks the required performance or capacity range may not be accepted for game storage.
Recommended Free Tools
Is 2TB enough for PS5 Pro?
For a typical player, yes. The built-in 2TB is enough when you finish games, rotate between a manageable group of multiplayer and single-player titles, and do not insist on keeping every purchase installed. It also avoids the cost and physical installation of an expansion drive.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
Consider an M.2 upgrade before the internal drive becomes a recurring bottleneck if you regularly see low-space warnings, keep several large releases installed for different players, or repeatedly delete and reinstall the same games. A 2TB M.2 is the balanced upgrade because it doubles the advertised capacity while preserving direct PS5 play. A 4TB M.2 is justified when the 4TB total provided by a 2TB upgrade still leaves you managing space every week.
Why game counts are misleading
There is no reliable conversion such as “X games per terabyte.” Two libraries with the same number of games can require very different space because install sizes differ, optional content may be selected, patches accumulate, and language or high-resolution assets can change the footprint. A single large release can consume more space than several smaller independent games.
Instead of estimating by title count, review the storage information shown for your own installed games and add a buffer for future updates. Your observed usage is more useful than an online average that may describe a different edition, platform, or patch level.
Moving an M.2 drive from PS5 to PS5 Pro
Sony says an M.2 SSD installed in an original PS5 can be inserted into PS5 Pro by following the installation guide. The same PlayStation account is required to access the data on the new console. This can make an upgrade less disruptive: you can move the expansion hardware instead of copying its games to another drive.
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
The migration does not remove the normal physical and compatibility checks. Confirm that the drive and its heatsink meet PS5 Pro’s dimensions and performance requirements, shut down both consoles before handling the hardware, and use the current Sony installation instructions for the model you own.
How to plan your storage without overspending
Start with the internal drive
Use the built-in 2TB until its limits affect your routine. This gives you a real picture of how much space your games, patches, captures, and applications consume instead of paying for capacity you may never need.
Add M.2 capacity for active games
Choose a 2TB M.2 when you want a larger always-ready library. Move to 4TB when your pattern involves many large games installed simultaneously or frequent reinstall cycles. Verify the complete drive dimensions and the 5,500MB/s recommendation before ordering; capacity alone does not establish compatibility.
Use USB for the cold library
Keep infrequently played PS5 games on a 4TB–8TB USB drive and transfer only the titles you are about to play. Put PS4 games you play often on that drive as well, since they can run there directly. This two-tier approach reserves expensive high-speed storage for software that benefits from immediate access.
Leave room for maintenance
Do not fill every byte with permanently installed games. Updates and downloadable content need working space, and a nearly full drive makes every transfer harder to organize. A little unused capacity also lets you install a new release without first performing emergency deletions.
Common buying mistakes
- Choosing SATA instead of NVMe PCIe Gen4x4: PS5 Pro’s expansion specification calls for an NVMe PCIe Gen4x4 Key M drive.
- Ignoring cooling: An M.2 drive requires a heatsink or other cooling structure, and the finished assembly must stay within 25mm by 11.25mm.
- Buying on capacity alone: Check the sequential-read rating; Sony recommends 5,500MB/s or faster.
- Expecting USB to launch PS5 games: USB storage is an archive for PS5 titles, not a direct-play location.
- Assuming an advertised terabyte equals a fixed game count: Install sizes and retained content vary too much for a universal estimate.
- Forgetting account access during a move: The same account is needed to access data when transferring an M.2 drive from an original PS5 to PS5 Pro.
Bottom line for each type of player
Stay with the built-in 2TB if you rotate games and have no problem redownloading or deleting finished titles. Install a 2TB M.2 SSD when you want a broad, always-playable PS5 library. Choose a 4TB M.2 for a persistently large collection with fewer compromises. Select a 4TB–8TB SuperSpeed USB drive when low-cost archiving matters more than launching PS5 games immediately. Whichever route you take, match the drive to Sony’s capacity, interface, speed, cooling, and size requirements rather than choosing by terabytes alone.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
