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To move a PS5 game to an external USB drive, connect a compatible SuperSpeed USB drive directly to the console, format it as USB extended storage if necessary, then open Game Library, highlight the game, press Options, choose Move Games and Apps, select the game and confirm Move. This frees space on the PS5’s internal storage. A PS5 game stored on USB is archival storage: you must copy it back to console storage before playing. PS4 games can run directly from USB extended storage.
What you need before moving a game
Use an external USB hard drive or SSD that meets Sony’s requirements for PS5 USB extended storage. Sony specifies the following limits:
| Requirement | Sony specification | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| USB performance | SuperSpeed USB 5 Gbps or faster | The drive must support the transfer rate required for extended storage. |
| Capacity | At least 250 GB and no more than 8 TB | Drives outside this range cannot be used as PS5 extended storage. |
| Connection | Directly connected to the PS5 | Sony does not recommend connecting the drive through a USB hub. |
| Compatibility | Not every device is guaranteed to work | Meeting the published speed and capacity limits does not guarantee operation with every model. |
A compatible external USB drive for PS5 is useful when the console’s internal storage is full and you want to keep games installed without downloading them again. It is a storage location, not a second launch drive for PS5 titles.
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Back up anything already on the drive
The first time you use a drive as PS5 extended storage, the console formats it. Formatting erases all existing data on that drive. Copy photos, documents, computer backups and other files elsewhere before you begin.
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A drive that was already formatted as extended storage on a PS4 or another PS5 normally does not need to be formatted again. Connect it directly and let the console detect it. If the PS5 asks you to format an already-used drive, stop and verify that you have a backup before accepting.
Understand what USB extended storage can do
PS5 games are stored on USB but launch from console storage
Moving a PS5 game to USB removes its installation files from the console’s internal storage, but the game cannot launch while it remains there. When you want to play it, copy the game data back to console storage first. This is usually faster than downloading the complete game again, but it still requires enough free space on the PS5.
PS4 games can run from the USB drive
PS4 games installed on USB extended storage can be played directly from that drive. The same drive can therefore hold both PS5 and PS4 games; the difference is where each generation is allowed to run.
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Game storage is not save-data backup
Moving an installed game does not move its saved games, screenshots or other personal data. Sony’s storage-management guidance treats PS5 saved data separately from USB extended storage, with cloud storage used for PS5 save data. If your goal is to protect progress, configure the console’s supported save-data backup or cloud-storage option separately.
An M.2 SSD is a different option
A compatible M.2 SSD installed in the PS5’s expansion bay can store and launch PS5 games. USB extended storage is simpler to connect and disconnect, but it is intended for keeping PS5 games installed until you need to copy them back. Choose between the two based on whether you need immediate launch from the additional storage.
How to format the external drive for PS5
- Connect the drive directly. Plug the external USB drive into a PS5 USB port. Do not route it through a hub.
- Open storage settings. From the home screen, go to Settings > Storage > USB Extended Storage.
- Start the format. Choose Format as USB Extended Storage.
- Confirm only after checking the drive. Read the warning that all data on the drive will be erased, then confirm if you have backed up anything important.
- Wait for completion. Do not unplug the drive while the PS5 is formatting it. When the console finishes, the drive appears as USB extended storage and is ready for game installations or moves.
If the drive was previously used as PS4 or PS5 extended storage, the format step may not appear. Do not reformat simply to follow the procedure; reformatting would erase the games already on it.
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Move a PS5 game to the external USB drive
- Open Game Library. Select Game Library from the PS5 home screen.
- Highlight the installed game. Select the PS5 game you want to relocate. It must be installed on the console or another recognized storage location.
- Open the game’s options. Press the Options button on the controller.
- Choose the storage command. Select Move Games and Apps. Sony uses this exact menu label; wording can vary with the console’s language or system software version.
- Select the game. Tick the game, or select multiple games if you want to move them in one operation. Check the total size against the free capacity shown for the USB drive.
- Confirm Move. Choose Move and leave the console and drive connected until the transfer finishes. The game’s icon and license remain associated with your account; only its installed data location changes.
You can repeat the same process for other installed titles. Moving a game does not uninstall it permanently: the installation remains on the external drive until you delete it or move it elsewhere.
Move several games when space is tight
Use the multi-select screen in Move Games and Apps to prioritize large titles first. Check the destination’s available capacity before confirming. If the selected games exceed the free space, remove one or more from the selection and run the move in smaller batches. Keep enough internal space for system updates and the PS5 games you expect to play soon.
