How to Transfer PS4 Games to a New External Hard Drive
To transfer your PS4 games to a new external hard drive, navigate to System > Storage > System Storage, select Applications, and then press the Options button on your controller to access the Move to External Storage option, allowing you to easily migrate your games to the new drive. This process enables you to free up space on your PS4’s internal hard drive and expand your storage capacity with an external hard drive, which can store up to 50+ titles on a 2TB drive.
Transferring Games and Data
Transferring games and data from your PS4 to a new external hard drive is a straightforward process. Here are some key steps and considerations:
Preparing Your External Hard Drive
Before transferring your games, ensure your external hard drive is formatted to NTFS and has enough storage space to hold your games. You can use a USB 3.0 external hard drive, which is compatible with the PS4.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about transferring PS4 games to a new external hard drive:
- Can I transfer games from one hard drive to another?: Yes, individual games can easily be moved to a new drive as long as it has been formatted to NTFS.
- How do I move games to a new SSD?: Navigate to the “App Migration” transfer mode and click “Start“, then choose the drive where the games are installed and set the SSD as the target location.
- Can I put PS4 games on a flash drive?: Yes, you can play PS4 games directly from an external USB drive, but it must have a minimum of 250 GB and a maximum of 8 TB capacity.
- Can I transfer hard drives between PS4s?: Yes, you can switch multiple hard drives in and out on the same PS4, but putting it in a different PS4 will always require a format.
- Can I play PS4 games from an external hard drive?: Yes, you can play digital games from an external hard drive by simply plugging it in and logging into your PSN account on your friend’s PS4.
- How do you transfer games from PS4 to PS4?: On your new PS4 system, select Settings > System > Transfer Data from Another PS4 and follow the on-screen instructions.
- Can you copy PS4 games?: Yes, you can copy PS4 games to an external hard drive, and your saves will carry over just fine.
- Do PS4 games run slower on an external hard drive?: Yes, games may run slower on an external hard drive due to the slower USB connection compared to a SATA connection.
- Does formatting an external hard drive delete everything PS4?: Yes, formatting your storage device will delete all the data, so be sure to back it up on a different device before formatting.
- Can I leave my external hard drive plugged in all the time PS4?: Yes, you can leave your external hard drive plugged in all the time, but make sure it has a USB 3.0 port.
- How many PS4 games can 2TB hold?: A 2TB external hard drive can store up to 50+ titles.
- How many games can 1TB hold PS4?: A 1TB external hard drive can store around 25 full-size games, depending on the average game size of 35GB.
- What USB can I use for PS4?: The PS4 supports SuperSpeed USB 5 Gbps (USB 3.0/USB 3.1 Gen1/USB 3.2 Gen1) and SuperSpeed USB 10 Gbps (USB 3.1 Gen2/USB 3.2 Gen2/USB 3.2 Gen1x2) connections.
- What happens if you just unplug an external hard drive?: Pulling out an external hard drive without ejecting it safely can cause corrupted files or unreadable media.
- Is it bad to leave an external hard drive plugged in overnight?: It is generally safe to leave a portable external hard disk plugged in and active 24/7, but ensure it has proper ventilation to prevent overheating.
Conclusion
Transferring your PS4 games to a new external hard drive is a simple process that can help you expand your storage capacity and free up space on your PS4’s internal hard drive. By following the steps outlined above and considering the FAQs, you can easily migrate your games to a new external hard drive and enjoy a more seamless gaming experience. Remember to always eject your external hard drive safely to prevent data corruption and ensure the longevity of your drive. With the right external hard drive and a little know-how, you can take your PS4 gaming to the next level.