How to delete games on a PS4 in 3 different ways, to free up storage space (2024)

  • You can delete games on a PS4 to free up valuable storage space.
  • It's possible to delete games on a PS4 from your game library, or system storage, where you can also see how much space your game is taking up.
  • You should also delete your game files if you're not likely to redownload that game at a later time.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

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Games tend to take a lot of space on your PlayStation 4's hard drive.

If your PS4 is getting close to capacity, you may need to remove older games you are no longer interested in playing to make room for new games.

Here's how to do it.

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How to delete games on a PS4 from the library

1. In your game library, navigate to the game you want to delete.

2. With the game selected, press the Options button on the controller.

How to delete games on a PS4 in 3 different ways, to free up storage space (1)

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3. Select "Delete." Confirm your choice by selecting "OK."

How to delete games on a PS4 from System Storage

While the library is the easiest place to find your games, the System Storage page lets you see how much space each of your games takes up on the hard drive. If you want to delete a really large game to reclaim a lot of space, this is the way to do it.

1. On the home screen, select "Settings."

2. Select "Storage."

How to delete games on a PS4 in 3 different ways, to free up storage space (2)

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3. Select "System Storage" to delete games located on the PS4's internal hard drive. If you have an external drive attached to the PS4, you can choose "Extended Storage" to delete games from there.

4. Select "Applications."

5. You should now see the list of installed games and how much hard drive space each is using. Use the controller to highlight the game you want to delete.

How to delete games on a PS4 in 3 different ways, to free up storage space (3)

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6. Press Options on the controller, and then select "Delete."

How to delete games on a PS4 in 3 different ways, to free up storage space (4)

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7. Select the games you want to delete, and then select "Delete." Confirm your decision by selecting "OK."

How to delete your game files on a PS4

When you delete a game, it usually leaves your saved game files and other game settings on the PS4 in case you later reinstall the game. If you're sure you don't want your game files, you can delete them as well.

1. On the home screen, select "Settings."

2. Select "Application Saved Data Management."

How to delete games on a PS4 in 3 different ways, to free up storage space (5)

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3. Select "Saved Data in System Storage."

4. Select "Delete."

5. Choose the game you want to delete.

6. On the Saved Game Data page, choose the game files you want to delete (or choose "Select All").

How to delete games on a PS4 in 3 different ways, to free up storage space (6)

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7. Select "Delete" and then confirm your choice by selecting "OK."

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Related coverage fromHow To Do Everything: Tech:

Dave Johnson

Freelance Writer

Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he's also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.

I'm an enthusiast with a deep understanding of gaming technology, specifically the PlayStation 4 (PS4) system. My expertise is grounded in both theoretical knowledge and practical experience, having closely followed developments in the gaming industry up until my last update in January 2022.

In the provided article, the focus is on managing storage space on a PS4 by deleting games and associated files. The following are key concepts covered in the article:

  1. Deleting Games from the Library:

    • To delete games from your library, navigate to the game you want to remove.
    • Press the Options button on the controller.
    • Select "Delete" and confirm the choice by selecting "OK."
  2. Deleting Games from System Storage:

    • Access the System Storage page through the Settings menu.
    • Choose "Storage" and then "System Storage" to view games on the PS4's internal hard drive.
    • Highlight the game to be deleted, press Options, and select "Delete."
    • Confirm the deletion by selecting "OK."
  3. Deleting Game Files:

    • If you want to delete saved game files along with the game, go to "Settings."
    • Select "Application Saved Data Management."
    • Choose "Saved Data in System Storage."
    • Select "Delete" and pick the specific game files to delete or choose "Select All."
    • Confirm the deletion by selecting "OK."
  4. Additional Information:

    • The article emphasizes the need to free up storage space on the PS4, especially if it's nearing capacity.
    • Deleting games is recommended for titles you're not interested in playing to make room for new ones.
    • The System Storage page provides a comprehensive view of the space each installed game occupies.

Understanding these concepts allows users to efficiently manage their PS4 storage space by removing unwanted games and associated files. As technology continues to evolve, staying informed about such processes is essential for a seamless gaming experience.

How to delete games on a PS4 in 3 different ways, to free up storage space (2024)

FAQs

How to delete games on a PS4 in 3 different ways, to free up storage space? ›

Select “Saved data and game/app settings” > “Save data (PS5)” or “Saved data (PS4)” (games meant for PS4 are located under the second option). Select “Console storage.” Optional step: Select “Upload to cloud storage” or “Copy to USB drive” to back up your game data. Select “Delete.”

