PS4 4.50 Firmware- How to Set Up your External Hard Drive

With the upcoming release of the highly anticipated PS4 Firmware 4.50, many are excited with the new feature that allows every PS4 owners to finally be able to use their external hard drive on their PS4.

[FallenAngel1984]

With support for internal and external HDDs, consumers will get the best of both worlds

[Relientk77]

Is there a release date for this firmware update?

[PANDAB]

No set release date yet but they did say it will be here in the " coming weeks "

[Relientk77]

^Thanks PANDAB

already started looking at external HDDs

[Army_of_Darkness]

I better start looking for deals on 4tb hdd! Woohoo!

[Ju]

It runs very stable. So, this is really tuning it for release, me thinks. Can't be that long out.

[ZaWarudo]

This is fantastic. So i can install full games on this thing, right? like my copy of Doom that takes up a whopping 70+ GB?

[Tussin187]

Yes sir. You can also upgrade your enternal as well. So 8Tb plus whatever you have inside. Double the pleasure.

[TheUndertaker85]

Please note that part of this explanation may not be true. From the story:

"Now, you have the option to either use the hard drive you just formatted or simply keep installing applications on your internal storage until its full. To change the Applications Install location, simply highlight the hard drive of your choice, click the Options button from your DUALSHOCK 4 controller, and click confirm. You should see a text “Application Install Location” on the hard drive of your choice."

This seems to insinuate that only one method of storage can be utilized at a time. If this is the case internal and external storage will not be stacked. This would not be much different than 12GB PS3s that had 12GB of flash storage but that 12GB is disabled when internal storage is inserted.

[Dagexon]

@TheUndertaker85
This post on the PlayStation blog seemed to make it somewhat clear that you can use both the internal and external hard drives at the same time :)

http://blog.us.playstation....

[Ju]

The option is just there to tell the PS4 where it installs games. You can't choose when installing/downloading. You'd have to switch before. But you can start games from either one. They also stay on the homescreen where they were if you move them to the external drive. There is no visible difference. Once installed you can move them back and forth. Takes a while though...45 minutes for about 650GB.

[Relientk77]

I have too many games with 40 and 50+ gigs. I have to get an external HDD

[Kingthrash360]

Same here! I have 300 digital games I'll be getting an external HDD for sure

[Ju]

Don't know how many I have...but all in all I have now 2.5TB games on my PS4.

[Ju]

You can also move games back and forth (same as XBox). It works complete transparent to the home screen. You won't even notice which drive it's on.

[Obelisk92]

One question: can I just transfer some applications on the external hard drive and then disconnect it? Or do I have to keep it connected in order to have the applications detected by the system?

[Kiwi66]

It would have to be connected

[Ben Dover]

......I can't even..

[zeee]

Ben: you can't comprehend that not everyone knows technical stuff?

Obelisk: yes, you'll need to keep it connected to use those apps.

[Ben Dover]

Lol how exactly is that technical? It's like asking if you require power for the PS4 for it to be switched on -.-

[nveenio]

@zeee, in the mid 90s, I was watching a television show, and on it was a tech support person telling a story about how someone had called in complaining that the word processing software they purchased was missing parts. They went back and forth with this tech person, trying to explain how they couldn't use the software, until the tech person finally realized what was wrong: THEY DIDN'T HAVE A COMPUTER. I equate that story to this question. But this question is actually even worse, because computers were pretty new in the mid 90s.

[Obelisk92]

You didn't get my point.

Maybe I didn't explain myself correctly.

The question is: if I transfer my games, then disconnect the HDD, and then reconnect it, those games will still be detected? Or do I have to keep it connected and never disconnect it?

OF COURSE if the HD is disconnected I can't use those apps, I'm not that dumb...

[Realms]

Ben it's called common sense but believe it or not some people lack it.

[nveenio]

@Obelisk92, Of course it would detect them again if you plugged it back in, because they're still there. Now if you unplug it, take it to your PC, screw around with the file system, and then take it back to your PS4, you might be surprised that you've messed something up.

