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Buy a PCIe Gen4 M.2 NVMe SSD with a heatsink that meets Sony's size rules (250 GB to 8 TB, 5,500 MB/s or faster recommended). Update the PS5, turn it off and unplug it, fit the drive in the expansion slot, then format it when the console starts. Do it before pre-load opens on November 12, 2026.
Why do this before GTA 6
GTA 6’s install size is not announced (neither store listed one on September 26, 2026), and estimates of 150 to 200 GB are rumor. Pre-load opens on November 12, and the game must sit on storage it can run from: the PS5’s built-in SSD or an M.2 SSD in its expansion slot, never a USB drive. The GTA 6 file size tracker checks your console. If deleting or moving games is enough, follow how to free up storage for GTA 6 instead.
What Sony says you need
Sony’s support page sets these rules for an M.2 SSD in any PS5:
| Requirement | Sony’s rule |
|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 NVMe SSD, Key M. M.2 SATA drives are not supported |
| Capacity | 250 GB to 8 TB |
| Form factor | 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280 or 22110 |
| Size with cooling | Up to 25 mm wide and 11.25 mm thick (8.0 mm above the board, 2.45 mm below) |
| Speed | 5,500 MB/s sequential read or faster is recommended |
| Cooling | A heatsink or heat transfer sheet is required; some drives have one built in |
You also need the latest system software, a #1 Phillips screwdriver and a well-lit table. Touch a grounded metal object first to discharge static, and never turn the console on with its cover off. Sony adds that it cannot guarantee every drive meeting the rules will work, and that some games may not perform exactly as they do on the built-in SSD.
An example drive
The SanDisk Optimus GX PRO 850P 2 TB meets the rules on paper. Its Amazon listing says it is officially licensed for PS5 and PS5 Pro, is an M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 drive with a heatsink built for the console, and reads at up to 7,300 MB/s. We have not tested it. Sony recommends against adding a second heatsink to a drive that has one.
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Which PS5 do you have?
Every PS5 has the slot, Digital Editions included, but the cover comes off differently. The model number starts with CFI and is on the bottom of the console when it stands upright.
- CFI-1000: the original, larger PS5 and PS5 Digital Edition.
- CFI-2000: the slimmer PS5 and PS5 Digital Edition.
- CFI-7000: the PS5 Pro (Sony’s manuals list CFI-7019 and CFI-7119). Sony gives it the same steps as the CFI-2000 group.
Steps: PS5 slim and PS5 Pro (CFI-2000 and CFI-7000)
- Update and switch off. Install the latest system software, then choose Power > Turn Off PS5 in the control center. Unplug the power cord and cables and let the console cool.
- Lay it down. On a soft cloth on a flat surface, place the console bottom up with the front facing you, and remove the feet.
- Remove the triangle cover. Lift it slightly away from the console to release its clips.
- Open the expansion slot. Remove the screw from the expansion slot cover, then take the cover off.
- Set the spacer. Remove the screw and spacer, and move the spacer to the position that matches your drive’s length (the SanDisk example is a 2280 drive).
- Insert the drive. Hold it by the edge, line it up with the notch on the expansion connector, tilt it diagonally upward and push it firmly all the way in.
- Fasten it. Tilt the drive down and secure it with the screw.
- Close up. Refit the expansion slot cover and its screw, then the triangle cover: line up its clips and push until it clicks.
- Format. Attach the feet, reconnect the power cord and cables, and turn the PS5 on. The formatting guide appears: follow it. Formatting erases anything already on the drive.
Steps: original PS5 (CFI-1000)
- Update and switch off. Install the latest system software, turn the PS5 off, remove all cables and devices, and let it cool.
- Remove the base. Lay the console on a flat surface with a protective covering and take off the base.
- Position it. PlayStation logo facing down, power button facing you.
- Remove the cover. Grip the top left corner, pull it slightly up and to the right, then slide the cover off while holding the console steady.
- Open the expansion slot. Remove the one screw at the top of the long rectangular cover over the slot, then the cover.
- Set the spacer. Remove the screw and move the spacer to the groove that matches your drive’s length.
- Insert the drive. Hold it by the edge, line it up with the notch and push it firmly all the way in from a diagonal angle. The board should rest flush on the spacer, with the heatsink not in the way.
