What You Will Need

Your new PS4 hard drive​ A Phillips head screwdriver An external hard drive to back up your game data A USB drive with at least 1GB of free storage

Locate a Hard Drive for the PS4

The standard PlayStation 4 hard drive holds just 500GB, which is enough space for about a dozen modern games, at best. Upgrading the hard drive allows you to store more content and ensure your system runs at peak performance for years to come. Learn how to perform a PS4 hard drive upgrade without losing any games saved to your console. Since Sony doesn’t manufacture hard drives specifically for the PS4, your first step is finding a compatible hard drive. The PS4 comes with a hard disc drive, but you can install a solid-state drive if you prefer. SSDs typically run much faster, but they’re sometimes less durable and they’re also more expensive. Your best bet is to purchase a hard drive from a company like Seagate, which manufactures hard drives optimized for the PS4. That said, any 2.5" laptop hard drive no more than 9.5mm thick should do; if you’re making the effort to replace your PS4 hard drive, though, you might as well upgrade to at least 1 or 2TB.

Back Up Your Data

Most of the games you’ve purchased from the PlayStation Store can be re-downloaded to your new hard drive at no cost, so you should delete them before backing up the rest of your files to make the backup process quicker. Some content, such as the 2014 P.T. demo, has been removed from the PS4 network, so make sure you don’t erase anything you can’t get back. PlayStation Plus subscribers can also upload their save data to the cloud for later retrieval. Depending on how much data you have, you may be able to fit the backup file onto a thumb drive. Otherwise, plug your external hard drive into one of the PS4’s USB ports, then do the following:

Download the Latest PS4 Software Update

Go to the PlayStation website and download the most recent software update for the PS4. Find the newest PS4 OS update, click “Download Update" and save the files to a portable USB drive.

Open the PS4

Before you begin, turn off your PS4, unplug it and place it on a steady flat surface. If you have a newer PS4, look on the back of the console for a removable panel on one of the corners. You may see a sticker indicating the size of the hard drive.  With the back of the console facing you, remove the panel by gently sliding it to the right with your fingers. For older PS4 models, you should see two panels on top of your PS4; one is glossy, the other is the same color as the rest of the console. With the PS4 facing you, remove the glossy panel by pressing on the edges and gently sliding it to the left. Underneath, you should see the hard drive.

Replace the PS4 Hard Drive

The hard drive is secured to the console by a single screw bearing the symbols found on the PlayStation controller. Remove the screw with your Phillips head screwdriver, but don’t lose it. You should now be able to remove the hard drive by pulling on it. The actual hard drive casing is held together by two or four screws, which you should unscrew and set aside. Take out the old hard drive and insert the new one without touching the bottom of either drive to avoid damaging them. Make sure the metal pins are facing inward, and close the casing by re-securing the screws. 

Put Everything Back Together

Place the encased hard drive back into the console and secure the decorated screw; slide the exterior cover back into place. Plug your system back in and reconnect it to your TV. Hold the console’s power button for a few seconds to restart your PS4.

How to Set up Your New PS4 Hard Drive

When you turn on your PlayStation, it should start in Safe Mode. You’ll be greeted with a message such as ‘Cannot start the PS4,’ which is what you want to see.

Install the PS4 Software Update

You’ll now follow the same steps you had to take when you originally purchased your PS4 such as setting the date and language preferences.

Restore Your Game Data

Redownload Your Old Games

As mentioned earlier, you can download games you previously purchased so long as they’re still available in the PlayStation Store.