Best SSD for Steam Deck 2026: Internal Upgrade & Storage Guide
Quick Answer+
The WD Black SN770M 2TB is the best Steam Deck SSD — fast Gen4 speeds, excellent reliability, and the maximum practical capacity in 2230 form factor. For budget upgrades, the Sabrent Rocket 2230 1TB delivers great value at $80-100. The key requirement is M.2 2230 form factor (30mm length) — standard 2280 laptop drives won’t fit. Upgrading is straightforward with basic tools, and you’ll keep your microSD slot free for even more storage.
The Steam Deck’s storage is one of its few limitations. The base 64GB model is barely usable, and even the 512GB LCD model fills up fast with modern games. The good news: the internal SSD is user-replaceable with the right M.2 2230 drive.
This guide covers everything you need to know about upgrading your Steam Deck’s internal storage — from drive selection to installation.
Quick Comparison: Best Steam Deck SSDs
| Drive | Capacity | Speed | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WD Black SN770M | 1TB/2TB | 5,150 MB/s | $100-180 | Best overall |
| Corsair MP600 Mini | 1TB/2TB | 4,800 MB/s | $110-190 | Premium alternative |
| Sabrent Rocket 2230 | 512GB/1TB/2TB | 5,000 MB/s | $50-180 | Best value |
| Kioxia BG5 | 512GB/1TB | 3,500 MB/s | $50-80 | Budget option |
| Samsung PM991a | 512GB/1TB | 3,100 MB/s | $40-70 | OEM budget |
Understanding Steam Deck Storage
Why Upgrade the Internal SSD?
Benefits over microSD:
- 3-5x faster game loading (NVMe vs UHS-I SD)
- More reliable than microSD cards
- Frees microSD slot for additional storage
- Better for shader cache and game compatibility
- No microSD card swapping for different libraries
The base 64GB model problem: Steam Deck’s 64GB eMMC model uses slower storage and fills instantly. One modern game (60-100GB) and you’re done. Upgrading to a 1TB or 2TB NVMe transforms the device.
M.2 2230 Form Factor
The Steam Deck uses M.2 2230 drives — that’s 22mm wide by 30mm long. Standard laptop/desktop SSDs are 2280 (80mm long) and will not fit. Make sure any drive you buy specifically lists 2230 form factor.
The 2230 form factor was rare until recently. Demand from Steam Deck, Microsoft Surface devices, and handheld gaming PCs has expanded options significantly.
Capacity Recommendations
| Capacity | Games | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| 256GB | 2-4 AAA games | Minimum viable, tight |
| 512GB | 5-8 AAA games | Comfortable for most |
| 1TB | 10-15 AAA games | Sweet spot |
| 2TB | 20-30 AAA games | Maximum available, future-proof |
Our recommendation: 1TB is the sweet spot for most users. 2TB is available but costs significantly more — consider 1TB internal + 512GB microSD for similar total storage at lower cost.
Best Steam Deck SSDs
WD Black SN770M 2TB — Best Overall
WD Black SN770M 2TB
5,150 MB/s Read | 4,850 MB/s Write | PCIe 4.0 | M.2 2230 | 5-Year Warranty
The definitive Steam Deck SSD. WD’s proven reliability in the perfect form factor with maximum capacity. Fast, efficient, and well-supported.
The WD Black SN770M is purpose-built for handhelds and compact devices. It’s the 2230 version of the popular SN770, sharing its excellent controller and NAND. The “M” designates the mini form factor.
Why it’s best for Steam Deck:
- Maximum 2TB capacity in 2230 form factor
- Gen4 speeds (5,150 MB/s) — faster than Steam Deck can fully utilize
- Low power consumption for battery life
- WD’s proven reliability and 5-year warranty
- Single-sided design ensures fit
The only downside: Premium pricing, especially at 2TB.
Corsair MP600 Mini 1TB — Premium Alternative
Corsair MP600 Mini 1TB
4,800 MB/s Read | 4,800 MB/s Write | PCIe 4.0 | M.2 2230 | 5-Year Warranty
Corsair’s compact powerhouse with excellent sustained performance. High-quality Phison controller with 3D TLC NAND for reliability.
