Recently we reported that 4.50 PS4 Sasuke Beta Firmware users were Limited to one External USB 3.0 HDD, and now we also have confirmation from Beta testers that PS4 External USB hard disk drives tied to a PSN account can be used across multiple PlayStation 4 consoles without having to reformat it.
To quote from PSNation.com: Here's what I've learned so far about what you can and can't do with this additional storage:
To quote from PSNation.com: Here's what I've learned so far about what you can and can't do with this additional storage:
- The new external drive becomes the default location for application data for any game that you install from disc or the PSN
No application data can be transferred from the internal to external drive, so if you already have something installed on the internal drive, you must delete it then reinstall- *UPDATE* You CAN move applications and games to the external drive, it’s just kinda hidden! Go to Settings > Storage > System Storage > Applications > then hit Options and select ‘Move to Extended Storage’. It even allows you to move multiple items at a time, which is a welcome feature. The moves can take a little while depending on the size, so maybe do this before you go to bed some night (Thanks to Thomas Harrison-Lord for the tip!)
- There’s a menu option allowing you to switch the default application data location back to the internal drive
- Screenshots and Videos from Share can’t be saved on external storage, they will only go to the internal drive
- The drive can’t be used for anything else once it’s setup, unless you reformat it obviously
- The drive can be moved to another PS4 tied to the same account without needing to reformat it (info below)
- The drive cannot be used under someone else's account (screenshots below)
- First, when you want to move the external drive to another PS4, make sure that you remove it correctly. Hold the PS Button, and go to the Devices selection at the top of the Quick Menu. Choose “Stop Using Extended Storage” so that it properly “ejects” the device.
- Your PS4 doesn’t need to be rebooted or anything like that, but be aware that the icons for everything will remain even without the drive attached. An icon for an app/game on the external drive will include a small “!” indicating that it’s not currently available.
- Second, a game or application that’s stored on the external drive can’t also be stored on the internal drive of the PS4 that you’re connecting to. If it is and you try to activate the drive to use on another PS4, this alert will appear. You won’t be able to use this drive on that PS4 until you delete the game/app from either the internal or external drive.
- To use the drive on another PS4, simply connect it to the USB before you power the system on. Once it’s booted up go to the PS4 Settings menu, go to “Devices” and then to “USB Storage Devices”. Select the new drive and select “Use This Extended Storage”
- If everything is successful, you’ll see a Green light appear next to the drive.
- One last caveat is that any folders that you set up don’t transfer from one console to the other. You’ll need to set folders up on each PS4 separately, but they do remain on each console with each subsequent use of the external drive.