Can You Play Games On An External Hard Drive

Yes, you can play games on an external hard drive, although performance may vary depending on the drive’s speed and the game’s requirements.

Ever wondered if your game library is only confined to your PC’s internal storage? Many gamers, facing limited space, often ask, “can you play games on an external hard drive?” This is a common question, especially with today’s large game sizes.

Fortunately, the answer is generally yes. External drives provide a good solution for storing and accessing your game collection. However, it is important to consider a few performance aspects before making a switch.

Can You Play Games on an External Hard Drive?

So, you’re running out of space on your computer or game console, and you’re looking at that external hard drive you use for backups. You might be thinking, “Hey, can I just put my games on there and play them?” The short answer is, yes, most of the time you absolutely can! But it’s not always as simple as dragging and dropping. Let’s dive into the details of playing games from an external hard drive, so you know what to expect and how to get the best gaming experience.

Why Use an External Hard Drive for Games?

First, let’s talk about why you might want to do this. The main reason people use external hard drives for games is to expand their storage. Here’s why that’s helpful:

Running out of space: Games these days are huge! They can take up tons of space on your computer’s or console’s main drive. An external hard drive can give you a lot more room.
Moving games easily: If you have multiple computers or consoles, you can move your games from one to another more easily with an external drive.
Keeping your main drive clean: You may want to keep your main drive only for important files and keep the games on the external drive. This helps your main drive run smoothly.

Types of External Hard Drives for Gaming

Not all external hard drives are created equal. Some are better for gaming than others. Here’s what you need to know:

Hard Disk Drives (HDDs)

HDDs are the most common type of external hard drive. They use spinning platters to store data. Here are some of their pros and cons for gaming:

Pros:

Cheaper: HDDs are less expensive per gigabyte compared to SSDs, making them a budget-friendly option.
Large Storage: They come in large sizes, meaning you can store many games.

Cons:

Slower: HDDs are slower than SSDs, which can result in longer loading times in games.
More Fragile: They are more prone to damage from bumps or drops since they have moving parts.

Solid State Drives (SSDs)

SSDs are faster and more durable than HDDs. They use flash memory to store data. They are a popular choice for gamers. Here’s why:

Pros:

Faster: SSDs offer significantly faster loading times in games compared to HDDs.
More Durable: They are more resistant to physical damage because they don’t have moving parts.
Quiter: SSDs run silently, unlike the spinning sounds of HDDs.

Cons:

More Expensive: SSDs cost more per gigabyte than HDDs.
Lower Capacity: SSDs tend to have smaller storage capacity for the same price.

Which Type is Better for Gaming?

For gaming, SSDs are generally better because of their speed. Faster loading times will give you a better gaming experience. However, if you’re on a budget and need a lot of storage space, an HDD can still work well. A good compromise could be using an SSD for your most frequently played games and using an HDD for less-played games, or for storing videos and other large files.

How to Set Up an External Hard Drive for Gaming

Setting up an external hard drive for gaming is usually a straightforward process. The specific steps may vary slightly based on if you’re using a computer, PlayStation, or Xbox.

Setting up on a PC

For PC gaming, it’s usually very simple:

Connect the drive: Plug your external hard drive into a USB port on your computer.
Format the Drive (If Necessary): If it is a brand new drive, or if you are having problems with the drive, it might need to be formatted. Windows will prompt you to do this. It’s generally recommended to choose the “NTFS” file system if you’ll be only using it with Windows, or “exFAT” if you might use it with other systems.
Install Games: When you install games, you will be given the choice of where to install it. Choose the new external drive you plugged in. You can select it directly, or if you use a platform like Steam, Epic, GOG or others, you can select that drive in their settings.

Setting up on a PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5

PlayStation consoles support the use of external hard drives. Here’s what you’ll need to do:

Connect the drive: Plug your external hard drive into a USB port on your PlayStation. The USB port must be USB 3.0 or faster.
Format the drive: Go to the settings menu, then go to “Devices” > “USB Storage Devices.” Select your external drive and choose the option to format it as “Extended Storage”. Your PlayStation will take care of formatting it. This means that you will only be able to use the drive for PS games.
Move games: You can move games from your console’s internal storage to the external drive using the “Storage” option in settings, or, you can download new games directly onto the external drive by selecting it as the default install location.

Important Note for PS5: On the PlayStation 5, you can play PS4 games directly from an external hard drive. However, PS5 games must be on the console’s internal storage or a compatible NVMe SSD. You can store PS5 games on an external drive, but you can’t play them from there. You’ll need to copy them back to the console first before playing. It’s a little complicated, but it is the only method for having more storage space on your PS5.

