GoKawiilGuide details six uses for the PS5's USB ports beyond game storage
External USB drives connected to a PlayStation 5 can archive PS4 and PS5 game installs, store screenshots and video clips, and transfer media to a computer, though not all functions work simultaneously on one drive. Game archiving requires a USB 5 Gbps (USB 3.0) drive between 250GB and 8TB, formatted specifically as USB Extended Storage, which erases existing data and can't be used with a hub. Screenshots and clips instead require a standard exFAT or FAT32 formatted drive, meaning separate drives are needed for games versus media.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
With SSD prices still high, many PS5 owners rely on external drives as a workaround for limited internal storage, making these formatting rules practically important for day-to-day console use. The restriction against playing games directly from external storage underscores Sony's requirement for fast internal read speeds, which could frustrate users with slow or capped internet who must repeatedly transfer large files back and forth.
- External drives can archive PS5/PS4 games but can't run them directly; games must be moved back to internal storage to play.
- Game storage requires a USB 3.0+ drive (250GB–8TB) formatted specifically as USB Extended Storage, erasing prior data.
- Screenshots/clips need a separate exFAT/FAT32-formatted drive, so two drives may be needed for full external storage use.
WD_BLACK P10 Game Drive 5TB — This external hard drive is built specifically for console gaming and meets the USB 3.0 speed requirement for PS5 extended storage. It's a great way to archive your growing game library without paying the premium for internal M.2 SSD upgrades, letting you shuffle titles back onto your console whenever you're ready to play.
See WD_BLACK P10 Game Drive 5TB on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: engadget.com — Ben Stegner, 2026-10-26
Published there as: “6+ ways you can use your PlayStation 5's USB ports”
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