How To Install A New Storage Drive Into Your Ps4 Pro
Backup your current hard drive
Remove the old drive
Reinitializing your PS4
Restoring your PS4
How To Install An Ssd In A Playstation 4 Pro
Swapping out the hard drive on the PlayStation 4 Pro is very similar to doing so with its predecessor, albeit with a few minor differences. Luckily, those changes actually make the process easier. Plus, you can take advantage of SATA III speeds, so long as youre armed with the proper equipment. You can check our SATA guide if youre interested in further information. The steps for doing this with the PlayStation 4s newer Slim model are very similar, but if you need images to help, PlayStation has information for that specific system on its website.
To install a new hard drive on a PS4 Pro, you still need a Phillips-head screwdriver, a pair of USB flash drives, and a 2.5-inch SSD larger than 160GB, and up to 9.5mm thick. Remember that if you have a PlayStation Plus account, you can back up your save data in the cloud, which can take the place of one of the two flash drives.
With your save files backed up, now youre ready to perform some surgery on your PS4.
Sandisk Ultra Or Western Digital Blue
Interface: SATA 6 Gbps .
Size: 2.5-inch.
Capacity: 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB.
Sequential Read/Write Speed: Up to 550/525 MB/s.
Random Read/Write Speed: Up to 95K/84K IOPS.
Warranty: Five Year Limited Warranty.
Price: Starting at $49 in Amazon.
Interface: SATA 6 Gbps .
Size: 2.5-inch.
Capacity: 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB.
Sequential Read/Write Speed: Up to 560/530 MB/s.
Random Read/Write Speed: Up to 95K/84K IOPS.
Warranty: Five Year Limited Warranty.
Price: Starting at $49 in Amazon.
These two series are internally identical, although they have different brand names on them. The reason is that Western Digital acquired SanDisk in 2015.
Therefore, the similarities run deep between these two SSDs: the same BiCS 3 64-layer 3D flash, the same Marvell 88SS1074 4-channel controller, the same flash array, the same firmware, and the same performance specifications. The only difference between the two is the manufacturerâs label.
If you want to purchase a new SATA SSD with a relatively large capacity and high speed for your PS4 console, you should take the WD Blue 3D NAND and Sandisk Ultra 3D SSD series into consideration.
Recommended Reading: Is Ps4 Or Xbox Better
Move Applications Between Your External Ssd And Your Ps4
Now that your drive is formatted and the download location is set to extended storage, you can move applications, games, and save files between the external and internal drives. Go into the settings of the PS4 and select storage. Select the storage that has the application you want to more . Select the app that you want to move, press the options button on your controller, and select either move to extended storage or move to system storage. Once selected, click the move button and select either OK or cancel. Applications, games, and save files on both the extended and system drive will appear in the content.
Formatting The Ssd For Use In Your Ps5
When you first power up your PS5 after installing the SSD, you’ll see the following screen:
Image: Push Square
As you might expect, you need to select the “Format M.2 SSD” to make sure the console can use it for game storage. If you don’t select this option at this stage, the PS5 will boot as normal and you won’t be able to use all that lovely additional space.
Upon selecting the formatting option, you’ll see the following screen:
Image: Push Square
You’ll then be told how fast your SSD can read data, which will impact how it performs when games are installed to it. As you can see from the screen below, the SN850 is well above the 5,500MB/s read speed recommended by Sony, so we’re all good.
Image: Push Square
With the process successfully completed, you’ll see the following confirmation screen:
Image: Push Square
You May Like: Can You Share Playstation Plus
Benefits Of Using Ssd In Ps4
Using an SSD with PS4 has several significant benefits that surely please every user who looks seriously to enhance their gaming experience with PS4. These benefits are:
The Advantages
- SSDs are the most reliable storage devices ever in history. Therefore, if you care too much about performance consistency and the safety of your installed data, SSD is the number one choice to consider. Without any exaggeration, they can last more than 5 years in use with no failure at all. Just make sure to pick the right SSD that belongs to a renowned brand; such as Samsung, Crucial, Corsair, SanDisk, etc.
- When talking about speed, SSD is king. An SSD can significantly decrease the loading time of your games and applications and make them launch in a remarkably shorter time. Users reported performance improvement between 40% to 60% when using an SSD with PS4. Additionally, if you own PS4 Pro, the results are even better.
