Fixing The PS5 says “not enough storage” but there is

If you own a PlayStation 5, you may have encountered a frustrating error message that says “not enough storage” or “CE-100028-1” when you try to download or install a game, update, or app. This error can prevent you from enjoying your favorite games and apps on your PS5 console. But don’t worry, there are some possible solutions that you can try to fix this issue.

What causes the PS5 not enough storage error?

The PS5 not enough storage error can be caused by several factors, such as:

  • Insufficient free space on your PS5’s SSD. The PS5 has a built-in SSD that has a total capacity of 825 GB, but only about 667 GB is available for user data. The rest of the space is reserved for the system software and other data. If you have installed many games and apps on your PS5, you may run out of free space quickly. Some games and updates can take up more than 100 GB of space, so you need to check how much space you have left before downloading or installing anything.
  • A software bug or glitch. Sometimes, the PS5 may not accurately detect the available space on your SSD and display the error message even if you have enough space. This can happen due to a temporary system malfunction or a corrupted data file. A simple reboot or reinstallation may fix this problem.
  • A faulty or incompatible external storage device. The PS5 allows you to connect an external USB drive or an M.2 SSD to expand your storage capacity. However, not all external storage devices are compatible with the PS5, and some may cause errors or performance issues. You need to make sure that your external storage device meets the required specifications and format it properly before using it with your PS5.

How to fix the PS5 not enough storage error?

Depending on the cause of the error, you can try one or more of the following solutions to fix the PS5 not enough storage error:

Solution 1: Check your PS5’s SSD free space

The first thing you should do is to check how much free space you have on your PS5’s SSD and compare it with the size of the game or app that you want to download or install. To do this:

  • Go to the Settings menu from the PlayStation’s home screen.
  • Select Storage > Choose System Storage.
  • You should see a breakdown of how much space is used by different types of data, such as Games and Apps, Media Gallery, Saved Data, and Other.
  • Below that, you should see a line that says Free Space. This is how much space you have left on your SSD.

If the free space is less than the size of the game or app that you want to download or install, you will get the error message and need to free up some space.

Solution 2: Delete some data from your PS5

If you don’t have enough free space on your PS5’s SSD, you need to delete some data that you don’t need or use anymore. You can delete games and apps, media files, saved data, or other data from your PS5. To do this:

  • Go to the Settings menu from the PlayStation’s home screen.
  • Select Storage > Choose System Storage.
  • Select Games & Apps.
  • Find the game or app that you want to delete and press the Options button on your controller.
  • Select Delete and confirm your choice.

You can also delete media files, saved data, or other data by selecting them from the System Storage menu and following the same steps.

Alternatively, you can manage your PS5’s storage from your smartphone using the PlayStation App. To do this:

  • Download and install the PlayStation App on your iOS or Android device.
  • Sign in with your PlayStation Network account.
  • Tap on Settings > Storage Management.
  • You should see a list of games and apps installed on your PS5.
  • Tap on the game or app that you want to delete and select Delete.

Solution 3: Move some data to an external storage device

Another way to free up some space on your PS5’s SSD is to move some data to an external storage device. You can use either a USB drive or an M.2 SSD as an external storage device for your PS5. However, there are some limitations and requirements for each type of device.

USB drive

You can use a USB drive as an external storage device for your PS5, but only for PS4 games and apps. You cannot store PS5 games and apps on a USB drive. To use a USB drive as an external storage device for your PS5, you need to:

  • Make sure that your USB drive has a capacity of at least 250 GB and a maximum of 8 TB.
  • Make sure that your USB drive is formatted to exFAT or FAT32. You can format your USB drive using your PS5 or a computer.
  • Connect your USB drive to one of the USB ports on your PS5.
  • Go to the Settings menu from the PlayStation’s home screen.
  • Select Storage > Choose USB Extended Storage.
  • Follow the on-screen instructions to format your USB drive if needed.

Once your USB drive is ready, you can move some PS4 games and apps from your PS5’s SSD to your USB drive. To do this:

  • Go to the Settings menu from the PlayStation’s home screen.
  • Select Storage > Choose System Storage.
  • Select Games & Apps.
  • Find the PS4 game or app that you want to move and press the Options button on your controller.
  • Select Move to USB Extended Storage and confirm your choice.

