Sony allows compatible M.2 NVMe SSDs to expand storage on both PS5 and PS5 Digital Edition consoles. Once installed, the drive can be used to download, copy and launch PS5 and PS4 games as well as media apps. Games can also be moved between the console's internal storage, USB extended storage and the added M.2 SSD. Check the PlayStation Support for the original details.
The core specification is PCI-Express Gen4x4 M.2 NVMe using a Key M interface. Sony currently lists supported capacities from 250 GB through 8 TB and form factors 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280 and 22110. SATA M.2 drives are not supported, so an SSD that physically looks similar is not automatically compatible.
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Speed matters too. PlayStation recommends a sequential read speed of 5,500 MB/s or faster. Sony also requires effective heat dissipation, such as a heatsink or heat-transfer structure. That cooling hardware can be built into the SSD or attached separately, but the complete assembly still has to fit inside the PS5 expansion bay.
Sony lists a maximum width of 25 mm and a maximum total thickness of 11.25 mm, with up to 8 mm above the board and 2.45 mm below it. Supported lengths are 30, 42, 60, 80 and 110 mm. Checking the full dimensions matters because heatsinks vary significantly in size.
Before installation, PlayStation recommends updating the console to the latest system software and discharging static electricity by touching a grounded metal object. The console should remain powered off while the cover is removed. On first use, the PS5 will ask to format the new drive, which erases data already stored on it.
Meeting the written specification is the starting point rather than a blanket guarantee for every third-party SSD. Sony advises checking the manufacturer's specifications carefully and notes that not every game may perform identically to the console's internal ultra-high-speed SSD. If a game has problems from the expansion drive, PlayStation recommends moving it back to internal storage.
A practical purchasing check is to read the complete assembled size rather than the SSD's bare board dimensions. The console's expansion slot has a strict height allowance, and a thick preinstalled heatsink can make an otherwise fast Gen4 drive unsuitable. If the listing does not state the heatsink's total measurements, ask the maker before purchase. Sony also cautions that meeting its published figures does not guarantee every third-party device will perform identically, so a manufacturer compatibility statement is helpful additional evidence.
After installation, keeping a PS5 game on M.2 expansion storage is different from archiving it on a USB external drive. Sony's support guide allows PS5 games to run directly from the compatible M.2 SSD, whereas USB extended storage is mainly for storing and moving PS5 titles. The console formats the entire expansion SSD for use, so any previous files on that drive should be backed up first. Players moving an SSD to another PS5 should review Sony's transfer instructions and account requirements before relying on it as a portable library.