Best Answer:
External hard drives are a great way to add storage space to your computer. They’re also a great way to back up your computer. But if you have a PlayStation 3, you may not realize its external hard drive is a great way to add storage space to your PlayStation 3.
FAQ
How do I use a USB hard drive on my PS3?

How do I add a hard drive to my PS3?
What to Know
- Connect a USB hard drive to PS3. Find media you want to back up and copy it to hard drive.
- Power down console and unplug all cables. Remove PS3 HDD cover and unscrew the hard drive carriage.
- Remove hard drive tray. Replace old hard drive with new one. Reconnect all cables and turn on console.
Why won’t my PS3 recognize an external hard drive?
But the ordinary reason should be the file system: you need to make sure that the external hard drive is in MBR and FAT32 is the first partition (actually, the PS3 cannot detect the hard drive which is half FTFS and half FAT32, too). You’d better make FAT32 a logical partition rather than primary partition.
Can PlayStation 3 read USB drives?
And PS3 can only read USB drive in FAT32. To solve this problem, you need to convert the USB drive from NTFS to FAT32.
Can a PS3 use a 1TB hard drive?
The most realistic one to get is a 1tb. They are cheap and more than enough space for a ps3. Yes it can, put a 1TB HDD in mine years ago. I went with 5400 as at the time many reported issues with the faster kind.
What format should external hard drive be for PS3?
Since FAT32 is the compatible PS3 hard drive format type, you can connect it to your computers and use it like any other external hard disk. Just be sure that you format it in the FAT32 file system (and not NTFS or APFS).
Which external hard drive is best for PS3?
Best PS3 External Hard Drive
- Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex Desk External Hard Drive. Capacity: 1 TB, 2 TB, 3 TB. Interface: USB 3.0. Warranty: 2 years. File system: NTFS. Price: Starts at $92.
- WD Gaming Drive. Capacity: 2 TB, 3 TB, 4TB. Interface: USB 3.0. Warranty: 3 years. Price: Starts at $78.99.
Why is my external drive not detected?
This problem has several possible causes: partition issues on the external drive, using the wrong file system, dead USB ports, or driver issues in Windows. In a worst-case scenario, the drive itself may be dead. Let’s take a look at what to do when your external hard drive is not showing up in Windows.
Why is my Playstation not reading my external hard drive?
If an external hard drive cannot be recognized by your PS4, the possible reasons are: The external hard drive doesn’t have a wired connection. The external hard drive isn’t compatible with PS4 platform. There is another external storage device connected to your PS4.
How do I get my external hard drive to recognize?
Here are a few troubleshooting steps you can take to remedy the situation, before you declare everything has been lost.
- 1. Make Sure It’s Plugged In and Powered On.
- Reboot Your Computer.
- Try Another Cable, Port, or PC.
- Update Your Drivers.
- Enable and Format the Drive in Disk Management.
- Clean the Disk and Start From Scratch.
Can you put a 2TB hard drive in a PS3?
Seagate® Game Drive for PlayStation is a 2TB internal HDD for upgrading the stock hard drive in your PS3 or PS4. With 2TB on your PlayStation 3 or 4, you have the storage to install over 50 PlayStation games. 1 This will allow you to keep your favorite games, downloadable content, and a massive multimedia library.
Can any hard drive work on PS3?
The PS3 is compatible with just about any 2.5-inch SATA notebook hard disk. Both 5400- and 7200-RPM drives should work fine. The physical size of the hard disk is important because it has to fit the PS3’s 2.5-inch drive tray.
How to format a hard drive?
Step #1: If your drive isn’t already installed on your PC, connect the hard drive to the computer. Step #2: Open Windows Explorer, and navigate to the left side of the window. Right-click on your drive and select “Format.” Step #3: Pick the file system and name it under “Volume Label.”
How do I fix my external hard drive not responding?
How to Fix the External Hard Disk Is Not Detected Issue?
- Inspect Hard Drive. Carefully inspect your hard disk for any physical damage.
- Run CHKDSK.
- Use an Antivirus & Anti-Malware Tool.
- Re-Install the Drivers.
- Format the Disk.
How do I connect my external hard drive to my PlayStation?
First, you need to format the drive to make it compatible with PS4 storage. Plug in your HDD then head to Settings > Devices > USB Storage Devices and select it. Choose the Format as Extended Storage option and follow the prompts to prepare it for use.
How do I manually find my external hard drive?
External hard drives will usually be listed within Disk drives or Universal Serial Bus controllers (will be listed as USB Mass Storage Device.) Right-click the Windows icon on the toolbar, then click Device Manager. Expand Disk drives, and locate your hard drive.
How do I enable my external hard drive?
Here’s how to do it.
- Plug your external hard drive into your desktop or laptop PC.
- In the Windows 10 search bar, type This PC.
- Click This PC.
- Double-click the external hard drive listed.
- Access any files on the hard drive like you would with an ordinary internal hard drive.
How do I activate my external hard drive?
