ps5 storage upgrade guide: choose the right nvme drive and avoid common setup pitfalls

I upgraded my PS5 storage last year and learned a lot the hard way — from buying a drive that technically met Sony’s specs but didn’t fit once a heatsink was added, to nearly losing a day of gaming because I hadn’t backed up my save data. If you’ve been holding off on expanding your PS5’s SSD because the choices and caveats are confusing, this guide cuts through the noise. I’ll walk you through choosing the right NVMe, the installation steps I follow, and the common pitfalls to avoid so you can get back to gaming faster and safer.

Why upgrade your PS5 storage?

The PS5 comes with a fast internal SSD that makes load times, streaming assets, and overall responsiveness feel almost magical. But that 667GB of usable space fills up quickly if you like a mix of big first-party titles and multiplayer games. Upgrading to an NVMe M.2 SSD gives you:

More capacity for your game library

The ability to run PS5-native games directly from the expansion slot (not just PS4 titles)

Future-proofing for larger game installs and patches

That said, not every NVMe is created equal. The PS5 has specific requirements, and skipping the details can lead to slowdowns, thermal throttling, or outright incompatibility.

PS5 SSD requirements (what matters)

Sony’s official requirements boil down to a few technical points — but you don’t need to be an engineer to use them. Focus on these essentials:

Interface: PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe M.2

Sequential read speed: 5,500 MB/s or faster recommended for optimal experience with PS5 games

Form factor: M.2 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280, or 22110. Most common is 2280 (22mm x 80mm)

Capacity: 250GB minimum, 1TB+ recommended for most players

Heatsink: Required — either built-in or an external one you add yourself

The read speed requirement is not arbitrary. PS5 games are designed around the console’s super-fast I/O; drives much slower than the recommended speeds can cause texture streaming issues or longer load times. Conversely, buying an over-the-top drive won’t give you magical improvements beyond what the console can already take advantage of, but it helps with future-proofing.

Recommended drives I trust

After testing and cross-referencing benchmarks, I keep returning to a few models that balance performance, thermals, and real-world reliability:

Model	Capacity	Sequential Read	Notes
Samsung 980 Pro (with heatsink)	1TB / 2TB	Up to 7,000 MB/s	Excellent thermals, mature firmware, widely compatible
WD Black SN850 (with heatsink)	1TB / 2TB	Up to 7,000 MB/s	Great performance; WD releases versions with integrated heatsink
Seagate FireCuda 530	1TB / 2TB / 4TB	Up to 7,300 MB/s	Top-tier speeds and endurance; often paired with SSD heatsinks
Corsair MP600 Pro LPX	1TB / 2TB	Up to 7,100 MB/s	Low-profile heatsink option that fits PS5 snugly

All of the above are proven in PS5 use and hit the necessary read speeds. If you pick a model without an integrated heatsink, plan to buy a thin, low-profile heatsink that fits the PS5 expansion bay.

Heatsink — the most overlooked requirement

Don’t skip the heatsink. The PS5’s expansion slot is tight and thermally constrained — a high-speed NVMe without proper cooling will throttle under load and may behave inconsistently. Key points:

Use an SSD with an integrated heatsink designed for consoles, or buy a slim third-party heatsink (about 2–3mm clearance).

Measure twice: if you install a chunky aftermarket heatsink and the PS5 cover won’t close properly, you’ll need to swap it to a lower-profile option.

Low-profile aluminum heatsinks or the manufacturer’s console-specific versions are usually the safest bets.

Physical fit and the PS5 cover

I learned early on to test-fit the SSD and heatsink on my desk before sliding everything into the PS5. The metal shielding plate over the expansion bay will still sit flush only if your heatsink stays within the allowable height. If it doesn’t, you’ll either need to remove the heatsink and install a slimmer one or return the drive.

Installation steps I follow

I’ve refined a simple routine to avoid mistakes:

Back up saves to cloud (PS Plus) or USB — never skip this.

Power down the PS5 fully and unplug it.

Remove the cover carefully (there are lots of guides and videos; the top-left corner lifts off).

Unscrew the expansion bay plate, remove the support screw and spacer, insert SSD at an angle, press down and secure.

Reattach the M.2 cover, close the PS5, plug in and boot.

Format the new SSD when the PS5 prompts you before it’s usable for PS5 games.

Formatting is quick and is done from the PS5 storage menu. After formatting, you can move games between internal and expansion storage from the same menu.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

Here are the mistakes I see people make and the preventative steps I take:

Buying a PCIe Gen3 drive: They’re cheaper but too slow for PS5 titles. Only use them for PS4 games.

Ignoring the heatsink: Causes thermal throttling and possible game performance issues. Always use a compatible heatsink.

Not backing up saves: If you need to reinstall the system software, you could lose progress. Upload saves to cloud or copy to USB first.

Not checking physical fit: If the heatsink doesn’t fit, the PS5 might not close or could push the drive out of alignment.

Assuming higher sequential read always means better performance: Controller firmware, sustained performance (TBW/endurance), and thermal behavior also matter.

PS5 software compatibility quirks

Sony occasionally updates the PS5’s SSD compatibility list and adds firmware checks. That means:

Even drives that meet the published specs might require a PS5 firmware update to be recognized consistently.

There’s a small “blocklist” possibility for some early NVMe controllers; buying from well-known brands reduces this risk.

Always update your PS5 to the latest system software before installing the SSD.

Performance tuning and real-world tips

Once the drive is installed, here are a few practical tips I use to keep things smooth:

Move only PS5-native titles you play regularly to the expansion drive. Keep a few large titles on the internal drive if you alternate often — the PS5 may stream assets differently across drives.

Check the SSD’s manufacturer dashboard occasionally for firmware updates; some fixes improve stability or performance.

If you ever see texture pop-in or weird streaming issues, try moving the game back to internal storage to isolate whether it’s drive-related.

If you want shopping help, tell me your budget and whether capacity or absolute speed matters more — I can recommend specific models and heatsinks that match your constraints and help you avoid returns. For step-by-step photos of the physical installation, I’ve posted a detailed walkthrough on Gameriously (https://www.gameriously.com) that I update with every firmware and hardware tip I learn from the community and pro players I chat with.