2 Terabyte External Hard Drive For Ps4

How to format an external hard drive for PS4

Y'all'll need to format an external hard bulldoze for PS4 before yous utilize it as extended or fill-in storage. We testify y'all how to get started...

(Image: © Peter Kotoff / Shutterstock.com)

Wondering how to format an external difficult drive for PS4? We've got you covered. If y'all're needing more space to store games, then an external HDD (hard disk) or SSD (solid state drive) is an absolute must.

While it may sound similar a tricky job, you lot'll be pleased to learn that regardless of whether you have the Sony PS4 (Slim), the PS4 Pro or just your regular PS4, it'due south never been easier or more than affordable to add an external drive to your games console.

And the benefits of doing and so are huge! Non only does learning how to format an external hard drive for PS4 allow you to proceed more games on your console, you lot'll also be able to create a fill-in which will allow y'all to preserve all that important gaming data.

Regardless of what you're wanting to employ the external drive for, the best PS4 external difficult drives 2022 are super easy to set upwards and just as easy to utilise, and don't worry if you've never washed it before, that's what were here to help you lot with.

If yous have a smaller budget or yous'd like to prioritize space or speed, you'll be happy to learn that at that place are a wide range of external hard disk and external SSD products bachelor.

As e'er, there are some technical considerations to bear in mind. One of the nearly of import things is to make sure that your external difficult bulldoze or the best SSD that you've purchased is formatted properly, considering y'all won't be able to use it without this step.

Sony makes it easy to handle this office of the process, and it's simple to do on Windows and Mac Os Ten likewise. Beneath, we talk you lot through exactly how to format an external hard drive for PS4. Let'southward take a look...

Format your external HDD or SSD on your PS4

Formatting screen — (Prototype credit: Sony)

If you want to format an external difficult drive for PS4, the procedure couldn't exist much simpler. This is because the PS4 uses its ain encrypted file arrangement when using a hard drive or SSD as extended storage.

All you've got to do is plug your drive into the console, head to the Settings menu, open Devices, and and then USB Storage Devices. Pick the pick to Format the bulldoze equally extended storage, and the console will have intendance of the whole procedure.

As ever, you do need to remember to utilize a USB 3.0 product with a chapters between 250GB and 8TB, otherwise the process won't work. Only that's it.

If you lot desire to use an external bulldoze to store console backups the process is but a little more circuitous. This is considering the PS4 doesn't encrypt and format the unabridged drive when making backups – information technology leaves your hard disk or SSD free to be used for other tasks if you've got the infinite.

You lot'll demand to make sure your hard disk, SSD or USB bulldoze is formatted using the FAT32 or exFAT file systems – the PS4 doesn't back up the NTFS file system. Nosotros recommend exFAT, considering it supports files that are over 4GB in size.

If your external hard deejay or SSD is already using an appropriate file system and then you tin can plug it into the PS4, head to the System carte du jour, open the Back Upwardly and Restore department and choose what y'all'd like to preserve. If you need to format the drive, you can do that on the PS4 besides – head to Settings, Devices and USB Storage Devices, choose your bulldoze, and then click the Options button. This will reveal a carte du jour where you can format the drive as exFAT and then it can exist used for backups.

Back Up and Restore screen — (Image credit: Sony)

If you don't desire to utilize your PS4 or if your drive is already plugged into another car, then it'south also possible to format information technology using your Windows or Mac OS X machine.

Format your external HDD or SSD on your Windows PC or laptop

Desktop screen — (Epitome credit: Microsoft)

There are a couple of easy methods for drive formatting on Windows, and they don't modify much – these instructions are for Windows 10, but they should exist applicable for the last few versions of Microsoft's operating system.

The easiest method involves plugging the drive into your PC or laptop and opening the File Explorer – the screen where y'all can navigate recent files and fundamental folders. If you click on the This PC shortcut, you lot'll hopefully meet your external bulldoze connected as a hard disk drive, right alongside your system's master hard drive or SSD. If you meet information technology, correct-click, select Format, and and then choose the exFAT pick and outset the process. That'south the merely thing you'll need to actually change unless you desire to rename the drive, and using the Quick Format setting is fine.

If you don't encounter your external bulldoze in the File Explorer, it'southward likely using a file system that the PC can't read – like the PS4's ain, encrypted Extended Storage organization. If this is the case, continue the drive plugged in, right click on the This PC shortcut in the File Manager and click Manage. Once this new window has opened, head to the Deejay Management section.

File explorer screen — (Image credit: Microsoft)

You lot should meet your drive at the bottom of the window – it'll be the ane in black, rather than navy blue, and it'll exist described as Unallocated. Right-click it, choose the option to Initialise the drive, and click through the box that appears. You don't take to change anything.

Once that's washed, right-click the striped surface area and select New Simple Volume. This launches more dialogue boxes – you tin can click through until you see an option for File System. Choice exFAT, click Next, and and then click Finish. Your bulldoze will now exist ready for your PS4.

Bear in mind that sometimes you will be able to right-click the bulldoze and select the New Uncomplicated Volume option straight away. If the drive lets you, do that – you'll be safe skipping the Initialise portion of the process.

Format your external HDD or SSD on your OS 10 machine

Disk utility screen — (Image credit: Apple)

If you need to use an OS Ten car to format your external drive, caput to Disk Utility. You tin observe this past opening a Finder window, heading to Applications, so the Utilities section.

Utilities screen — (Image credit: Apple)

In Disk Utility, select your external drive from the list on the left-hand side and click on the Erase option forth the top of the Deejay Utility window. In the new window that appears, simply choose exFAT equally your file format and click the Erase button.

Disk utilities screen — (Prototype credit: Apple tree)

You can besides rename the drive here if you'd similar. If a window appears and asks if you'd like to use the new volume with Time Machine, click Don't Apply. And that'due south it – you've simply learned how to format an external hard bulldoze for PS4 and your external bulldoze is at present gear up for your PS4.

Mike has worked as a applied science journalist for more a decade and has written for most of the Uk's large technology titles alongside numerous global outlets. He loves PCs, laptops and any new hardware, and covers everything from the latest business trends to high-end gaming gear.