Sony launched its PlayStation 4 back in November 2013 with a pretty meaty 500GB hard drive, although with the console approaching its two-year anniversary, chances are you’ve come pretty close to (or already have) maxing it out. While a 1TB PS4 is now available, that’s not much use if you’ve already purchased Sony’s current-generation console. Aside from cleaning up your hard drive, the best option you have is to expand your console’s storage capabilities by upgrading your PS4 hard drive. Fortunately, the process of doing so isn’t that difficult at all, and all you’ll need—aside from a brand-spanking new hard drive, naturally—are just a few simple tools to get the job done.
We’ve cobbled together a handy step-by-step guide for those of you looking to expand your PS4’s storage with minimum hassle. Also, it’s worth pointing out that fiddling around with your console to replace your hard drive does not void the warranty, so don’t worry about that. Furthermore, since Sony’s PS4 update 2.5 earlier this year, you can now take advantage of the backup and restore feature, so you can keep all your settings and content without going through the arduous process of re-downloading everything. In other words, upgrading your storage space is a hell of a lot more convenient now than it would have been in the first year of PS4’s release. Furthermore, your old hard drive doesn’t need to become a trendy doorstep; you can use it as a regular external device without it going to waste.
How to replace your PS4 HDD
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GRAB THESE THINGS—YOU’LL NEED THEM
-External hard drive to backup all your settings (optional)
-2.5 inch drive (see below)
-USB drive
-Small screwdriver and a small flathead
WHAT TYPE OF HARD DRIVE SHOULD I GET? WHAT TYPES ARE AVAILABLE?
Firstly, you need to know what type of hard drive Sony’s black box supports, and which one is best suited to your needs. Let’s have a look
-HDD: Your rudimentary, reliable hard drive that most people have probably used at some point or another
-SDD (Solid State Drive): This piece of kit is utilized notebook models and is fundamentally superior to the standard HDD. Unlike regular storage units that used discs to store data, the SDD makes use of semiconductor chips to do the job.
-SSHD (Solid State Hybrid Drive): This is a combination of the HDD and the SDD, the latter used for cached data.
Your choice depends on how much cash you are willing to spend on upgrading your PS4. Obviously, the HDD is the cheaper option, although if you fancy shelling out for something more sophisticated, the other models will probably be your cup of tea. The SSHD features the best of both worlds, coming in at a relatively good price while possessing the qualities you’d expect of a more advanced product.
RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS
We’re not going to pretend we know the best option for your money, as your preferences will determine which hard drive you go for. However, here’s three options to consider, each one offering a different price range and come highly recommended.
OKAY, YOU’VE MADE YOUR CHOICE…LET’S GET DOWN TO THE NITTY GRITTY
1) Providing you’ve got all the latest equipment, you’re ready to go. The first thing you need to do is download the PS4’s latest Firmware update, which let’s face it, most of you have probably already done by now.
2) Backup your existing data. First, plug in your external hard drive and then pop on over to the PS4’s Settings option, then hit System > Backup and Restore > Backup PS4. This will backup all the essential data, although if you want to also save your downloaded games, you’ll need some extra space, so check to make sure you have that. In any case, hit Applications to include your games in the backup.
3) Play the waiting game. The PS4 will take some time to backup all your data; the more you have (especially if you factor downloaded games into the mix), the longer it will take. Your PS4 will restart first before beginning the process of backing up files.
4) Once that’s over, you will need to grab the PS4 System Software, as you are inserting a blank drive into your console. Hit up Sony’s official website and select the download button and choose ‘update using a computer.’
5) You now need to put the System Software on your formatted USB drive. First, plug it into your PC and create a folder named ‘PS4’ in the root location of the drive. Open this new folder and create another one named ‘Update,’ and the simply paste the downloaded file into this folder, and you’re done.
6) If you have an external hard drive to put into your PS4, then you’ll need to remove the case. Do so with a flathead screwdriver, carefully. Once you open it up, you must then remove the drive. To do this, pull up the back on the opposite side of where the USB plug is located. You may have to remove two screws on each of the longer sides depending on the hard drive model you have. Finally, take out the adapter.
7) Almost there! Make sure your PS4 is shut down and completely unplugged from the TV and power supply, and unplug all wires from the machine itself. Next, simply remove the glossy casing of the PS4; you only need to push it out of its socket with minimum force, so there’s no need to worry about fiddling around with screwdrivers here. You’ll need them for the next step though, which involves removing the screws with the PlayStation button icons on them (Square, Triangle, Cross, and Circle).
8) Take out the existing hard drive by sliding it out of its socket. Next, you’ll need to grab your trusty screwdriver again to take the hard drive out of its casing by removing the four screws. Put the new drive in its place and fix the casing back in place again by tightening the screws. Finally, fix the glossy PS4 casing securely back in its original position.
9) Okay, so you’ve successfully switched hard drives for your PS4. However, you aren’t quite done. Remember that System Software you put on your USB? Well, you need to transfer that to your brand spanking new hard drive before you wrap things up. First, plug everything back into your PS4, including the USB drive. Boot your console in safe mode by holding down the power button for about seven seconds until you hear a second beep as it fires up. Next, hit ‘initialise PS4’ on the menu screen that appears by pressing X. Setup will now begin and your PS4 will then start up as usual, allowing you to follow the simple instructions on-screen.
10) Now you’ll want to restore your previous data. With your external hard drive plugged in, Head over to Settings > System > Backup and Restore > Restore PS4 and select the one option there (which will be the data you saved previously). Again, you’ll have to play the waiting game, as it could take an hour or two to restore your settings depending on the size of the data.
Once the restoration process is complete…you’re all done! Enjoy your new PS4 with an expanded hard drive. That wasn’t too hard now, was it?