Usb External Hard Drives
The Xbox 360 is compatible with certain external hard drives that are formatted to the Windows FAT32 file system. Though you can connect any hard drive that is at least 1GB in size, the Xbox 360 can only use up to 16GB of the hard drive’s storage space. There are no specific hard drive brands that are universally compatible with the Xbox 360 game console.
Best Capacity Ssd: Samsung 870 Qvo 2tb Sata Ssd
A portable SSD is a great way to expand your console’s storage without too much hassle, especially if you plan to move around a lot. However, if you’re looking for a more cost-effective way to add speedy SSD storage to your Xbox One console, and intend to plug it in and forget about it, an internal 2.5-inch SATA SSD and a compatible cable is a great way to shave costs without sacrificing those fantastic SSD speeds and benefits. When it comes to offering tons of storage at a solid price, you can’t do better than the Samsung 870 QVO SATA SSD.
Samsung’s 870 QVO SSD delivers around 500Mbps for both read and write, meaning it’s a solid upgrade over what’s on offer from base Xbox One internal storage and comparable to other mid-range SSDs . What sets this option apart from other SSDs, however, is how Samsung delivers a variety of storage capacities ranging through 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, and even ridiculous 8TB options.
8TB of SSD storage is understandably expensive, costing well more than any standard game console by itself, but those looking to download every game they own with plenty of storage left over afterward are short on options in the SSD category, especially ones that are as cost-effective as this solution. However, the 870 QVO is not a portable SSD, meaning it doesn’t come in a durable enclosure and isn’t designed to be regularly moved around. Those who purchase this SSD should do so with the intention of basically leaving it plugged in semi-permanently.
Save All Games: Seagate Expansion 8tb External Hard Drive
Whether youre a Game Pass fan or a digital hoarder, this 8TB external drive provides an incredible amount of storage for your Xbox One console. While youll pay more than the smaller options, youre no longer limited by the size of your hard drive, with space for dozens of games. While there are Xbox-branded alternatives to this capability, you can save money by choosing a standard Seagate drive.
-
$167 and Walmart
You May Like: Lspdfr Controls Xbox Controller
The Classic Game Drive For Xbox
Nothing says Game Over for the Xbox One® experience like a full hard drive. Boost your consoles storage capacity with the Seagate® Game Drive, the only external hard drive designed exclusively for Xbox.
- Up to 4TB capacity lets you store 100+ Xbox One games1
- Plug-and-play setup gets you up and playing in seconds
- Compact size and no power cable means its perfect for your living room or to take to a friends house
- USB 3.2 Gen1 full-throttle gaming–like playing from your consoles hard drive
Best For Size: Seagate Expansion 8tb
Until now, weve focused on external hard drives that dont require an extra power source , but were making an exception with the Seagate Expansion 8TB. This isnt an external hard drive that you should plan on moving often but a more or less permanent fixture parked by your console to store tons of games.
A chunky unit, the Seagate Expansion 8TB requires an not only an external power source but a fair amount of space under your TV. Its great value though, as long as youre content to leave in there. It even looks similar to both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 so itll slot right in next to them perfectly.
Also Check: Is Genshin Impact On Xbox
What To Look For When Choosing A Hard Drive For Xbox One
For a typical user, buying the best drive for Xbox One might be a difficult task. Different external drives have different features that help your Xbox One boot up faster, cut down on load times, store more data, or help you appropriately take your games on the go hence, selecting the best storage device amongst all the different options is essential to getting the best Xbox One experience. If you know exactly what factors to look for, your selection process will become an easy task.
Just keep your requirements and budget in mind and it will automatically help you make a good purchase. The best way to narrow down the choices is to decide how much storage capacity you need. Your goal should be to have the maximum storage possible at the lowest cost this will greatly help you narrow down your potential choices.
We have discussed some most important factors to look for when choosing the best hard drive for Xbox One but some other factors such as portability, reliability, connectivity, and design play their own role in making a hard drive the best for you.
We have listed below some of the factors you should look out for in a hard drive before you make a final purchase decision:
Best Overall Hdd: Seagate 2tb Portable Hdd
Seagate is one of the largest and most reputable storage manufacturers, and for good reason. The company makes a wide variety of high-quality storage drives for all kinds of devices, including official Xbox-branded HDDs and SSDs . However, it’s possible to get the same great reliability and performance as Seagate’s Xbox-branded external HDDs without the added cost with this excellent, value-driven option.
The Seagate Portable HDD is simple in both its design and its use, but it certainly gets the job done. With rated speeds of around 120Mbps, it’s certainly slower than even modest SSDs, and it’s certainly not going to be better than what already comes included inside your Xbox One console, but it’s an effective way to expand your storage without splashing a ton of cash.
