Why Need To Replace Ps4 Hard Drive With Ssd
The Play Station 4, or abbreviated as PS4, is an 8th generation home video game console published by Sony Entertainment. As the Successor of the PS3, PS4 has a bigger RAM, bigger hard drive, and provide a newer motion-sensing camera. Now, it has become one of the most popular and best-selling video console in the world.
However, many users would want to replace PS4 hard drive with an SSD for bigger capacity and better performance. The PS4 pro hard drive has 1T space, and PS4, PS4 slim only has 500GB space, which are smaller for their demands. Besides, an SSD also provides a better experience. It can significantly decrease the loading time and make your PS running more smoothly.
Why Do You Need To Replace The Ps4 Internal Hard Drive
The reasons for PS4 hard drive replacement include the following situations:
- The current internal hard drive doesnt have enough space and you need to use a new hard drive to increase the storage space to your system.
- The old PS4 hard drive slows down and you want to use a new hard drive to increase the performance speed.
- Your PS4 hard drive is damaged or corrupted.
- And more.
However, do you know how to replace PS4 hard drive? MiniTool Software writes this post to show you how to replace PS4 hard drive.
S To Upgrade Ps4 Hard Drive Without Losing Data
To clone PS4 or PS3 hard drive for upgrading, you can employ the free partition manager called AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard. Its very easy to use and can work in Windows 10/9.1/8/7, XP and Vista. Just within a few clicks can finish the PS4 or PS3 hard drive clone task without losing data. Free download it and check out the following steps about how to change PS4 hard drive to a larger one without losing data.
â®â®â®Before you do, please format the new large hard drive to FAT32 file system.
Step 1. Connect the old smaller PS4 or PS3 hard drive and the larger HDD or SSD with your computer, make sure these two can be recognized by Windows.
Step 2. Run the software, go to All Tools and Disk Clone Wizard.
Step 3. Select a method to copy, Clone Disk Quickly or Sector-by-Sector Clone, then press Next.
â Clone Disk Quickly: clone only used sectors to destination disk so you can clone larger hard drive to smaller hard drive.â¡Sector-by-Sector Clone: clone both used and unused sectors to target hard drive.
Step 4. Choose the smaller PS4 or PS3 hard drive as source disk to copy, hit Next.
Step 5. Select the larger HDD or SSD as the destination disk to store all the data from PS3/4 hard drive, click Next.
Tips:â If your destination disk is an SSD drive, please ensure you have ticked the Optimize the performance of SSD option.â¡The target disk will be overwritten after the cloning. If you use an old larger hard drive as destination disk, youd better backup it first.
Don’t Miss: Shunt Boost Arena War
The Easy Way: How To Expand Your Ps4 Drive Via An External Usb 30 Hdd
The easiest way to increase the storage of your PS4, whether it be the original model, 2016 refresh or a PS4 Pro, is to add a USB 3.0 hard drive to your setup.
Any USB 3.0 drive will do the job and the PS4 supports drives up to 8TB in size.
We chose a dedicated PS4 edition of the Seagate Game Drive with 4TB of space. It’s great value at under £100 and is designed to match the PS4 perfectly.
Another great alternative is a WD_Black P10 Game Drive, which is specifically designed for gamers and costs only a little more for up to 5TB.
Whichever you choose, to get it work with your PS4, just plug it into any of the three USB 3.0 ports. We chose one of the rear ports to tuck it out of the way.
You then need to head to the Settings menu in order to format the drive to work as external storage. Head to Devices, then USB Storage Devices. You should see your new drive listed on the next screen.
The PS4 will automatically set your external drive to be the default to install games on.
If you want to use your internal drive instead, go back into the Settings menu, head to Storage and press Options. You will have the option to choose between the internal and external drive as the game installation location.
Restore Your Data And Reinstall Your Games
You will need to log into your PlayStation account again, as if you were setting up a new PS4 for the first time. Before continuing, though, you need to restore the data you backed up by inserting the USB drive and heading to Settings > System > Back Up and Restore > Restore PS4.
If you backed up via PS Plus, head to Settings > Application Saved Data Management > Saved Data in Online Storage > Download to System Storage instead.
You then need to re-download and/or re-install your games, but once thats done, you should be able to hop back in like you never leftand with shorter loading times getting you in to play as fast as possible.
Read Also: How To Get Sims 4 Cc On Ps4
Ps4 Extended Storage Error Codes
Use a USB External Storage Device that fulfills the following requirements:
- 250 GB minimum, 8 TB maximum capacity
Use a USB External Storage Device that fulfils the following requirements:
- USB 3.0 or later
- If your HDD is definitely USB 3.0, connecting it too slowly might cause this error message. Connect the USB External Storage Device quickly and firmly, but carefully.
