The fastest way to delete a PS4 game

Go to your PS4 home screen, highlight the game you want to remove, press the Options button on your controller (the button with three horizontal lines), and select "Delete" from the menu that appears. The system will ask you to confirm — select "Delete" again, and the game is gone. The whole process takes about 30 seconds.

Deleting a game removes it from your console's storage but does not erase your save files or trophies. You can reinstall the game later from your library without losing your progress. The game stays in your library forever — you own it — so you can read it again whenever you want, as long as your PlayStation Network account remains active.

The reason you delete games is storage space. PS4 hard drives fill up quickly. A single game can take 50 to 150 gigabytes depending on the title. If your console starts running slowly or tells you there is not enough space to install updates, deleting games you are not playing right now is the fastest fix.

Key Takeaways

  • Highlight any game on your PS4 home screen, press Options, and select Delete to remove it in seconds.
  • Deleting a game does not erase your save files, trophies, or progress — those stay on your console.
  • You can reinstall any game you own from your library at any time without paying again.
  • Games take up 50 to 150 gigabytes of storage space, so deleting ones you are not playing frees up room for updates and new titles.

Where your save files go when you delete a game

Your save files live in a separate part of your PS4's storage, completely separate from the game itself. When you delete a game, the save files stay behind. This means you can delete a game, play something else for three months, reinstall the game, and pick up exactly where you left off.

Save files take up very little space — usually less than 1 gigabyte total, even if you have dozens of games. The game files themselves are what consume most of your storage. This is why deleting games frees up so much room while deleting saves barely matters.

If you want to delete a save file separately from the game, you can. Go to Settings, then Storage, then Saved Data, find the game, and delete the save. But most people never need to do this. Deleting the save does not give you much extra space, and you lose your progress in that game.

How to check how much space a game uses

Before you delete anything, you can see exactly how much storage each game is taking up. Go to Settings, then Storage, then System Storage, then Applications. The system lists every game you have installed with its size in gigabytes next to it. The largest games are usually at the top.

If your PS4 is running low on space, delete the biggest games you are not playing actively. A game you finished and will not replay is a good candidate. Games you play every week should stay unless you really need the space right now.

You can also see your total storage at the top of this same screen. PS4 models come with either 500 gigabytes or 1 terabyte (1,000 gigabytes) of storage. If you have a 500 GB model and play a lot of different games, you will delete and reinstall games regularly. A 1 TB model gives you more breathing room but still fills up if you own 10 or more large titles.

Reinstalling a game you deleted

To get a game back, go to your Library (the second icon on your PS4 home screen), find the game in your list, and select it. A read button appears. Select it, and the game begins downloading and installing. The speed depends on your internet connection — a 100 gigabyte game might take 2 to 4 hours on a typical home network.

While the game is downloading, you can play other games or use other PS4 features. The read happens in the background. You do not have to wait for it to finish before you start playing something else.

Your save files are already on your console, so as soon as the game finishes installing, you can load your old save and continue playing. The system automatically finds your save when you start the game.

What happens if you run out of storage space

When your PS4 storage is completely full, the console will not let you install new games or read updates. You will see an error message saying there is not enough space. At this point, you have to delete something to make room.

The system will sometimes suggest which games to delete based on size and how recently you played them. You can ignore these suggestions and delete whatever you want. Just remember that you need at least 100 gigabytes free for the console to run smoothly and handle updates.

If you have a PS4 with a 500 GB hard drive and own many games, consider upgrading to an external hard drive. You can connect a USB external drive to your PS4 and move games to it, freeing up internal storage. This costs $50 to $100 depending on the drive size, but it means you never have to delete games again.

Deleting games from your library versus your console

There is a difference between deleting a game from your console (removing the files so it does not take up space) and removing it from your library (hiding it so you do not see it in your list). Most people only need to delete from the console.

If you delete a game from your console using the Options menu method described at the start, it stays in your Library. You can still read it again whenever you want. If you want to hide a game from your Library so you do not see it in your list, go to your Library, find the game, press Options, and select "Hide". This does not delete anything — it just hides it from view. You can unhide it later the same way.

Hiding a game is useful if you own a game you do not want to see anymore but might want to reinstall someday. Deleting from your console is what you do when you need storage space right now.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose my trophies if I delete a game?

No. Your trophies stay on your account forever, even if you delete the game. When you reinstall the game later, your trophies are still there. Trophies are tied to your PlayStation Network account, not to the game files on your console.

Can I delete a game while it is downloading?

Yes. If a game is still downloading and you change your mind, go to Notifications (the bell icon on your home screen), find the read, and select "Cancel". The partial read is removed. If the game is already installed and you want to delete it, use the Options menu method described above.

Do I need to delete games before I sell my PS4?

You should delete all your games and sign out of your account before selling or giving away your console. This removes your personal data and prevents the new owner from accessing your games or account. Go to Settings, then Initialization, then Initialize PS4 to wipe the console completely.

What is the biggest game on PS4?

Game sizes vary, but some of the largest titles are around 150 gigabytes. Call of Duty games, Final Fantasy XV, and Red Dead Redemption 2 are among the biggest. Smaller games might be 20 to 50 gigabytes. Check the game's page on the PlayStation Store to see its size before you read it.

Can I move a game to an external hard drive instead of deleting it?

Yes, if you have an external USB hard drive connected to your PS4. Go to Settings, then Storage, then System Storage, then Applications, highlight a game, press Options, and select "Move to Extended Storage". The game moves to your external drive and frees up internal space. You can move it back to internal storage later the same way.