How to Install External SSD on PS5 for GTA 6 (2026 Guide)

Let's be real—Rockstar absolutely cooked our storage drives this year. With a massive 200GB+ install size looming over us, you need to know exactly how to install external ssd on ps5 for gta 6 before launch day. Nobody wants to spend launch night deleting their entire game library just to make room for one title.

Between you and me, the stock PS5 storage was a joke back in 2020, and it's practically useless now in 2026. If you haven't picked your drive yet, check out my guide on picking the right external ssd for gta 6 so you don't end up buying a slow brick. Today, we are getting your console cracked open, upgraded, and closed back up in under 10 minutes flat.

The Must-Have Toolkit

You do not need a massive tech bench for this, just a couple of basic tools to avoid stripping screws or frying your motherboard.

#1 Phillips Precision Screwdriver: You absolutely need a size #1 Phillips head to remove the SSD cover without destroying the cheap factory screw. 🛒 Buy #1 Phillips Screwdriver on Amazon

Canned Compressed Air: Since we are opening the console anyway, blast the dust out of the fan now so your PS5 doesn't sound like a jet engine during cutscenes. 🛒 Buy Compressed Air Duster on Amazon

Step-by-Step Guide to the PS5 SSD Install

First, a quick reality check: while a lot of folks search for an "external" drive, you can only play PS5 games from an M.2 SSD installed inside the console's expansion slot. USB drives are for storage only. We are installing a proper internal M.2 drive today so you can actually play the game.

Here is a quick breakdown of what you can expect your storage to look like after we finish:

SSD Size	Usable Space	GTA 6 + OS Footprint	Leftover Space
1TB	~850GB	~350GB	Enough for 4-5 large games
2TB	~1.8TB	~350GB	Plenty of room for a massive library
4TB	~3.8TB	~350GB	Total overkill, but completely future-proof

1. Prep the Console and Ground Yourself

Unplug everything from your PS5 and let it sit for 5 minutes so it fully cools down. Place it flat on a clean table, not your living room carpet, so you don't build up static electricity.

2. Pop the White Side Plates

Lay the console flat with the PlayStation logo facing down and the power button facing you. Grab the top left corner, lift up gently, and slide the whole plate down toward the base. It takes a little force, but it will pop right off with a loud click.

3. Open the Expansion Bay

Look for the long rectangular metal cover near the massive cooling fan. Take your #1 Phillips screwdriver, take out that single screw, and lift the metal plate away. Inside, you will see a green board with a screw and a tiny metal spacer sitting at the "110" mark.

4. Seat the Drive and Spacer

Unscrew that inside screw and move the little metal ring (the spacer) to the hole that matches your SSD's length (usually the "80" mark). Hold your new SSD at a 45-degree angle, line up the notch with the slot, and push it in firmly until it clicks. Push the drive down flat so it rests on the spacer, then screw it into place.

5. Button Up and Format

Put the metal cover back on, slide the white plastic plate back until it locks, and plug your PS5 into the TV. When you turn it on, a black screen will pop up asking to format the M.2 SSD. Click yes, let it run a speed test (you want to see at least 5,500 MB/s), and you are ready for Vice City.

Maintenance & Pro-Tips for GTA 6

Rockstar games push console hardware to the absolute limit. Dust buildup kills airflow, which makes your new SSD run hot and throttle your game's frame rate during heavy action scenes.

Grab that canned air every three months, pop the plates off, and blow out the main fan and the dust catchers. It takes two minutes and keeps your system running dead silent.

Also, go into your PS5 settings (Settings > Storage > Installation Location) and set your new SSD as the default. This ensures massive download files go straight to the new, faster drive automatically.

That's it, my friends. You are officially ready for the biggest game drop of the decade. Drop a comment below if you ran into any weird screw issues or if you want to flex your new read speeds. Stay frosty!

— Carl Turland

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I play GTA 6 from a USB external hard drive? No. You can only store PS5 games on a USB drive. To actually play them, the game must be installed on the internal storage or a compatible M.2 SSD inside the expansion bay.

What speed SSD do I need for PS5 games? Sony requires a Gen4 NVMe SSD with a minimum read speed of 5,500 MB/s. Going slower will cause massive texture pop-ins and brutal load times.

Does opening the PS5 to add an SSD void the warranty? No, Sony designed the side plates to be removable specifically for consumer upgrades and cleaning. Adding a drive does not void your standard console warranty.

Do I need a heatsink for my PS5 SSD? Yes, absolutely. If your SSD didn't come with a built-in heatsink, you must buy a third-party one and attach it. Without it, the drive will overheat and shut down your console.