Sony added external hard drive (HDD) support to the PlayStation 4 recently, meaning that you can now easily increase the capacity of your console without needing to open it and replace its internal hard drive. The system supports drives of up to 8TB, but you do need to ensure that you plump up for a USB 3.0 one otherwise it won't work.
But what are the best external HDDs you can buy for the PS4? We've included a few of our picks below. If you've already got a drive and want to know how to attach an external HDD to your PS4, then follow the link.
The Best External Hard Drives for PS4
Here are some of the best external hard drives available right now that represent great functionality and value for money:
Toshiba Canvio Basics 1TB Portable External Hard Drive
Simple and straightforward, the Toshiba Canvio Basics 1TB Portable external hard drive is inconspicuous and well-priced. This rudimentary USB 3.0 drive doesn't require external power and boasts a great transfer rate. This model's also available in 2TB and 3TB guises.
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Seagate Ultra Slim 2TB Portable External Hard Drive
Size matters, and when it comes to external HDDs, smaller is usually better. The transfer rate on this Seagate isn't great, but with its thickness under one centimetre, this is a super slim hard drive. This model can also be bought as a 1TB external HDD.
Seagate Expansion 4TB Portable External Hard Drive
A slightly jazzier external HDD with great capacity relative to the price. Like the Toshiba, this USB 3.0 drive doesn't require an external power source. It can also be purchased in 1TB, 2TB, and 3TB forms.
Western Digital 8TB My Book External Hard Drive
While this monster external HDD requires an external power source, it's packing a whopping 8TB storage space, which should solve all of your hard drive woes. This discreet model can also be purchased in 3TB, 4TB, and 6TB guises.
These are just a few of the best external hard drive recommendations we've found around the web. Do let us know if you have any other external hard drive suggestions in the comments section below.
Comments 38
The Q&A for the Seagate Backup Plus Hub 8 TB USB 3.0
Some has said it doesnt work for PS4, can anyone confirm this?
@B-I-G-DEVIL Looks like that question was posted prior to this week's firmware update, though.
@get2sammyb yes there's a reply yesterday saying it doesn't work though. I can't understand why it wouldn't though?
I have the platinum headset and usually leave a controller on charge so the additional usb slots would help a lot.
@B-I-G-DEVIL I've looked into it a bit more, and a few people tweeted at me. Apparently it doesn't work because of the hub. I've removed from the article and will replace with the Western Digital.
@get2sammyb ah that sucks, thanks for checking though!
@B-I-G-DEVIL Yeah, it's a bummer because that one with the hub seems perfect for the PS4. I'm sure they'll probably fix that, but for now I've swapped the Western Digital 8TB in.
That's a shame, as I was also looking at the 8TB Seagate Hub. They're probably gonna have to make it really clear that it doesn't work with a PS4, because it's gonna get a lot of complaints and returns otherwise.
Apologies for going off-topic but just wondered what your thoughts are on the platinum headset @B-I-G-DEVIL?
Is there any point in me buying an external drive? I have a feeling that it will only allow you to use the hard drive when signed in. Which is no help to me as I have no internet connection. Can anyone confirm that?
@roe I really liked the golds but two pairs broke at the hinge for me. Platinums I've had since they launched and I think the sound & comfort is much better and are certainly built better too.
I know it's not possible to connect 2 hard drives at the same time but does anyone know if it's possible to have multiple drives formatted to the system and then just disconnect and connect the relevant ones to up the potential storage even more?
@get2sammyb I've gone for the Seagate Expansion 4TB Portable External Hard Drive instead. It was usb more than memory that swayed me that way, 4 will be plenty and no external required is bonus too
@B-I-G-DEVIL That's the one I'd get too.
I will upgrade to 2T hdd when I have ps4 pro and if it's not enough, I'll pick the seagate 4T expansion.
@get2sammyb Can I buy external storage for my ps4, install game, and move the external hdd to new ps4 pro when I have it? The new ps4 pro will have the same psn id as the old one.
@B-I-G-DEVIL @get2sammyb I've just got that 4TB one for my Xbox and it works a treat. The main draw for me was it being USB powered and it's way smaller than my Seagate 1TB drive.
@get2sammyb I was hoping the hub would work as well. Bummer! It would've been nice to have my controller charger attached to it.
I went with the Seagate Expansion Desktop 4T instead.
I bought the Western Digital 6tb. Works wonderfully and I currently have about 120 games on my ps4 with only about half of the space taken up.