Setting up on an Xbox One or Xbox Series X/S

Xbox consoles also allow using external drives for games:

Connect the drive: Connect your external hard drive to a USB port on your Xbox. It should be a USB 3.0 or faster drive.
Format the drive: When you connect a drive for the first time, the Xbox will prompt you to format it for games. Select the option to format as game storage.
Move or install games: You can move games from your Xbox’s internal storage to the external drive, or download new games directly to the external drive, as you choose in settings.

Important Note for Xbox Series X/S: Similar to PlayStation, some optimized games for Xbox Series X/S may require to be installed on the internal drive to take advantage of full performance. You can, though, store them on an external drive. You can also play Xbox One games directly from external storage.

Performance Considerations When Using an External Hard Drive

Even if you set everything up correctly, you might experience some performance differences when playing games on an external hard drive. Here are some important points to keep in mind:

Loading Times

One of the biggest differences you’ll notice is in loading times. Games on an external HDD will generally load much slower than those on an internal SSD or external SSD. So, if you value quick loading screens, prioritize using an SSD for games.

Game Play

In most cases, gameplay itself won’t be significantly impacted when using an external drive. The games will run fine. If you notice stuttering, frame rate issues, or other performance problems while playing from an external drive, it could be due to:

Slow drive speeds: Make sure your external drive meets the minimum requirements of your system. Using a USB 2.0 port or slow HDD can be a cause.
USB Connection Issues: Be sure the USB cable is well-connected and is not loose, or try a different cable and USB port.
Overheating: Sometimes, external hard drives can overheat, causing performance issues. Make sure that there is good ventilation around the drive.
Full drive: A full or nearly full drive can impact speeds.

USB Speed Matters

The speed of the USB connection is also vital. USB 3.0 or faster is recommended for gaming. Using a USB 2.0 port can make a difference, and will slow the performance.

USB 3.0/3.1/3.2 Gen 1: The most common of the high speed USB ports. These will give you a good experience.
USB 3.1 Gen 2/USB 3.2 Gen 2: Faster speeds than Gen 1, but most consoles and PC motherboards won’t see any benefit in performance.
USB 4/Thunderbolt: These are the fastest speeds, but are not often found on consoles.

If your drive is connected to a USB hub, make sure the hub can handle the required speeds. USB hubs can cause issues with performance if they don’t have high enough throughput, or if too many devices are connected at once.

Formatting Considerations

Formatting your hard drive also affects performance and compatibility. The most common formats are NTFS, exFAT, and FAT32.

NTFS: This format is often recommended for Windows PCs. It works great for large files and is reliable.
exFAT: This format is good if you use both Windows and Mac systems. It can handle very large files.
FAT32: This format is older, and it’s not recommended for game storage, as it cannot support files over 4GB in size.

Most game consoles will automatically format your drive when you set it up for the first time. However, if you’re using a drive that is used with both PC and a console, be sure it is formatted to be compatible, or you may have to reformat it.

Tips for Better Gaming on an External Hard Drive

To get the most out of your external hard drive for gaming, here are some helpful tips:

Use an SSD for faster load times: As much as possible, use an external SSD drive. You will notice a great increase in performance, in loading times, and also game play, when compared to a HDD.
Use a quality drive: Avoid cheap and low quality drives. They may have reliability issues, and may not perform to the required specifications.
Keep your drive organized: Don’t overfill the drive, and keep your frequently played games on the fastest part of the drive. This means if you have a partial SSD, and a partial HDD, keep the most played games on the SSD part, and less used games on the HDD part of the drive.
Take care of your drive: External drives can be fragile, particularly hard drives. Avoid dropping them, or exposing them to extreme temperatures.
Keep your system clean: Regularly clean up old files on your system to keep things running smoothly. This also helps to avoid using up all the space on your main drive.

By keeping these points in mind, you can make sure you get the best possible experience gaming on an external drive.

Playing games on an external hard drive can be a great way to expand your storage and keep your gaming setup organized. Whether you choose an HDD or an SSD, understanding how to set up your drive, optimize performance, and manage your games will allow you to enjoy smooth and engaging gaming sessions. So yes, you can certainly play games on an external hard drive, and by following these tips, you’ll be well equipped to do so effectively.

How to Use An External Drive as Your Boot Drive for Gaming | Inside Gaming with Seagate

Final Thoughts

Yes, you can play games on an external hard drive. The process generally works well, offering a straightforward way to expand your storage. Consider the connection type and speed of the drive for optimal performance.

A fast USB or a Thunderbolt connection will ensure your games run smoothly. Choosing the correct drive and setup makes all the difference. So, “can you play games on an external hard drive?” Absolutely, with the right preparation, it’s a great storage solution.