Upgrading the internal SSD on a PS5 Slim is one of the best quality of life improvements you can make if you play a lot of big modern games. Storage fills up fast, and while you can juggle installs, it gets old when every major update forces you to delete something you still want to keep. The good news is that Sony designed the PS5 family with a user accessible M.2 SSD expansion slot, and the Slim keeps that same approach. If you pick a compatible drive and take your time, the whole process is straightforward and doesn’t require any advanced repair skills.
This guide walks through everything you need, what to buy, what to avoid, and exactly how to install an M.2 SSD in a PS5 Slim safely.
What You Need Before You Start
To install an SSD in a PS5 Slim, you need a compatible M.2 NVMe SSD and a few basic tools. Planning this part correctly matters because the most common mistakes happen before the console is even opened.
You will need:
- A Phillips head screwdriver, ideally size #1. A small magnetic tip helps, but be careful not to drop screws inside the console.
- A compatible M.2 NVMe SSD. The PS5 Slim uses the same expansion slot standard as other PS5 models, so you want a PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe drive in the 2280 size in most cases. The console supports other lengths, but 2280 is the common and easiest choice.
- A heatsink. This is not optional in practice. The PS5 requires adequate cooling for the SSD, and a heatsink is strongly recommended even if a drive seems fine in a PC. Some SSDs come with a pre installed heatsink. Others require you to add one. Either option is fine as long as it fits the PS5 bay.
- A clean workspace with good lighting. A soft cloth or mat is useful so you do not scuff the panels.
It also helps to have a small container for screws so nothing disappears.
SSD Compatibility Rules for PS5 Slim
The PS5 Slim is picky in the ways that matter, but not in ways that should stress you out. If you follow a few compatibility rules, you will be fine.
Here is what to look for:
Your SSD should be an M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen4 x4 drive. Gen3 drives are not recommended because performance can fall below what the console expects in real workloads. Gen4 is the intended target.
Sony recommends a read speed of 5,500 MB/s or higher. In my experience, going above that is mostly about headroom and consistency. You do not need the absolute top of the chart, but you do want a reputable model that can sustain performance.
Form factor matters. The most common size is M.2 2280, which means 22 mm wide and 80 mm long.
Heatsink clearance matters a lot. The combined height of the SSD plus heatsink needs to fit in the PS5 Slim’s M.2 bay. If you buy a huge desktop style heatsink, it may not fit.
Capacity is your choice. A 1 TB drive is a comfortable minimum for most players. 2 TB is the sweet spot if you want to stop thinking about storage. 4 TB is excellent if you install everything and never delete anything, but it can be more expensive.
If you are unsure, choose a well known PS5 compatible model and either buy the version with a heatsink or pair it with a PS5 sized low profile heatsink.
Before You Open the PS5 Slim
This is the safety and sanity section. Skipping it is how people end up stripping screws, forcing panels, or worrying that they broke something when they didn’t.
Do the following:
Fully power off the console. Do not use Rest Mode. Use Power, then Turn Off PS5.
Unplug the power cable and all other cables.
Let the console cool for at least 10 to 15 minutes if it was recently used. The inside can be warm, and warm plastic panels feel tighter than they really are.
If you are concerned about static, touch a grounded metal object before handling the SSD. You do not need to overthink this, but you also should not shuffle across carpet and then immediately grab the drive by its contacts.
Also, if you care about capturing gameplay or want to preserve clips, consider uploading any important captures. Installing an SSD does not wipe your system storage, but it is still smart to protect anything you care about before hardware work.
How to Remove the PS5 Slim Cover Panels
The PS5 Slim has two side panels, and the easiest way to access the M.2 slot is to remove the panel that aligns with the expansion bay. The panels are designed to pop off, but the first time can feel like you are applying too much force. You are usually not.
Place the console horizontally on a soft surface.
Grip the panel near the corner and apply gentle lifting pressure while sliding it slightly. The motion is more like unhooking than prying straight up. You should feel it release from clips.
Work slowly. If it does not move, change your grip and try a different corner rather than forcing one spot. The panel will come off cleanly once you hit the right angle.
