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Open Settings > Storage first. Review Games and Apps, remove titles you have finished, and redownload them later from your Game Library when needed. If you want to keep the installed files, move them to USB extended storage or an added M.2 SSD. USB is mainly an archive for PS5 games because those games must be copied back before they can run; a compatible M.2 SSD can store, download and launch PS5 games without that extra transfer.
Check what is using space
On your PS5, go to Settings > Storage. The storage screen separates space used by games and apps, media, and saved data, so you can identify the category that needs attention instead of deleting files blindly.
Use Games and Apps for installed titles
- Open Settings.
- Select Storage.
- Choose Console Storage, then Games and Apps.
- Sort through the largest or least recently used titles, select a game or application, and choose Delete.
Deleting an installed game removes its game files from the console. It does not remove the purchase from your account: deleted digital games remain available through Game Library, and a disc game can be reinstalled by inserting its disc. Saved data is managed in a separate storage category, so do not select saved-data items if your goal is only to remove an installation.
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A game installation and its save files are separate. To remove only the installation, use Settings > Storage > Console Storage > Games and Apps and delete the title there. Leave Saved Data untouched. When you reinstall the game, the local save should still be available on that console.
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- Officially licensed M.2 SSD for PlayStation 5 consoles[4] so you can easily install and play with no concern of compatibility. [4]For PlayStation 5 system software compatibility, please visit the official WD_BLACK site.
- With capacities ranging from 1TB to 8TB[1], your PS5 console has the additional space to store up to 200 games[3] (8TB model) [1]1GB = 1 billion bytes and 1TB = one trillion bytes. Actual user capacity may be less depending on operating environment. [3] Number of games based on a 36GB average per game. The number of games will vary based on file size, formatting, other programs, and factors.
- Experience uninterrupted gameplay with a brand-new, optimized heatsink designed especially for the PS5 console for an easy, worry-free installation into the M.2 slot.
- Play directly from the drive and eliminate the need to transfer or delete games from your console with tested and approved storage for your PS5 console[4].
- Push the envelope of PCIe Gen 4 technology with read speeds up to 7,300MB/s[2], giving you seamless gameplay and incredibly short load times. [2]1 MB/s = 1 million bytes per second. Based on internal testing; performance may vary depending upon host device, usage conditions, drive capacity, and other factors.
If you use PlayStation Plus, cloud storage can protect saved progress independently of installed games. Sony lists 100 GB of cloud storage for PlayStation Plus members; availability and terms depend on your plan and region. Cloud storage holds saved data, not game installations, so it cannot by itself free the space occupied by a game.
Move a game instead of deleting it
Moving preserves the downloaded files, which is useful when a game is large or your internet connection makes redownloading inconvenient.
- Connect a compatible USB extended-storage drive, or make sure an M.2 SSD is installed and formatted for the console.
- Open Game Library and highlight the game.
- Press the Options button on the controller.
- Select Move Games and Apps.
- Choose the destination storage and confirm the move.
Sony supports moving games between PS5 console storage, a connected USB extended-storage device and added M.2 SSD storage. The destination must have enough free space, and the transfer can take longer for very large installations.
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- 【Designed for desktop PC/PS5】- Perfectly fit for Samsung 860 EVO, 960 EVO, 970 EVO, 970 Pro, 980 Pro, PS5 etc. this M.2 SSD heatsink compatible with all single sided Type.
- 【Main body material】- Aluminum alloy, silver plating (helps eliminate static electricity), anodic oxidation surface treatment. Dimensions: 3 x 0.95 x 0.4inm.2 heatsink well fit for PS5 installation as well as PC M.2 Slot.
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USB extended storage: inexpensive archive, with a PS5 limitation
USB extended storage is best when you want to keep a library available without occupying the internal drive. Sony lists compatible USB storage capacities from 250 GB to 8 TB.
| What you do | PS5 game | PS4 game | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Store on USB extended storage | Supported | Supported | Keep more installed titles off the console |
| Launch directly from USB | Not supported; copy the game back first | Supported | Play PS4 games without using console storage |
| Move back to console or M.2 storage | Required before playing | Optional | Prepare a PS5 title for play |
When you want to play a PS5 game stored on USB, open Settings > Storage or Game Library, select the title and use Move Games and Apps to copy it to console storage or the M.2 SSD. Sony’s rule is specific: PS5 games cannot be played directly from USB extended storage. PS4 games can run from the USB drive, and media apps can also use supported external storage workflows.
Use a USB drive as an archive rather than a performance upgrade. It saves a redownload, but every PS5 session requires a copy-back step and enough free space on the destination.
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Choose the right storage option
| Option | Can it play PS5 games directly? | Installation required? | What it protects or preserves | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delete and redownload | Yes, after reinstalling | No additional hardware | Account entitlement remains; local installation is removed | Download or disc installation is needed again |
| USB extended-storage drive | No; copy PS5 games back first | Connect and configure the drive | Installed PS4 and PS5 game files | Extra transfer before playing PS5 titles |
| Internal M.2 NVMe SSD | Yes | Physical installation and console setup | Installed PS4 and PS5 game files on always-ready expansion | Must meet Sony’s interface, size and cooling requirements |
| PlayStation Plus cloud storage | Not applicable | Subscription and network access | Saved data only | Does not store installed games; plan and regional terms apply |
Choose deletion if you rotate through a few games and can download them again. Choose USB when you want a low-cost archive and mostly play PS4 titles from the external drive. Choose an M.2 SSD if you frequently play PS5 games and want expanded storage from which they can launch. Use cloud storage to safeguard saves, not to hold installations.