Remove The Old Ps4 Internal Hard Drive
Video Link of the above steps and image source:
Don’t Miss: How Many Bookshelves For Level 30
How To Change Ps4 Pro Hard Drive
In case you own a PS4 Pro and need to replace the consoles internal memory, you must first check the model number.
The PS4 Pro belongs to the series with CUH-7000 Series initials , easily verifiable by completely turning off and disconnecting the console from its cables and observing the back: right above the power connector, in the central glossy part of the chassis, you will find the initials .
Having done this preliminary check and with the console completely disconnected from any cable, proceed by removing the hard disk compartment cover , recognizable as it is placed in the lower rear part. In case of difficulty in identifying it, please help with the photo attached to this guide, while to remove the compartment itself, a movement of the fingers from the inside downwards is enough.
With the door removed, unscrew the single screw present and pull the mounting bracket outward. With the bracket that contains the original hard disk completely separated from the camera body, proceed to remove the four side screws and, after removing the HDD, insert the new storage medium by fixing the four screws .
Proceed to reinsert the support with the new hard disk , remember to tighten the screw that keeps it anchored to the console and hang up the door until you hear a clack .
How To Change Ps4 Slim Hard Drive
If you own a PS4 Slim , you can proceed to replace the factory hard drive with one of your choice by first making sure to check the model number .
This information is located on the back of the console, right in the shiny part in the middle of the top and bottom of the case. The writing is very small and you may not spot it right away, so I thought Id show you the position in the picture.
The series the PS4 Slim belongs to is the CUH-2015 . Before doing this you must shut down the system properly and disconnect all cables, including the video signal cable .
With the console disconnected and after checking the model, be sure to place it upside down on a soft or smooth surface: a good idea would be to use microfiber cloths .
Vileda Microfibre Colors, Microfibre Cloths, Machine Washable,
See offer on Amazon
Now continue with the removal of the hard disk compartment cover , detaching it from the case by sliding it outwards, then arm yourself with a screwdriver and unscrew the single screw that holds the hard disk holder mounted to the console. Now pull the hard disk holder with the help of the tape attached to the side. Do this by pulling towards the side where this ribbon is attached.
Its time to re-attach the support with the new hard drive to the PS4: press until you see it stable and fully inserted and re-tighten the screw you previously removed. Finally, replace the plastic flap covering the hard drive slot. And so there you have it very simple, right ?!
Also Check: Gta 5 Mod Menu Ps3 No Jailbreak Usb
Ps4 Compatible Hard Drive Upgrade
Be sure that all the PS4 hard drive replacements included in our list are fully compatible with all models of PS4. But eventually, you have to learn how to pick a PS4 compatible hard drive in case you want to make your own research.
So, in order to choose the right hard drive upgrade for your PS4, you need to make sure its compatible with the PS4 storage upgrade standards. These standards are specified by Sony. Only the drives that meet all of them can be used for the upgrade purpose. They are:
- Support of SATA interface. This is mandatory as PS4 motherboard only accept SATA connection.
- Storage capacity is not less than 160gb and not more than 8tb. This is also mandatory. This helps you know what size of SSD to get if you want a cheap option. 128gb SSD doesnt work with PS4.
- Drives height is not more than 9.5mm. This is optional if you have the standard model of PS4. You can bypass this standard by using a Data Bank accessory. As for PS4 Pro and PS4 Slim, meeting this standard is mandatory.
- Designed in 2.5-inch form factor. This is optional for the standard version of PS4 as it can be worked around by using a Data Bank solution. PS4 Pro and PS4 Slim models dont have this option, so its a mandatory condition.
Once the drive meets all these standards, youve to relax its relevant to be a DIRECT hard drive upgrade for PS4.
Reinstall The Ps4 System Software
The next step will need your computer and a USB drive with at least 1GB of free space, formatted to exFAT, FAT32 or FAT you can use the one with your saved games on it.
Because your PS4 now has a brand-new drive in, youre going to have to reinstall the system software manually.
On your drive, create a folder named PS4. If youre using the USB drive with your save files on, there will already be one with that name. Within that folder, create another folder called UPDATE.
When youve done that, head here to find the latest version of the PS4 system software. At the time we did it, the file was around 900MB in size, and it took around 10 minutes to download. Make sure you only get the software from the above link, because there are several other sites out there with incorrect software.
Once its downloaded, drag your file into the UPDATE folder on your hard drive.
Youll next need to plug all your various wires back into your PS4, plug in the USB drive with the install file on it, and attach your DualShock 4 via USB cable.Next, boot up your PS4 in Safe Mode. You do this by holding the power button on your PS4 down for seven seconds or longer itll beep to let you know its booting up in Safe Mode.