- With an SSD, youll get a better and smoother online gaming experience. Thats possible only if your opponents also use SSDs.
- You can get up to 4tb of internal SSD upgrade for PS4 without having to use any additional equipment to achieve this goal. Whereas this is not possible with traditional hard drives.
- A well-reputed SSD comes nowadays with a standard 5-year limited warranty. This just reflects how solid these devices are, to the extent that the manufacturers dare giving that long warranty.
Additionally, someone has made a comment on our website stating the following:
How To Recover Data From Ps4
Sometimes, you will find the applications you need are lost during the transferring/deleted by mistake/disappeared after drive formatting. On this occasion, you must use a reliable data recovery tool to recover lost files immediately.
How to get the data back from the System Storage of PlayStation:
Also Check: How To Remove Parental Controls On Ps4
Ps4 Hdd Replacement Process
The first step you need is to remove PS4 HDD in order to get the drive cage ready for the SSD. Afterwards, you need to learn how to install the SSD inside PS4 and set it up properly by installing PS4 system software on it.
If you need help with upgrading or replacing your PS4 hard drive, the video embedded below can walk you through the process.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18EKMmmHhf8
Best Ssd Upgrade For Ps4 Pro
Heres a quick list of the SSDs we recommend for PS4 Pro users. Theyre clickable and will direct you immediately to the corresponding item.
Recommended Reading: When Did The Ps4 Release
Reinstall The Software And Load The Backup
Now you have the SSD installed in your console, but it is completely empty, so we need to install the system software. Connect the console cables, connect the pen drive with the system file in one of the two front USB ports of the console, and finally press and hold the consoles power button for 7 seconds or until it does about beeps.
The console will start up in safe mode, requiring you to connect the DualShock 4 controller via the USB cable, as it will not work wirelessly at this point. Once you are in the menu, scroll down to option 7. Initialize PS4 .
From here, simply follow the wizard that will appear on the screen and let it finish. The operating system will install and the console will automatically reboot when finished. At this point you will have the console with the SSD already working, but it will be as you bought it in the sense that you will have to log in again with your PlayStationNetwork account, connect it to the network, etc.
Once youve done it, dont bother installing anything or setting your preferences just yet, as weve done the backup for that. Connect the hard drive with the backup and then go to Settings -> System -> Backup and restore and in this case select Restore PS4. Select the backup that we created previously and simply wait for it to finish loading your data .
Best Budget Hard Drive For Ps4
Seagate Barracuda 2TB
If youre on a tighter budget then you can ditch the hybrid portion of the hard disk and opt for a conventional drive. This wont deliver much of a performance boost over the PS4s normal hard disks, but Seagates drives are certainly no slower. Theyre available in loads of capacities, but 2TB is as high as you can go before the drives become too thick to fit inside Sonys consoles. The prices on offer are tempting: a 1TB model costs just $50, and the 2TB model is the best-value option thanks to a price of $77.;
Read Also: How To Edit Faster In Fortnite Ps4
Swap The Ps4 Pros Hard Drive
To remove the existing hard drive inside your PS4 Pro, you want to unplug your PS4 Pro from the power point. Next, remove the casing at the back of the machine by simply sliding it to the left. Once the casing is removed, you should see the hard drive and the bracket. Locate the screws that hold the hard drive bracket in place and remove them. This will allow you to remove the bracket from the console.
Next, youll want to take out the screws securing the hard drive to the bracket. With the old drive removed, pop the new SSD into the bracket and secure it with the screws. Finally, reverse the removal process to install the new SSD in your PS4 Pro.
Backing Up Saves And The Tools You Need
Before you can start replacing your internal hard drive, you need to make sure you have a few items. First, you need a Phillips-head screwdriver . You also need a USB stick in order to install an up-to-date PS4 firmware after the drive is installed. Once you install your new hard drive, you can visit PlayStation’s website to download the necessary files.
You’ll also want to back up your saves. You have two options here: If you’re a PS Plus subscriber, you can back up your saves to the cyuloud and retrieve them once you’ve installed the drive. If you’re not a PS Plus subscriber, you will need to plug a USB stick or external hard drive into your PS4 and transfer over all the data you would like to keep.
