How Do I Put a Memory Stick in a PSP?

i as creative atelier/iStock/GettyImages

In 2005, Sony released the PlayStation Portable hand-held game console in North America. The console allows users to play games, view pictures, listen to music and watch movie files that are stored on the PSP's Memory Stick Pro Duo. The PSP 1000, PSP 2000 and PSP 3000 are only compatible with the Sony-introduced Memory Stick Pro Duo but, with one in hand, users can install it into their PSP system in a matter of minutes.

How Do I Put a Memory Stick in a PSP?

Make sure you have a supported PSP Memory Stick, such as the Memory Stick Pro Duo. Check the bottom left edge of your PSP for the Memory Stick slot, which you'll find underneath a cover that you can open with a fingernail. Insert the Memory Stick so the lettered side is facing upwards, and then close the slot after it's inserted. The Memory Stick Pro Duo is really a PSP SD card, so you can easily conceal it after it's been inserted.

As Remo Software notes, the PSP should recognize the Memory Stick immediately and may ask if you want to format it. This deletes all of the data on the stick, though, so make sure you've got another copy of everything you need if you're going to do this.

Use Supported PSP Memory Sticks

The PSP supports the Memory Stick Pro Duo flash media format. Memory Stick Pro Duos come in a variety of storage capacities, ranging from 32 megabytes to 32 gigabytes. With the exception of the PSP GO, all PSP models are compatible only with the Memory Stick Pro Duo format, meaning no other type of memory card can be inserted into the PSP system.

Insert the Memory Stick Pro Duo

The Memory Stick slot is located on the bottom-left edge of the PSP system. To open the Memory Stick slot cover, insert a fingernail or other small, flat object into the notch in the Memory Stick slot cover, and pull the slot cover out and away from the system. Insert the cropped edge of the Memory Stick Pro Duo into the PSP system with the lettered side facing up, and push the Memory Stick into place. Close the slot cover to conceal the Memory Stick.

Format the Memory Stick

To successfully install and use a Memory Stick Pro Duo with a PSP system, you must format your PSP Memory Stick, as described by Ask Dave Taylor. Insert the Memory Stick, turn on the PSP unit and scroll over to the "Settings" section of the XrossMediaBar. Scroll down to the "System Settings" section, press the "X" button, and then scroll down to the "Format Memory Stick" option and press the "X" button. When prompted, confirm that you wish to format the Memory Stick.

Allow several minutes for the formatting process to finish. As Playstation points out, this will erase everything currently on the Memory Stick, so you should make sure to move any files you want to keep first.

Removing the Memory Stick

When upgrading or changing the Memory Stick, the removal process is similar to the installation process. Pry open the Memory Stick slot cover and gently press the Memory Stick further into the slot. The slot's spring mechanism will eject the Memory Stick from the PSP system for easy removal. Pull the Memory Stick out of the PSP system, insert a new one if necessary and close the slot cover.