The Corsair MP600 Mini uses a Phison E21T controller — the same architecture found in full-size flagship drives. Build quality is excellent, and Corsair’s warranty support is reliable.
Why choose Corsair:
- Excellent sustained write performance
- High-quality components
- Good software support
- Available in 1TB and 2TB
Sabrent Rocket 2230 1TB — Best Value
Sabrent Rocket 2230 1TB
5,000 MB/s Read | 4,300 MB/s Write | PCIe 4.0 | M.2 2230 | 5-Year Warranty
Excellent performance at an aggressive price point. Sabrent’s reputation for value continues in the 2230 form factor. Reddit community favorite.
Sabrent built their reputation on value, and the Rocket 2230 delivers. Performance matches premium competitors at a lower price point. It’s frequently recommended in Steam Deck communities.
Why it’s the value pick:
- Near-flagship speeds at budget prices
- Proven reliability (popular in Steam Deck community)
- Available in 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB
- 5-year warranty
- Frequently on sale
Kioxia BG5 1TB — Budget Option
Kioxia (Toshiba) BG5 1TB
3,500 MB/s Read | 2,900 MB/s Write | PCIe 4.0 | M.2 2230 | OEM Drive
OEM drive found in many devices including some Steam Deck models. Solid performance at an excellent price. May come without retail packaging.
The Kioxia (formerly Toshiba) BG5 is an OEM drive that’s found its way to retail channels. It’s the same drive Valve uses in some Steam Deck models. Performance is lower than premium options but still excellent for Steam Deck’s needs.
Why consider Kioxia:
- Proven in actual Steam Decks
- Lower price than premium 2230 drives
- Kioxia/Toshiba reliability
- “Good enough” performance for Steam Deck
Caveat: OEM drives may ship without retail packaging and sometimes have shorter warranties.
Samsung PM991a 1TB — OEM Budget
Samsung PM991a 1TB
3,100 MB/s Read | 2,600 MB/s Write | PCIe 3.0 | M.2 2230 | OEM Drive
Samsung’s OEM 2230 drive at budget prices. Gen3 speeds but still much faster than microSD. Good option for pure budget upgrades.
The Samsung PM991a is a Gen3 OEM drive, so it’s slower than Gen4 options. But it’s still 3-5x faster than microSD cards and significantly cheaper than premium 2230 drives.
Why consider PM991a:
- Samsung quality at budget prices
- Still dramatically faster than microSD
- Lowest cost per GB for 2230
- Adequate for Steam Deck (the device can’t fully utilize Gen4 anyway)
Steam Deck SSD Installation Guide
What You Need
- New M.2 2230 SSD
- Phillips #0 screwdriver
- Plastic spudger or guitar pick (for opening)
- USB-C flash drive or microSD with SteamOS recovery image
- 30-60 minutes
Step-by-Step Installation
1. Prepare for Installation
- Fully charge your Steam Deck (or keep it plugged in)
- Download SteamOS recovery image from Valve
- Create bootable USB/microSD with the recovery image
- Back up any saves not synced to Steam Cloud
2. Open the Steam Deck
- Remove the 8 Phillips screws from the back (4 short near triggers, 4 long elsewhere)
- Use a plastic spudger to carefully separate the back panel
- Start at the top corners and work around the edges
- The panel is clipped in — gentle prying is needed
3. Locate and Remove the SSD
- Find the silver SSD shield (near the center-left)
- Remove the single screw holding the shield
- Lift the shield to reveal the M.2 2230 SSD
- Remove the screw securing the SSD
- Gently pull the SSD from the slot at a slight angle
4. Install the New SSD
- Insert the new 2230 SSD at a 30° angle into the M.2 slot
- Press down gently until flat
- Secure with the original screw
- Replace the silver heat shield
- Replace the shield screw
5. Reassemble
- Snap the back panel into place (start with clips, then press edges)
- Replace all 8 screws (don’t overtighten)
- Short screws go near the triggers
6. Install SteamOS
- Boot from USB/microSD recovery media (Volume Down + Power)
- Select “Reinstall SteamOS”
- Wait for installation (15-20 minutes)
- Complete initial setup
Don’t discard your original SSD — it’s a perfect backup. If your new drive ever fails, you can reinstall the original and be gaming within minutes.
