Expandable storage options for consoles have become increasingly important, especially for the Xbox Series X, which comes with around 800GB of usable storage. With modern games often exceeding 100GB, you might find yourself frequently uninstalling games to make room for new ones. But it doesn't have to be that way! The best solution is to invest in an SSD for your Xbox Series X|S, which can significantly enhance your gaming experience by providing more space and faster load times.
TL;DR - These are the best Xbox Series X SSDs:
Our Top Pick### Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X|S
2See it at Amazon
### WD_Black 1TB C50
1See it at Amazon
### Samsung T7 External SSD
0See it at Amazon
### Crucial X8 External SSD
1See it at Amazon
### WD_Black 2TB P40
0See it at Amazon
The catch, however, is that only a few SSDs on the market can run Xbox Series X games directly. If you're looking to merely store games rather than run them, you have more options available. For instance, you can play older Xbox One or Xbox 360 games directly from a compatible external hard drive, or store your favorite Xbox Series X games for later use.
In this guide, we'll explore the best SSDs that support and run your Xbox Series X games, followed by some alternative storage options for those looking to store rather than run their games directly from the SSD.
Have a PS5? Check out the best PS5 SSDs
AnswerSee Results1. Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X|S
The Best Xbox Series X SSD Overall
Our Top Pick### Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X|S
2Grab this easy-to-install, official Xbox SSD to enjoy extra storage and speedy transfer rates so games feel like you’re playing directly from the console’s storage. See it at Amazon
Product Specifications
- Storage: 1TB
- Interface: eSATA
- Read/Write: 468.75MB/s
PROS
- Easy to install
- Fast transfer speeds
CONS
- Expensive
The Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X|S is nearly as fast as the console’s internal SSD, allowing you to play games optimized for Xbox Series X|S seamlessly. With plug-and-play installation, you don’t need to be a tech expert to expand your Xbox Series X storage. It offers high data transfer rates and quick loading times, making it feel like you're playing directly from the console's internal storage.
While it is on the pricier side, the only real downside of this expansion card is its cost. If you want to increase your Xbox Series X’s limited storage the “official” way, this is your best bet. It works seamlessly with the Xbox’s Velocity Architecture and supports Quick Resume, ensuring you can enjoy games as they were intended. You can choose between the 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB versions, depending on your storage needs.
2. WD_Black 1TB C50
The Most Portable Xbox Series X SSD
### WD_Black 1TB C50
1The WD_Black C50 is Western Digital's official Xbox Series X|S SSD, that promises to run your games just as fast as the native SSD. See it at Amazon
Product Specifications
- Storage: 1TB
- Interface: eSATA
- Read/Write: 900MB/s
PROS
- A cheaper alternative to the Seagate Expansion Card
- Durable and pocket-sized
CONS
- Marginally slower boot times
While Seagate previously dominated the Xbox expansion card market, Western Digital has entered the fray with the WD_Black 1TB C50. This compact and durable expansion card comes in 512GB and 1TB storage options and is a more affordable alternative to Seagate’s offering.
The WD_Black 1TB C50 easily slots into the Xbox Series X’s expansion card port, requiring no setup. You can transfer games to the expansion card in minutes, allowing you to maintain a diverse game library. Although it offers slightly slower boot times compared to the Series X’s internal storage, the difference is minimal.
If you don’t need the 2TB option that Seagate offers, the WD_Black 1TB C50 is an excellent choice at a more appealing price. It takes just a few minutes to transfer large 80GB files, and its small size makes it easy to transport, allowing you to enjoy a large library of Xbox games wherever you go.
For Archival and Backwards-Compatible Games Only
3. Samsung T7 External SSD
The Most Versatile Xbox Series X SSD
### Samsung T7 External SSD
0If you're looking to play backwards-compatible games or store your games long-term, the longtime favorite external Samsung T7 SSD is a great choice. See it at Amazon
Product Specifications
- Storage: 2TB
- Interface: USB 3.2
- Read/Write: 1,050/1,000MB/s
PROS
- Lightweight and portable
- 256-bit AES encryption for storing files
CONS
- Cannot play Series X games directly from the SSD
When you look beyond the Xbox Series X’s expansion card storage options, you'll find that you can get more storage for your money. The Samsung T7 SSD, for instance, offers 2TB of storage at a similar price to the WD_Black 1TB C50, but there’s a catch – you can’t play Xbox Series X games directly from it.
Instead, the Samsung T7 is ideal for storing Xbox games that you might want to play later without the hassle of reinstalling them. For example, you can install the latest Call of Duty game directly onto your Xbox Series X, then store the previous version on the Samsung T7 and transfer it back to your console when you're ready to play it again.
