Engadget guide maps out what the PS5's USB ports can do beyond charging a controller

Every PS5 version carries two 10 Gbps USB-A ports on the rear, Engadget reported, but the front connections vary by model. The original PS5 has one USB-A 2.0 port and a 10 Gbps USB-C port at the front, while on the PS5 Slim and PS5 Pro the slower USB 2.0 connection is USB-C instead. The guide advises keeping speed-sensitive tasks, such as external storage, away from that USB 2.0 port.

External drives offer a way around the console's limited internal capacity, though with restrictions. PS5 games cannot be played from an external drive and are designed to run only from internal storage or an M.2 SSD that meets Sony's requirements, according to the guide. A drive can instead hold PS5 titles moved off the console for archival and have them shifted back when the player wants to resume; PS4 games can be played directly from external storage. The drive must be at least USB 5 Gbps (USB 3.0) and between 250GB and 8TB, only one can be used at a time, and it will not work through a USB hub. Formatting takes place under Settings > Storage > USB Extended Storage > Format as USB Extended Storage, a step that erases existing data.

Screenshots and video clips require a separate drive from games. A drive used for game storage has to be formatted as USB Extended Storage, whereas captured media needs a standard exFAT or FAT32 drive, so the guide suggests two drives for long-term storage of both, or a flash drive for quick transfers to a computer.

Charging and pairing controllers is the most familiar use. Connecting a DualSense controller by cable is the fastest way to pair it, which matters when the controller travels to another house, is used with a PC or is paired with a second console, according to Engadget, which recommends leaving a cable plugged into the front USB 2.0 port for that purpose. Players who charge this way regularly can adjust the Rest Mode settings under Settings > System > Power Saving > Features Available in Rest Mode, choosing 3 Hours to cut power after that period or Always to keep it on. On the PS5 Slim and Pro, an Adaptive option stops supplying power once the controller is charged.

For PlayStation VR2, a single USB-C cable goes into the fast front port, which is the lower one on the Slim and Pro. The original PS VR also runs on PS5 but only with the PS4 camera, which needs an adapter because the console lacks the headset's proprietary connection; Sony stopped giving the adapters away in 2024, Engadget reported.

The PS5 HD Camera is another USB accessory with narrow use. It is not required for PS VR2, does not work with the original PS VR and exists mainly to show a player's face when streaming to Twitch or YouTube, and third-party cameras do not work natively on the console. Headsets, whether wired or wireless through a dongle, also rely on the USB ports; the guide cites a SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless whose transmitter connects over USB-C while the headphones link to it wirelessly. Racing wheels and fight sticks offer more authentic control in the genres that suit them, and many PS5 games support a keyboard and mouse.