What storage is compatible with Xbox One?
The Xbox One is compatible with a wide range of external hard drives and solid-state drives (SSDs), as long as they have a capacity of 128GB or more and support USB 3.0 or faster transfer speeds. Any external storage device that meets these requirements can be used to expand the console’s storage capacity, including Seagate, Western Digital, and Toshiba drives, among others.
Frequently Asked Questions
General Compatibility
- Will any hard drive work with Xbox One”): Just about any external hard drive will work as an Xbox One expansion drive, so there’s enough variety out there, with the main consideration being the drive’s capacity and speed.
- Can Xbox use any SSD?: Any SSD or HDD you plug in must be between 256GB and 8TB in size and support 5Gbps transfer speeds or better, commonly referred to as USB 3.0, USB 3.1, and USB 3.2.
- Will any external SSD work with Xbox One?: Pretty much any external hard drive should work with an Xbox One in 2022, as long as it fits the requirements above—128GB or more of space and a USB 3.0 interface.
Storage Options
- What storage does Xbox One use?: Xbox consoles come with either a 500-gigabyte (GB) or a 1-terabyte (TB) internal storage drive, with most of this space available for games and apps.
- What is the best storage upgrade for Xbox One?: Some of the best storage upgrade options for Xbox One include the Seagate Expansion 2TB external hard drive, Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X
S, and WD_Black C50 Expansion Card for Xbox Series X - Can I use a USB for storage on Xbox One?: If you have a USB 3.0 external storage with a capacity of 128 GB or greater, you can use it to hold Xbox games and apps.
Compatibility with Specific Devices
- Will Seagate work with Xbox One?: Seagate drives are designed to work in harmony with Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox One, making them a great option for expanding your console’s storage.
- Can an Xbox One use an external hard drive?: Xbox One supports the use of external hard drives as long as they are USB 3.1 drives that meet the console’s requirements.
- Can you play games directly from Seagate external hard drive?: The Seagate Game Drive has no problems bringing all your favorite games to the next generation, allowing you to archive new Xbox Series X|S games and play your legacy titles straight from the external drive.
Troubleshooting and Additional Information
- Why can’t I play Xbox games from external hard drive?: USB drives can only be used for storage for games optimized for Xbox X|S, they cannot be played from the drives, while non-optimized games can be stored and played from USB drives.
- Why won’t my Xbox One read my external hard drive?: If the drive is not being detected, try a different port on the Xbox, or remove it from a USB hub and plug it directly into the console.
- Is Xbox One still supported?: While Microsoft will still support Xbox One hardware and games, no internal studios are working on new games for the Xbox One anymore.
- Can I expand Xbox One S storage?: You can expand the Xbox One S storage by adding an external USB-based hard drive (HDD), which is very easy and does not require an additional power supply.
- Is SSD worth it for Xbox One?: Getting an SSD for your Xbox One won’t boost your game playing speed, but it is a cheaper option for a slight upgrade to your console to run, open, and be quieter.
- Will portable SSD work on Xbox?: There are two external drives you can use to add capacity to your Xbox: the HDD (hard disk drive) and the SSD (solid state drive), with portable SSDs being a great option for expanding your console’s storage.