How to Add More Storage to PC
However, when it comes to popping up a warning that you have run out of storage space on your PC, that gets incredibly frustrating. People who are gamers and trying to make space for new games, a content creator trying to find space for their files, or plain ordinary users all could experience a lag in their system and its potential.
Fortunately, there are many options to increase your computer’s storage, and this guide will tell you how. Although your requests are of a different type: how to add more storage to a pc or how to add more storage to my pc, this article will provide you with answers to all possible questions you may have regarding these requests.
But first, it’s time to get introduced to how to add more ssd storage to pc, what you need to do to pick the right solution, and how to install or connect additional storage the safe and the sane way.
Why You Might Need More Storage on Your PC
Loss of storage can be quite annoying to a user, but it can also cause system crashes, sluggishness, and a drop in performance. You might need more storage if:
- Insufficient space causes games or apps to refuse to install.
- Your PC often warns you of low storage.
- File transfers and downloads are slow, unusually slow.
- You are handling 4K video, CAD files or anything large for that matter and you’d love to be able to do the same with your images.
In general expanding your storage helps your system to run smoother, loads faster and improves overall experience, be that gaming, professional tasks or simple tasks.
Internal vs External Storage – Which One to Choose?
Before upgrading, you need to decide which type of storage you want to add external or internal.
Internal Storage HDDs, SATA SSDs, NVMe SSDs are installed directly into your PC and provide:
- Faster data transfer speeds
- More seamless system integration
- No need for extra desk space for permanent expansion
USB or Thunderbolt connects to External storage (external SSDs, portable HDDs) which offers:
- Easy plug-and-play expansion
- Portability across multiple devices
- No need to open your PC case
Which type of storage listed above is better?
- If performance and experiencing internal storage is important, then it’s best to choose internal.
- If you have a laptop, or care for flexibility, external storage is a good choice for the same reason as an easy upgrade without the technical skills.
Types of Storage Devices Explained
HDD – The Traditional Option
Large amounts of storage at low prices are provided by hard disk drives (HDDs). Used for archiving their files, media libraries and games that don’t require the load times to be super fast. However, HDDs are slower and more prone to physical failure over time.
Budget expansion and bulk storage are best for.
SSD – Faster and Better for Gaming
The Solid State Drive (SSD) is faster, more durable and power efficient than an HDD. There are two main types:
- SATA SSDs: Older from SATA interfaces, SATA SSDs are still much faster compared to HDDs.
- NVMe SSDs: It uses PCIe direct to the CPU that gives ultra fast performance for gaming, video editing, and heavy server workloads.
For more tips on choosing the right SSD for your needs, refer to Crucial’s official guide.
With all its positives, it’s best for faster boot times, quicker file transfers, as well as better gaming performance.
External Drives – Quick and Easy Expansion
If you don’t want to open your PC case, external SSDs and HDDs are a convenient solution to expand your storage. New external drives have USB 3.2, USB-C or even Thunderbolt for fast transfers.
Best for: Portability and easy upgrades.
Cloud Storage – A Flexible Alternative
Virtual storage without the devices is provided by cloud storage services such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive.
Depending upon the price and area, they’re especially useful for backing up important documents, remote access to files, and the offloading of less frequently used data.
For users who also work across multiple devices and want to back up their files offsite, this is best.
How to Add an Internal Drive to Your PC – Step-by-Step
Check Available Ports and Slots
Before buying a new drive, check:
- Do you have free SATA ports for a 2.5″ SSD or HDD?
- Do you have an M.2 NVMe drive that your motherboard supports?
- Do you need a mounting bracket to fit into a desktop tower to mount 2.5″ drives?
It depends on compatibility and you should refer to your motherboard manual.
Choose the Right Storage Device
When choosing your new drive:
- For speed and gaming purposes: 4.0 SSD or NVMe PCIe 3.0
- For budget storage: SATA SSD or large HDD
- Exceptional read/write rates (3500 MB/s+ with NVMe) for multitasking
These brands have a positive reputation: Crucial, Samsung, Kingston, Seagate, Western Digital.
Install the New Drive
- Power off and unplug your PC.
- Open the case and ground yourself (avoid static damage).
- Then, you can mount the drive into a free slot (M.2, SATA or bay).
- Connect necessary cables (SATA cable and power for 2.5″ drives).
- Close the case and boot into BIOS to check drive detection.
- Format the drive in Windows Disk Management.
