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The fastest safe approach is to remove finished games and optional data, archive infrequently played PS5 titles on a USB extended-storage drive, and use a compatible M.2 SSD when you want those games to remain playable without moving them back and forth. Check the game’s current store listing and update requirements before deciding how much space to leave. No authoritative, current installation-size figure is established here for any particular Kojima title, so plan from the listing shown for your edition and region rather than an old number posted online.
Start with the storage decision that matches how you play
PS5 storage has three practical roles: the console’s internal space for active games, USB extended storage for archiving, and an installed M.2 SSD for additional space from which PS5 games can run. Choosing the wrong role creates the most frustration. A USB drive can hold a PS5 game, but the game must be copied back before you can launch it. An M.2 SSD is the expansion route when you want to install, update, and play PS5 games directly from the added storage.
| Need | Best option | What happens when you want to play |
|---|---|---|
| Make room immediately at no cost | Delete games or optional content you have finished | Redownload a deleted purchase from your game library when needed |
| Keep a PS5 game without downloading it again | USB extended storage | Copy the game to console storage or M.2 SSD storage before launching |
| Keep PS5 games installed and playable | Compatible M.2 NVMe SSD | Launch, update, download, and copy games on the M.2 storage |
| Play PS4 games from an external drive | USB extended storage | Launch the PS4 game directly from USB |
| Protect progress | PlayStation Plus cloud storage for saved data | Cloud saves are separate from game-installation capacity |
1. Inspect the largest items before deleting anything
Use the PS5’s storage view to identify what is consuming space instead of guessing which game is responsible.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →- Open Settings > Storage > Console Storage > Games and Apps.
- Sort or review the list so the largest installations are easy to identify.
- Select a game or application you no longer need and choose Delete.
- When a title displays Customize next to its name, open it and inspect the removable portions before deleting the whole installation.
Deleting an installed game does not cancel your ownership. Sony states that purchased titles remain available to redownload from the game library. You will need the download and any applicable updates again, so deletion is most useful for games you have completed or do not expect to play soon.
#1 Best Overall
- 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.
Use Customize only when the title exposes useful components
The Customize control is title-specific. A supported game may expose separate modes, add-ons, or other portions of its data, but developers decide how much control is available. One game may allow a completed mode to be removed while another offers no meaningful choices. Do not assume that every Kojima game lets you remove a campaign, language pack, multiplayer component, or bonus data. Read the labels shown on your console and keep the portions required for the mode you still intend to use.
2. Archive infrequently played PS5 games on USB extended storage
USB extended storage is an archive, not a second PS5 game drive. It is useful when you want to keep a large installation available locally and avoid downloading it again, but you play it too rarely to justify using internal or M.2 capacity.
Check the drive before formatting
- Use a compatible commercial USB drive that meets Sony’s SuperSpeed USB requirement.
- Sony’s storage-solutions guidance specifies a minimum capacity of 250GB and a maximum of 8TB for compatible USB extended storage.
- Formatting the drive as extended storage erases data already on it. Copy anything important elsewhere first.
- Connect the drive directly to the console rather than through a USB hub.
The PS5 will guide you through formatting a compatible drive as USB extended storage. Treat that format as console storage: do not disconnect the drive while data is being moved, and use the console’s safe-disconnect option before unplugging it.
Move a game to USB
- Open Game Library.
- Highlight the PS5 game you want to archive.
- Press the controller’s Options button.
- Choose Move Games and Apps.
- Select the items to move and confirm the operation.
PS5 titles stored on USB extended storage must be copied back to console storage or an installed M.2 SSD before they can be played. PS4 titles can run directly from compatible USB extended storage. This difference is the key trade-off: USB minimizes redownloads and costs less than adding a fast internal expansion, but it adds a copy-back step whenever you return to a PS5 game.
Rank #2
- 【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.
- 【Thermal Pads】- with good thermal conductivity ability. Low viscosity, with no damage to the M.2 SSD.
- 【High Performance】- With 10°C - 20°C cooling effect (varies depending on the environments), cool your M.2 2280 SSD to a safe temp to avoid overheating and throttling, improve your computer's performance.
- 【Easy to Install 】 - With double-sided clip design, are suitable for M.2 NVME SSD of various heights, stable installation, better protection of your M.2 SSD with good heat dissipation performance.
Copy an archived PS5 game back when you are ready
Open the game library, select the archived title, press Options, choose Move Games and Apps, select the USB-stored game, and confirm the destination as console or M.2 storage. Allow the copy to finish before launching or installing an update. The required destination must have enough free space for the game and the update data the console requests.
3. Add an M.2 SSD for direct PS5 play
An M.2 SSD is the appropriate expansion when you want large PS5 installations to remain playable without copying them from an archive. Sony says games on an installed M.2 SSD can be downloaded, copied, launched, and updated.
