Replacing PS3 Hard Drives: What You Need To Know

Written by: Andrew E • Edited by: Aaron R.
Updated Nov 16, 2009 • Related Guides: Playstation 3 | Hard Drive | New Hard Drive

If you want to replace the hard drive in your PS3, it is important to be prepared, have a PS3 backup, and know what to watch out for. This guide can walk you through the PS3 hard drive upgrade and replacement so you know what you're getting into.

Replacing PS3 Hard Drives: Why?

There may be a time where you start running out of space on your PS3 and start thinking about either a PS3 hard drive upgrade or replacing PS3 hard drive to give you more memory. Be it because of too many downloads, giant game data installs, or ever-increasing file sizes, that teeny drive has got to go. You will be surprised that it is relatively easy to do, but there are some choices and preparations you have to make before you ever start to upgrade PS3 hard drives.

Get Ready, Get Set...

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After you have done your PS3 backup, it is time to get your hands a little dirty. Turn off your PS3 and unplug it to make sure that you do not electrocute yourself. On the left side of the PS3 there should be a little plastic flap with a notch in it. It should be easy to find since it says "HDD" on it. Carefully remove it with something flat. If you aren't worried about scratching your case, such as a flathead screwdriver, but a fingernail seems to work just fine as well.

Go!

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The blue screw in the middle of this part of your PS3 is your next target. It requires a small Phillips-head screwdriver. Great care must be taken to remove these screws, since they are not very sturdy and can be damaged easily. If you do damage one, it can cost you a lot to get another.

Be Very Careful With Those Screws...

Before you take out the silver screws, use the metal loop above the blue screw to pull out the old PS3 hard drive. It should be pushed towards the front of the PS3 before pulling it out to disconnect it. Once it is out you can carefully remove the silver screws to detach the hard drive from the metal frame. There should be four in all, two on each end.

Your newPS3 hard drive upgrade should go where the old one once was. The size limit on replacement PS3 hard drive upgrades apparently tops out at 250GB, so use a larger hard drive at your own risk. Also, make sure that you get the right kind of hard drive (2.5" SATA Notebook HDD).

Slide the new hard drive, secured in the metal frame, into the PS3 and push it toward the rear to connect it to the system. You should now be able to replace the blue screw. Then put the cover back on and turn on your PS3.

Setting Up Your New Hard Drive

The PS3 will prompt you to format your new hard drive. If you want to be able to use it you have to select "yes". Once the formatting process is over, you can move over your backed up files. If you used an external hard drive to backup it is very easy ([Settings]>[System Settings]>[Backup Utility]>Restore). If you used a flash drive you will have to go to each section and copy them over manually. You will also have to re-input your login information and download the games and demos you used to have.

Once that is all done, you can now go back to fueling your gaming addiction.

Did You Back Up Your Data?

It is important to back up your data first. If you have not already done this, see how it is done here.

Luis May 25, 2011 5:50 PM

Flash drive

Yes you can just use the back up utility on your Ps3 my problem was I didn't have a 160GB HDD. It will back up what it can if I am not mistaken your trophies are kept on line and when you sigh back in to PSN they download back to your HDD.

Anon May 24, 2011 9:37 PM

What if?......

What if I use a 32gb flash drive?(My ps3 only has a mere 40gb and of it I have used up about 29gbs) Would I still have to manually reinstall game saves and data?

Luis Jan 27, 2011 10:32 PM

Been there

I tried doing that first because there is supposed to be a way to do that but I never had any luck, So I just said "F" it and just swiped it. I kept running into problems when I went to reformat the HDD Sorry I am not much help in regards to backing up the files you currently have.

Justinmbernal Jan 27, 2011 5:32 AM

Will this work

Say i were to get a new 2.5 sata hard drive with an 2.5 sata enclosure witch has the usb port. Could i just use the hard drive with the enclosure to back up my ps3 then take the old hard drive out and the new one in. Will that work of will that be to good to be true?

Luis Dec 1, 2010 10:13 PM

HDD

I never figured out how to back up my movies from my old HDD, but oh well I just don't DL much from them anymore, but I did get a 500GB HDD from Samsung from Newegg for like $80 that is working great I have had it for about 6 months now and have had no problems.

Ben Dec 1, 2010 2:53 PM

sorry 320Gb

Sorry, i meant that i bought a 320, not a 360

Ben Dec 1, 2010 2:49 PM

360Gb official

I have just bought a brand new official PS3 HDD. So when you said
"The size limit on replacement PS3 hard drive upgrades apparently tops out at 250GB"
am i going to have a problem and if so what should i look out for?? YLOD??

Stefan Oct 8, 2010 4:34 PM

good quote

"Turn off your PS3 and unplug it to make sure that you do not electrocute yourself."
WOW was this a joke to see who would believe that you can electrocute yourself doing an HDD replacement on a PS3?

Kevin Jun 29, 2010 5:43 PM

No PS3 Backup?

I can no longer keep my PS3 on and up in running to do the actual Settings>backup can i somehow get the data that is already saved on my harddrive to a place where i can transfer it back to a newer system hard drive? I have external enclosure and swissknife that does not seem to get me where i need to be!

Someguy Jun 11, 2010 10:04 PM

HD movies

When you back up ur files on the ps3 it tells you that some of the files will be copied and some of the files will be moved because of copy right issues. i think this applys to u. i wouldnt worry about moving ur stuff cause im almost positive it will all transfer over. just give it a shot and if it doesnt work but the old one back in. either way ur going to come out with an external lol

Luis Jun 11, 2010 12:28 AM

PS3 HDD upgrade

Hello, I am looking at doing a HDD upgrade I like DL games for my son because he cant scratch them but also HD movies, While I have been looking over diffrent reviews and forems I seam to not be able to get a straight answer on if I can back up all my purchased HD movies over to my new HDD.I have the 160GB HDD in it currently and have gotten a great deal on a 500GB HDD from NewEgg. I don't know if there is any easy way to do this or if I am just SOL on my HD movies I have DL if thats the case then I rally don't see the point in DL'ing Movies to it as apposed to going out an just buying them on Blu-Ray and I would have just wasted all that money plus the money on the new HDD. I really would like some help on this and would appriciate any help you can give me. I thought it was going to be easy like puting all the old stuff on my computer then transfering it to my new one after formating it in the PS3 but I guess thats not the case. I have read this on a forem " Put the new drive into an enclosure
- Connect it to your pc and format it fat32, Connect it to the ps3 and run the backup utility backing up onto the external, Plug it back into the pc and copy the backup file to the pc, Remove 60gig hdd from ps3 and put it into the enclosure, Hook to the pc and format to fat32 and copy the backup file to it, Install the new drive into the ps3, Hook up the 60gig external to it and restore the backup." that looks like the most promising what are your thought you deffanitly sound like you know what your doing. Thanks in Advanced Luis