Massively expand your Steam Deck storage with this super-cheap 2TB SSD upgrade

One of my biggest issues with Valve’s Steam Deck is that I’m constantly running out of space on my 512GB model with massive game install sizes, annoying shader bloat and constant updates. However, you can very easily upgrade your handheld’s internal storage with a much bigger internal SSD.

If you’re willing to open your Steam Deck and replace your internal SSD—which is a much simpler process than many would think, you can grab a massive 2TB SSD for an absolute bargain on Amazon right now.

At the time of writing, the Crucial P310 M.2 SSD is available at a sizeable discount on Amazon, giving you 2,000GB of storage for just £120. Crucial’s smaller 1TB version of the drive is also available for just £67, which we’d also suggest for those on smaller storage handhelds.

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to take full advantage of the drive’s rapid 7,1000 MB/s speed due to the handheld’s PCIe 3.0 cap, but the storage makes it worth it.

With the Steam Deck cap in place, the drive will only get as fast as 3,500MB/s. However, this drive is still significantly faster than the speed of the Steam Deck’s internal SSD which comes in at 2,500MB/s. 64GB Deck users are sadly limited to a much slower 300MB/s eMMC drive which definitely needs upgrading.

Steam Deck SSD Replacement: Get it Done in 20 Minutes!

Of course, if you have another PC gaming handheld, you’ll also be able to take advantage of the deal as most use the exact same M.2 slot for storage. If you have an ASUS ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion GO or really anything with an M.2 slot for gaming, we’d recommend this drive.

Of course, you can also get more storage by simply getting a sizeable MicroSD card to plug into your handheld. However, shaders are still stored on the handheld’s internal SSD, and your storage speed in massively capped with the SD card port.

If you’ve never replaced an SSD before, we’d suggest following the brilliant iFixit guide for help. It may sound daunting, but anyone can replace their drive if they stick to the guide. However, you will also need a USB stick to install SteamOS on your newly installed SSD after swapping them out.