Of course, you also need a new internal hard drive, and we’ve highlighted a few recommendations above. How much storage space do you actually need, though? It really depends on your PS4’s current capacity and your gaming habits, so you’ll have to make the right decision for you. All 2.5-inch internal drives will work with the PS4. You may want a modest capacity SSD to pair with an external drive, but it’s up to you. Just know that internal SSDs with more than 2TB of storage are extremely pricey.
Read Also: How Long Does Ps4 Controller Take To Charge
Wd Blue 3d & Sandisk Ultra 3d Ssd
Are you wanting to purchase a new SATA SSD with the latest in 3D NAND technology for your PS4 Pro? Also with capacities up to 4TB and sequential speeds up to 560MB/s? Look no further than the WD Blue 3D NAND and Sandisk Ultra 3D SSD series. These two series obviously have different brand names on them, but internally they are identical. How can this be? Western Digital completed the acquisition of SanDisk in 2016 and now we are starting to see some products come to market that are identical internally and being sold by both of these widely known brands.
The similarities run deep between these two SSDs. In-fact the only difference between the two is the manufacturers label. Both the Blue 3D and the Ultra 3D, are powered by the same BiCS 3 64-layer 3D flash. As the hardware goes, they are indeed identical. Same controller, same flash array, and the same performance specifications. Even the firmware seems to be identical. Both SSDs are powered by Marvells hugely popular 88SS1074 4-channel controller.
Basic Features
- Capacity: 4tb, 2TB, 1TB, 500GB, 250GB.
- Sequential Read/Write Speed: Up to 560/530 MB/s.
- Random Read/Write Speed: Up to 95K/84K IOPS.
- Warranty: Three Year Limited Warranty.
When you put the two together, you have the best overall value going, at least as far as SATA SSDs are concerned. The Western Digital Blue 3D and SanDisk Ultra 3D 1TB are the new go-to drives for system builds. They fit perfectly for PS4 Pro and are very worth your consideration.
Best Ssd Upgrade For Ps4 Pro Experts Recommend
· Updated 01/04/2021
So, what do you gain from opting for the best SSD for the PS4 Pro? Does this make any difference from upgrading to just a regular traditional hard drive? Well, if youre serious about getting the most out of your PS4 Pro, you must consider a PS4 Pro SSD upgrade.
Upgrading the PS4 Pro internal storage device to an SSD is definitely the best moves you can make for your gaming console. Thats simply because the PS4 Pro internal hard drive is an outdated storage device with many defects. Even if youre not looking for the high speed an SSD offers, its very reasonable to consider the solid reliability in which SSDs surpass traditional hard drives.
You May Like: What Is Dns On Ps4
An Ssd Perfectly Suited To The Operation Of Consoles
A guinea pig worthy of the name was needed to clearly show the test results. This is WHICH 870 en le Samsung To 8, sold the trifle of about 1050 euros, that used Digital Foundry. Yes it is a monster as we described in the article above.
Obviously, the QVO series is available in several capacities: the 1 and 2 TB models are offered at 140 and 299 euros respectively. And its not uncommon for the two to do the object of promotions and good plans.
The particularity of the QVO series is that it uses QLC type SSD modules which can store up to four data bits per cell, which is more than significant. However, QLC SSDs have a downside: the lifespan of their modules. They deteriorate faster with use. However, as recalled Digital Foundry, this is only true if there is a heavy and incessant write and rewrite work on the SSD modules, such as on a computer or a server. In the case of the PS4 Pro, and consoles in general, this is not the case.
The operating system of the PS4 Pro does not need Constantly change your place of business, or even the games that are installed. Once everyone has put their things in a corner, they hardly move. And then, lets be realistic, before you manage to exhaust a QLC SSD, you will undoubtedly have bought a PS5!
What Materials Do You Need
Obviously, you have to have a PS4 Pro , as well as an SSD of the capacity you want but, at least, of the same capacity as the disk current of your console .
In addition to the console and the SSD, you will need a Philips screwdriver and a USB pen drive of at least 2 GB . If you want to make a backup of your saved games and installed games, you must also have an external hard drive with a USB connection, or a dock for disk cloning.
Also Check: How To Play Roblox On Ps4