How to choose an SSD for your PS5

Every PS5 has a slot for one extra M.2 SSD. Fill it with the right drive and it works like the console’s own storage: you can install and play PS5 games straight from it. Choose the wrong drive and it won’t fit, won’t be recognized, or won’t stay cool enough.

The good news is that Sony publishes exact requirements. This guide translates them, using PlayStation’s official M.2 SSD support page as the source.

Which PS5 models have the slot?

Sony’s page covers the original PS5 (model group CFI-1000) and the newer models in groups CFI-2000 and CFI-7000. CFI-2000 is the slimmer PS5, and CFI-7000 is the PS5 Pro. If you’re not sure which you have, the model number is printed on the console’s label and on the box.

Before you install anything, Sony says your console must be on the latest system software.

Sony’s requirements, in plain English

Requirement	What Sony says	What it means for you
Interface	PCI-Express Gen4 x4 M.2 NVMe SSD (Key M)	Look for “PCIe Gen4” and “NVMe”. M.2 SATA drives are not supported.
Capacity	250 GB – 8 TB	Anything in that range works. See below for which size makes sense.
Speed	5,500 MB/s or faster recommended	A recommendation, not a hard limit, but it’s the safe choice for games.
Module size	2230, 2242, 2260, 2280 or 22110	2280 is the most common size.
Cooling	A heatsink or other cooling structure is required	Buy a drive with a heatsink, or add one that fits.
Size with cooling	Up to 25 mm wide, up to 11.25 mm thick (8.0 mm above the board, 2.45 mm below)	Big, tall heatsinks may not fit under the cover. Check the dimensions.

Single-sided and double-sided drives are both supported.

The two mistakes people make most

1. Buying a SATA M.2 drive. It looks almost the same, but the PS5 needs NVMe over PCIe Gen4. Read the listing carefully.
2. Ignoring cooling and height. Sony requires effective cooling. A drive without a heatsink can overheat; a drive with an oversized heatsink won’t fit. Many listings say “for PS5” and include a heatsink designed for the slot. Still check the dimensions above.

What size should you buy?

Sony allows anything from 250 GB to 8 TB, but small drives don’t go far with today’s games. Rockstar says the GTA 6 pre-load alone needs up to 212 GB of free space, and a single big game like that would almost fill a 250 GB drive.

A sensible way to decide:

• 1 TB: room for GTA 6 plus several other large games. The usual pick if you only add storage once in a while.
• 2 TB: good if you keep lots of games installed or share the console with family.
• 4 TB or more: for very large libraries. These usually cost a lot more, so only buy one if you’ll use the space.

Remember that a drive never shows its full advertised capacity once formatted, so you’ll have a little less usable space than the number on the box.

If you’re not sure you need a drive at all, our GTA 6 Storage Planner shows how short you are and whether deleting or moving games would be enough.

Installing it: what to expect

Sony’s support page has step-by-step instructions with pictures for each model group, and you should follow those exactly. In outline:

1. Update the system software, then turn the console off completely and unplug it.
2. Remove the cover to reach the expansion slot (the steps differ by model).
3. Fit the drive and its cooling, and secure it.
4. Put the cover back, reconnect, and turn the console on. The PS5 will offer to format the drive.

Formatting erases anything on the drive. Once it’s done, the PS5 lets you install games to it and move games between console storage, the M.2 SSD and USB extended storage.

SSD or USB drive?

They do different jobs:

• An M.2 SSD lets you play PS5 games from it.
• A USB drive is a cheaper place to store PS5 games. PlayStation says they must be copied back to console storage or an M.2 SSD before you can play them. PS4 games can be played from USB.

If you just need somewhere to park games you aren’t playing, a USB drive may be enough. If you want more room for games you play every week — including GTA 6 — the M.2 SSD is the upgrade that actually helps.

Before you buy: a checklist

• Says M.2, NVMe and PCIe Gen4 (not SATA)
• 250 GB – 8 TB (1 TB or 2 TB for most people)
• 5,500 MB/s or faster read speed
• Includes a heatsink that fits Sony’s size limits, or you have one that does
• Your PS5 has the latest system software