Few things are as annoying as sitting down to install a new PlayStation 5 game and getting hit with a “Not enough free space” message. With modern games routinely taking up 50–100GB or more, it doesn’t take long for even a large SSD to fill up. The good news is you don’t have to start deleting your favorite games to make room. This guide walks through the safest, most effective ways to free up space on your PS5 — from quick wins to more advanced storage management.
What You’ll Need
- A PS5 connected to the internet (for checking cloud saves and re-downloading content later)
- A PlayStation Network account signed in on the console
- Optional: a USB external hard drive if you plan to move games off the console instead of deleting them
Step 1: Check What’s Actually Taking Up Space
Before deleting anything, it helps to see exactly what’s using your storage. Go to Settings > Storage on your PS5. This screen breaks down how much space is used by games and apps, saved data, screenshots and video captures, and system data. Sorting through this list often reveals old games you forgot you installed, or a folder of captures you never got around to sharing.
Step 2: Delete Games You’re Not Actively Playing
The single biggest space-saver is removing games you haven’t touched in a while. Under Settings > Storage > Games and Apps, you can sort by size to see which titles are the biggest offenders. Select a game and choose Delete. This does not delete your save data or trophies — those are usually kept separately, and if you have PlayStation Plus, your saves can also be backed up to the cloud. You can always redownload the game later as long as you own it on your account.
Step 3: Move Games to an External Hard Drive
If you don’t want to fully uninstall a game, you can move PS4 games (and, on some PS5 models, certain PS5 games) to a USB external hard drive instead of deleting them outright. Connect a compatible USB drive, format it for PS5 use when prompted, then go to Settings > Storage > Games and Apps, select a title, and choose the option to move it to the external drive. This is a good middle ground: the game leaves your internal SSD but stays easy to reinstall without a fresh download.
Step 4: Clear Out Screenshots and Video Clips
Capture galleries fill up faster than most people realize, especially if you have Create button captures turned on by default. Go to Settings > Captures and Broadcasts, or open the Media Gallery from the control center, and delete captures you don’t need. Consider transferring anything you want to keep to a USB drive or a phone via the PS app before deleting.
Step 5: Manage Saved Data
Saved game data is usually small compared to full game installs, but it can add up if you have many titles. In Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings, you can review saved data stored on the console and, if you subscribe to PlayStation Plus, upload copies to cloud storage before deleting the local copies.
Step 6: Uninstall Unused Apps
Streaming apps, unused game demos, and old betas also take up storage. Check the Games and Apps list for anything you no longer use and remove it the same way you would a game.
Common Problems and Fixes
The storage bar doesn’t update after deleting a game: Restart the console. The storage display occasionally lags behind actual usage until a reboot.
A game won’t move to external storage: Not all PS5 titles support running from external USB storage — some require the faster internal SSD and can only be stored externally, not played from there. Check the game’s storage options screen for what’s supported.
You’re still low on space after deleting several games: System files, firmware, and rest mode data also use a portion of storage that isn’t reclaimable. If space is consistently tight, consider a larger internal M.2 SSD upgrade, which Sony officially supports on PS5 hardware.
An external drive isn’t recognized: Make sure it meets PS5’s minimum USB 3.0 connection and formatting requirements, and try a different USB port, preferably one on the back of the console for the initial setup.
A Note on Data Safety
Before deleting anything, especially saved game data, double-check whether it has been backed up to the cloud if you want to preserve your progress. Deleting an installed game itself is safe and reversible as long as you still own it on your PlayStation Network account, but locally stored saves that aren’t backed up can be lost permanently if removed. If you’re not sure whether a save has synced to the cloud, check Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Cloud Storage before deleting the local copy.
FAQ
Will deleting a game delete my save data too?
No. On PS5, save data is generally managed separately from the game installation, so deleting a game usually leaves your saves intact unless you specifically choose to delete saved data as well.
Can I play games directly from an external hard drive?
PS4 games can typically run directly from a compatible external USB drive. PS5 games usually need to be stored on the internal SSD (or an officially supported expansion SSD) to run, though they can still be stored externally and moved back when you want to play them.
How much storage does the PS5 actually have available to use?
The usable space is always less than the advertised drive size because part of it is reserved for the system software. Check Settings > Storage for your console’s exact current free space.
Is it safe to upgrade the internal SSD myself?
Sony supports internal SSD upgrades on PS5 consoles using compatible M.2 NVMe drives that meet its speed requirements. Follow official PlayStation instructions closely, as using an unsupported drive or installing it incorrectly can cause issues.
Steps and menu labels may change as apps update. Last updated: August 2026.