Step-by-Step Guide
Takes about 10 minutes. All you need is a small #1 Phillips screwdriver. Works on both PS5 Standard and PS5 Slim.
Hold the power button until it beeps twice and the light turns off. Unplug all cables including the power cable. Wait 3 minutes to let the internals cool down.
Place it with the disc drive facing down (or the flat side down for Digital Edition). A microfibre cloth underneath helps prevent scratches.
Grip the top corner of the white panel and slide it towards the bottom of the console, then lift up. It unclips with a gentle pop — don't force it.
Find the small rectangular metal cover near the fan. Remove its single #1 Phillips screw and lift the cover off. This reveals the M.2 SSD expansion slot.
A heatsink is mandatory — Sony requires it and thermal throttling will degrade performance without one. If your SSD came with one, attach it now using the included thermal pad. The total height of SSD + heatsink must not exceed 11.25mm to fit the PS5 bay.
Align the notch on the SSD with the M.2 slot and slide it in at about a 45-degree angle. You'll feel it seat into the connector. Don't force it.
Gently press the SSD flat and secure it with the small screw. Don't overtighten. Replace the slot cover and its screw, then reattach the side panel.
Plug in and turn on your PS5. It will detect the new SSD and prompt you to format it — this takes about 2 minutes. Done! Your expansion drive will appear in Storage Settings and games can be installed directly to it.
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