- Fasten it. Tilt the drive down and screw it to the spacer, making sure the heatsink does not block the screw.
- Close up. Refit the slot cover and its screw; if it will not close, the heatsink is probably over Sony’s size limit. Then place the console cover about 2 cm (3/4 inch) from the top edge and slide it back until it clicks.
- Format. Reconnect the power cord, cables and base, turn the PS5 on and follow the formatting guide.
Set it up for GTA 6
- Download new games to the drive: Settings > Storage > Installation Location.
- Move games you already have: in Game Library, highlight a game, press the Options button, choose Move Games and Apps, then Move.
- Keep each game in one place. Sony says all of a game’s data must be stored in the same location.
- If a game misbehaves on the new drive, Sony says to move it back to console storage. PlayStation’s GTA VI page says the game uses the PS5’s built-in SSD for near-instant loading, so a simple plan is to keep GTA 6 on the built-in drive and move other games to the new one (our suggestion).
Re-check your free space on November 11, the day before pre-load opens, then follow how to pre-load GTA 6.
What a USB drive can and cannot do
Sony says PS5 games on USB extended storage must be copied back to console storage or an M.2 SSD to play, while PS4 games play straight from USB. It asks for SuperSpeed USB 5 Gbps or faster, 250 GB to 8 TB, plugged in directly rather than through a hub. So a USB drive is a parking spot for your other games, not a home for GTA 6. The Seagate Game Drive for PlayStation (5 TB) is one example; its Amazon listing says the same: store PS5 games, transfer them back to play.
On Xbox: the Storage Expansion Card
On Xbox Series X|S there is no M.2 slot to fill: fast storage comes from a Storage Expansion Card, which plugs into a dedicated port on the back. Microsoft says the cards match internal storage performance, and Xbox Support says games Optimized for Xbox Series X|S must be on the internal SSD or a Storage Expansion Card to play, so a USB drive can only store them. The SanDisk Optimus GX C50 2 TB is one card; its Amazon listing says it is officially licensed for Series X|S and that games play directly from it. More in GTA 6 on Xbox Series S.
Storage for PS5 (and Xbox)
On PS5, an M.2 SSD with a heatsink goes in the expansion slot, and games play from it. A USB drive such as the Seagate Game Drive only stores PS5 games: copy a game back to play it. On Xbox Series X|S, a Storage Expansion Card does the same job.
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Frequently asked questions
Does GTA 6 need an SSD on PS5?
It has to be installed on storage the PS5 can play from: the built-in SSD or an M.2 SSD in the expansion slot. Sony says PS5 games cannot be played from USB extended storage and must be copied back first. Every PS5 has a built-in SSD, so an extra drive is only needed if you are short of space.
What size SSD do I need for GTA 6?
Nobody knows yet. Rockstar has not announced the install size, and estimates of 150 to 200 GB are rumors. Sony allows drives from 250 GB to 8 TB. A 1 TB or 2 TB drive leaves room for GTA 6 at the rumored sizes and for other large games (our suggestion).
Can I put an SSD in a PS5 Pro or a PS5 Digital Edition?
Yes. Sony's M.2 guide covers the original PS5 (CFI-1000 model group) and the slim and Pro models (CFI-2000 and CFI-7000 groups), and says Digital Edition consoles take an M.2 SSD too. How the cover comes off differs between the original and the newer models.
Does adding an M.2 SSD void the PS5 warranty?
Sony says your warranty should generally not be affected if the drive meets its specifications and you follow the installation instructions properly. Damage from a drive that does not meet them, or from a bad installation, is not covered.
Can I play GTA 6 from an external hard drive?
No. Sony says PS5 games on USB extended storage must be copied back to console storage or an M.2 SSD before you can play them. A USB drive is still useful for parking your other games to make room.
How do I add storage on Xbox for GTA 6?
With a Storage Expansion Card, which plugs into the back of an Xbox Series X|S. Microsoft says the cards match internal storage performance. A USB drive can hold Series X|S games but cannot run them.
What changed on this page
- Guide published. Every step was checked against Sony's M.2 SSD and console cover support pages on September 28, 2026.
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