Storage space in our consoles is an absolute plus these days. Even though the Xbox Series X comes with 1TB of built-in storage (the Series S only has 512GB), you might be surprised – no, terrified – how quickly that space can be gobbled up by games, updates, apps , and saves. Game Pass members, in particular, should be warned that downloading it will likely end in grief (soon) – that is, until you upgrade your save.
If you’re constantly shuffling through game installs wondering where you’re going to find space for that next 50GB update, you need to buy some extra storage for your console. Below we’ve rounded up some of the best additional storage options for your Xbox.
The best Xbox Series X SSD
Seagate storage expansion card
You could say that Microsoft is taking an old-fashioned approach with its officially licensed Seagate Storage Expansion Cards. They look like memory cards and you put one in the back of the console. It’s even easier than opening up a PS5 to install an M.2 SSD.
Currently, this is the only SSD add-on for Series X that you can load the latest games from, as it matches the speed of the console’s built-in SSD. While having only one option makes it really easy to shop for a storage-boosting gadget for your Xbox, the lack of competition here means you’ll end up paying significantly more money per gigabyte than PS5 owners do for their PS5 SSD upgrades (the 1 TB add-on for Xbox yields about 5 GB per dollar spent versus 10 GB or more per dollar for PS5-ready SSDs). We wish we could suggest that you swap out your Xbox’s internal SSD, but the bad facts are that this is both a difficult and warranty-expiring undertaking.
The Seagate expansion cards for Xbox are available in 1 TB and 2 TB configurations (a 512 GB model is no longer available). Prices start at $189.99 for the 1 TB model and go up to about $350 for the top model. Both configurations are available at Amazon, Best Buy, Goalor GameStop.
Xbox external hard drives
There are larger external hard drives that are considerably cheaper than the official expansion cards. We have listed three of them below, but be warned: These can only be used to store the installation files of a Series X game. If you want to play a game that’s on the external hard drive, you’ll need to transfer the files to the console’s internal SSD (Xbox One era games can be both And played through the external drive).
Setting aside some bulk storage isn’t quite as convenient as expanding the console’s SSD storage, but transferring a game’s files is still faster than having to redownload them every time you want to launch a particular title .
WD_Black D30
The WD_Black D30 Game Drive is a rugged, external SSD available in 500GB, 1TB, or 2TB configurations. The Game Drive connects with its USB-C to A cable that offers transfer speeds of up to 900MB/s. The 1TB D30 and 2 TB configurations are available for $119.99 (normally $149.99), and $199.99 (normally $239.99).
WD_Black P40
The WD_Black P40 Game Drive offers a slimmer storage solution that costs a little more but takes up less space and can achieve transfer speeds of up to 2000MB/s. Best Buy currently has the 1TB WD_Black P40 model available for $119.99 (normally $179.99), and the 2TB version for $189.99 (normally $329.99).
Crucial X8 SSD
While it’s not as fast as the P40 above, the Crucial X8 SSD is still a solid option for giving you more storage for your Xbox Series X without spending a ton. Plus, it’s a bit thinner and more modest in its design than the gamer-focused P40. Currently you will find the 1TB Crucial X8 at Amazon and Best Buy for $79.99 (normally $119.99).
Update (April 3): Prices on products checked for accuracy.