Running out of storage on your Xbox One®? Whether you're downloading more games or trying to clean up your console, connecting an external hard drive is one of the easiest ways to expand your space.
At Asurion, we help gamers make the most of their tech every day. If you’ve just plugged in a drive but your Xbox® isn’t recognizing it yet, here’s how to format an external hard drive for Xbox One so you can start using it right away.
What you’ll need
Before formatting, make sure your drive meets these requirements:
- At least 128 GB of storage.
- USB 3.0 support.
- A direct USB connection (no hubs or adapters).
- One drive per USB port for game installations.
How to format an external drive for games and apps
Once your external drive is plugged in, follow these steps to format it for games and apps:
- Turn on your Xbox One.
- A pop-up should appear asking how you want to use the drive. Select Format storage device.
- Give your drive a name.
- Choose whether to install new games and apps by default.
- Select Format storage device again to confirm.
This will erase everything on the drive, so make sure it doesn’t contain files you need.
If the format prompt doesn’t appear
If your drive is plugged in but nothing happens, try these steps:
- Press the Xbox button to open the guide.
- Go to Profile & system > Settings > System > Storage.
- Select the external drive and choose Format for games & apps.
- If that option isn’t available, make sure the drive is USB 3.0 compatible and try a different port.
Formatting for media storage
Want to use the drive for movies, music, or screenshots instead? Here’s how to set it up:
- Plug the drive into your Xbox One.
- Go to Settings > System > Storage.
- Select the drive, then choose Format for media.
- Your drive will now show up in the Media Player app.
- You can also plug it into a PC afterward to copy or access files.
FAQ
What kind of drive works with Xbox One?
Any USB 3.0 external hard drive with at least 128 GB of storage will work. SSDs are also supported.
Can I use the same drive for both games and media?
No. Once formatted for games, the drive uses a proprietary Xbox file system and cannot be directly used for media (or read by a PC) without reformatting. Similarly, a drive formatted for media cannot be used for games without reformatting.
Will formatting erase my files?
Yes. Be sure to back up any files before formatting—the process wipes the entire drive.
How many external drives can I use with Xbox One?
You can connect up to three external drives at once, using separate USB ports.
What if my Xbox still won’t recognize the drive?
Try another USB port or cable, and confirm the drive supports USB 3.0. If it still doesn’t work, it may not be compatible.