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Install an M.2 SSD for permanent PS5 expansion
An added M.2 SSD is the smoothest option for frequent PS5 players because compatible drives can store, download and launch PS5 and PS4 games. Buy a drive described as a “PS5-compatible M.2 NVMe SSD with heatsink”, then verify every dimension and interface detail against Sony’s requirements. A capacity number alone does not prove compatibility.
Compatibility checklist
- Interface: PCIe Gen4x4-compatible M.2 NVMe SSD, Key M.
- Capacity: 250 GB to 8 TB.
- Supported form factors: 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280 or 22110.
- Maximum total width: 25 mm.
- Supported length: 30, 42, 60, 80 or 110 mm.
- Maximum thickness: 11.25 mm including the cooling structure.
- Speed guidance: Sony recommends a sequential read speed of 5,500 MB/s or faster.
- Cooling: Effective heat dissipation is required, such as a compatible heatsink and thermal-transfer sheet.
- Unsupported type: M.2 SATA drives are not supported.
Install and prepare the drive
- Turn off the PS5 completely, unplug it and follow the console’s hardware manual for opening the M.2 expansion bay. Do not work on a console in Rest Mode.
- Fit the SSD and its cooling structure without exceeding the listed width, length or thickness limits. The heatsink counts toward the 11.25 mm maximum.
- Secure the drive, close the cover and reconnect the console.
- Start the PS5 and follow the on-screen formatting prompt. Formatting is required before the drive can store games and erases data already on that SSD.
- After setup, select the M.2 storage destination when downloading a new game, or move an existing title through Game Library > Options > Move Games and Apps.
If a listing gives only capacity and a claimed “PS5” label, check the complete specification sheet before buying. The PCIe generation, Key M interface, bare-drive dimensions and heatsink dimensions all matter.
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Move screenshots and video clips separately
Game installations are usually the largest items, but captures can accumulate unnoticed. Sony’s storage matrix supports using a USB drive for screenshots and video clips. In Settings > Storage, review the Media category and copy captures you want to keep to USB before removing them from the console.
Do not treat cloud storage as a capture archive: the PlayStation Plus allocation described above is for saved data, while screenshots and video clips require a separate local destination such as a USB drive.
Free space quickly: a practical cleanup order
- Measure first: Open Settings > Storage and note whether Games and Apps, Media or Saved Data is consuming the space.
- Remove abandoned installations: In Console Storage > Games and Apps, delete finished or inactive titles.
- Archive large PS5 games: Use Game Library > Options > Move Games and Apps to send them to USB extended storage or M.2 storage.
- Move captures: Copy wanted screenshots and clips to USB, then clear unwanted media from the console.
- Protect saves: Keep saved-data items separate from game deletion, and use PlayStation Plus cloud storage if your plan and region support it.
- Recheck the total: Return to the Storage screen and confirm the free-space figure before starting another download.
Troubleshoot common storage problems
A PS5 game on USB will not start
This is expected behavior, not necessarily a faulty drive. PS5 games stored on USB extended storage must be copied to console storage or the installed M.2 SSD before playing. Use Move Games and Apps, wait for the copy to finish, then launch the game from its new location.
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The move option is unavailable
Check that the destination is connected, recognized under Settings > Storage, and has enough free capacity. A title may already be on the destination, or the drive may not have been configured as the storage type you selected.
The SSD is rejected during setup
Recheck the complete M.2 checklist: PCIe Gen4x4 NVMe Key M, supported length and width, total thickness including heatsink, and effective cooling. An M.2 SATA model, an oversized heatsink or a drive outside the supported capacity range will not meet Sony’s requirements.
Deleting a game seems to remove progress
Return to Settings > Storage and inspect Saved Data. The game installation is managed under Games and Apps; saved progress is a separate item. If you intentionally deleted saved data, reinstalling the game alone cannot recreate it, so rely on a valid local backup or supported cloud copy.
The console still reports little free space
Review all three categories shown by Storage: Games and Apps, Media and Saved Data. Removing one game will not reclaim space held by captures or saves. Also check whether a move was a copy operation that left the original installation in place; verify the title’s location and delete the unwanted duplicate only after confirming the destination works.
Keep PS5 storage under control
- Check Settings > Storage before installing a large release.
- Keep frequently played PS5 games on console or M.2 storage, not USB, to avoid copy-back delays.
- Use USB extended storage for games you want to retain but play occasionally.
- Delete completed campaigns and redownload them later when your connection and schedule allow.
- Periodically export or remove unwanted screenshots and video clips.
- Never format an SSD or USB drive until you have moved any files you still need.
Which method should you use?
For an immediate gain, delete one or more finished games from Settings > Storage > Console Storage > Games and Apps; the purchase remains redownloadable. For a preserved library, move titles to USB, remembering that PS5 games must return to console or M.2 storage before play. For a long-term PS5-focused setup, install an M.2 NVMe SSD that satisfies every Sony dimension, speed, interface and cooling requirement. Keep saved data and captures in their own workflows so clearing game installations does not erase the progress or media you meant to retain.
Quick Recap
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