Expandable storage options for consoles are now a common necessity. The Xbox Series X offers around 800GB of usable storage, which can quickly fill up after installing just a few games, leading to the frustrating cycle of uninstalling and reinstalling. To avoid this, the best solution is to invest in an SSD for your Xbox Series X|S, enhancing your gaming experience by providing ample space for your favorite titles.

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. For storage purposes, though, you have many more options. You can play older Xbox One or Xbox 360 games directly from a compatible external hard drive or store your Xbox Series X games for future use.

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

Have a PS5? Check out the best PS5 SSDs

1. 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

2

Grab 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.

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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 just about as fast as the console's internal SSD, meaning you can play games optimized for Xbox Series X|S without any compromise. By offering plug-and-play installation, you don’t need to be a tech expert to gain extra Xbox Series X storage. It provides high data transfer rates and loading times, making it feel no different from playing an Xbox game directly from your console’s storage.

Yes, it is expensive, but that's the only significant downside. If you want to increase your Xbox Series X's limited storage the "official" way, this is how you do it. Working side-by-side with the Xbox's Velocity Architecture and supporting Quick Resume, you can enjoy games as 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

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The 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.

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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 now offers a competitive alternative. Compact and durable, this expansion card comes in 512GB and 1TB storage 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, allowing 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 a great alternative at a more appealing price. It's small enough to transport easily and supports 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

0

If 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.

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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 moving away from the Xbox Series X’s expansion card storage options, you'll find more storage for your money. The Samsung T7 SSD, 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 best for storing Xbox games for later use, saving you the wait time of reinstalling. 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 want to play it again.

Weighing just 2 ounces, the T7 is perfect for portability. With 2TB of storage, it can easily house your Xbox games, photos, or work documents. 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

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The Crucial X8 External SSD is a value-conscious SSD that's great for storing all your Xbox One and Xbox 360 games, freeing up your Series X SSD for newer titles that need the extra speed.

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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. You can purchase the X8 in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capacities. This portable device is ideal for storing Xbox Series X games, though, like the Samsung T7, you can’t run current-gen games off of it.

However, the Crucial X8 is versatile for use with your Xbox, PC, and Mac. Whether you need to store games, files, music, photos, or more, its compact size and durability make it an excellent choice for on-the-go use. With potential storage up to 4TB, it's a practical solution if you're willing to wait a few minutes for your games to transfer back to your console. You could store your entire Xbox game library on the Crucial X8, making it a more affordable storage solution.

5. WD_Black 2TB P40

The Best External Xbox Series X SSD

### WD_Black 2TB P40

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With 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.

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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 external storage for your Xbox Series X 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 add a unique flair. The P40 is compatible with Xbox, PC, Mac, and PS5, but as an external SSD, you can’t run Xbox Series X games off this drive.

Available in capacities from 500GB to 2TB, the WD_Black 2TB P40 is more affordable than the Xbox’s official expansion card SSDs, though it remains pricey among 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 up to 2m.

If you value style and performance, the WD_Black 2TB P40 offers both, along 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. The Seagate Storage Expansion Card or WD_Black C50 are your primary choices. Unfortunately, they're both expensive, but 1TB is typically the optimal size for these SSDs.

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. These options are perfect for storing Xbox Series games and playing older Xbox One and 360 titles. They easily slot into the USB port on the Xbox Series X.

You’ll want SSDs with fast read and write speeds for quick loads and saves. Factors like durability and size are important, especially for portable use. A 1TB SSD or larger is recommended for a sizable gaming library, but options up to 4TB are available for extensive 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, external SSDs can store your Xbox games, preventing the need to constantly install and uninstall them.

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 need additional storage to quickly access and play your games without delays.