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 ways to make your tech last even longer. Here’s what you need to know about expanding storage space on your Xbox Series X.

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 readily available? 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 storage space to work with.

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

Method 1: Use a storage expansion card

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 storage with an official expansion card, you never have to sacrifice one for the other.

Your best bet is a storage expansion card such as one developed by Seagate®—you'll have an option of 512MB, 1TB and 2TB of additional space. 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. 

How to install an Xbox expansion card

1. Turn off your Xbox Series S and unplug it from the power source.
2. Locate the storage expansion port on the back of the console.
3. Insert the expansion card firmly until it clicks into place.
4. Power on your console. Your Xbox will automatically recognize the card.

Once installed, you can manage your games between internal storage and the expansion card through Settings > System > Storage Devices.

Method 2: Use an external USB hard drive

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 3.0 or later. Also, be aware that while you can store and play backward-compatible games directly from these drives, Xbox Series X|S optimized games must be transferred to internal storage or a storage expansion card to be played.

How to set up an external hard drive with your Xbox

1. Choose a compatible drive. Make sure your external hard drive has at least 256 GB of storage and uses USB 3.0.
2. Connect it to your Xbox Series S via one of the USB ports.
3. Format the drive. You’ll receive a prompt on-screen to format it for games and apps. Follow the instructions to complete the setup.

You can move your games between your console’s storage and the external hard drive through Settings > System > Storage Devices.

Method 3: Manage your storage space

If upgrading your storage with an expansion card or external drive isn’t in the cards right now, don’t worry. You can free up space on your Xbox Series S by managing your storage efficiently. Here are some ways to make the most of what you have:

• Uninstall unused games. Go to My Games & Apps > See All > Games and select any titles you’re done playing.
• Clear local saved games. Once you've backed up your saves to the cloud, you can remove local copies to save space. Go to Settings > System > Storage Devices > Clear Local Saved Games.
• Delete captured media. Screenshots and gameplay clips can pile up quickly. Review and delete unneeded captures by navigating to Capture & Share > Recent Captures > Show All > Delete.

FAQ

Can I use any external hard drive with my Xbox Series S?

No, you’ll need a USB 3.0 external hard drive with at least 256 GB of storage. External drives are primarily used for storing and playing Xbox One, Xbox 360, and original Xbox games. Series S and Series X games must run from internal storage or an expansion card.

How much storage can I add to my Xbox Series S?

You can add up to 2 TB of storage using a Seagate Expansion Card. For external hard drives, storage capacity can go beyond that, but Series S and Series X games cannot be played directly from external drives.

Will upgrading storage improve my gaming performance?

Using a Seagate Expansion Card will maintain the same speed and performance as the internal SSD, ensuring quick load times and seamless gameplay. External hard drives, however, won’t deliver quite the same speed for Series S or Series X games.

Can I upgrade the internal SSD on my Xbox Series S?

Technically, yes—but there are several things you should consider first. Check out what you need to know about upgrading your Xbox Series S internal SSD.