You can also move PS4 games and apps from your USB drive to your PS5’s SSD by following the same steps but choosing Move to Console Storage instead.

M.2 SSD

You can also use an M.2 SSD as an external storage device for your PS5, and unlike a USB drive, you can store both PS4 and PS5 games and apps on it. However, not all M.2 SSDs are compatible with the PS5, and you need to install it inside your PS5 console. To use an M.2 SSD as an external storage device for your PS5, you need to:

  • Make sure that your M.2 SSD meets the required specifications for the PS5. You can check the specifications here: https://www.playstation.com/en-us/support/hardware/ps5-install-m2-ssd/
  • Make sure that your M.2 SSD has a heatsink attached to it or install one yourself. You can check how to install a heatsink here: https://www.playstation.com/en-us/support/hardware/ps5-install-m2-ssd-heatsink/
  • Turn off your PS5 console and unplug it from the power source.
  • Remove the side panel of your PS5 console and locate the M.2 SSD slot.
  • Follow the instructions here: https://www.playstation.com/en-us/support/hardware/ps5-install-m2-ssd/ to install your M.2 SSD into your PS5 console.
  • Reattach the side panel of your PS5 console and plug it back into the power source.
  • Turn on your PS5 console and follow the on-screen instructions to format your M.2 SSD if needed.

Once your M.2 SSD is ready, you can move some games and apps from your PS5’s SSD to your M.2 SSD. To do this:

  • Go to the Settings menu from the PlayStation’s home screen.
  • Select Storage > Choose System Storage.
  • Select Games & Apps.
  • Find the game or app that you want to move and press the Options button on your controller.
  • Select Move to M.2 SSD Storage and confirm your choice.

You can also move games and apps from your M.2 SSD to your PS5’s SSD by following the same steps but choosing Move to Console Storage instead.

Solution 4: Reboot or reinstall the game or app

Sometimes, the PS5 not enough storage error can be caused by a software bug or glitch that prevents the console from detecting the available space correctly. In this case, you can try rebooting or reinstalling the game or app that is causing the error. To do this:

Reboot

  • Press and hold the PS button on your controller.
  • Select Power > Restart PS5 and confirm your choice.
  • Once your PS5 restarts, try downloading or installing the game or app again.

Reinstall

  • Go to the Settings menu from the PlayStation’s home screen.
  • Select Storage > Choose System Storage.
  • Select Games & Apps.
  • Find the game or app that is causing the error and press the Options button on your controller.
  • Select Delete and confirm your choice.
  • Once the game or app is deleted, go to the PlayStation Store and download or install it again.

Solution 5: Sign out and sign back in to your PlayStation Network account

Some users have reported that signing out and signing back in to their PlayStation Network account has fixed the PS5 not enough storage error. This may be because signing out and signing back in refreshes your account data and syncs it with the console. To do this:

  • Go to the Settings menu from the PlayStation’s home screen.
  • Select Users and Accounts > Account > Sign Out.
  • Once you are signed out, go back to Users and Accounts > Account > Sign In.

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Solution 6: Update your PS5 system software

Sometimes, the PS5 not enough storage error can be fixed by updating your PS5 system software to the latest version. Updating your system software can improve the performance and stability of your PS5 and fix some bugs and glitches. To update your PS5 system software, you need to:

  • Go to the Settings menu from the PlayStation’s home screen.
  • Select System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings.
  • Select Update System Software.
  • If there is an update available, select Update and follow the on-screen instructions.

Alternatively, you can update your PS5 system software manually by downloading the update file from the PlayStation website and installing it using a USB drive. You can check how to do this here: https://www.playstation.com/en-us/support/hardware/ps5/system-software/

How to prevent the PS5 not enough storage error?