When youre presented with a selection of options, go down to number 7 Initialise PS4 .
Once youve been through that, youll have to add your PSN account and sign in properly to be able to download all your games and apps.
Don’t Miss: Ps4 2-step Verification Lost Phone And Backup Codes
How To Upgrade Your Ps4 Ps4 Slim And Ps4 Pro Hard Drive
Having a PS4 for over ten minutes means your hard drive will most likely be filled with games, screenshots and more. If you dont fancy using an external hard drive via USB then its easy to upgrade your existing one.
The PS4 can be as troublesome as a PSOne memory card when it comes to managing memory. Luckily, Sonys PS4 Slim can now be purchased with a hefty 1TB hard drive, which itself is super easy to upgrade. The PS4 Pro comes with a 1TB hard drive as standard, making the upgrade a little more enticing.
However, if youre still stuck with an older model, weve included an easy peasy walkthrough below to help you out. All you need is a compatible HDD, a Phillips-head screwdriver, a laptop, a USB drive with around 5GB of free space, and some patience.
Oh, and our handy step-by-step guide on how to upgrade your PS4 HDD.
Related: PS4 Pro vs PS4 should you upgrade?
Lets See In Detail About The Hard Drive Change In Ps4
- Refer to the steps and change the hard drive in PS4, & PS4 pro carefully and perform the same procedure. The hard drive replacement method in PS4 & PS4 pro device very easy, choose the replacement method of your PlayStation model, and execute the replacement process as per the instruction.
- The Screwdriver is used to remove all the screws from the PlayStation. Start the replacement by powering off your PS4. Ensure that you have unplugged all the cables from the power cord and wall outlet.
- Now, move the HDD bay cover to the left of the PlayStation. The hard disk drive (HDD is used to control the position, reading and writing of the hard disk. The HDD placed in the top left portion of the console. On the front left side of the PS4, unscrew the single 5mm Phillips head #1 screw, and remove the hard drive.
- Slide the hard drive forward to separate it from the PlayStation. There are two interchangeable screws on the opposite side of the system. Remove all the four screws from the hard drive and then separate the hard drive from the sleeve.
- In PS4 pro, flip the top of it to begin the replacement. From the PlayStation, remove all the plastic covers in the drive bay.
Don’t Miss: What Was Made First Xbox Or Ps4
Best Hard Drive Upgrade Solutions For Your Ps4
With the advent of the current generation gaming consoles, gamers have had some new obstacles to overcome.
Sure, the games are infinitely better than what they once were . But all of the extra content that has been stuffed into these games has to lead to much longer loading screens.
Take NBA 2K for instance, When it was first introduced to the Sega DreamCast loading times were a matter of seconds. Fast forward to NBA 2K18, and you can experience loading times upwards of an entire minute now. This is a direct result of our games having a lot more detail, therefore needing more time to load.
Im not suggesting that we go back to the early 2000s when video games were riddled with glitches, had terrible graphics, and open world environments were nothing more than a figment of our imaginations. Not even close, I love todays gaming landscape.
Instead, what I am suggesting is making an upgrade to your PlayStation that will allow faster loading times, less frame rate drops, and an overall better and smoother gaming experience.
I am talking about upgrading your consoles internal hard drive.
What Hard Drive Should I Choose For My Ps4 Or Ps4 Pro
The standard PS4 hard drive is a 500GB 5400 RPM SATA II hard dri, whereas the PS4 Pro includes a 1TB drive. You can replace either hard drive with any hard drive that complies with these standards, is no thicker than 9.5mm, and is larger than 160GB. Given that HDD prices have come down significantly, you should definitely consider a drive that gives you plenty of space, such as a 2TB version. Replacing your hard drive with a compatible device does not void your PS4’s warranty. You can also upgrade to a faster 7200 RPM SATA II hard drive. Note that SATA II is sometimes called SATA/300 or SATA 3.0 GBps. A newer SATA III drive will work fine in the PS4, but you won’t get the speed benefit as it’ll operate at SATA II speeds. For more details on compatible hard drives, see: PS4 Third-Party Hard Drive Solutions. Some popular hard drives compatible with PlayStation 4 are:
Note that the below pictures show the installation for the Samsung Seagate Momentus 2TB drive, but the drives all look very similar and the process is the same.
With the addition of external HDD support, you can now use any USB 3.0 HDD with a minimum of 250 GB and a max of 8TB. There is now a large amount of options to expand your PS4 Storage. Here are some of 2018’s best external Hard Drive options for the PS4 and PS4 Pro:
- WD My Passport 4TB Portable Hard Drive
- Samsung SSD T5 500GB
- WD 2TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive
You May Like: Gta 5 Ps4 Mods Download