How to upgrade Xbox Series S storage space

Imagine walking in from a long day of work to relax with an evening of gaming only to be faced with a nightmare scarier than Still Wakes the Deep—your Xbox Series S™ console simply won't save games because you're out of space. Zero. Zilch. Nada. 

Chances are high that your next stop is to search for how to get more storage on your Xbox Series S. At Asurion, we're all about making tech a cakewalk for customers, and we tackle everything from helping you clear the cache of your Xbox Series S to recommending instant fixes when you need to factory reset your Xbox Series S. Here’s what you need to know about increasing internal storage on your favorite gaming console.

Reasons to upgrade Xbox Series S storage

To give even more benefits to this move, here's why your console could use an instant storage expansion:

• Additional space for more games. Seriously, is there anything that could beat the joy of having all your favorite 50GB games seamlessly fit into your console? We doubt it. 
• Super-fast loading times. No more waiting for content to install or games to load. With an expansion drive, you'll spend less time scratching your head wondering what game to ditch and more time getting good at Elden Ring.
• Zero management hassles. When you have more space than you know what to do with, the problem of constantly trying to free up space for new games will be a thing of the past.

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Ways to upgrade Xbox Series S storage

The standard internal solid-state drive (SSD) of your Xbox Series S is hands-down one of the fastest you'll get out there. For an everyday gamer, that translates to swift loading times and superior performance for new games. It's a solid perk, but that also means a sizable chunk of the original 512GB goes to the gameplay function. You're only left with approximately 364GB worth of space to work with.

Fortunately, with these two storage expansion tricks, you never have to cancel a download halfway.

Method 1: Upgrade the Xbox Series S SSD

Speed over storage. It's an age-old dilemma for console gamers, and one we're sure you've already contemplated. Luckily, if you upgrade your console's internal storage with an official expansion card, you never have to sacrifice one for the other, ever.

Your best bet is a storage expansion card, such as one developed by Seagate® or Western Digital®. Your console has a dedicated slot at the back where you can plug in the card right away. Besides, it provides the kind of ultra-fast gameplay performance you've gotten accustomed to with the internal SSD. 

Method 2: Use an additional storage option

If the expansion card option feels a little out of your wallet range, you can always opt for external storage devices like SSDs or hard drives. These are often cheaper than dedicated gaming cards, and the impact on the gaming experience is negligible at best.

The Xbox Series S has several universal serial bus (USB) ports to accommodate a variety of external devices. That said, make sure your new drive supports USB 3.1 so you can play older games without hiccups. 

What to do if a drive disconnects during gameplay

First of all, don't panic. Then:

1. Pause the game so you don't lose progress.
2. Inspect the cable to make sure there are no loose connections.
3. Turn off your console, wait a minute, and then turn it back on.
4. No changes yet? Plug the drive into a computer and see whether it's functioning properly.

Safety precautions for handling external drives

For all its storage perks, an external drive needs to be handled with extreme care so it lasts.

• Turn it off. Make it a habit to turn off your console before disconnecting or connecting an external drive. It helps keep data corruption and power surges at bay. Before you ask, yes, there are instant fixes if your Xbox Series X won’t turn on.
• The less movement, the better. Steer clear of excessively moving hard drives during gameplay, particularly if they're the spinning kind. Sudden, sporadic movement can disconnect the drive or permanently damage it.
• Secure it. Whenever you need to travel with your drive, make sure it's in a protective case so it won't incur any physical damage.