How to Add External Storage to Your PC
- Plug the external SSD or HDD into a USB 3.0/3.2 or Thunderbolt port.
- If necessary, initialize and format the drive.
- Make it available using a drive letter and use it for files, backups, or even games.
Expanding space is simple and fast, especially for laptops, prebuilt PCs, or casual users.
How to Add More Storage to PC for gaming
Regular office machines usually don’t need as much storage as gaming PCs. Consequently, modern AAA games have bloated to over 100 GB per game, then you factor in updates, mods and downloadable content as well.
Why Gamers Need More Storage:
- Frequent game updates and patches
- Installation of multiple large games at once
- Game recordings, mods, and screenshots
- SSDs have faster loading times.
Best Storage Types for Gaming:
- Primary drive: NVMe PCIe SSD for your operating system and favorite games.
- Secondary drive: SATA SSD or HDD for less speed critical games or archives.
- External storage: Would be a portable SSD that contains only your gaming libraries that you use on occasions.
An NVMe SSD will greatly reduce game load times, and is the best option if you are wondering how to add more storage to gaming pc without sacrificing performance.
How to Add More Storage to a Prebuilt PC
But adding storage to a prebuilt PC is usually not that hard:
- See if you have room for another 2.5″ or 3.5″ drive in your case.
- Check your motherboard for free entire SATA ports or a free M.2 slot.
- Whenever there’s nothing inside, external drives are the best choice.
If you are buying a new drive, always check your user manual or manufacturer’s support site to see if your pre-built system has a proprietary layout or tight spaces.Tip: If you ask how to add storage to a prebuilt PC with the least amount of effort possible, USB-C is the way to go with a high–speed external SSD.
Storage Size Recommendations Based on Usage
Selecting the appropriate size to find the balance point between cost and utility is as important as any other decision. Here’s a simple guideline:
| User Type | Recommended Storage |
|---|---|
| Casual User | 512 GB – 1 TB |
| Gamer | 1 TB – 2 TB |
| Content Creator | 2 TB – 4 TB or more |
| Business/Workstation | 2 TB – 6 TB |
If you are upgrading mostly for gaming, then it makes sense to invest in at least 1 TB of NVMe SSD space. You can also check Western Digital’s storage capacity guide for specific recommendations based on your usage type.
How to Get More Storage on PC Without Hardware Upgrade
Are you not ready to open your PC or purchase new hardware? Here are non-invasive methods:
- Automate cleaning temporary files with Storage Sense in Windows.
- To save up some space, remove apps that aren’t necessary.
- Large media files (i.e., videos, photos) should be deleted or also moved to external drives or cloud storage.
- Cloud Storage: Services like Google Drive, Dropbox and OneDrive are accessible to the files you don’t need (locally) all the time.
This is best suited for laptops and ultra compact PCs where physical expansion is restricted. You can also check Microsoft’s official guide for additional methods to free up space without upgrading your hardware.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Expanding Storage
It’s simple how to add more storage on pc, but many users make avoidable mistakes.
- Purchasing the wrong type of drive (such as buying an M.2 NVMe SSD when the motherboard only supports SATA M.2)
- Skipping the backup process before installing or initializing a new drive.
- Speed ratings are ignored and bottleneck system performance.
- People pay over for unnecessary features such as ultra fast drives that are just faster than standard SATA SSDs for this task.
Always look out for the specifications clearly before purchasing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I add more storage to my PC without losing data?
View Answer
You will be able to install a new internal or external drive without having it overwrite your other data. Before doing any hardware changes, always backup important files.
Is external storage good for gaming purposes?
View Answer
Yes, especially when utilizing a quick USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt SSD. Although there are faster internal NVMe drives, many external SSDs provide excellent performance for gaming.
Can I add SSD and HDD together?
View Answer
Absolutely. Mostly, you have many setups that include a speedy SSD for the operating system and games and a massive HDD for space and backups.
How to add storage to a laptop without opening it?
View Answer
Use an external SSD or HDD via USB. This is a plug and play solution that immediately expands the storage without disassembly.
Final Thoughts – Best Way to Add Storage to Your PC
This doesn’t mean you need to buy a new PC when you are running out of space. From the creative professional to the gamer, or for the regular person, taking advantage of more storage not only helps you defer a PC upgrade for much longer, it significantly increases your computer’s life and performance. There are options from replacing the internal SSD to attaching an external drive or utilizing cloud services for any need and budget.
Upgrade your storage today to save time and increase the potential of your PC and PC OS!