Connecting a hard drive to a computer is simple. Just plug it in, then turn the hard drive and computer on. USB and Thunderbolt connections are the most typical connections for external hard drives. There may be some that have FireWire or eSATA, but those are becoming obsolete.
Can I upgrade my PS3 hard drive to an SSD?
While this is true for virtually every games console out there, PlayStation 3 is unique in that you can upgrade the stock hard drive with any kind of replacement you like – and that includes state-of-the-art SSD (solid state disk) technology.
Can I just swap PS3 hard drives?
The PS3’s hard drive is fixed to a metal plate using four little screws on its underside. You’ll need to remove all four to change your old PS3 hard drive for your new one. When you’ve swapped the drives, screw the screws back in and re-seat the hard drive in the console.
How much storage can a PS3 hold?
It was originally available with hard drives of 20 and 60 GB (20 GB model was not available in PAL regions) but various sizes up to 500 GB have been made available since then (see: model comparison). All PS3 models have user-upgradeable 2.5″ SATA hard drives.
Is PS3 end of life?
“Customers who wish to have after-sales service for the relevant model should apply for after-sales service through the online repair reception service or PlayStation Customer Support by Saturday, April 30, 2022.”
What is the lifespan of a PS3?
Sony has frequently said it wants its consoles to have at least a 10-year lifespan, and the PlayStation 3 has managed that and then some.
Is a PS3 still worth anything?
In the US, PS3 consoles range from $51 to $700 depending on whether you’re after a pre-owned or factory-sealed console.
Can you play games from USB on PS3?

How do I upgrade my PS3?
How to update
- Select Settings > System Update.
- Select Update via Internet. Download the latest update data from the Internet. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the operation.
What does formatting a PS3 do?
When you perform this operation, all data on the storage media or in the system storage will be deleted. Data cannot be restored, so be careful not to accidentally delete important data. Data loss or corruption is the responsibility of the user.
Can I store PS3 games on an external hard drive?
No. Games for the PlayStation 3 can only be run off of the internal hard drive or Blu-ray disc drive. Thankfully, you can (and probably should) replace your internal hard drive with a larger one.
Can I connect my external hard drive to my PS3 and watch movies?
Yes, you can watch videos stored on an external drive. You can also copy videos to and from the PS3 from an external drive.
What USB drive is compatible with PS3?
Yes you can connect any flash drive or USB – external hard drive to a PS3 and it will automatically detect it, just navigate to the section related to whatever you want to access from the drive or your game saves if you want to save to the drive. PS3 external media is compatible with FAT32 formatted drives ONLY.
How do I see all my hard drives?
If you’re running Windows 11, Windows 10, or Windows 8, you can view all mounted drives in File Explorer. You can open File Explorer by pressing Windows key + E . In the left pane, select This PC, and all drives are shown on the right.
Can you just use an external hard drive?
In Windows, there is no need to do anything special or additional to make the drive work. Simply plug in the power, plug in the USB/Firewire/eSATA cable, and the drive should appear in (My) Computer and Windows Explorer almost immediately. Once it is detected, all you have to do is move data into it.
How do I add a new hard drive?
The basic steps required to install a hard drive are:
- Configure the drive as a master or slave device (PATA only).
- Mount the drive in the chassis.
- Connect the data cable to the drive and to the PATA or SATA interface.
- Connect a power cable to the drive.
- Restart the system and run BIOS Setup.
Which SSD is compatible with PS3?
PS3 compatible SSD including Crucial MX500 SATA SSD, Crucial BX500 SATA SSD, Samsung SSD 860 EVO, Western Digital WD Blue SSD, etc. PS3 compatible hard drive is any 2.5-inch SATA hard disk.
Is SSD in PS3 worth it?
The biggest speed difference will be for games stored digitally on the ssd itself. I honestly think the idea that an ssd isnt faster in a ps3 stemmed from the idea that ssd weren’t worth the cost for the upgrade back in the past 2000s. But now ssd’s are A LOT cheaper, it’s definitely worth it.
What size hard drive does a PS3 have?
At launch, the PlayStation 3 was available with either a 20 or 60 GB hard disk drive in the US and Japan, respectively- priced from US$499 to US$599; and with either a 40, 60, or 80 GB hard disk drive in Europe, priced from £299 to £425.
Do I need to format new hard drive for PS3?
I’ve heard I need to format my HDD to FAT32 before I install… Only HDDs being used externally (via USB) need to be formatted in FAT32. You do not need to pre-format a HDD you plan to install internally to the PS3. The console will format it during the installation.
What can I do with my old PS3 hard drive?
Yes you can. It is just a normal hard drive that you can use for your laptop, desktop, or make it into an external drive using a hard disk enclosure.
What happens if you change the hard drive on a PS3?
Yes and no; the had drive type is the same, the hard drive will physically work in the new device. However, PS3 hard drives are encrypted, so if you just move the drive into a new PS3 the drive won’t actually work; you’ll have to reformat it.
How do I access my PS3 hard drive?
