How to add additional storage to Xbox Series X

 It's even more difficult if you have an Xbox Series S with little internal storage.

Whether you have the higher-end model or not, there are options for adding storage to your Xbox Series X|S. Dust off those old external HDDs, they can be reused.

How to upgrade Xbox Series X|S storage

There are two ways to upgrade the storage on your Xbox Series X|S: via USB or via the expansion slot on the back of the console. Of the two, using the expansion slot offers the superior experience, without a doubt. However, you can't just plug any old card into the slot.

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Seagate's expansion card is one of the easiest ways to add storage to your Xbox Series X|S. It has the rare ability to run games directly from the card.

The Seagate Expansion Storage Card is officially licensed by Microsoft and is specifically designed to expand the internal storage of the Series X and Xbox Series S. What makes this card special is the ability to store and run games optimized for the Xbox Series X|S. Otherwise, you'll have to downgrade to a lesser version of the game, if any.

However, Western Digital also has an officially licensed expansion card. The WD_Black C50 expansion card offers similar performance, is a bit more affordable, and you can still play Xbox Series X|S titles.

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The WD_Black C50 Expansion Storage Card is specifically designed to expand the internal storage of your Xbox Series X|S. The card does not need to be formatted, so you can use it right out of the box.

External SSDs are also a great option due to their reliability. There are no moving parts to wear out over time, so your games and data will be protected for much longer.

Is an external hard drive worth considering?

While large SSDs are getting cheaper, traditional hard drives are still more expensive. Why not fill a large hard drive with games that your Xbox Series X or Series S can't fit in its internal storage? It's tempting, but there are a few caveats:

1. You're limited to USB 3.0 ports, which means slower load times.
2. You can't play Xbox Series X|S-optimized games from an external hard drive or SSD.
3. The hard drive/SSD must be at least 128GB in size and connected via USB 3.0 or higher.

Having an external hard drive is still a viable option, though. While Xbox Series X|S-optimized games are gone, backward compatible games are not, and Game Pass isn't lacking in that department either. There are titles from the original Xbox. Ironically, Seagate has an Xbox-certified HDD as well as an SSD; the Seagate Game Drive.

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The Seagate Game Drive for Xbox is an affordable, efficient addition to your favorite Xbox titles. This plug-and-play HDD offers up to 8TB of storage, fast USB 3.2 data transfers, and a green LED-lit bezel to match the aesthetic of your setup.

The Seagate Game Drive comes in a variety of capacities, from 1TB to 8TB. ​​In fact, most external HDDs will work just fine. Even a USB drive is an option, although I don't recommend it if you value your time and sanity.

Kareem Winters

Update 09 September 2024