To avoid getting the PS5 not enough storage error in the future, you can follow some tips and best practices, such as:

  • Check the size of the game or app before downloading or installing it. You can check the size of the game or app on the PlayStation Store or on the game’s official website. Make sure that you have enough free space on your PS5’s SSD or external storage device before downloading or installing anything.
  • Delete or move data that you don’t use or need regularly. If you have games and apps that you don’t play or use often, you can delete them from your PS5’s SSD or move them to an external storage device. This will free up some space for new games and apps that you want to download or install. You can also delete media files, saved data, or other data that are taking up space on your PS5.
  • Use an external storage device to expand your storage capacity. If you have a lot of games and apps that you want to keep on your PS5, you can use an external storage device to increase your storage capacity. You can use either a USB drive or an M.2 SSD as an external storage device for your PS5, but make sure that they are compatible and formatted properly. You can also switch between different external storage devices depending on what games and apps you want to play or use.
  • Update your PS5 system software regularly. Updating your PS5 system software can improve the performance and stability of your PS5 and fix some bugs and glitches that may cause errors or issues. You can update your PS5 system software automatically or manually by following the steps mentioned above.

Conclusion

The PS5 not enough storage error is a common problem that many PS5 users face when they try to download or install a game, update, or app. This error can prevent you from enjoying your favorite games and apps on your PS5 console. However, there are some possible solutions that you can try to fix this issue, such as:

  • Check your PS5’s SSD free space
  • Delete some data from your PS5
  • Move some data to an external storage device
  • Reboot or reinstall the game or app
  • Sign out and sign back in to your PlayStation Network account
  • Update your PS5 system software

You can also prevent this error from happening again by following some tips and best practices, such as:

  • Check the size of the game or app before downloading or installing it
  • Delete or move data that you don’t use or need regularly
  • Use an external storage device to expand your storage capacity
  • Update your PS5 system software regularly

We hope that this article has helped you fix the PS5 not enough storage error and enjoy your games and apps on your PS5 console. If you have any questions or feedback, please let us know in the comments below.

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2 Responses

  1. Tim says:

    None of this addresses the issue of the ps5 saying, for example, ‘120gb free space needed to download’ and also saying, ‘194gb free space available’. Most of this info is basic console common sense and really only applies to first time gamers. It would be great if an actually fix was available and not just clickbait articles with recycled info from ps3.

    • PlayStation Expert says:

      We have updated the post for you. Please check whether it meets your expectation now.

      This is a common issue that many PS5 users have faced when trying to download a game. The error code CE-100028-1 means that there is not enough free space on the SSD of your console. However, sometimes this error may occur even if you have enough free space available. This may be due to a software bug or a corrupted data.

      Here are some possible solutions that you can try to fix this issue:

      • Check the actual free space on your console. Go to Settings > Storage > Console Storage and see how much free space you have. Make sure you have more than the required space for the game you want to download. For example, if the game needs 120 GB of free space, you should have at least 130 GB or more of free space available.
      • Delete some games or apps that you don’t need or use anymore. Go to Settings > Storage > Console Storage > Games & Apps and select the ones you want to delete. You can also delete them from the home screen by highlighting them and pressing the Options button on your controller.
      • Restart your console and try downloading the game again. Sometimes, a simple reboot can fix minor glitches or errors in the system. To restart your console, press and hold the power button for three seconds until you hear a beep. Then turn it back on and try downloading the game again.
      • Sign out and sign back in to your PSN account. Some users have reported that this method worked for them when they encountered this error. To sign out of your PSN account, go to Settings > Users and Accounts > Account > Sign Out. Then sign back in with your credentials and try downloading the game again.
      • Rebuild the database of your console. This is a more advanced solution that can fix corrupted data or errors in your SSD. However, this may take some time and may delete some of your data, so make sure you back up your important files before doing this. To rebuild the database of your console, follow these steps:
        • Turn off your console by pressing and holding the power button for three seconds until you hear a beep.
        • Connect your controller to your console with a USB cable and press the PS button on your controller.
        • You will see a screen that says Safe Mode. Select Option 5: Rebuild Database and press X.
        • Wait for the process to complete and then restart your console.

      If none of these solutions work for you, you may need to contact PlayStation Support for further assistance. They may be able to help you troubleshoot the issue or replace your console if it is defective.

      I hope this helps you resolve your issue and enjoy your game. If you have any other questions or feedback, please let me know.

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