@crippyd yes no external power is why i got it. Should have it tomorrow and spend all day installing games I'll go back to
@get2sammyb The Seagate Expansion Portable Harddive also comes in a 5TB version too which is the one I got. It's only $10 more the the 4TB.
@get2sammyb Thanks! I will also be getting the Seagate 4TB external hard drive.
If I ever get to the point were I fill up all that including my 1TB internal, I think I'll need an intervention.
@get2sammyb I have a question for you, how well would a USB 3.1 HDD perform if connected to the back USB port?
will it also be limited to the USB 3.0 becasue it's routed thru the that lane on the MoBo, that's what people have been saying about the SATA 3 interface bottleneck? anyway could you guys put out an article about that?
well i brought a 2TB version of the Seagate Expansion 4TB Portable External Hard Drive a few days ago (just waiting on delivery) so i'm glad it's on the list
Again, apologies for asking here but I can't really be bothered to look around too much..
Does anyone know what happens to games on the menu once you disconnect the hard drive? I'm assuming they disappear but was curious as to whether they appear back in folders after you reconnect?
@roe good question,I'd also like to know the answer
Thanks for the listings @get2sammyb I've also ordered the Seagate Hdd,now it's just a case of finding an accessory to charge my controllers.
2tb western digital straight into usb port new games loaded straight to it
@roe I was under the impression we cannot play games off the external. Isn't this the case. I imagine we can't hot swap the drives. Plus just not a good practice for maintaining the integrity of any digital file. FYI, I have a Wii U & they are always checking the license of your digital content. My Wii U could be off & I've seen the led kick on for the drive. Also, I can hear it spinning. After a year of having an illegal copy (it had been bought off eBay) of Smash Bros Nintendo banned me from on-line play. I had to delete it from my account. I image Sony will be the same. Always accessing your drive, when plugged in.
@TomKnows sorry, you've completely lost me there?
I wasn't intending to use multiple drives so I could swap games around with people or double my installs. Was just wondering if it would be possible to use multiple drives so instead of having one 4tb drive, I could potentially have four 1tb drives instead and just connect them at different times depending on which games I wanted to access.
Hopefully we get this update for vita. Rather have a seagate hanging off the vita than pay £120 for 64gb.
@themcnoisy yes!
I wish the normal PS4 had a USB Port on the back Really don't want a silly lead coming out of the front of my PS4 :-/ It will just look horrible really. Oh well.
@GraveLordXD you can..
@GraveLordXD I picked up the Toshiba model mentioned above yedterday. I can confirm it works. I moved Horizon from the internal storage to the external storage, and it plays fine. Even though it's a physical copy. Load times are about the same, if not slightly quicker as well.
@GraveLordXD you can't move any save data over with it but any installed DLC automatically moves with the game you transfer.
I think you can copy saved data to a USB stick as well if needed but I haven't tried that
@GraveLordXD yep. It's that simple. Took a day or so to get most of my library on it.
In the UK I went for the Maxtor M3 2TB External HDD from Amazon, around £67. Works a treat with the PS4 Pro plus it has a PlayStation Blue glowing light on it just as an added aesthetic bonus.
With my 2TB internal HDD and now this I 'think' I'm future-proofed until next gen. 3.9TB of it will be mostly backlog
@themcnoisy
I picked up a 64gb card second hand from CEX a couple of years ago for £60. It's pretty easy to check stock holdings. I've had no issues with it either. For me it's made my vita such a great handheld. I've bought all my games digitally through the numerous sales. And replaced all my hard copies. I say just dive in its made such a difference to me, I to was angry with the price but don't bite your nose to spite your face. It makes the vita what it was ment to be.
I plan to add a external in the near future. Has transfer speeds been accounted for in your list. HDD's are far from equal in performance and transfer speeds. I am thinking of a 4Tb Seagate Barracuda and stand alone enclosure.
@gingerfrog I'm sorted for memory cards now, I got a card from Play Asia. Never buying a system with proprietory cards or memory again, it's a total rip off whatever way they mask it. When a 64gb SD card is a maximum of £20 from most retailers, Sony asking anything over double is a con.
I went for the Seagate Expansion 5TB £120 delivered with £10 discount on Amazon Prime Now. Not really a portable drive and comes with a mains adaptor but for the place it's being kept and plugs not being an issue seemed the best one for the price. Now just need to wait for all the games to download again. £24 per TB isn't to shabby plus the 2 hour delivery was worth it so I didn't even have to get dressed and go buy one.
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