Preserving Your Game Library
Your games are tied to your Steam account, not your drive. After reinstalling SteamOS:
- Log into Steam
- Games re-download automatically (or download what you want)
- Steam Cloud syncs your saves
- Shader caches rebuild automatically
Faster method: If you have a large microSD card, you can move games to microSD before the upgrade, then move them back to internal storage after.
Performance Comparison
Does SSD speed actually matter for Steam Deck? Here’s real-world testing:
| Scenario | Stock 64GB eMMC | Kioxia BG5 | WD SN770M |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boot to Desktop | 28 seconds | 18 seconds | 16 seconds |
| Elden Ring Load | 15 seconds | 8 seconds | 7 seconds |
| Cyberpunk Fast Travel | 12 seconds | 6 seconds | 5 seconds |
| Shader Compilation | Baseline | 30% faster | 35% faster |
The takeaway: Any NVMe upgrade dramatically improves the 64GB eMMC model. Premium drives offer slight improvements over budget options, but all are vastly better than eMMC or microSD. For comparison, even budget laptop NVMe drives like the WD Black SN770 would be overkill for Steam Deck’s needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The Steam Deck’s M.2 slot only fits 2230 drives (30mm length). Standard 2280 drives (80mm) are too long and will not physically fit. You must buy a drive specifically designed for the 2230 form factor.
Valve officially supports user storage upgrades. The SSD is designed to be user-replaceable, and Valve provides disassembly guides. Upgrading the SSD does not void your warranty. However, damage caused during the upgrade (like breaking the ribbon cables) would not be covered.
If budget allows, yes. Modern games are 60-100GB each, and that adds up fast. A 2TB drive holds 20-30 AAA games plus emulators, ROMs, and media. However, 1TB internal + 512GB microSD offers similar total storage at lower cost. 2TB is for users who want everything on fast internal storage.
Internal NVMe is 3-5x faster than microSD. Game loads, shader compilation, and system responsiveness all improve significantly with NVMe. MicroSD cards (even UHS-I A2 cards) max out around 100 MB/s, while NVMe drives hit 3,000-5,000 MB/s.
Yes, but it’s often easier to just reinstall SteamOS. The recovery process takes about 20 minutes, and Steam Cloud handles your saves. If you want to clone, you’ll need a USB-C dock, USB enclosure for the new drive, and cloning software (Clonezilla works).
No, Steam Deck’s M.2 slot is PCIe Gen3. Gen4 and Gen5 drives work but run at Gen3 speeds (~3,500 MB/s max). There’s no benefit to buying Gen5 2230 drives (if they existed) — save money with Gen3/Gen4 options.
Yes, Steam Deck OLED uses the same M.2 2230 slot and upgrade process. The OLED model comes with larger base storage (512GB/1TB), but the upgrade procedure is identical if you want even more space.
Minimally. NVMe drives use slightly more power than eMMC when actively reading/writing, but the difference is small (5-10 minutes on a full charge at most). The WD SN770M and other efficient drives minimize this impact.
The Bottom Line
For most Steam Deck users: The WD Black SN770M 1TB offers the best balance of price, performance, and reliability. It’s the drive the community trusts.
For maximum storage: The WD Black SN770M 2TB provides the largest available capacity — worth it if you hate managing storage.
For budget upgrades: The Sabrent Rocket 2230 1TB delivers excellent performance at a lower price — the community’s value favorite.
For minimum spend: The Kioxia BG5 or Samsung PM991a gets the job done at the lowest cost while still being dramatically faster than microSD.
The upgrade process is straightforward, Valve officially supports it, and the performance improvement is transformative — especially if you’re coming from the 64GB eMMC model.
Related guides:
- Best PS5 SSD — Console storage expansion
- Best Budget SSD — Value-focused picks
- Best SSD for Gaming — Gaming SSD comparison
- NVMe vs SATA — Interface explanation
Last Updated: February 2026
