{"id":2286,"date":"2026-03-21T14:09:57","date_gmt":"2026-03-21T08:39:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mukundasoftware.com\/blog\/?p=2286"},"modified":"2026-03-21T14:10:24","modified_gmt":"2026-03-21T08:40:24","slug":"fix-ps5-error-ce-100028-1-ssd-storage-full-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mukundasoftware.com\/blog\/gaming\/fix\/fix-ps5-error-ce-100028-1-ssd-storage-full-guide.html","title":{"rendered":"Fix PS5 SSD Storage Full Error CE-100028-1:  (Installation Failed)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you just tried to download a new game or update only to be met with <strong>&#8220;Something went wrong (CE-100028-1),&#8221;<\/strong> your PS5 has officially run out of &#8220;breathing room.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Modern games in 2026 are larger than ever, and even if your storage looks like it has a few GB left, the PS5 requires extra space to &#8220;unpack&#8221; files during an installation. Here is how to reclaim your space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Quick Answer:<\/strong> Free Up Space on PS5<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Go to <strong>Settings<\/strong> \u2192 <strong>Storage<\/strong> \u2192 <strong>Console Storage<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Look at the breakdown of <strong>Games and Apps<\/strong>, <strong>Media<\/strong>, and <strong>Other<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Delete unused games or move them to an external USB drive.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you have an M.2 SSD expansion slot, install an additional SSD (supports up to 4TB).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Restart your console and try the installation again.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Is Error CE-100028-1?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Error CE-100028-1 appears on PlayStation 5 when you attempt to <strong>install a game, download an update, or capture a screenshot\/video<\/strong>, but the internal SSD does not have enough free space to complete the operation . The system will show a message like \u201cCannot install\u201d or \u201cNot enough free space.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This error is not a hardware failure\u2014it simply means your console\u2019s built\u2011in storage is full (or close to full) and needs cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why Does This Error Happen?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PS5 may require extra temporary space during updates, even if the update size looks small. The PS5 internal SSD has a total capacity of <strong>825GB<\/strong> (or 1TB on later models), but after system software and reserved space, you typically get around <strong>667GB<\/strong> usable . With modern games often exceeding 50\u2013100GB, the drive fills up quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Common triggers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Game installation<\/strong> \u2013 insufficient space for the full game.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Game update<\/strong> \u2013 even small updates require additional temporary space.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Media capture<\/strong> \u2013 saving video clips or screenshots with insufficient space.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>System update<\/strong> \u2013 firmware updates need a few GB free.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Method 1:<\/strong> Check Available Storage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First, confirm how much free space you have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Go to <strong>Settings<\/strong> (gear icon in the top\u2011right).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Select <strong>Storage<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Choose <strong>Console Storage<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You\u2019ll see a bar showing total capacity and used space.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Also check <strong>USB Extended Storage<\/strong> if you have an external drive.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If free space is less than <strong>20\u201330GB<\/strong>, you\u2019re at risk of this error.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Method 2:<\/strong> Delete Unused Games and Apps<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The quickest fix is to delete content you no longer play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In <strong>Storage<\/strong> \u2192 <strong>Console Storage<\/strong>, select <strong>Games and Apps<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You\u2019ll see a list of installed games sorted by size.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Highlight a game, press the <strong>Options<\/strong> button, and choose <strong>Delete<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Confirm deletion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Repeat until you have enough free space.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Note:<\/strong> Deleting a game does not delete your saved data (saved files are stored separately). You can reinstall the game later from your Library.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Method 3:<\/strong> Move Games to External USB Storage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you don\u2019t want to delete games, move them to an external USB hard drive (USB 3.0 or later). Keep in mind:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>PS5 games <strong>cannot be played<\/strong> from a USB drive\u2014they must be on the internal SSD or M.2 expansion drive.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>PS4 games <strong>can be played<\/strong> directly from USB storage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Moving frees up internal space for PS5 games and updates.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Connect a USB 3.0 drive (minimum 250GB) to your PS5.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Go to <strong>Settings<\/strong> \u2192 <strong>Storage<\/strong> \u2192 <strong>USB Extended Storage<\/strong> \u2192 <strong>Format as Extended Storage<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Once formatted, go to <strong>Console Storage<\/strong> \u2192 <strong>Games and Apps<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Select a game, press <strong>Options<\/strong>, choose <strong>Move to USB Extended Storage<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wait for the transfer to complete.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Method 4:<\/strong> Install an M.2 SSD (Expand Internal Storage)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For a permanent solution, you can install a compatible M.2 NVMe SSD in the PS5 expansion slot. This adds internal storage that can run PS5 games directly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Requirements:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 SSD<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Read speed \u2265 5500 MB\/s (recommended)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>With or without heatsink (Sony recommends a heatsink)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Capacity up to 4TB<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Steps:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Power off and unplug your PS5.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Remove the side plate (follow official guide).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Locate the expansion slot, remove the screw, and insert the SSD.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reassemble and power on.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The PS5 will prompt to format the new drive.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Set it as the default installation location.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now you\u2019ll have ample space for dozens of games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Method 5:<\/strong> Clear Saved Data and Media<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sometimes game saves, screenshots, and video clips take up surprising space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Saved Data:<\/strong> Go to <strong>Settings<\/strong> \u2192 <strong>Storage<\/strong> \u2192 <strong>Console Storage<\/strong> \u2192 <strong>Saved Data<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Delete saved data for games you no longer play.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You can also upload saves to <strong>PS Plus cloud storage<\/strong> before deleting.