Can You Play Games from an External Hard Drive on a PlayStation 4 Pro? The Comprehensive Guide

In today's gaming world, expanding storage becomes a crucial aspect for many players. One popular method to achieve this is by using an external hard drive on a PlayStation 4 Pro. This guide will walk you through the steps to set up, format, and use an external hard drive on your PS4 Pro to play games directly from it.

Requirements

To play games from an external hard drive on a PlayStation 4 Pro, you need to meet the following requirements:

External Hard Drive: It must be USB 3.0 or later and have a minimum capacity of 250 GB and a maximum of 8 TB. PS4 System Software: Ensure that your PS4 is updated to the latest system software.

Steps to Set Up an External Hard Drive

Connect the External Hard Drive

1. Connect the external hard drive to one of the USB ports on your PS4 Pro.

Format the Drive

2. Once the drive is connected, follow these steps to format the external drive:

Go to Settings from the home screen. Select Devices. Choose USB Storage Devices. Select your external hard drive. Choose Format as Extended Storage. Follow the on-screen prompts to format the drive. This process will erase all data on the external drive.

Move or Install Games

3. After formatting the drive, you can either install new games directly to the external drive or move existing games to it:

To move games, go to Settings, then select Storage and choose System Storage. Under Games, select the game you want to move, press the Options button, and choose Move to Extended Storage.

Playing Games from an External Hard Drive

4. Once the games are installed or moved to the external hard drive, you can launch them just like any other game from the home screen.

Notes and Tips

The External Hard Drive Must Remain Connected

5. It is essential to keep the external hard drive connected to the PS4 Pro to play the games stored on it.

Use the External Drive for Other Data

6. While you can use the external drive for other data like media files, it is recommended to keep game storage separate. This segregation ensures optimal performance.

Additional Information

Formating Requirements: The external hard drive must be formatted by the PS4 Pro as ExFAT for best results.

Performance Considerations: Keep in mind that while the game can technically run from an external hard drive, there might be a slight performance hit. Saves will still be stored on the internal drive, ensuring no issues with save data.

Navigating Digital Game Play

Additionally, if you wish to play a digital game, you can transfer the game files from one friend's PS4 to your external drive. Remember to log into your PSN account on a PS4 to play, and don't forget to log out once done.

Conclusion: Set up an external hard drive on your PlayStation 4 Pro to enhance your gaming experience. With proper setup and use, you can significantly expand your storage space and manage your games more conveniently.