Copy a PS5 game back when you want to play
A PS5 title on USB extended storage must be returned to console storage before it can start. In Game Library, locate the game on the external drive, open its Options menu, choose Move Games and Apps, select the game and choose the PS5’s console storage as the destination. Follow the progress indicator and do not disconnect the drive during the copy.
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The copy-back operation does not require a new download as long as the complete game data is present on the USB drive. You still need enough free console storage for the game and any required update. If the game has been deleted from both locations, reinstall it from your library or disc instead.
Install new games directly to USB when appropriate
Once a drive is formatted as extended storage, the PS5 can use it as an installation destination. This is useful for PS4 games you plan to play from the drive and for PS5 games you want to archive without occupying internal space. In the console’s storage settings, select the USB extended-storage location when choosing where compatible game data should be installed. The console will still require PS5 titles to be on internal console storage at launch.
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Disconnect the drive safely
Never pull the USB cable while the PS5 is reading or writing game data. Use the console’s on-screen command to stop using or safely remove the extended-storage drive, wait for the confirmation, and then unplug it. Disconnecting improperly can cause data loss or corruption and may damage the console or the drive.
If the PS5 is turned off, wait until the power indicator has completely stopped before removing the drive. Reconnect the drive directly if it is accidentally unplugged, then allow the console to check it before attempting another move.
Troubleshoot common problems
The PS5 does not recognize the drive
- Confirm the drive is plugged directly into the console rather than a USB hub.
- Check that its advertised interface is SuperSpeed USB 5 Gbps or faster.
- Verify that its capacity is within Sony’s 250 GB to 8 TB range.
- Try another PS5 USB port and reconnect the cable firmly.
- If the drive contains important files, do not immediately format it. Formatting may solve recognition problems only by erasing the existing contents.
- Remember that Sony does not guarantee every USB device, even when its specifications appear to match.
The console asks to format a drive that contains games
Cancel the prompt if you need the existing data. A format erases the drive. Confirm that the drive was previously used as PS4 or PS5 extended storage and that the cable and connection are stable. If the PS5 still cannot read it, recover or copy any irreplaceable data using the device or console that can access it before considering a reformat.
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- Check the destination’s free capacity; a game may need additional room for updates or installation metadata.
- Close any game currently running from the source storage and retry.
- Make sure the drive is not being disconnected, moved or shared through another device.
- Restart the PS5, reconnect the drive directly and attempt the move again.
- If the console displays a USB extended-storage error such as CE-100006-7, follow the on-screen recovery guidance and check the drive connection before repeating the transfer.
The game appears in the library but will not start
Check where the game is installed. If it is a PS5 version on USB extended storage, copy it to console storage first. A PS4 version can run from USB, provided its installation is complete and the drive is connected. Disc-based games also require the correct disc when the license is tied to the disc.
The transfer is taking longer than expected
Transfer time depends on the game’s size, the drive’s actual sustained performance, the USB connection and other activity on the console. Leave the PS5 idle during a large move, avoid using a hub, and do not interrupt the progress bar. Repeatedly cancelling transfers increases the chance of an incomplete installation and another copy operation.
Choosing the right storage location
| Storage location | PS5 games | PS4 games | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| PS5 console storage | Store and play | Store and play | Games you play frequently, especially PS5 titles. |
| USB extended storage | Store; copy back before playing | Store and play directly | Archiving PS5 games and expanding space for PS4 games. |
| Compatible M.2 SSD | Store and play | Store and play | Additional internal-style capacity for launching PS5 games without a USB copy-back step. |
For most people, the practical arrangement is to keep current PS5 games on console storage, move less-used PS5 games to USB, and leave PS4 games on USB when they are played regularly. This preserves internal capacity without requiring another download.
Quick Recap
Important limitations to remember
- The external drive must be dedicated to PS5 extended storage after formatting; formatting removes unrelated files.
- USB storage for installed games is separate from PS5 saved-data backup. Moving a game is not a substitute for protecting save files.
- PS5 game data on USB is not directly playable. Plan a copy-back before a gaming session and allow enough free console space.
- PS4 games are the exception: they can launch from USB extended storage.
- Do not unplug the drive during a move, while a game is running from it, or before using the console’s safe-removal command.
- Menu names may vary slightly by console language and system-software version, but Sony’s documented action is labeled Move Games and Apps.
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