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Media Gallery:<\/strong> Go to <strong>Media Gallery<\/strong> from the home screen.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Press <strong>Options<\/strong> on any video or screenshot and delete what you don\u2019t need.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Consider exporting important clips to USB before deletion.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Method 6:<\/strong> Rebuild Database to Free Hidden Space<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Occasionally, temporary files and corrupted data can consume space that isn\u2019t shown. Rebuilding the database can clean this up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Power off your PS5 completely (hold power button until you hear two beeps).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Press and hold the power button again, releasing after the second beep to enter <strong>Safe Mode<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Connect your controller with a USB cable and press the PS button.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Select <strong>Clear Cache and Rebuild Database<\/strong> \u2192 <strong>Rebuild Database<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wait for the process to finish (may take several minutes).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Restart and check free space again.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Method 7:<\/strong> Disable Auto-Trophy Captures<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Save space automatically by stopping the PS5 from recording every time you get a &#8220;Bronze&#8221; trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Go to <strong>Settings > Captures and Broadcasts > Trophies<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Set <strong>Save Trophy Screenshots<\/strong> and <strong>Save Trophy Videos<\/strong> to <strong>None<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to Check What\u2019s Taking Up Space<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For a detailed view:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Settings<\/strong> \u2192 <strong>Storage<\/strong> \u2192 <strong>Console Storage<\/strong> \u2192 <strong>Games and Apps<\/strong> \u2192 sort by size to see the biggest offenders.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Under <strong>Media<\/strong>, see how much space is used by screenshots and videos.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Under <strong>Other<\/strong>, you\u2019ll see system files and temporary data. A large \u201cOther\u201d category can sometimes be reduced by rebuilding the database. <strong>Clear &#8220;Other&#8221; Storage:<\/strong> <em>Settings > Storage > Console Storage > Games and Apps<\/em>. Scroll to the bottom to see &#8220;Other.&#8221; If it&#8217;s over 50GB, <strong>Restart your console<\/strong>\u2014this often triggers the system to delete temporary cache files.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Why do I get CE-100028-1 even when I have free space?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sometimes the system needs contiguous free space, or the update requires additional temporary space beyond what\u2019s shown. Try deleting a small game (e.g., 10\u201320GB) to create enough room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Can I install PS5 games on an external USB drive?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No. PS5 games can only be stored and played from the internal SSD or an installed M.2 SSD. USB drives can store them, but you\u2019d need to move them back to internal to play\u2014so it\u2019s not practical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\"><strong>How much free space should I keep on the internal SSD?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Aim for at least <strong>20\u201330GB free<\/strong>. Game updates and system patches often need that much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Will deleting a game delete my progress?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No. Game saves are stored separately. You can reinstall the game later and resume from where you left off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\"><strong>I have an M.2 SSD installed, but the error still appears.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Make sure your installation location is set correctly if using an M.2 SSD: <strong>Settings<\/strong> \u2192 <strong>Storage<\/strong> \u2192 <strong>Installation Location<\/strong> \u2192 choose the M.2 drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>By keeping your storage organised and leaving enough free space, you can avoid the CE-100028-1 error and enjoy uninterrupted gaming.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Further Reading<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re optimizing your PlayStation experience, these guides might help:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-mukunda-software-updates wp-block-embed-mukunda-software-updates\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"357nmbgTtV\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mukundasoftware.com\/blog\/gaming\/playstation\/best-ps5-games-2026.html\">Top 21 Best PS5 Games for 2026 \u2014 How Many of These Have You Played?<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Top 21 Best PS5 Games for 2026 \u2014 How Many of These Have You Played?&#8221; &#8212; Mukunda Software Updates\" src=\"https:\/\/mukundasoftware.com\/blog\/gaming\/playstation\/best-ps5-games-2026.html\/embed#?secret=9jM3X47yK4#?secret=357nmbgTtV\" data-secret=\"357nmbgTtV\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-mukunda-software-updates wp-block-embed-mukunda-software-updates\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"wIB2Lo1Tp4\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mukundasoftware.com\/blog\/gaming\/fix\/fix-ps5-error-ce-108255-1-game-crashes-launch-guide.html\">Fix PS5 Error CE-108255-1: Game Keeps Crashing? Try These 5 Solutions (2026)<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Fix PS5 Error CE-108255-1: Game Keeps Crashing? Try These 5 Solutions (2026)&#8221; &#8212; Mukunda Software Updates\" src=\"https:\/\/mukundasoftware.com\/blog\/gaming\/fix\/fix-ps5-error-ce-108255-1-game-crashes-launch-guide.html\/embed#?secret=RbL1aaM6bu#?secret=wIB2Lo1Tp4\" data-secret=\"wIB2Lo1Tp4\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you just tried to download a new game or update only to be met with &#8220;Something went wrong (CE-100028-1),&#8221; your PS5 has officially run out of &#8220;breathing room.&#8221; Modern games in 2026 are larger than ever, and even if your storage looks like it has a few GB left, the PS5 requires extra space &#8230; <a title=\"Fix PS5 SSD Storage Full Error CE-100028-1:  (Installation Failed)\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/mukundasoftware.com\/blog\/gaming\/fix\/fix-ps5-error-ce-100028-1-ssd-storage-full-guide.html\" aria-label=\"Read more about Fix PS5 SSD Storage Full Error CE-100028-1:  (Installation Failed)\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":2287,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[205,60],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2286","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fix","category-playstation"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mukundasoftware.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2286","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mukundasoftware.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mukundasoftware.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mukundasoftware.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mukundasoftware.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2286"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mukundasoftware.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2286\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2288,"href":"https:\/\/mukundasoftware.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2286\/revisions\/2288"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mukundasoftware.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2287"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mukundasoftware.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2286"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mukundasoftware.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2286"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mukundasoftware.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2286"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}