Xbox Series X storage: everything you need to know
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If you’ve been scratching your head over how Xbox Series X storage works, don’t worry, you’re not alone.
Despite Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S being much more user-friendly than gaming PCs, the storage situation isn’t as clear-cut as it should be. There are a few caveats to note, and with room at a premium, you’ll want to make sure you know exactly what you’re buying and why.
We cover everything from internal to external drives, the differences between HDD and SSD and shed some light on what an NVMe SSD actually is. More importantly, by the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly how Xbox Series X storage works. Remember that everything described here also applies to the Xbox Series S.
The good news? Xbox Series X|S external storage devices tend to be generously discounted around this time of year, and we’re sure Cyber Monday 2022 will be no exception. Keep an eye out for our best Cyber Monday Xbox deals page where we’re already seeing decent discounts on external storage hardware.
Xbox Series X storage: everything you need to know
Xbox Series X storage: how much do you get?
The Xbox Series X comes with a 1TB NVMe SSD, while the Xbox Series S comes with a 512GB NVMe SSD. The Xbox Series X has 802 GB of storage, which means 198 GB is reserved for system files and the Xbox operating system.
The Xbox Series S, meanwhile, only has 364GB of usable storage. Games should take up 30% less space than their Xbox Series X counterparts as file sizes get smaller as developers aren’t aiming for 4K resolution, but you’ll likely need to expand the system’s memory sooner rather than later.
What is an NVMe SSD?
NVMe SSDs (Non-Volatile Memory Express) is a superior storage solution compared to standard hard drives and SSDs. Because NVMe SSDs use PCIe sockets for data transfer, they can transfer up to 25x more data than the slower SATA equivalent (the hard drive the Xbox One uses).
NVMe drives also cut out the middleman by communicating directly with a system’s CPU, and the end result is lightning fast performance. Both the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S rely on this new storage format to deliver a next-gen performance leap, so understanding the difference between the three types of drives is crucial.
Is an NVMe SSD the same as an SSD?
No, and that can often be confusing to many, especially since Microsoft regularly just refer to their storage as “SSD”. Regular SSDs (solid state drive) rely on SATA, which is a much slower way to transfer data within a system. An SSD is still much faster than a regular mechanical hard drive (and less susceptible to failure due to the lack of moving parts), but the speeds pale in comparison to an NVMe drive.
Expand Xbox Series X/S storage
Microsoft’s solution to expand the Xbox Series X/S’s internal memory with more high-speed NVMe storage is quite elegant, albeit expensive. Microsoft has released 512 GB, 1 TB, and 2 TB storage expansion cards that fit into the back of either console, just like a memory card. Everything you store on the NVMe drives benefits from the full package of power that the Xbox Series X/S offers.
Microsoft has also revealed that more storage solutions are on the way, so consumers won’t just be at the mercy of buying the proprietary drive. This is good news, as proprietary drives are often more expensive than components from third-party manufacturers.
You can connect an external hard drive or SSD to play Xbox One, Xbox 360, and original Xbox games. You won’t benefit from the lightning fast speeds that the NVMe drives offer, but SSD drives are still significantly faster than HDD, so if you do go for an external option, go for an SSD. All games optimized for Xbox Series X (like Gears 5 for example) need to be moved to the internal NVMe drives in order to play.
Xbox Series X/S optimized games can be saved to external drives, but will not play unless they are restored to the main NVMe drives. Quick Resume, a feature that allows you to pause and resume multiple games at once, works regardless of where games are installed.
| Header Cell – Column 0 | Can you play XSX/XSS optimized games with it? | Can you play XSX/XSS-optimized and back-compat games with it? | Can you play Xbox One/backcompat games from it? | Can you save XSX/XSS/Xbox One/back compatible on it? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox Series X/S NVMe SSD | Yes | Yes (they will benefit from faster loading times) | Yes (they will benefit from faster loading times) | Yes |
| External hard drive (USB 3.1) | no | No, Xbox One/back compatible games only | Yes | Yes, but XSX/XSS optimized games can only be played from the NVMe SSD |
| External SSD (USB 3.1) | no | No, Xbox One/back compatible games only | Yes (they will benefit from faster loading times) | Yes, but XSX/XSS optimized games can only be played from the NVMe SSD |