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PS5 storage, slot by slot

A PS5 has two places that can run its games: the SSD inside, and one free M.2 slot. A USB drive is a third place, but only to keep PS5 games, not to play them.

The quick answer

On an original PS5, about 667 GB is free for games. Five of the big games on our game install sizes page need about 100 GB or more each, so that room holds about six games of that size before you have to delete one: 667 divided by 100 is 6.7, so six whole games. A PS5 Pro, with about 1.89 TB free, holds about eighteen.

Before you buy an SSD for the M.2 slot

  • The box must say PCIe Gen4 (also written PCIe 4.0) and M.2 NVMe. A Gen3 drive will not be accepted.
  • Look at the read speed: 5,500 MB/s or faster is the figure to aim for.
  • Pick a drive with a heatsink, or add one, and check the size limits listed below before you buy.
  • If your PS5 has not been updated since 2023, update it first: the 8 TB limit came with a September 2023 update.

Good to know

  • The original PS5 (2020) has an 825 GB SSD, and about 667 GB of it is free for games.1,2,3
  • The PS5 Slim (2023) comes with a 1 TB SSD.1,4
  • The PS5 Pro (2024) comes with a 2 TB SSD, and about 1.89 TB of it is free for games.1,2,3
  • A PS5 Slim Digital Edition sold in Europe since September 2025 is reported to have 825 GB instead of 1 TB. Sony did not confirm it.1,5,6
  • Every PS5 model, the original, the Slim and the Pro, has the same internal M.2 slot for adding an SSD.7,8
  • An added PS5 SSD must be a PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 NVMe drive. PCIe 3.0 drives are not supported.1,9
  • The recommended read speed for that SSD is 5,500 MB/s or faster.9,10
  • The M.2 slot takes drives up to 8 TB since a September 2023 system update. Older guides still say 4 TB.1,7,11
  • With its heatsink, the SSD must fit within 25 mm wide and 11.25 mm thick. Lengths from 2230 to 22110 fit.7,10,12
  • The added SSD needs a heatsink, either built in or added.9,10
  • PS5 games cannot be played from a USB drive, only kept there. PS4 games can be played from one.1,13

How we checked this page

Checked on October 17, 2026. We kept a fact only when two independent publishers agree, and each one is numbered to its sources below. Sizes change with game updates, so each one keeps its year. We never write a price. This page was written with an AI assistant and checked against the sources below.

Sources

  1. PlayStation 5, Wikipedia
  2. PS5 Pro actually gives you almost all its 2TB of storage to use, Push Square
  3. PS5 Pro resolves base PS5 storage complaint, PlayStation LifeStyle
  4. PS5 Slim review, TechRadar
  5. PS5 Digital Edition consoles are reportedly getting a quiet storage downgrade, VGC
  6. PS5 Slim Digital Edition revision replaces the glossy look with a plain matte finish, in addition to reducing storage capacity, TechRadar
  7. PS5 storage guide, Stevivor
  8. In case you missed it, PS5 Pro has a 2TB SSD included, Push Square
  9. How to upgrade your PS5 storage: easy SSD and heatsink install guide, Game Informer
  10. How to upgrade your PS5 storage with an SSD, Tom's Hardware
  11. Long-awaited PS5 update is available now, adding support for Dolby Atmos and 8TB SSDs, TechRadar
  12. How to upgrade PS5 internal storage, Tom's Guide
  13. PS5 USB extended storage, Sony Interactive Entertainment