Weighing just 2 ounces, the T7 is perfect for portability. With 2TB of storage, you can easily store your Xbox games, photos, or work documents on the same SSD. Simply connect it to the Series X using a USB-C cable and enjoy read/write speeds of up to 1,050/1,000 MB/s. Plus, you can secure your files with Samsung’s AES 256-bit encryption.
4. Crucial X8 External SSD
The Best Value Xbox Series X SSD
### Crucial X8 External SSD
1The Crucial X8 External SSD is a value-conscious SSD that's great for storing all your Xbox One and Xbox 360 games, clearing up your Series X SSD for newer titles that need the extra speed. See it at Amazon
Product Specifications
- Storage: 1TB
- Interface: USB 3.2
- Read/Write: 1,050MB/s
PROS
- Compact and quick
- Storage up to 4TB
CONS
- No encryption
Offering the same speed as the Samsung T7, the Crucial X8 provides excellent value for money. Available in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capacities, this portable device is perfect for storing Xbox Series X games, though, like the Samsung T7, you can’t run current-gen games off of it.
The Crucial X8 is versatile, compatible with your Xbox, PC, and Mac. Whether you need to store games, files, music, photos, or more, it’s easy to carry this little SSD with you. It’s also shock-resistant and durable, making it ideal for on-the-go use.
With up to 4TB of storage space, it’s a worthwhile trade-off to wait a few extra minutes for your Xbox Series X games to transfer back to your console. You could store your entire library of Xbox games on the Crucial X8 and enjoy a more affordable storage solution.
5. WD_Black 2TB P40
The Best External Xbox Series X SSD
### WD_Black 2TB P40
0With 2TB of storage, this external SSD is the perfect archival drive for your Xbox Series X, though please note you can't run current-generation games natively on it. That doesn't mean you can't store them there for later, though. See it at Amazon
Product Specifications
- Storage: 2TB
- Interface: USB 3.2
- Read/Write: Up to 2,000MB/s
PROS
- Fast transfer speeds
- Robust and stylish design
CONS
- A little pricey still
If you want your external storage to stand out, consider the WD_Black 2TB P40 for its stylish design, complete with flashy RGB lighting. While the RGB lights don’t enhance performance, they certainly add flair. The P40 is compatible with your Xbox, PC, Mac, and PS5, but as an external SSD, you can’t run Xbox Series X games directly from it.
Available in 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB capacities, the WD_Black 2TB P40 is more affordable than the Xbox’s official expansion card SSDs, though it's still on the pricier side for external SSDs.
Thanks to the USB 3.2 Gen2x2 interface, you can enjoy speeds of up to 2,000MB/s, which is faster than the Crucial X8 and Samsung T7. The SSD is encased in shock-resistant material, capable of surviving drops of up to 2m.
If you value both style and substance, the WD_Black 2TB P40 offers both, with ample storage to house your Xbox Series X games and other files.
How to Choose the Best Xbox Series X SSDs
If you’re looking for a plug-and-play SSD to run the best Xbox Series X games and support features like Quick Resume and Velocity Architecture, your options are limited. The Seagate Storage Expansion Card and WD_Black C50 are essentially your only choices. Both are expensive, with 1TB of storage typically being the sweet spot for these SSDs.
However, if you don’t need to play your Xbox Series X games directly from the drive, there are numerous USB 3.2 SSDs available. These are ideal for storing Xbox Series games and playing older Xbox One and 360 titles. These drives easily connect to the USB port on the Xbox Series X.
You’ll want SSDs with fast read and write speeds for quick loads and saves. Consider factors like durability and size, especially if you plan to take your SSD on the go. A 1TB SSD or larger is recommended for a decent gaming library, but options up to 4TB are available for those needing massive storage.
SSDs for Xbox Series X FAQ
Can any SSD work with Xbox Series X?
You can only play Xbox Series X games directly from the console’s internal storage or via a licensed external SSD, like the Seagate Expansion Card. However, you can use external SSDs to store your Xbox games, avoiding the need to constantly install and uninstall them to free up space.
Is the Xbox Series X SSD fast?
The Xbox Series X’s storage is a 1TB NVMe SSD, with an IO throughput of around 2.4GB/s.
Why does my Xbox Series X only have 800GB?
While the Xbox Series X’s advertised storage is 1TB, some of this space is used for system software, reducing the available storage space to around 800GB.
Do you actually need additional storage for your Xbox?
While the Xbox Series X|S comes with either 1TB or 500GB of storage, you may want to increase this if you plan to install multiple games on your console at any given time. Some AAA titles exceed 150GB in size, so after installing a few games, you’ll soon realize you need additional storage to quickly access and play them.
