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The PS5 ships with 825GB of storage — enough for about 10 games. Here's exactly how to add an NVMe SSD, what to buy, and what to watch out for.
The PS5 launches with 825GB of internal SSD storage — but after the operating system takes its share, you have closer to 667GB usable. Modern PS5 games average 50–80GB each. That means you can store roughly 8–12 games at a time. If you play more than that, you're constantly deleting and redownloading. Adding an NVMe SSD expansion slot (standard on all PS5 models) fixes this permanently.
The PS5 uses an M.2 NVMe SSD in the 2230 or 2280 form factor (2280 is most common). You need PCIe Gen 4 speed — Gen 3 drives work but perform below Sony's spec. Recommended drives: Samsung 990 Pro, WD Black SN850X, Seagate FireCuda 530. Capacity: 1TB is the minimum worth buying, 2TB is ideal. You also need a heatsink — some drives include one, otherwise buy separately for a few dollars. Most M.2 NVMe drives compatible with PS5 sell for $60–$120 on eBay depending on size and brand.
Before opening the console: back up your save data to PS Plus cloud or a USB drive. Power off completely (not rest mode). Unplug all cables. Let it sit for 10 minutes to cool down. You'll need a Phillips head screwdriver (small, #1 size). Work on a clean, flat, static-free surface. The process takes about 15–20 minutes.
Place the PS5 face-down on a flat surface. Remove the white side panel on the left (facing the PS logo): grip the top-left corner, pull up and then slide toward the bottom of the console. It clips off without screws. Under the panel you'll find the M.2 expansion slot covered by a metal plate. Remove the screw holding the plate, then remove the plate. You'll see the empty M.2 slot.
Remove the spacer screw from the correct size position for your drive (most 2280 drives use the furthest position). Slide the SSD into the M.2 slot at a 30-degree angle — it only fits one way. Press it flat against the board and secure with the screw. Attach your heatsink if it didn't come pre-installed. Replace the expansion slot cover plate and screw. Reattach the side panel.
Plug everything back in and power on. The PS5 will automatically detect the new SSD and prompt you to format it. Follow the on-screen instructions — it takes about 60 seconds. Once formatted, the drive appears as expanded storage and you can move games to it or download directly to it. Games stored on the expansion SSD run at identical speed to the internal storage. You're done.
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