PS5 USB extended storage not working

Updated Troubleshooting

A PS5 game that won’t start from a USB drive is expected behaviour, not a fault: PS5 games can only be stored on USB extended storage.

USB extended storage not working

Symptoms
Drive not offered for formatting, games cannot be started from it, or a second drive is ignored.
Documented cause
Unsupported connection (USB hub or slow port), capacity outside the supported range, or a PS5 game being started from USB storage.[1]
  1. Connect directly. Plug the drive into one of the SuperSpeed (10Gbps) USB ports on the console. A USB hub is not supported.[1]
  2. Check speed and capacity. The drive must support SuperSpeed USB 5 Gbps or faster and have 250 GB to 8 TB capacity.[1]
  3. Use one drive at a time. Several USB drives can be connected, but only one can act as extended storage.[1]
  4. Copy PS5 games back before playing. PS5 games stored on USB extended storage have to be copied to console storage or an M.2 SSD before they can be played. PS4 games run directly from the drive.[1]

Avoid data loss

Disconnect the drive only when the console’s power indicator is off, or use Settings > Storage > USB Extended Storage > Safely Remove from PS5 first. Pulling the drive while it’s in use can corrupt data on the drive.

Requirements and setup: PS5 USB extended storage.

Sources

Last checked

  1. USB extended storage on PS5 consoles PlayStation Support ยท Official support

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