Sony’s compatibility requirements
| Requirement | Published specification | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe Gen4x4 Key M NVMe | M.2 SATA drives are unsupported. |
| Capacity | 250GB to 8TB | The drive must fall within Sony’s supported range. |
| Supported form factors | 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280, or 22110 | The number identifies the module’s length class. |
| Maximum width | 25mm | A wider module or heatsink may not fit. |
| Maximum length | 30mm, 42mm, 60mm, 80mm, or 110mm according to the supported form factor | Match the drive length to the console’s mounting position. |
| Maximum total thickness | 11.25mm including the cooling structure | Count the SSD, heatsink, and any heat-transfer sheet together. |
| Recommended sequential read speed | At least 5,500MB/s | This is Sony’s recommendation, not a guarantee of identical performance to the internal SSD. |
| Thermal management | Effective heat dissipation required | Use a correctly sized heatsink or heat-transfer sheet that remains within the dimensional limits. |
Do not buy solely from a headline speed or the words “PS5 ready.” Check the manufacturer’s interface, dimensions, capacity, and cooling measurements against Sony’s requirements. Sony notes that a drive meeting the recommended sequential-read figure may not deliver exactly the same performance as the console’s internal SSD. A heatsink that is too tall can prevent the cover from fitting even when the bare SSD is the right size.
Set the M.2 SSD as an installation destination
- Install the compatible M.2 SSD according to the console’s hardware instructions, with the required cooling attached and all dimensions within Sony’s limits.
- Start the PS5 and format the new drive when prompted. Formatting removes data on the SSD.
- To choose where future games are installed, open Settings > Storage > Installation Location.
- Set PS5 games, PS4 games, or media to the destination that suits your space plan.
Move an existing installation to the M.2 SSD
- Open Game Library.
- Highlight the game.
- Press Options and select Move Games and Apps.
- Open the Movable to M.2 SSD Storage tab.
- Select the game, confirm the move, and wait for the transfer to complete.
After the move, the title remains available from the M.2 storage for normal launching and updating. Keep enough free space for patches and temporary installation work; the amount varies by game, edition, and update.
Rank #3
- DESIGNED FOR THE PS5 CONSOLE: Engineered to fit perfectly and easily into the PS5 console's SSD expansion slot for a quick and easy install.
- REVOLUTIONARY COOLING: Made from High-Quality CNC'd aluminum, the Sabrent Heatsink for the PS5 console was specifically designed to maximize cooling performance and simplify installation.
- UPGRADE YOUR CONSOLE! Rather than creating a heatsink that would only trap the heat in the metal cover, we designed a heatsink that replaces the native PS5 consoles cover. This allows for better cooling using the native fan as well as being a larger heatsink.
- INDUSTRIAL QUALITY: This SSD heatsink method also uses Sabrent's "Sandwich Design" which ensures even pressure throughout the SSD for efficient and consistent heat transfer unlike methods used by other brands.
- CONVENIENCE: Comes with an installation guide as well as screws and thermal tape for easy convenient installation.
How much space should you leave free?
There is no single safe “Kojima game size” to use for every console. Installation size can differ by title, edition, language content, platform version, and later patches. Before deleting or buying storage, open the exact game listing and note the current download requirement for your region and edition. Also check the available space shown by the PS5 after accounting for system-reserved capacity.
- Use the listing for the version you actually own, not a launch-era article or a different platform’s figure.
- Leave room beyond the initial download so an update can be downloaded and applied without first moving another game.
- If you keep several large games installed, add their current requirements together and include space for future updates and captures.
- When your plan relies on USB archiving, size the drive for the titles you want to rotate, not just the single largest game.
No authoritative, current installation-size figure has been established here for the relevant Kojima titles. That is why the console’s current listing and update prompt should control your decision.
Saved data, captures, and game installations are different
Moving or deleting a game does not move its progress in the same way as moving the installation. Sony’s storage categories separate PS5 game data from PS5 saved data. Game installations can use console storage, USB extended storage, or M.2 SSD storage; saved data can use PlayStation Plus cloud storage. Cloud storage protects saves, but it is not a place to store the game installation itself.
Before deleting a game you may return to, verify that its save is present on the console and, if you subscribe to PlayStation Plus, synchronized with cloud storage. Screenshots and video clips can be copied to a compatible USB drive when captures are the items consuming space. Removing captures does not remove the associated game or save.
Rank #4
- ❤M.2 heat sink 2-pack— Specially designed for desktop computers, this M.2 SSD heatsink compatible with M.2 2280 SSD, perfectly fit for Samsung 850 EVO, 860 EVO, 960 EVO, 970 EVO, 950 PRO, 960 PRO, 970 PRO, etc.
- ❤Double-sided cooling—Aluminum alloy-Groove design, greatly increase the heat dissipation area, with 10°C - 30°C cooling effect .
- ❤Nano Thermal Pad—made from Nano Silicon Grease Material, with good thermal conductivity ability. Soft enough and good ductility, compatible with uneven surfaces of the M.2 SSD. Low viscosity, with no damage to the SSD warranty label.