- Step 1 Hard Drive.
- Slide the hard drive bay cover toward the right side of the lower case, then pull it away from the front edge to remove it from the PS3.
- Using its attached metal handle, pull the hard drive out of its bay.
- Step 4 Hard Drive.
- Remove the hard drive from its tray.
Can any hard drive work on PS3?
The PS3 is compatible with just about any 2.5-inch SATA notebook hard disk. Both 5400- and 7200-RPM drives should work fine. The physical size of the hard disk is important because it has to fit the PS3’s 2.5-inch drive tray.
Why won’t my PS3 recognize an external hard drive?
But the ordinary reason should be the file system: you need to make sure that the external hard drive is in MBR and FAT32 is the first partition (actually, the PS3 cannot detect the hard drive which is half FTFS and half FAT32, too). You’d better make FAT32 a logical partition rather than primary partition.
How do I reset my external hard drive?
Click the Windows icon, type Disk Management, then click Create and format hard drive partitions. Right-click the disk that says Not Initialized or Offline, then select Initialize Disk or Online. Some external USB hard drives don’t have the option to be initialized.
What happens if I format my external hard drive?
Formatting a drive will erase all contents, and there’s no undo function. If you want to use an external APFS-formatted drive for both Time Machine backups and file storage, you’ll need to complete a few simple additional steps in Disk Utility to create a new storage volume.
Does formatting a hard drive erase everything?
Otherwise, formatting a hard drive using the quick format option (or an earlier version of Windows) will not actually erase all of its stored data. When you choose to format a hard drive, you are essentially only removing the pointers to the data as the partition table is either cleared or rebuilt.
Can you store games on an external hard drive?
Yes, you can. The best external hard drives are extremely easy to use. All you need to do is plug them in. Besides, an external hard drive can be a great way to install games on multiple computers.
Can I use any external hard drive for my PlayStation?
Interface type: Any USB 3 drive of almost any size will work; 250GB is the minimum capacity and a whopping 8TB the maximum. Neither the PS4 nor PS4 Pro support USB 3.1 gen 2 or USB Type C, so don’t worry about spending extra on a drive that sports these newer interface standards.
Are all external hard drives compatible with PlayStation?
External storage for PS4 and PS5 consoles
If your PS4™ or PS5™ console’s internal storage doesn’t have enough space to store a game, you can use a compatible USB drive. Drives that support SuperSpeed USB2 with between 250 GB and 8 TB capacity can be used, giving you more space to save your games.
Can a PS3 use a 1TB hard drive?
How big of a HDD can I put in a PS3? You should make sure it’s a 2.5-inch drive of 9.5mm height or less. As for capacity, it seems that the max capacity supported by PS3 is 1TB.
Is PlayStation still updating PS3?
Sony released the latest version of PS3 system software 4.89 on March 10, 2022, which prevents users from creating or managing PSN accounts via the PS3 console. This new PS3 update software was designed to improve account security as Sony moves away from legacy systems.
Can I trade in a PS3 for a PS4?
Yes, you can trade-in your PS3 to buy the PS4.
How do I reset my PS3 hard drive?

How do you fix a corrupted PS3?
The PlayStation 3 hard disk’s file system is corrupted
- Hold The Power Button 2 times Hold The Power Button For 3 seconds if its red do it 1 more time then it will give you instructions to set Up Safe Mode Press option 4 It Will reset the system then i think its gonna save your games.
- Dec 18, 2020 by Jeremiah Josephs.
How do I reset my PS3 to sell it?
After you deactivate your account, and then delete it, you can factory reset the console from Settings >>System Settings >> Format Hard Disk. That will erase all your saves and system preferences off the the PS3 (networking, time zone, your all-important printer settings, etc.). After that, it should be good to go.
Can I put a 2TB drive in my PS3?
Seagate® Game Drive for PlayStation is a 2TB internal HDD for upgrading the stock hard drive in your PS3 or PS4. With 2TB on your PlayStation 3 or 4, you have the storage to install over 50 PlayStation games. 1 This will allow you to keep your favorite games, downloadable content, and a massive multimedia library.
How do I put movies from USB on PS3?

Is it OK to connect external hard drive to TV?
You can use an external USB hard disk drive (HDD) for file playback or app storage if it meets the specifications for use on your Android TV™. Compatibility with all HDD devices is not guaranteed. This feature is available for TVs with the Android™ 6.0 Marshmallow operating system (OS) and later.
How do I download and play games on my PS3?
Sign in to PlayStation.com and select My PlayStation > Game Library, or open PlayStation App and select Game Library > Purchased. Select the game you want to download from your purchased list and select Download.
Can I jailbreak my PS3?
Models of PS3 which can be jailbroken include the following: Fat – All PS3 Fat models are supported. Slim – If the first two numbers after “CECH” are “20”, “21”, or “25”, and if your PS3 Slim model is version 3.56 or lower, your console is supported. Super Slim – No PS3 Super Slim models are supported.