[xX-oldboy-Xx]

As long as you plug it back into the same PS4 you won't have a problem. If you try putting it into a different PS4, the machine will ask you if you want to format the HDD. Which you don't want to do because you will wipe the drive. Hope that helps.

[Kiwi66]

We got the point , you asked did a hdd have to connected or not for stuff to be detected by the console and so you got the answer ,don't blame others for your lack of clarity and in reply to your 2nd question yes it will need to always be connected just like i  said to the 1st question

[TheUndertaker85]

If you're asking about transferring content from internal storage to external or vice versa, from the story:

"Now, you have the option to either use the hard drive you just formatted or simply keep installing applications on your internal storage until its full. To change the Applications Install location, simply highlight the hard drive of your choice, click the Options button from your DUALSHOCK 4 controller, and click confirm. You should see a text “Application Install Location” on the hard drive of your choice."

So if you're asking about transferring content from external to internal then disconnecting the external while keeping the content yes as it'd then be on your internal storage.

[ziggurcat]

@obelisk:

"The question is: if I transfer my games, then disconnect the HDD, and then reconnect it, those games will still be detected? Or do I have to keep it connected and never disconnect it?"

as long as it's connected, you should have access to anything you've put on the external HDD. you should not have to re-install anything if you disconnect the HDD.

edit: now, whether they'll allow you to plug the external into another PS4 without any issue is another story - I imagine they'd lock the content to your account, though, so I don't think it will be a problem.

[Ju]

If you disconnect it, it behaves similar to gams on disk. The Icon stays on the home screen. But where there is a dark ghosted disk there now is a warning triangle instead which tells you the game was "removed". So, when you try to start it, you'll get an error. Once you plug the disk back in the PS4 verifies the drive and the game becomes available again. I have not tried to switch PS4s. I would guess this works with the PS4 the drive was formatted with.

[ziggurcat]

I actually suspect it'll work in the same way as if you had your account on a secondary PS4 - you can access the content, but other users can't (i.e. a lock icon would appear over all of the content if you're signed into a different account on the secondary PS4).

[Obelisk92]

Ok, got it, thank you all, sorry for the lack of clarity but I'm italian and I'm still learning english!

[LexHazard79]

What I wanna know is if after the hard drive is formatted for PS4 use. Can I use it on any PS4 or just the one it was formated on? Thanks

[Zeke68]

Guess it's like my cable-tv box, it syncs with a external Hdd and if I try to use it with another box of same model and all, it's not synced to that one. That way you can stop piracy...
But as I said, just a guess from me, hopefully someone with a ps4 and a Pro tries it out :)

[Phantom68]

This is exactly what I need to know. I have a PS4 with a Niko Databank and 6TB HDD.
I also have a PS4 PRO with a 2TB HDD.
What I'd like to do is to copy the data on the NYKO 6TB HDD on my original PS4 to an external HDD and then connect the external HDD to my PS4 PRO so I can use it there.
If this system does not work I will have to connect the external HDD to my PS4 PRO and re-download everything I have installed on my original PS4 as the PRO has only installation of PRO enhanced games and VR.

If someone who is beta testing and has both the PS4 and a PRO or 2 PS4 can try to move the external HDD between PS4 units and report back that would be helpful.

[Cobra951]

I imagine it will work like the Xbox: You can unplug the external and take it with you to another console, where you would have to sign in to your account, to authorize using your games and to sync your save data from the cloud (since the save data reside only in the internal drive and the cloud).

[Teflon02]

You're likely right. Apart from 1 thing. Sony allows you to transfer your save data via USB/external storage

[Phantom68]

If it works in that way that would be SUPER!!!

[TheUndertaker85]

@Teflon02: Save Data will not be stored to external storage. Internal only. From the story:

"Please note that ONLY the applications and games are installed on the External Hard Drive. Save Datas and other internal files will be installed on the internal storage of your PS4."

Probably to stop potential save edits.

[Software_Lover]

Hopefully it works like the Xbox One, and you can use it on any PS4.

[Manashake]

Now i can buy 4gb for the price of 2gb.