- ❤CNC Fine Workmanship—Main body material: Aluminum alloy, silver plating , anodic oxidation surface treatment. Dimensions: 3 x 0.95 x 0.4in., net weight: 1oz.,
- ❤Easy to Install —fixed screws on two side, for kinds of M.2 SSD.,
Choose between deleting, USB, and M.2 with this decision path
- You finished the game and do not need it soon: delete it. Your purchase remains redownloadable from the library.
- You want to keep the local download but play only occasionally: move the PS5 title to USB extended storage and accept the copy-back step.
- You switch among several PS5 games every week: use an M.2 SSD that meets Sony’s interface, capacity, dimensions, speed, and cooling requirements.
- You mainly play PS4 titles from an external drive: USB extended storage can run those games directly, subject to compatibility.
- You are trying to protect progress: manage saved data separately; adding installation capacity does not replace save backups.
Troubleshooting common storage problems
The PS5 says there is not enough space even after deleting a game
- Check Settings > Storage > Console Storage > Games and Apps again to confirm the deletion completed.
- Look for another large installation, add-on, capture, or pending update using the storage categories.
- Remember that an update may require temporary working space in addition to the game’s displayed installed size.
- Restart the console if the storage screen has not refreshed, then recheck the available capacity.
A PS5 game on USB will not launch
This is expected when the title is a PS5 version. Open the game library, choose Options > Move Games and Apps, and copy it to console storage or M.2 SSD storage. Confirm that the destination has enough free space for the game and its update.
The M.2 SSD is rejected or does not appear
- Confirm that the module is PCIe Gen4x4 NVMe with a Key M interface; M.2 SATA is not supported.
- Recheck capacity, form factor, width, length, and total thickness including the heatsink.
- Verify that the cooling solution is installed correctly and does not exceed the 11.25mm total-thickness limit.
- Check the manufacturer’s stated sequential-read speed against Sony’s recommended 5,500MB/s or faster figure.
- Power down and reseat the drive only while following Sony’s installation procedure. Do not force a module or cover that does not align.
A USB drive cannot be formatted as extended storage
- Confirm that its capacity is at least 250GB and no more than 8TB.
- Use a SuperSpeed-compatible drive connected directly to the PS5.
- Back up its contents first: formatting as extended storage erases the drive.
- If the console still rejects it, try another compatible drive rather than assuming a standard computer-formatted disk will work.
A practical rotation routine for large installations
- Once a week, open the storage list and identify games you have not launched recently.
- Delete completed titles whose saves are protected and whose future redownload is acceptable.
- Move occasional PS5 games to USB extended storage instead of deleting them when avoiding a redownload matters.
- Keep frequently rotated PS5 games on the M.2 SSD so launching does not require a transfer.
- Copy captures to USB when they begin competing with game space.
- Before a major release or update, check the exact listing and leave enough destination capacity for the update process.
This routine separates the three decisions that are often confused: removing an installation, archiving an installation, and expanding playable capacity. It also prevents saved-data protection from being mistaken for a substitute for game storage.
What to verify before buying either type of drive
For a USB extended-storage drive
- SuperSpeed USB compatibility
- Capacity between 250GB and 8TB
- Enough room for the number of games you plan to archive
- A direct connection to the PS5 and a safe-disconnect plan
- Acceptance that PS5 games must be copied back before play
For an M.2 SSD
- PCIe Gen4x4 Key M NVMe interface
- Capacity from 250GB to 8TB
- One of Sony’s supported form factors: 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280, or 22110
- Width no greater than 25mm and total thickness no greater than 11.25mm with cooling
- Recommended sequential read speed of at least 5,500MB/s
- A heatsink or heat-transfer sheet that fits the console
- Confirmation that the model is not M.2 SATA
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I play a PS5 game directly from a normal USB external drive?
No. A PS5 game may be stored on USB extended storage, but it must be copied to console storage or a compatible M.2 SSD before launching. PS4 games can run directly from compatible USB extended storage.
Will deleting a purchased Kojima game make me buy it again?
No. Sony says deleted purchases remain available to redownload from your game library. You will need to download the game and applicable updates again.
Best Value
- [2TB] Exceptional performance up to 7400MB/s read, 6500MB/s write; 1500TBW
- 2x faster than PCIe Gen 3 SSDs
- Designed with a heatsink to keep your rig cool for better performance and power efficiency
- Up to 40% less power consumption than DRAM cache-enabled PCIe Gen 4 SSDs
- Host Memory Buffer (HMB) 3.0 activates the DRAM cache function of your device for a smoother transfer speed and seamless performance
Does PlayStation Plus cloud storage hold the game installation?
No. Cloud storage is for saved data. Game installations use console, USB extended, or M.2 SSD storage.
Can every Kojima game remove its campaign or other finished content?
No. The Customize option is title-specific, and developers determine which portions can be removed. Check the options displayed for that individual game.
The Bottom Line
Delete completed installations first, archive occasional PS5 games on a 250GB–8TB compatible USB drive when a copy-back step is acceptable, and choose a correctly sized PCIe Gen4x4 NVMe M.2 SSD when direct play from expanded storage matters. Base the capacity decision on the exact current game listing and patch requirements, not an unsourced installation-size estimate.
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