Best SSDs for Xbox Series X|S 2025

Expandable storage options for consoles are a common necessity, especially for the Xbox Series X, which comes with around 800GB of usable storage. Once you've installed a few games, you might find yourself constantly uninstalling and reinstalling to make room for new titles. This shouldn't be the case! The best solution is to invest in an SSD for your Xbox Series X|S.

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 just store games rather than run them from the SSD, you have more options available. For instance, you can play older Xbox One or Xbox 360 games directly from a compatible hard drive or store your favorite Xbox Series X games.

First, we'll explore the best SSDs that support and run your Xbox Series X games, followed by some alternative storage options.

Have a PS5? Check out the best PS5 SSDs

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. 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 loading times, making it feel no different from playing directly from your console's storage.

Yes, it's pricey, but that's the only downside. 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 enjoy games as intended. You can choose between 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB versions based on your 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, promising 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's WD_Black 1TB C50 has entered the fray. Compact and durable, this expansion card comes in 512GB and 1TB options and is more affordable than Seagate's offering.

This expansion card easily slots into the Xbox Series X's expansion card port, requiring no setup. You can transfer games to the expansion card in minutes, giving you access to a variety of games. Compared to the Series X's internal storage, the WD_Black 1TB C50 offers slightly slower boot times, but the difference is minimal.

If you don't need the 2TB option that Seagate offers, the WD_Black 1TB C50 is an excellent alternative 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 from your home to a friend's, allowing you to enjoy a large library of Xbox games.

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 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 move away from the Xbox Series X's expansion card storage options, you'll find more storage for your money. This SSD from Samsung, for instance, is priced similarly to the WD_Black 1TB C50 but offers an additional 1TB of storage. However, there's a catch – you can't play Xbox Series X games directly from the SSD.

Instead, the Samsung T7 is ideal for storing Xbox games you might want to play later without waiting to reinstall 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 when you're ready to play.

Weighing just 2 ounces, the T7 is perfect for portability. With 2TB of storage, you can easily store 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 use Samsung's AES 256-bit encryption to secure your files.

4. Crucial X8 External SSD

The Best Value Xbox Series X SSD

### Crucial X8 External SSD

1The Crucial X8 External SSD offers great value for money and is perfect for storing all your Xbox One and Xbox 360 games, freeing 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

With no difference in speed from the Samsung T7, the Crucial X8 offers excellent value. You can purchase the X8 in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capacities. This portable device is great for storing Xbox Series X games, but like the Samsung T7, you can't run current-gen games off it.

However, you can use the Crucial X8 for your Xbox, PC, and Mac. Whether you need to store games, files, music, photos, or more, it's easy to carry this SSD with you. It's also shock-resistant and durable, making it ideal for travel.

With up to 4TB of storage, it's a worthwhile trade-off to wait a few 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 improve performance, they do look impressive. The P40 can be used with your Xbox, PC, Mac, and PS5, but as an external SSD, you can't run Xbox Series X games off this drive.

Options start from 500GB and include 1TB and 2TB capacities. The WD_Black 2TB P40 is relatively affordable compared to the Xbox's official expansion card SSDs, but among external SSDs, it's still a bit pricey.

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 also encased in shock-resistant material, capable of surviving drops up to 2m.

If you value style and substance, the WD_Black 2TB P40 offers both, with ample storage for 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. This makes choosing an SSD straightforward, as the Seagate Storage Expansion Card or WD_Black C50 are essentially your only choices. Unfortunately, they're both expensive, with 1TB of storage typically being the sweet spot.

However, if you don't need to play your Xbox Series X games directly from the drive, there are various USB 3.2 SSDs available. This makes it easier to find budget or high-capacity options for storing Xbox Series games and playing older Xbox One and 360 titles. These drives easily slot into the USB port on the Xbox Series X.

You'll want decently fast read and write speeds for quick loads and saves. Other factors like durability and size should be considered, especially if you plan to take your SSD on the go. As mentioned, a 1TB SSD or larger is ideal if you have a substantial gaming library, but there are drives up to 4TB for massive storage needs.

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 at once. Some AAA titles exceed 150GB in size, so after installing a few games, you'll soon need additional storage to quickly access and play them.