There’s a question that Xbox users make to themselves sometime: can I use the hard drive of my console on a computer? The answer is yes, and the Xbox hard drive on PC works quite well. However, if you want to use the storage device because you won’t be using the console anymore you need to follow some indications.
Depending on the version of your Xbox, the hard drive may have a large capacity that it would be a shame to let unused. Many users believe that the storage unit only works in gaming consoles but that’s a common mistake. Follow this guide to use your Xbox hard drive on PC.
How to use the Xbox hard drive on the PC
The process is easier than you can imagine. First you need to make a backup of any important data on your console. You will format it again so all the data will disappear. If your gaming console doesn’t work anymore that won’t be a problem, but you may want to save your data just in case.
Format the Xbox hard drive
What you need to do in order to use a Xbox hard drive on a PC is to format the storage device correctly so that the computer recognizes the drive. Xbox format is proprietary but you can erase it and give it a new one.
- Start your Windows computer and go to Disk Management section.
- In the new window you will see all the storage drives and their respective capacities.
- At the bottom you can see the connected partitions. Identify the one that corresponds to the Xbox hard drive.
- Right click on it and select Initialize Disk.
- Right click the same drive and right click on the Unallocated portion.
- Select New Simple Volume.
This order creates a new hard drive from scratch with its full space and the necessary format for Windows operating system to read it as a valid drive.
The Windows operating system includes an easy-to-follow wizard that guides you through the process and you only need to make sure you use the NTFS file system. Once finished, you will have a hard drive like any other in your computer. If you want to use it on the Xbox again don’t worry. You only have to plug it and the console will ask you to convert it back to the format compatible with the console. Remember that any conversion process will erase your data and you need to make a backup in order to save any important information.
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