Can you hook up an external hard drive to a Wii U?

External hard drives that are self powered with a USB cable are compatible with the Wii U. However it is recommended to use a Y-cable to make sure the hard drive gets enough power. Self powered hard drives with a USB cable are compatible with the Wii U.

How do I connect an external hard drive to my Wii U?

Connect the USB storage device to the Wii U console. Upon powering on the Wii U console, a message should appear that prompts you to format the USB storage device. Follow the on-screen instructions to format the device.

Do external hard drives work on Wii U?

To ensure maximum performance between your Wii U and an external storage device, we recommend using a hard-disc drive (HDD) with a dedicated power source (i.e., using an A/C adapter). Due to the wide range of external storage devices, usability and performance will vary.

Do USB drives work on Wii U?

Wii U supports USB hard disk drives with a dedicated power source, called self-powered USB. Flash memory devices have a limited number of rewrites and are not suited to long-term storage of important game data, so we do not recommend the use of flash memory devices as an external storage device solution.

Can I use a 2TB hard drive on a Wii U?

If the Wii U has the most recent system update installed, it will be able to recognize a storage device of any size, but 2TB will be the maximum amount of storage capacity that can be used. Any extra capacity in the storage device beyond the 2TB will not be accessible via the Wii U.

Nintendo Wii U External Hard Drive Setup

What is the maximum external hard drive for Wii U?

The maximum amount of storage supported by Wii U is 2 TB (terabytes). Wii U will be able to recognise a storage device that is over 2 TB, but 2 TB will still be the maximum amount of storage capacity. Any extra capacity in the storage device beyond the 2 TB will not be accessible via Wii U.

How do I get more storage on my Wii U?

You can expand the amount of available storage space with external USB storage media. USB storage media can be connected to Wii U via the console's front or rear USB 2.0 connectors. Please note that you cannot remove/connect a storage device while the power is on.

Does the Wii U have USB ports?

The Wii U features 802.11 b/g /n wireless network connectivity and support for Fast Ethernet with an accessory, Bluetooth 4.0, a total of four USB 2.0 ports, and an SD/SDHC memory card slot.

What are the USB ports on the Wii U for?

Front 1: gamepad usb charger. Front 2: Wii U pro controller charger. Rear ports support HDD and front ports are for game attachments like Disney Infinity/Skylanders portals, Rock Band Guitar dongle, USB microphones etc.

How do I put games on my Wii external hard drive?

Can you use an external hard drive on the Nintendo?

Nintendo Switch consoles do not currently support external hard drives.

What format does external hard drive need to be for Wii U?

(NTFS/Fat32) If you do the Wii U console will prompt you to format you Hard Drive again.

What format is Wii U?

The physical size of a GameCube Game Disc is that of a miniDVD; the Wii is based on DVD format, and Wii U Optical Discs are based on Blu-ray format.

How much storage can a Wii U hold?

Both the 8 GB Basic and 32 GB Premium Wii U systems have enough internal storage to store save data for a large number of games purchased through retail and to support a limited amount of download activity through the Nintendo eShop on Wii U.

Is Wii U still supported?

“Even after March 27, 2023, and for the foreseeable future, it will still be possible to redownload games and DLC, receive software updates and enjoy online play on Wii U and the Nintendo 3DS family of systems,” it said.

Why didn't the Wii U sell?

The Wii U didn't appeal to casual gamers the way the Wii did, and the console's limited options and lackluster technical capabilities alienated the hardcore gamers Nintendo aimed to attract.

What is the maximum size SD card for Wii U?

SD memory cards with a capacity of up to 2 GB and SDHC memory cards with a capacity of up to 32 GB are compatible. SDXC and fast-transfer UHS-type memory cards are not compatible.

Can I store Wii U games on USB?

Yes. Games and other content downloaded from Nintendo eShop on Wii U can be saved directly to a USB storage device. In fact, when a USB device is connected, the system will automatically download to the USB device. You can organise data to transfer content between the Wii U system memory and external USB storage media.

Can Wii U use SD card as storage?

For Wii U, SD cards can be used for saving a picture of your Mii, QR Code patterns for your Mii, and screenshots in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. They cannot be used as a storage device for Wii U software downloads or save data for games. SD cards can, however, be used in Wii mode to save data for Wii games.

Can you use a 4tb hard drive on Wii U?

2TB is the Wii U's limit, though you should never need even close to that much. Devices with more storage will work, but the Wii U can't use more than 2TB. Also, Nintendo does not recommend using external SSDs.

How do I format a USB hard drive for Wii U?

Ensure the USB storage device is connected to the Wii U console. From the Wii U Menu, select System Settings. Using the Left Stick, scroll to the Data Management icon and press the A Button. Select Format USB Storage Device and follow the on screen instructions.

Can I use external SSD on Wii U?

You might get away with a single port on an external SSD as they use a lot less power than mechanical hard drives. For those though, you're almost certainly going to require either a Y cable or a mains adapter.