PS4 Extended Storage Not Working? Here’s How To Fix It

External disk drives are simple to make use of. You can plug and take away them in seconds, however the PS4 might not acknowledge the unit in some circumstances. 

Typically, the console shows the next message when the issue happens: “The USB storage device is not connected.”

In some circumstances, although, the PS4 received’t show any message, or it may cease responding if you join the HDD.

PS4 Extended Storage Not Working Causes

As you see, these points deal principally with the drive, somewhat than the PlayStation 4. Therefore, our options purpose principally on the drive. Yet, a few of our fixes embody using the console’s Safe Mode.

How to Fix PS4 Extended Storage Not Working

You can attempt our options one after the other till you discover the one which solves the problem. Still, we’re continuing in a logical method, as we’re beginning by essentially the most possible causes.

See in case your Drive is Functional

The preliminary step is checking in case your drive is practical. To try this, plug the exterior HDD into your Windows PC and see what it says. If it really works, it ought to simply seem in your taskbar like so:

If it doesn’t work, you’d see one thing like this:

If that is the case, there’s nothing else to do however attempt one other cable, or attempt one other drive.

Check the Drive’s Compatibility

The next logical step is checking the compatibility between your exterior drive and the PlayStation 4. It’s the step it is best to take if it’s the primary time you’re using the drive on the console. Otherwise, skip to the subsequent repair.

This is the message the PlayStation 4 showcases if the drive doesn’t meet the necessities:

And these are the necessities you want.

Your drive may have the mistaken format, and never all the time can the PlayStation format the storage.

Therefore, it is best to test the format on the PC like so:

1. Plug your drive in your Windows PC
2. Go to This PC
3. Right-click the drive
4. Select Properties
5. On the General tab, test the File System 

Then, to test the kind of USB connection, you may confirm the bodily traits of the port:

Format Your External Drive

If your drive meets the standards however not the format, it’s time to repair it. Before that, although, make sure to save its info elsewhere, as the method erases all the things.

Once once more, it could be best should you had your Windows PC for this. MacOS customers can discover further data on the FAQ.

1. Plug your drive into the PC
2. Go to This PC
3. Right-click the drive
4. Select Format
5. Select exFAT or FAT32
6. Leave “Allocation” on default
7. Press Start, and watch for the method to complete

Now, you may attempt the drive on the PS4 once more. 

Check the Drive With Windows

If the drive was by no means the issue, or if it nonetheless doesn’t work after formatting, it’s maybe corrupted.

Here’s what you are able to do to assist clear its points:

1. Plug the drive in your Windows PC
2. Go to This PC
3. Right-click the drive
4. Select Properties
5. Go to the Tools tab
6. Select Check on Error Checking

After the method ends, Windows will let if it discovered and corrected errors on the disk. If that is the case, you could attempt the drive on the PS4 once more. Otherwise, keep studying.

Update the PlayStation 4

Perhaps your drive was working earlier than, however now it’s not functioning correctly. If you could have already formatted and checked the drive, you may attempt fixing a few stuff within the console.

First, updating the PlayStation might repair the problem.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Go to Settings
2. Go to Select Software Update
3. Select Update Now
4. If there’s an update out there, choose Next. It will obtain the update.
5. Select Accept after the obtain finishes
6. Wait till the update installs

You ought to attempt testing the drive once more. Alternatively, you may go straight to our next repair.

Power Cycle the Console

Power biking the console is a tough reset that drains all energy and erases random energy bugs.

Here’s how to do it: 

1. Turn off the console
2. Unplug all of its cables for 30 seconds
3. While the console has no cables, press and maintain the facility button for 10 seconds
4. Plug its cables back in, together with the exhausting drive
5. Turn the console back on once more

We’re forcing the connection between the PS4 and the exterior exhausting drive this fashion. Try to see if this works, and if it doesn’t, proceed for the subsequent resolution.

Rebuild the PS4 Database

Our next resolution is rebuilding the PS4’s database by way of its Safe Mode. It will assist clear corruption in your information.

For the next course of, make sure the exterior exhausting drive is just not linked. 

1. Power cycle the console
2. With the console off, press and maintain the facility button for about seven seconds, after you hear a second beep
3. Connect your PS4 controller by way of USB cable, and press the PS button
4. You’re now in Safe Mode. Select Rebuild Database
5. After the method finishes, choose Initialize PS4
6. Plug the exterior HDD

Luckily, you’ve cleared the info corruption by now. Otherwise, I concern the final choice is reinstalling the PS4’s software program, AKA a manufacturing facility reset.

Reinstall PS4 System Software

Lastly, you may attempt taking your console back to its manufacturing facility settings. The course of will wipe your exhausting drive and take away its software program.

We advise you to backup its information elsewhere, if doable. If you may’t use an exterior device, you can even back up the info within the cloud (it requires a PlayStation Plus account).

Either approach, if there’s one other storage you need to use, test the FAQ for information on how to backup your information. 

1. Power cycle the console
2. Plug the cables back
3. Press and maintain the facility button for about seven seconds till you hear a second beep
4. Connect your DualShock controller by way of USB, and press the PS button
   • In Safe Mode, choose Initialize PS4 (Reinstall System Software)
   • The PS4 will obtain and set up the system software program. It might take some time.

The set up course of requires an web connection. But in case your PS4 received’t or can’t connect with the web, there’s one other resolution.

Either approach, attempt connecting the exterior drive once more after the method finishes. 

Reinstall PS4 System Software With a USB Drive

There’s an alternate technique to reinstall the PlayStation’s system software program if the console doesn’t have an web connection.

The various requires an empty USB or HDD drive with 5GB of area minimal.

1. Plug the USB drive in your PC
2. Format the drive to FAT32 or exFAT
3. Create a folder throughout the drive with the title “PS4.”
4. Create a subfolder inside PS4 with the title “UPDATE” (don’t use the citation marks on both title). 
5. Visit the PS4 System Software update web site. Go in direction of the “Reinstall system software” part, and obtain the file. 
6. Save the PS4UPDATE.PUP contained in the UPDATE folder
7. Plug the USB drive on the PS4 console 
8. Start the console in Safe Mode (flip it off, after which press and maintain the facility button till you hear a second beep)
9. Select Initialize PS4 (Reinstall System Software)
10. Select Update from USB Storage, and the OK

After the method finishes, please attempt energy biking the console and plugging your exterior HDD drive whereas the console is off.