Upgrade a PS4 hard drive
Upgrade a PS4 hard drive
2:21

Upgrade a PS4 hard drive

Gaming Hardware
-One advantage the PlayStation 4 has over the Xbox One is that its 500 gigabyte hard drive can actually be replaced. The process is relatively simple, but before we get started, let's take a look at what you'll need to get the job done. The PlayStation 4 supports a normal laptop hard drive. The drive must be at least 160 gigabytes and no thicker than 9.5 mm. We opted for 256-gigabyte solid-state drive, which should deliver slightly faster low times. You'll also need a USB drive with at least 1 gigabyte of space, a Philips head screwdriver, and a computer with internet access, but more on that later. With the console laying flat, apply slight pressure to the glossy black cover and slide it down. Next, take the Philips head screw driver and remove the single screw that has the traditional PlayStation shapes on it, then just pull the hard drive tray out and remove the four screws that keep the drive intact. Once it's out, simply replace the driver screwed into the tray and then secure the tray in place. Getting the cover back on could be a little tricky. Instead of sliding it from the bottom, come from the top and snap it back into place. Now, grab your computer and go to Sony's website to download the PS4 software update, but make sure to fresh install file. Connect the USB to your computer and format to FAT32. This can be done on Windows with a right click on the drive and selecting Format. Once complete, open the drive and create a folder titled PS4. Inside that folder, create another one titled Update in all caps, then place the update file inside of it. Make sure the console is turned off and plug in the controller and USB drive. Power the system on in safe mode by holding the power button for seven seconds. Tap the PlayStation button on the controller when prompted to do so and scroll down to initialize PlayStation 4 from the safe mode menu. After installing the update from the USB drive, the system will restart and boot up as if it was the first time you powered it on. If you have any questions, reach out to me on Twitter and be sure to check out my article in howto.cnet.com for more detailed instructions and that link you'll need to get the job done. I'm Dan Graziano. Thanks for watching.

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