Free 210GB for GTA 6 PS5 & Xbox Series XS Storage Steps

Updated 7 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

To get free storage space for GTA 6 on PS5 or Xbox Series X|S, you don’t need to buy an expensive expansion card—you can use a standard external USB drive for older games and move the console’s internal SSD space by deleting or transferring other titles. This guide walks you through the exact steps to free up 210GB on both consoles, plus how to use external storage for PS4/Xbox One games so your internal drive is ready for the new release.

Why GTA 6 Needs So Much Space

Rockstar Games hasn’t officially confirmed the install size for GTA 6, but based on GTA V (which requires about 100GB on current consoles) and the trend of open-world games, 210GB is a reasonable estimate for the day-one install. For comparison, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War reached 200GB with updates, and Red Dead Redemption 2 sits around 120GB. The PS5 and Xbox Series X|S both have custom NVMe SSDs that are fast enough for the game’s streaming, but they’re also limited: the PS5 has 825GB (about 667GB usable) and the Xbox Series X has 1TB (about 802GB usable), while the Series S has just 512GB (about 364GB usable).

Because GTA 6 is likely to be a next-gen exclusive (at least at launch), you’ll need to have the game installed on the internal SSD or a compatible expansion card. You can’t play it from a standard external hard drive because the console requires the high-speed storage for current-gen games.

How to Free Up Space on PS5

To get 210GB free on your PS5, follow these steps in order:

Go to Settings > Storage > Console Storage.
Select Games and Apps to see a list of installed titles sorted by size.
Identify the largest games you no longer play. For each one, press the Options button and choose Delete.
If you have a USB external drive (USB 3.0 or later), you can Move PS4 games to it instead of deleting. Highlight a game, press Options, and select Move to USB Extended Storage.
For PS5 games, you cannot move them to USB—you can only delete them or transfer to another PS5 via the console’s data transfer feature. So you’ll need to decide which PS5 titles to remove.
Check your free space by going back to Storage and looking at the bar. Repeat until you have at least 210GB free.

Remember that the PS5 also reserves space for system files and the OS, so the usable amount is less than the advertised 825GB. If you have many small games, you may need to delete more than one.

How to Free Up Space on Xbox Series X|S

Xbox consoles have a similar process, but with a key difference: you can use an external USB drive to store and play Xbox One, 360, and original Xbox games, but not Series X|S optimized games. Here’s how to make room:

Press the Xbox button to open the guide, then go to My games & apps > See all > Manage.
Select Storage devices to see your internal drive and any external drives.
Go to Internal and sort by Size to see the largest games.
For games that are not Series X|S optimized (e.g., Xbox One titles), you can highlight them, press the Menu button, and select Move or copy to an external USB drive.
For Series X|S optimized games, you can only Uninstall them from the internal drive. You can also move them to a Seagate or WD expansion card, but that’s a paid solution.
After deleting or moving, check the free space on the internal drive by going to Storage devices and viewing the bar.

Note that the Xbox Series S has a much smaller internal drive, so you may need to be more aggressive. If you have Game Pass, you can always re-download games later, but make sure you have a good internet connection.

Using an External USB Drive for Older Games

An external USB drive is a cost-effective way to keep your library without sacrificing internal space. Both PS5 and Xbox Series X|S support USB 3.0 or later drives with at least 250GB capacity. Here’s how to set one up:

PS5: Connect the drive, go to Settings > Storage > USB Extended Storage, and format it. You can then move PS4 games there. PS5 games can be stored on the drive for backup, but you must copy them back to internal to play.
Xbox: Connect the drive, go to Settings > System > Storage, and format it as “For games and apps.” You can install Xbox One and older games directly to it and play from it. Series X|S games cannot be played from it, but you can move them there for storage and then move back when needed.

For GTA 6, you’ll need the internal drive, but moving your older games to external storage can free up that 210GB without deleting anything permanently.

What About Expansion Cards?

If you don’t want to delete any games, the only way to add more fast storage is to buy an expansion card. For Xbox, the Seagate Storage Expansion Card and WD Black C50 fit into a dedicated slot on the back of the console and match the internal SSD speed. For PS5, you can install an internal M.2 SSD in the expansion bay—the console supports PCIe Gen4 x4 drives with heatsinks. These are not free, but they are the only way to increase total capacity for current-gen games.

For GTA 6, if you have an expansion card, you can install the game there. The PS5 will treat the M.2 drive as additional internal storage, and the Xbox expansion card works just like the built-in drive. This is the simplest solution if you can afford it, but the steps above will get you to 210GB free with zero cost.

Common Mistakes When Freeing Up Space

One common mistake is deleting saved game data. When you delete a game on PS5 or Xbox, you are usually asked to choose between deleting the game and its save data. Always keep the save data unless you’re sure you don’t need it. On PS5, save data is stored separately in the cloud (if you have PlayStation Plus) and on the console. On Xbox, saves are automatically backed up to the cloud, so deleting a game doesn’t lose progress.

Another mistake is confusing “move” with “copy.” On Xbox, you can move or copy games to external storage. Moving removes it from the internal drive, while copying keeps a duplicate. For freeing space, you want to move, not copy. On PS5, moving PS4 games to USB is straightforward, but for PS5 games, you can only copy to USB—you can’t play from it, so it doesn’t help free up space unless you delete the original after copying.

Finally, check for “Other” or “System” storage that might be taking up unexpected space. On PS5, you can see this under Storage > Console Storage > Other. This includes system files, themes, and captures. You can delete old game captures (video clips and screenshots) to free up a few GB. On Xbox, go to Settings > System > Storage and look for “Temporary files” or “Captures” to clear.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will GTA 6 definitely require 210GB?

No, Rockstar hasn’t announced the official size. 210GB is an educated guess based on trends and the game’s scope. It could be less (around 150GB) or more (up to 250GB). The steps in this article will free up 210GB, but you may need more or less. Keep an eye on the official store pages for preload details.

Can I play GTA 6 from an external USB drive?

No. GTA 6 is a current-gen game, and both PS5 and Xbox Series X|S require games to be on the internal SSD or a compatible expansion card to run. External USB drives are too slow for the streaming requirements.

What if I don’t have 210GB free after deleting everything?

If you’ve deleted all unplayed games and still don’t have enough, you have two options: buy an expansion card (Xbox) or internal M.2 SSD (PS5), or uninstall a few more games you might want to keep. You can always re-download them later if you have a fast internet connection.

Will moving games to external storage affect my save data?

No. Moving a game does not move or delete your save data. Saves are stored separately on the console and in the cloud. You’ll still have your progress when you reinstall the game.

How do I check my free space on PS5 and Xbox?

On PS5, go to Settings > Storage. On Xbox, go to Settings > System > Storage. Both show a bar with used and free space. You can also see individual game sizes in the game management menus.

Is there a way to free up space without deleting games?

Yes, you can move older games to an external USB drive, or use an expansion card to add more fast storage. Also, deleting old game captures and temporary files can free up a few GB. For PS5, you can also delete the “Other” storage if it’s large, but that’s mostly system files.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.