Seagate offers this model of HDD in 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, and even 5TB options, and each one is nearly identical in overall performance, features, and aesthetics. Each one is also supremely affordable, with even the maxed out 5TB option often coming in at around the $100 mark. For many people, the 2TB model will very likely be the sweet spot, as that offers tons of identical space for additional games without a ton of bulk and for a reasonable price.
Don’t Miss: How To Join Servers On Minecraft Xbox
How To Set Up An Xbox One External Hard Drive
First, plug the drive into your console. You can use any available USB port the ones on the back work well to keep the cable out of the way.
After a moment, you’ll see a message appear asking if you want to use the drive for media or games. While you can use an external drive to store music and movies, this isn’t what most people are after. Select Format storage device to format your drive for Xbox One games.
Next, give your device a name. You’ll then choose whether you want to install games on the external drive by default. Based on the speed gains discussed above, this is usually a good idea.
Finally, you’ll need to hit Format storage device again to confirm.
Keep in mind that formatting an external drive for use with your Xbox One will erase everything on the drive, so make sure you’ve backed up any existing contents beforehand.
Also, once you’ve formatted a drive for use with Xbox One, you can’t use it on other platforms unless you format it for those first. Thus, you should dedicate an external drive exclusively for use with your Xbox One.
Seagate Storage Expansion Card For Xbox Series X
Seagates Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X|S 1TB is designed together with Microsoft as an easy way to upgrade the storage space on an Xbox Series X or Series S. It stands head and shoulders above any of the other external storage devices on this list by being the only option that allows users to play the latest games directly off it.
This device works differently compared to regular external SSDs. Instead of connecting to the Series X via a USB port, it slots into the proprietary expansion port at the back of the console. One of the biggest advantages of the Storage Expansion Card is that it has a simple plug-and-play design thats ready to go without any formatting.
While the Storage Expansion Card is the best way to upgrade the Xbox Series Xs storage, it still has a couple of disadvantages. Its currently only available with a terabyte of space, of which 920GB is usable. Considering the limited available space, its expensive and costs as much as SSDs with double the capacity.
Also Check: Xbox One Hotel Internet
The Xbox One External Hard Drive Tips And Advice
- Xbox One and PlayStation 4 can support external hard drives through USB 3.0 connectors a 3.0 USB is good for gaming needs.
- Many gaming external hard drives come with carrying cases, which are great for traveling. Look for ones that are easy to carry. Some are made from military-grade, shockproof or waterproof materials to keep the hard drives safe and protected.
- External hard drives can really improve ones gaming performance by increasing game speeds.
- Some of the games that require the most storage include Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Quantum Break, Destiny 2: Shadowkeep, Red Dead Redemption 2 and Hitman 2.
Too Many Games Too Little Storage A Usb 3 Hard Drive Can Give You All The Space You Need
Nowadays, an external hard drive for your Xbox One is at best an absolute necessity. Modern games require a crazy amount of storage space top sellers like Red Dead Redemption 2 or Call of Duty: Modern Warfare will exceed the 100GB mark. Given that most of us chose to save some cash and nab the Xbox One or One S with 500GB of internal storage, it’s no wonder that a good external hard drive is essential after all, who in their right mind could stand to only have a small fraction of their game library installed at any one time?
Luckily, we’ve been busy compiling a list of the best external hard drives you can buy for your Xbox One. All Xbox One consoles will work with up to two external hard drives, and with capacities ranging from 500GB all the way up to 8TB in size theres no reason to ever feel constrained by storage space again. You can keep all your favourite games installed, and best of all, you dont have to spend much to make it happen.
Below, you’ll find our guide to choosing the best external hard drive for you. If you already understand the basics, keep scrolling or use to skip right to our pick of the best external hard drives for Xbox One.
Read Also: How To Switch Home Xbox
The Best External Hard Drives For Ps4 And Xbox One In 2021
The best external hard drives for PS4 and Xbox One can help keep your game library a lot more manageable. Back when these consoles first launched, 500 GB may have seemed like a lot of storage space. But in the intervening years, games have grown, and so have their associated patches and DLC. Its not uncommon for games to top 50 or even 100 GB. You can simply uninstall and re-download games as you need them, but thats not nearly as convenient as simply picking up one of the best external hard drives.
Both the PS4 and Xbox One support external hard drives, and theres no special trick to installing them. All you have to do is format them a certain way, then plug them into the consoles via USB cable. And you can add quite a lot of space, too storage has gotten much, much cheaper over the past few years, and you could double or even quadruple your consoles storage space for less than the cost of two extra controllers.
