PS5 SSD Upgrade: A UK Buyer's Guide to Extra Storage

TL;DR: A PS5 SSD upgrade adds an M.2 NVMe drive to your console's expansion slot, giving you room for more games without deleting saves. You need a PCIe Gen 4 drive with at least 5,500 MB/s read speed, a compatible heatsink, and firmware that passes Sony's compatibility check. For UK buyers, a 2 TB drive is the sweet spot — enough for a growing library without overspending on capacity you will not fill for years.

Why UK Gamers Are Upgrading PS5 Storage Now

Modern PS5 titles routinely exceed 80 GB, and with Call of Duty, Gran Turismo 7, and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth all competing for space on the internal drive, deleting games to make room has become a weekly chore. UK gamers on forums consistently report the same frustration: the specs on paper all look similar, but real-world smoothness matters more than benchmark charts.

The PS5's M.2 expansion slot, enabled since a 2021 system update, accepts third-party NVMe SSDs that meet Sony's strict requirements. Once installed, expanded storage behaves like the internal drive — games load from it directly, and you can move titles between internal and expanded storage through the Settings menu.

PS5 M.2 Slot Requirements: What Sony Actually Demands

Before buying any drive, check these non-negotiable specifications against Sony's official compatibility list:

• Interface: M.2 NVMe (not SATA M.2)
• PCIe generation: Gen 4 x4 recommended; Gen 5 drives are backwards-compatible but may require a firmware update
• Minimum sequential read: 5,500 MB/s
• Form factor: 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280, or 22110 — 2280 is the most common and easiest to find in the UK
• Heatsink: Required. The drive must not exceed 25 mm wide, 30 mm tall, and 11.25 mm thick including the heatsink
• Capacity: 250 GB minimum, 8 TB maximum

Drives that fail any of these checks will not appear in the PS5 formatting menu. Always verify against Sony's published compatibility list before purchasing — it is updated as new firmware releases add support for additional models.

How Much Storage Do You Actually Need?

UK buyers typically land in one of three camps:

• 1 TB: Suitable if you play three to five active titles and rotate games regularly. Expect to pay around £80–£120 for a compatible Gen 4 drive.
• 2 TB: The most popular choice for households with multiple gamers or large libraries. Keeps 15–20 AAA titles installed simultaneously.
• 4 TB: Worth considering only if you never delete anything and frequently buy new releases on day one. Premium pricing applies.

Based on our testing, a 2 TB drive eliminates the weekly delete-and-redownload cycle for most UK households without the steep price jump of 4 TB models.

Installation: What to Expect in Your UK Living Room

Installing a PS5 SSD upgrade takes roughly 15 minutes with a Phillips #1 screwdriver. The process:

1. Power off the PS5 completely and unplug it.
2. Remove the white side panel (PS5) or the bottom cover (PS5 Slim).
3. Unscrew the expansion slot cover and the retention bracket.
4. Insert the M.2 drive at a 30-degree angle, then press flat and secure with the screw.
5. Reassemble, power on, and navigate to Settings → Storage → M.2 SSD Storage to format.

The first format takes a few minutes. After that, you can set the expanded drive as the default install location for new games. Existing saves remain on the internal drive unless you move them manually.

Recommended Drive for UK PS5 Owners

Among the drives available through NVmix, the Samsung 990 PRO 2TB NVMe SSD meets and exceeds Sony's requirements with 7,450 MB/s read speeds, PCIe Gen 4.0/5.0 compatibility, and a heatsink option that fits within the PS5's dimensional limits. At £296.67 with free UK delivery, it sits at the premium end — but for gamers who want flagship performance without compatibility guesswork, it is a straightforward choice.

If you are comparing options, prioritise verified read speeds over marketing labels. A drive rated at 7,000+ MB/s will not make games load noticeably faster than one at 5,500 MB/s on PS5 — the console's I/O pipeline has its own limits. What matters more is reliability, thermal performance under sustained loads, and confirmed compatibility with your PS5 firmware version.

Common Mistakes UK Buyers Make

• Buying without a heatsink: Bare M.2 drives overheat in the PS5's enclosed slot, causing thermal throttling and potential data corruption.
• Choosing SATA M.2: SATA drives physically fit the slot but are not supported. Only NVMe.
• Ignoring firmware: Some drives need a firmware update before the PS5 recognises them. Check the manufacturer's website before installation.
• Expecting identical load times: Expanded storage may load marginally slower than the internal drive in some titles. The difference is usually under one second and rarely noticeable in practice.

PS5 SSD Upgrade vs External USB Drive

A USB external drive is cheaper but only works for PS4 games and media playback on PS5. Native PS5 games must be installed on internal or M.2 expanded storage to benefit from the console's custom I/O architecture. If you have a large PS4 back catalogue, a USB drive is a useful supplement — but it is not a substitute for an M.2 upgrade if you play current-generation titles.

For a broader look at storage formats across devices, see our memory card speed and compatibility guide, which also covers gaming console storage options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will any M.2 NVMe SSD work in a PS5?

No. The drive must meet Sony's minimum speed requirement (5,500 MB/s read), fit within the physical dimensions including a heatsink, and appear on Sony's compatibility list. Drives that exceed Gen 4 speeds are generally fine, but always verify before buying.

Do I need to back up my games before installing an SSD?

No. Installing an expansion drive does not affect your existing internal storage or save data. The new drive formats as blank expanded storage. You can then move games across from the internal drive via the Settings menu.

Is a PS5 SSD upgrade worth it in 2026?

Yes, if you regularly run out of space or spend time deleting games to install new ones. A 2 TB expansion drive typically costs less than three full-price AAA titles and permanently solves the storage problem. For casual players who finish and delete games, the internal 825 GB drive may still suffice.