Once the panel is removed, set it aside where it cannot be stepped on or flexed.
Finding and Opening the M.2 SSD Bay
Inside the exposed side, you will see a small metal cover plate for the M.2 SSD bay. This cover is held in place by a screw.
Use your Phillips screwdriver to remove the screw holding the metal bay cover.
Lift off the metal cover and set it aside with its screw.
Now you should see the M.2 slot and a mounting point with a small screw and spacer. The PS5 supports different SSD lengths, and that spacer needs to be positioned to match your drive length. Most drives are 80 mm, which corresponds to the 2280 marking.
Installing the SSD in the PS5 Slim
This part is the heart of the upgrade. The main thing is to avoid touching the gold connector pins and to keep the drive level as you insert it.
Step by step:
Remove the mounting screw and spacer if needed, then place the spacer in the hole that matches your SSD length. For a 2280 drive, use the 80 position.
Hold the SSD by its edges. Align the notch in the connector with the slot.
Insert the SSD at a slight angle, around 20 to 30 degrees. It should slide into the connector smoothly. If it does not, stop and check alignment. Do not force it.
Once fully seated, gently press the free end of the SSD down so it lies flat on the spacer.
Secure it with the mounting screw.
If your SSD did not come with a heatsink installed, attach your low profile heatsink before closing the bay, following the heatsink’s instructions. Make sure any thermal pad protective film is removed. That film is easy to miss, and it ruins heat transfer.
Do not leave the SSD without a heatsink. Even if it boots, long sessions can cause heat related throttling or instability.
Reassembling the PS5 Slim
Put the metal M.2 bay cover back in place and reinstall its screw.
Reattach the side panel by aligning it with the console body and sliding it into place until it clicks and sits flush. You should not need to bend it.
Reconnect your cables, then power the console on.
If the panel does not sit correctly, take it off and try again. A panel that is slightly misaligned will feel like it is stuck, but it is usually just one clip not seated.
Formatting the SSD and Verifying It Works
When you boot the PS5 Slim after installing the SSD, it should detect the new drive and prompt you to format it. Formatting is required for the PS5 to use it.
Follow the on screen steps to format the SSD.
After formatting, the PS5 will run a speed test. Do not panic if the number is a bit different than marketing claims. The point is to confirm the drive is operating at an appropriate speed.
Once complete, go to Settings, then Storage, and you should see the M.2 SSD listed as available space.
At this point, you can choose where new games install by default and start moving content.
Moving Games to the New SSD
A lot of players assume they need to reinstall games to use the new drive. You don’t. The PS5 makes moving games relatively painless.
Go to Settings, then Storage, then Console Storage.
Select Games and Apps, then select items and choose Move.
Choose the M.2 SSD as the destination.
Moving is usually faster than downloading again, and it avoids bandwidth headaches. I typically move the biggest games first, because that’s where the storage savings feels immediate.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
People tend to run into the same few issues.
If the SSD is not detected, it is usually not fully seated. Power off, unplug, reopen the bay, and reinsert the drive with a firm but controlled push into the connector.
If the heatsink does not fit, it is probably too tall. The PS5 bay expects a low profile heatsink. Replace it with one designed for PS5 installs.
If you stripped a screw, stop and use a better fitting driver. Press down firmly while turning slowly. Small screws strip easily if the driver head is even slightly wrong.
If the cover panel feels impossible to remove or attach, the angle is wrong. Sliding motion matters more than brute force.
Is Upgrading the SSD Worth It on PS5 Slim?
For most players, yes. The PS5 Slim can feel like it has plenty of storage at first, then you install a few big games, a couple of live service titles, and suddenly you are micromanaging space. An internal M.2 SSD upgrade keeps everything in the fast storage ecosystem and feels seamless. Once it is installed, it behaves like it was always part of the console, which is exactly what you want.
If you rotate through only one or two games at a time, you can live without it. But if you like bouncing between big single player releases, shooters, and a backlog of upgrades, adding an SSD is one of the cleanest improvements you can make to the PS5 Slim setup.