I'm wondering is there a workaround for the glitch on PS4 that won't let you install or download a game unless you have over 50gb free? It's very annoying try and install a game only to be told there's no available storage when there is, but it's less than 50gb. For instance I just downloaded the Overwatch beta( thx Jiggles Bunny) which is like 9gb, but it wouldn't start downloading because I only had 38gb free. So I had to go and delete some old games I wasn't playing just to get over 50gb when I had way more space then I needed. I'm sick of having to delete games to install a beta or full game and then reinstall the game I deleted. I know I need to get a new HDD since I'm still using the stock 500gb HDD, but is there no way to fix this?
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PS4 low system storage error when installing games?
- Thread starter PrinceKee
- Start date
Deeke[VRZ]
Member
I've gotten this error many times. I have a launch PS4 with the stock 500GB HDD in still, so I'm thinking my hard drive is starting to get funky.
Even with 59GB free I'm unable to download small things; I had to clear up an extra 2GB to download the 3GB Nioh demo.
One thing you can try doing is rebuilding your database...or backing up ALL your saves and re-initializing your console (reset to factory defaults, wipes your HDD).
Another option is to take the HDD out and hook it up to your PC and use specific hard drive optimizing software to clean it up. I have a lot of digital games on my PS4 so that's why I haven't done the last option...
The weird thing is that I've been able to consistently install games with only like 10GB free in the past, but ever since I downloaded a ton of new firmware, it doesn't work so well :[
Even with 59GB free I'm unable to download small things; I had to clear up an extra 2GB to download the 3GB Nioh demo.
One thing you can try doing is rebuilding your database...or backing up ALL your saves and re-initializing your console (reset to factory defaults, wipes your HDD).
Another option is to take the HDD out and hook it up to your PC and use specific hard drive optimizing software to clean it up. I have a lot of digital games on my PS4 so that's why I haven't done the last option...
The weird thing is that I've been able to consistently install games with only like 10GB free in the past, but ever since I downloaded a ton of new firmware, it doesn't work so well :[
OdysseusVA
Banned
Yes, it's annoying. I'm pretty sure you need 50gb free to install anything or maybe 60gb since deeke said he had 59gb free. But, usually I notice I can free 50gb then try to install and it'll begin. Someone said this was a glitch that goes back to the PS3 and is still happening in the PS4...
Really? I had no idea that the didn't do that on the PS4 anymore.
OK, forgetting everything that I've said here.
i had the same problem with dirt rally. i had 48gb free, but the game was only 43gb. it took me 2hours to investigate what is wrong with my system until i came to realize that it might be similar to the ps3.
so i deleted a 50gb game and it worked out. but now i have again some 45gb left and iam worried to delete a game to play uncharted next week.
hope there is a fix...?
so i deleted a 50gb game and it worked out. but now i have again some 45gb left and iam worried to delete a game to play uncharted next week.
hope there is a fix...?
93xfan
Banned
Letting your HDD be so low on storage can affect performance, just so you know.
Optimus Prime
Member
Have a 2TB drive with 75GB free. Downloaded a 1GB game (Hatoful Boyfriend) and another under 1GB (Shantae). When I tried to download a 2GB game (Hatoful sequel), I got the storage error. I deleted the Mirror's Edge beta which was about 9GB. The game downloaded after that, and I now have 80GB free.
Never had this happen before on PS4. I'm well acquainted with the download limitations on PS3, but this doesn't seem right at all.
Never had this happen before on PS4. I'm well acquainted with the download limitations on PS3, but this doesn't seem right at all.
Popsickles
Member
I belive the issue is the file system ps4 uses. Unlike windows the file system avoids fragmentation by allocating adequate space for games to instal in a continuous file.This avoids problems with fragmentation but wastes space, so when it says you have x amount of space left it is not necessarily continuous so it wont install to that space, hence when you delete items it frees up continuous space.
Pestilence11
Member
That sounds plausible.
OP you should grab a 2 TB external drive (less than $100) and pull the HDD out of it. Then you can stick your PS4's 500 gig in the portable so it can potentially still get some use.
If you take your PS4 drive and hook it up to your PC using the Admin Tools for Disk Management, you'll see that the drive has SEVERAL partitions, almost one for each app/game, but it also reserves a certain amount, probably for file/page swapping etc, but also doesn't allow for fragmentation of actual files.
Optimus Prime
Member
So I had 75GB left but couldn't install a game larger than 2GB. I assume that means I have something like 40+ small partitions left suitable to mostly indies. Not too helpful considering I have UC4 pre-ordered. Guess I may have to delete some large games.
In the meantime, would something like rebuilding the database help?
In the meantime, would something like rebuilding the database help?
Yeah I had this recently with Dirt Rally. Seemed like I needed double the size to install which I know shouldn't be the case on PS4... Had to delete 10GB of Rocket League saved clips lol to get to where I needed to be. Very frustrating since I guess I'll have this everytime I get a big new game. Definitely need to get myself a 2TB hybrid drive for my PS4 Neo from the off 
Goose_Se7en
Banned
You can get a bigger HDD, that's a good workaround. Alternatively, Sony can get off their high horse and release an update so that the PS4 can support external HDD for game installs.
what high horse?
Jack The Nipper
Banned
I have seen this issue for a long time, sucks and I really need atleas 2tb
Lord Error
Insane For Sony
This is probably happening due to drive fragmentation, that'd be my guess. Thankfully I haven't experienced it yet, but if that's really the reason, the problem seems inevitable as you keep deleting and installing games over and over.
I have been under the impression for a while that PS4 does not store more than 320GB of game data on a 500GB hard drive. Even with ~100GB free, huge games (Say, Wolfenstein The Old Blood) do not install. Stuff like Sleeping Dogs that is around 18GB will install fine. It seems like an enormous waste if you are somebody who routinely cleans out expired betas and moves your video captures to an external drive. I don't need more than 50GB for non-gaming files.
Buy the disc.
Added bonus: You actually own the game and can sell it/loan it/give it away.
whats the OTHER fix? lol
basic_text
Member
Fun fact: This problem applies to disc installs as well as downloads. For me anyway.
ethomaz
Banned
You don't need 50GB free.
You need double the size for games or patch (that case you need double the full size of the game installed + patch size).
I had 25GB free and installed yesterday three games (2.5GB, 1.5GB and 6GB) but I was unnable to download the Destiny patch (because it needs about 60GB free to install the patch).
The fix means you need to free up space.
You need double the size for games or patch (that case you need double the full size of the game installed + patch size).
I had 25GB free and installed yesterday three games (2.5GB, 1.5GB and 6GB) but I was unnable to download the Destiny patch (because it needs about 60GB free to install the patch).
You need about 90GB to install this game.
The fix means you need to free up space.
That's how the PS3 worked, not the PS4. As someone else mentioned in the thread (and I've experienced myself) even small files won't download until you delete a lot of stuff.
as mentioned above, this was for the ps3. THe ps4 doesn't work like that as I have had small files not download either when there had been more than double the space.
dripdripsplash
Member
I'm just bumping this instead of creating new thread.
This problem is still there.
Just bought Witcher 3 and it wouldn't download the 14 GB Blood and Wine DLC even though I had 38 GB free according to the System Storage Management tab.
Had to delete another game to get 50GB+ free space for it to begin downloading. Can't believe this is a thing still.
This problem is still there.
Just bought Witcher 3 and it wouldn't download the 14 GB Blood and Wine DLC even though I had 38 GB free according to the System Storage Management tab.
Had to delete another game to get 50GB+ free space for it to begin downloading. Can't believe this is a thing still.