How do you free up storage on PS4? ›

Select (Settings) > [Storage].
  1. [Extended Storage] appears when a USB storage device formatted for use as extended storage is connected to your PS4™ system. ...
  2. To delete content, select the content in [System Storage] or [Extended Storage], press the OPTIONS button, and then select [Delete].

How do I delete unnecessary data on PS4? ›

Select “Saved data and game/app settings” > “Save data (PS5)” or “Saved data (PS4)” (games meant for PS4 are located under the second option). Select “Console storage.” Optional step: Select “Upload to cloud storage” or “Copy to USB drive” to back up your game data. Select “Delete.”

How do I remove games from console storage? ›

How to check your storage space on PS5 consoles
  1. Go to Settings > Storage > Console Storage > Games and Apps.
  2. Choose the data you want to get rid of, and select Delete.

Does deleting a game delete saves PS4? ›

Ensuring Save Data Integrity

When you uninstall a game on your PS4, your saves are not automatically deleted. They're kept separately in the PS4's internal storage.

How do you delete games? ›

Delete an app or game
  1. From the Android TV Home screen, scroll to Settings. .
  2. Under "Device," select Apps.
  3. Under "Downloaded apps," choose the app you want to delete.
  4. Select Uninstall. OK.

How to delete games PS4? ›

Uninstalling games from PS4 is easy. Simply navigate to the game in the Games Menu and highlight the desired game. Once it is highlighted, press the Options button on your controller and select Delete from the menu.

Is Sony removing 1200 games? ›

Forbes notes that PlayStation meant to delete over 1,200 titles in total. As mentioned, there was no discussion of a refund or a way to download Discovery content purchased for PlayStation. Fortunately for users, public opinion still has some sway over decisions made by corporations.

How do you delete screenshots on PS4? ›

Viewing your saved screenshots

Select (Capture Gallery) from the content area. Press the OPTIONS button to sort saved screenshots by name or date, and delete screenshots. You can also copy saved screenshots to a USB storage device.

What does clearing cache on PS4 do? ›

Clearing the cache on your console can help reduce game crashes and freezes. This will not delete any of the saved data.

How to speed up PS4? ›

  1. Use a hardwired internet connection. If your Wi-Fi connection is lagging behind or your downloads aren't up to speed, switching to an Ethernet cable could be a game changer. ...
  2. Free up disk space. Low disk space is also a culprit in slowing down PS4 performance. ...
  3. Rebuild PS4 database. ...
  4. Upgrade to an SSD.

What to do on Safe Mode PS4? ›

Safe Mode allows you to start your PlayStation console with only the most basic functions active. The Safe Mode options are designed to help you solve issues by rebuilding the console storage database, changing your resolution or "hard" resetting the console to its factory settings.

Can you buy more storage for PS4? ›

Extra storage for PS5 and PS4 consoles. Add even more space for games, video clips and more with external and internal storage solutions for your console.

Does PS5 have 1TB? ›

The new 1TB PS5 has more usable storage space than the Xbox Series X. It's out with the old and in with the new for the PlayStation 5, as Sony has replaced its old 2020 model with a slimmer redesign. The new model fixes one of its predecessor's biggest issues thanks to its 1TB storage upgrade.

Can you play PS4 games on PS5? ›

Yes. More than 99 percent of the 4000+ games available on PS4 are playable on PS5. You can install PS4 games from disc* or download digital games purchased from PlayStation Store via your game library.

What takes up the most storage on PS4? ›

  • Destiny 2 PS4 file size - 165GB. (Image credit: Bungie) ...
  • Warzone PS4 file size - 110GB. ...
  • Red Dead Redemption 2 PS4 file size - 105GB. ...
  • NBA 2K22 PS4 file size - 100GB. ...
  • Black Ops Cold War PS4 file size - 95+GB. ...
  • The Elder Scrolls Online PS4 file size - 85GB+ ...
  • The Last of Us 2 PS4 file size - 80GB. ...
  • Battlefield 4 PS4 file size - 71GB.
Sep 23, 2021

Do PS4 accounts take up space? ›

A single PlayStation 4 system can have up to 16 different user profiles linked to it, so if you're running out of space, deleting accounts you don't use is a good idea. Deleting a user account off of a PS4 console will remove all of the saved data and screenshots created by that user from the hard drive.

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