Sony to finally unlock PlayStation 5’s expandable SSD slot this summer

Sony has kept the expandable SSD slot on the PS5 locked via software so far and is finally going to allow players to get access to it.

The Sony PS5 (Sony)

The Sony PlayStation 5 that was launched last year, comes with an expandable internal M.2 SSD slot. However, since its launch, the ability to expand this storage has been locked via software and users have had to rely only on external storage via USB.

Sony has now decided to bring in an update that will allow users to unlock the internal SSD slot.

According to reports, Sony is going to roll out a new firmware update for the PS5 this summer and this update is going to also unlock higher speeds of the cooling fan to keep the console thermals in check. And that makes sense because now if there are two SSDs powering the console, it is going to generate more heat.

The PS5 comes with an 825GB internal SSD, but only 667GB of it is available to store games, apps and media. This makes it difficult to maintain a large library, particularly if you have been using a PS4 or the PS4 Pro before. Once the second internal storage is unlocked, users will be able to add more titles. However, Sony is yet to clarify which third-party SSDs will be compatible with the PS5.

As XDA Developers points out, when PD5 was launched in November last year, Western Digital was marketing the SN850 PCIe Gen 4 M.2 NVMe SSD to be compatible with the PS5. This might be one of the SSDs to consider.

The Sony PlayStation 5 that was launched last year, comes with an expandable internal M.2 SSD slot. However, since its launch, the ability to expand this storage has been locked via software and users have had to rely only on external storage via USB.

Sony has now decided to bring in an update that will allow users to unlock the internal SSD slot.

According to reports, Sony is going to roll out a new firmware update for the PS5 this summer and this update is going to also unlock higher speeds of the cooling fan to keep the console thermals in check. And that makes sense because now if there are two SSDs powering the console, it is going to generate more heat.

The PS5 comes with an 825GB internal SSD, but only 667GB of it is available to store games, apps and media. This makes it difficult to maintain a large library, particularly if you have been using a PS4 or the PS4 Pro before. Once the second internal storage is unlocked, users will be able to add more titles. However, Sony is yet to clarify which third-party SSDs will be compatible with the PS5.

As XDA Developers points out, when PD5 was launched in November last year, Western Digital was marketing the SN850 PCIe Gen 4 M.2 NVMe SSD to be compatible with the PS5. This might be one of the SSDs to consider.

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According to Sony, these SSDs should meet certain performance parameters so as not to hamper the PS5's experience.

The Sony PlayStation 5 comes with a PCIe Gen 4-based drive peaking at 5.5GB/s of bandwidth so the secondary slot will need a drive that can comply with fast speeds. We'll have to wait for Sony to specify though, just to be certain.