- The best external hard drives for all your storage needs
There is an upper limit, however. Sony caps external hard drive support for the PS4 at 8 TB, while Xbox One tops out at 16 TB .
Western Digital 1tb External Hard Drive
Price: $59.00Buy it on:
This is your basic starting point for adding extra storage space to your Xbox One X, and keeping you from deleting old games to make room for new ones. And while there are plenty of manufacturers out there with competing 1TB versions in different sizes, what’s appealing about this particular line is that there’s no external power required, and they come in cool colors.
If that striking orange isn’t your thing and doesn’t match your decor, go ahead and pick dark red, blue, white, or the standard black to match the Xbox One X.
These are also super affordable. They aren’t much more expensive than your typical thumb drive but offer vastly increased storage capacity, effectively doubling the size of your Xbox One X storage space immediately. For less than $60, it’s a worthwhile investment.
Also Check: Is Mk9 On Xbox One
You Can’t Replace The Internal Xbox One Drive
It’s important to note that external hard drives are the only officially supported solution for gaining more Xbox One storage. While you technically can replace the internal hard drive, doing so will void your console’s warranty.
It’s also moderately difficult, so we wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re very comfortable opening up your gadgets. Buying an external drive is a much simpler solution, so stick with that.
In case you’re curious, the Xbox One’s internal hard drive speed is the same in all models, including the Xbox One X. They all pack a standard 5,400RPM drive.
How To Choose An Xbox One External Hard Drive
All Xbox One games must be installed on the console’s hard drive before use, including those purchased on a disc. The Xbox One’s built-in hard drive cannot be replaced or upgraded without voiding your warranty, so unless you’re into the hardware-mod scene, you’re stuck with the stock drive.
Luckily, the console supports the use of external drives, making it easy to expand your storage space for games and other content. External drives must be at least 256GB and support USB 3.0 on Xbox One. Slower USB 2.0 drives are not supported, ensuring data will transfer very quickly between your console and the drive. Those compatible external drives work with all Xbox One, Xbox 360, and original Xbox games, unlike the limitations enforced on next-generation titles for Xbox Series X|S.
When choosing a drive, your first consideration should be storage space. The console has a 16TB limit on external storage size, making most drives compatible. For most, 1TB externals provide a welcome boost, ideal for those on a budget. Making an upgrade to 2TB offers more flexibility, while 4TB and 8TB prove overkill for many.
Entry-level 1TB and 2TB drives are an excellent upgrade for first-time buyers. We’ve rounded up a few of the best-value picks right now, also which join the lineup of best hard drives for Xbox Series X and Series S.
You May Like: How To Get Gta Mods On Xbox One
The 6 Best Cheap External Hard Drives For Xbox One 2021
The biggest Xbox One titles continue to grow in size, making filling your consoles internal storage easier than ever. An external hard drive is the way to go if you run into this problem, as USB 3.0 support opens up the console to a wide variety of third-party solutions. To help you expand that storage, weve rounded up the best external hard drives for Xbox One that wont break the bank.
Toshiba Canvio Basics 2tb
Price: $74.00Buy it on:
Going for a sleek rounded, palm-of-the-hand look, Toshiba’s offerings are a different form factor than the boxy rectangular Western Digital hard drives — but they don’t usually come in all the nifty color options.
At slightly more than your 1TB drive, this external HDD may be the best “bang for your buck” option available right now for expanding your Xbox One X storage space.
Between the 1TB onboard HDD of the console and the extra 2TB from the external drive, space won’t be nearly as cramped. And it’s unlikely you are going to hit capacity unless you are consistently buying the newest and biggest games every month.
Recommended Reading: Improve Xbox One Wifi Connection
Beast Storage Solutions For Nintendo Switch Xbox One And Playstation 4
Gaming in todays world, you are going to need more system storage to keep up with all the games to which youll have access. Upgrading your PlayStation 4 or Xbox One S storage is essential. This also includes the Nintendo Switch, as well.
There are usually three types of gamers: those who purchase physical copies only, those who have moved on to digital, and those who purchase whichever one is most convenient. The rise in digital gaming and Indie Games on consoles likely wont be stopping anytime soon. Even physical-only gamers buy Indie Games, and most of those are only offered digitally.
Even if you could stay physical, more storage is necessary. Games on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One install to the hard drive. An average AAA game can take 30-50GB of hard-drive space. This eats away at internal storage quickly on a 500GB PS4 or Xbox One system. Throw in Day One patches and updates to the games, and you are looking at more storage being consumed. The Nintendo Switch will have game cards that do not install to the internal memory, but will also have to deal with patches, updates, and more.