[MRMagoo123]

a 4gb hdd ?? what would be the point in that 😂 I guess you must have meant Tb ?

[Cobra951]

I make the same mistake all the time. Call it a brain fart.

[ziggurcat]

i think you mean TB...

[Manashake]

Thanks, yes...time flies...

[dRanzer]

Anyone knows the official release date? I will be happy to go back to Witcher 3: blood and wine!

[Stogz]

Only thing I'm worried about is USB ports on the ps4. I already have the psvr using one, with this I won't have another one open for charging controllers or for using my wireless headset.

[G20WLY]

Get a splitter, if you need one.

[Phantom68]

Get a device that can charge two controllers at the same time via your sockets.
Sony makes one and third parties also make them. I have one that charges 2 PS4 controllers and 2 move controllers

[Teflon02]

Personally... Splitter,it will be fine charging controllers and headsets. Or even use a phones wall charger or something. Like if you have a Sony charger laying around. Plug it into that to charge. Or honestly upgrading to the pro can seem a little more enticing. Right now I have a hard drive plugged in already. My pulse elites, and a extension for my ps4 control to charge. But I have a Sony charger literally plugged in right beside my bed so I can use that if anything. Can be frustrating though. Exactly why I don't like ps3s with 2 charge ports

[Ju]

Just plug in the controller/headset into a wall socket. Why would you need to charge it on the PS4?

One issue there is with the USB is, however, that the drives shuts off if you enable power savings mode for the USB ports. If you run background downloads over night which take longer than 3 hours (e.g.) this is an issue. Also, the PS4 does not shut down the drive properly (doesn't switch it into standby, but simple cuts the power). Once you boot the PS4 it will "verify" the drive which takes a while. But I did not loose any data. So, in that case, you would want to disable the power save feature for USB ports. I hope in the final firmware this will be fixed and the PS4 shuts down the drive properly or not at all (if there are pending downloads).

[Stogz]

Charging isn't as much of a problem as the dingle for the wireless headset that needs to be plugged in to work.

[RetroStory]

Great! Truly excited to hear about this.

But I only have 2 USB ports on my PS4, and one is already taken up 24/7 by my Headset in order to use voice chat. And now this one will take it up 24/7 as well...,

I dunno maybe one more USB port would have been nice on the backside of the system.

[EverydayJoe]

The Pro has a 3rd in the back for the PSVR

[RetroStory]

That is great they added one more then for the pro. Unfortunately it isn't helping me with Slim model PS4. Maybe one day after a few price drops I'll buy a pro.

[Teflon02]

It's for anything. I use the back port to hide my headset dongle. Front for a hdd I used for music, which will now be my extended hard drive lol

[Tussin187]

Buy a splitter.

[Master of Unlocking]

So you necessarily have to format your HDD before it can be used as extended storage? I'm not sure what that's for, maybe to turn it into ExFat, but mine stays in Fat32, as I have over 1,5 TB-worth of movies, tv series, music, photos, porn and stuff. It would kill me to lose all that.

[deafdani]

If it works anything like the Wii U, the HDD needs to be used exclusively for the PS4. So if you want to keep those photos, porn and stuff, you will need to buy a new drive for the PS4.

[MagicBeanz]

lol, Thumbs up for copping to the porn collection, lets face it we all have one but not all of us would admit it. ;)

[SgtSlaughter212]

Is this 1996 or something? Who downloads porn anymore? Free streaming sites are the way to go.

[Ju]

You can still keep your HDD. If you want to have games on it, however, the drive needs to be formatted and encrypted. You can have more than one HDD hooked up, though. It lets you format the second for games as well. They can be any combination of just data (xFAT32 for media) or formatted for games.

[nitus10]

From what I can gather when you format your external drive from your PS4 it will format it as a Unix File System (UFS) which is what is called a Journaling file system and hence more reliable but it totally different to FAT, ExFAT and NTFS which are Microsoft owned.

Basically, anything you have on the storage device that you want to format for your PS4 will be lost so if you already have stuff on your external drive that you want to keep then you have no choice but to get a new external drive and I would label it accordingly so that you won't get confused.

