Yes. An Xbox update enabled support for external USB drives larger than 16TB. Microsoft announced the change in January 2025 as part of an Xbox Insider Alpha Skip-Ahead preview, and the announcement does not state a new maximum capacity. The update does not change which games can be played from USB storage, and that is where most of the confusion starts.
What the update changed
Microsoft’s release note, as quoted by GameSpot in its January 22, 2025 coverage of the Xbox Insider announcement, reads:
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“We are enabling support for external USB drives larger than 16TB, so you can be sure your favorite games are always ready to play.”
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The note adds that newly formatted drives larger than 16TB “will be formatted with multiple partitions to utilize all available space for games and apps.” Xbox Support’s release notes are the primary source for this wording. That page loads its content through scripts, so check it directly in your browser if you want the exact text for your console’s version.
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- Easily store and access 2TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
The wording says support extends above 16TB. It does not name an upper limit, so the change should not be read as unlimited capacity or as a guarantee that any particular size will work.
Why a large drive can appear as several devices
Newly formatted drives above 16TB are split into multiple partitions so that all of the capacity can be used for games and apps. Each partition is listed as its own device in the storage devices list. A single physical drive can therefore show up as more than one entry, and that is the intended behavior rather than a sign that the drive is faulty.
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- Easily store and access 1TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop. Reformatting may be required for Mac
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Existing drives need reformatting
Reporting from January 2025 said that a drive larger than 16TB that is already formatted would need to be reformatted to take advantage of the change. Formatting erases the drive, so treat the process carefully:
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- Copy anything you cannot afford to lose to another drive or to cloud storage before you begin.
- Read the current Xbox Support instructions for reformatting. The reporting did not include full migration steps, so do not rely on a third-party walkthrough alone.
- Reformat the drive, then confirm that its partitions appear in the storage devices list before moving any content back onto it.
What USB storage can and cannot play
Seagate’s Xbox Series X|S USB storage guidance draws a firm line between storing a game and playing it. A USB drive can store games that are optimized for Series X|S, but those titles cannot be played from USB. To play them, move them to the internal drive or to a Storage Expansion Card. Non-optimized games, including Xbox One games, can be both stored and played from USB.
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- Ultra fast data transfers: the external hard drive works with USB 3.0 thickened copper cable to provide super fast transfer speeds. Theoretical read speed is as high as 110MB/s-133MB/s and write speed is as high as 103MB/s.
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- Compatibility: compatible with PS4/xbox one/Windows/Linux/Mac/Android,Stable and fast downloading on game console no difference from fast transmission when using on PC.
- Plug and Play: no software to install, just plug it in and the drive is ready to use. The hard drive chip is wrapped with aluminum anti-interference layer to increase heat dissipation and protect data
- Package Contents: 1* portable hard drive, 1 *USB 3.0 cable, 1*USB to type C adapter，1 *user manual, shell packaging, three-year manufacturer's warranty and free technical support services
| Game type | Store on a USB drive | Play from a USB drive |
|---|---|---|
| Optimized for Series X|S | Yes | No. Move the game to internal storage or a Storage Expansion Card to play it. |
| Non-optimized, including Xbox One games | Yes | Yes |
Source: Seagate’s Xbox Series X|S USB storage guidance.
USB drive requirements
- Capacity of at least 128GB, per Seagate’s stated external storage requirement.
- USB 3.0 or later.
- For drives above 16TB, the update’s support applies, and the formatting rules described above apply as well.
Seagate’s guidance page does not display a publication date, so confirm these requirements against current Xbox instructions before you buy or set up a drive.
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- 【Ultra-thin and quiet】 - The motherboard adopts JMicron 578 noise-free solution, giving you a quiet working environment. Lightweight and portable size designed to fit in your pocket for easy portability.
- 【Ultra-Fast Data Transfers】 - Pairing this external hard drive with JMicron 578 solution USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 interfaces enables blazing-fast data transfer. It boasts theoretical read speeds of up to 125MB/s and write speeds of up to 103MB/s.
- 【Plug and Play】 - With no software to install, just plug it in and the drive is ready to use.The hard disk chip is wrapped with an aluminum anti-interference layer to increase heat dissipation and protect data.
- 【What You Get】 - 1 x Portable Hard Drive, 1 x USB 3.0 Cable, 1 x User Manual, Gift-type shell packaging ,Three-year manufacturer's warranty and free technical support services.
USB drive or Storage Expansion Card?
Xbox’s US listing for the Seagate Storage Expansion Card identifies compatibility with Xbox Series X and Series S and offers 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB options. Xbox describes the card as additional external memory that maintains peak speed and performance matching the console’s internal SSD.
| Option | Capacities listed | Optimized Series X|S games playable from it | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| External USB drive | Support above 16TB, per the January 2025 release note. No maximum is stated. | No, per Seagate’s guidance. Optimized titles can be stored only. | Suited to a larger archive of games. Non-optimized games play from it. |
| Seagate Storage Expansion Card | 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB, per Xbox’s US listing | Yes. Xbox positions the card as expanded storage for the console. | Xbox’s US listing says it matches the internal SSD’s speed and performance. |
The card is a separate route to expanded storage. It does not mean USB drives can play optimized Series X|S titles.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Easily store and access 4TB of content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Choosing between them
- If you mainly need room to keep a large library, and you accept moving optimized titles back to internal storage before playing them, a USB drive fits.
- If you want to play optimized Series X|S games from expanded storage, the Storage Expansion Card is the option the Xbox listing describes for that purpose.
- If most of your library is non-optimized or older games, a USB drive can both store and play them.
What remains unconfirmed
- The January 2025 reporting described the Alpha Skip-Ahead preview and said a wider release would follow in the weeks after. The sources available for this article do not confirm the date the change reached general release, so check your console’s update history if you need that date.
- The maximum supported drive size.
- Current retailer prices and stock for either option.
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