Xbox Series Storage Capacity Set for Major Expansion Beyond Current Limits
Microsoft prepares to remove storage restrictions for Xbox Series consoles with new system update.
Microsoft is gearing up to revolutionize storage options for Xbox Series X/S owners. The current 16 terabyte limit for external hard drives has become increasingly restrictive, especially considering the growing size of modern games and the Xbox Series S’s modest 512 gigabytes of internal storage.
While Storage Expansion Cards currently max out at 2 TB, Xbox users have been relying on various external SSDs and hard drives to expand their storage capabilities. Now, Microsoft is testing a significant upgrade through its Xbox Insider program that will break through the existing 16 TB ceiling.
Members of the Xbox Insider Alpha Skip-Ahead ring are getting first access to this feature through a new Preview update. The upgrade will support external USB drives larger than 16 TB, though users will need to reformat their drives to take advantage of this enhancement. After formatting, the system will create multiple partitions that will show up as separate devices in the storage menu.
The timing of this update appears strategic, particularly for Xbox Series S owners who frequently struggle with storage management. With digital game libraries growing and Storage Expansion Cards commanding premium prices, the ability to use larger external drives offers a more cost-effective solution for storing downloaded titles.
Microsoft has noted some temporary limitations during the testing phase. Current issues include incorrect reporting of available space on drives larger than 16 TB, and users are advised to avoid formatting drives beyond this size until these problems are resolved.
Xbox Preview Update Brings Additional Quality-of-Life Improvements
The latest preview build includes several other notable enhancements. A new feature being tested with select users will display discount badges directly on the Home screen, showing percentage savings for games on sale that aren’t in their library.
The update also addresses various system-level improvements, including enhanced Narrator functionality in Settings menus, particularly for power options and remote play features. Entertainment apps receive performance optimization to prevent lag during extended use, while system-wide language support sees comprehensive updates for better localization.