Connecting a storage device which has been formatted with a different filesystem to a Microsoft Windows machine will usually result in Windows asking if you wish to format that drive.

[theshredded]

A question, can your internal storage data move over to the external hard drive like SD cards for phones? Because it logically should... That way, disappointing games will be internal( mostly ps plus stuff and demos ) and external the ones I really like.

[nitus10]

Personally, I would advise the other way around. Keep all the games you are currently playing on your internal drive and games that you may play occasionally or hardly ever on your external drive.

Of course, there is always the question of going over to a friends house to play games since it is easier to take a portable disk drive than the PS4 but is it that difficult to take your PS4 since it is fairly small and it is very likely you will be taking your controller(s) as well?

Decisions, decisions. 😉

[theshredded]

But what about if my ps4 dies or is dying? ( I never had a console or even pc/mobile phone that kept functioning normally after 5 yrs of use) I don't want to re-download everything that took literally months to download. And I won't care for some games that IDGAF about like DOA 5 F2P, DriveClub, point and click games except Grim fandango, by the numbers uninspired 2d crap, Infamous First Light, Transistor, Gat out if Hell, Injustice, LOTF and Superbros that I just downloaded because of popularity but found disappointing and won't miss if they ever got erased . So pretty much local mp games and most of my games would be external unless it takes a lot of time to recognize the games once powering on my ps4. Plus, I live with a certain someone that hogs the PS4 all the time with NBA/FIFA so external is definitely the way to go for me.

[Mrveryodd]

About time .

[DJ]

THIs is life changing. I've had a spare 1tb external drive for a year. Finally I get to put it to good use. Thank you Sony!

[WeAreLegion]

Did it last night with a 1 TB. Finally, I can install all my disc games!

[MagicBeanz]

Oh I wasn't aware it was getting external HD support until reading this article, gotta step my game up. Well this is good I know this was a major arguing point between the consoles so nice to see this one can be checked off, commence arguing about other stuff.

[ziggurcat]

i've been using this feature on Xbox One for a while, now. it's good - especially if you are the type that doesn't like to delete games from your HDD.

I'd be curious to see how they handle it if you happen to replace your PS4 (i.e. whether it's just a matter of unplugging the external, and plugging it into the new console).

[lio_convoy]

This is a good idea. I wonder how ingame performance (load times, etc) will be affected by going through USB3 instead of the internal hard drive?

[nitus10]

The PS4 has an SATA2 bus which can achieve speeds up to 300MB/sec while the PS4 pro has an SATA3 bus which can achieve speeds up to 600MB/sec. This basically means that all storage devices on the SATA bus cannot exceed those limits and that includes devices connected by the USB 3.1 Gen1 ports (max speed 600MB/sec) of the PS4 and PS4pro.

Basically, if you have an external device which is equal to or better than the performance of the internal storage device you should not have any performance issues. In fact, if your external storage has a better performance than your internal storage it may be better to install games that have longer loading times on the better performing storage device.

Keep in mind that if you use your PS4 to format an external drive that drive cannot be connected to your PC (assuming your PC runs Microsoft Windows) since it will be formatted and possibly encrypted with a different filesystem to any Windows filesystem.

[Zarock]

My main drive Is an SSD,can I move old games to the external drive to make space for new ones?

[deafdani]

You should. Wii U allows this.

[captainexplosion]

Could you also put music on the harddrive and then listen to that music while playing games.

[deafdani]

No.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

Glad to see Sony supporting external HDD

[Mrveryodd]

This is about time ... But going through the comments ...some of you have very short memories... When stating how wonderful ex hard drives were... Some of you in this very comment section bagged the fn Xbox for having ex hard drive and how the ps4 was way cooler as it didn't need them .... Ok what you say now ??? Wow

[alfcrippinjr]

yeah here a warning if you remove the hard drive from your system with out backing your save game data
it goes bye bye forever when you plug it back in :(
happen to us

[rezzah]

could be in the cloud through psn+ if u set ur saves to be uploaded to it.

[akanote]

anyone sharing accounts need this update