There’s nothing more frustrating than gearing up to drop into a new Apex Legends match with your friends, only to get hit with a “not enough storage” error on your device. If you’re a new player looking to install the game for the first time, or a long-time fan clearing space for the latest seasonal update, you’ve probably asked how big of a download is Apex Legends these days. We’ve pulled the latest file size numbers across every supported platform, plus actionable tips to make the game fit even if you’re tight on drive space. No more deleting half your game library just to play a few rounds of ranked.
How Big of a Download is Apex Legends By Platform?
Exact file sizes can vary slightly based on your region, installed language packs, and optional add-ons, but we’ve compiled the most up-to-date base install sizes for every major platform as of the latest seasonal update. For PC players using Steam or the EA App, the base download sits between 80GB and 85GB for the standard edition. Steam and EA App versions of Apex Legends have nearly identical file sizes, so you don't save space by switching launchers.
On console, current-gen systems have slightly larger installs due to higher-resolution native assets: PlayStation 5 users can expect a 75GB to 80GB download, while Xbox Series X/S installs range from 77GB to 82GB. Last-gen consoles have smaller base sizes: PlayStation 4 sits around 70GB, and Xbox One is roughly 72GB. For mobile players, Apex Legends Mobile has a much smaller footprint, with a base download of 7GB to 8GB for both iOS and Android, though that can grow to 12GB if you download all optional voice lines and event assets.
Keep in mind these numbers are for base installs only. High-resolution texture packs for PC and current-gen consoles can add up to 15GB of extra storage, so you’ll want to skip those if you’re short on space. Seasonal updates usually add an extra 5GB to 10GB of content each time, so you should always leave extra room for patches before a new season drops.
Why Apex Legends’ Download Size Keeps Growing
If you've been playing since the early seasons, you’ve probably noticed the game’s file size has more than tripled since launch, when it was only 30GB on PC. There are a few key reasons for that steady growth, and most of them tie back to the constant stream of new content Respawn adds to keep the game fresh. Every season brings a new playable legend, balance changes, limited-time events, and often an entirely new map or map rework, all of which add new assets to the install.
Seasonal content updates are the biggest contributor to growing Apex Legends file sizes, but there are other factors at play too. Respawn prioritizes game performance over extreme file compression, so assets are stored in a format that loads quickly during matches to eliminate mid-fight stutters or texture pop-in. Cross-platform progression support also adds extra bulk, as the game stores local copies of all your cosmetics, progression data, and cross-platform sync files to make switching between devices seamless.
It’s easy to complain about the growing size, but most of the extra content is stuff players actively ask for. I’d much rather have a larger download with new maps, events, and legends than a smaller game that gets stale after a few months of play. That said, it’s totally reasonable to want to cut down the size if you don’t have a ton of extra storage.
Tips to Reduce Apex Legends’ Storage Footprint
You don’t have to delete your entire library of single-player games just to make room for the latest Apex update. We’ve tested these tips ourselves, and they can cut down your total install size by 10GB to 20GB without impacting your gameplay experience at all for most users.
- Skip optional high-resolution texture packs unless you're playing on a 4K monitor or TV. Most players on 1080p or 1440p won't notice a meaningful difference in visual quality, but you'll save 10GB to 15GB of space instantly.
- Uninstall the game and reinstall it once a year. Over time, leftover patch files, outdated event assets, and old language packs can take up 5GB to 10GB of extra space that a fresh install will remove automatically.
- Store Apex Legends on an external SSD if your internal drive is full. Current-gen consoles and most PCs run the game just as well on a fast external SSD, so you don't have to sacrifice load times or performance for extra space.
- Turn off automatic asset downloads for mobile versions. Apex Legends Mobile often downloads event cosmetics, extra character voice lines, and regional content you don't need by default, so disabling that can save 2GB to 3GB of space on your phone.
PC players can also cut down extra space by removing unused language packs from the game’s properties menu on Steam or EA App. Most players only need one language pack, and removing the rest can free up an extra 2GB to 3GB of space. Just make sure you don’t remove the pack for your default language, or you’ll have to redownload it the next time you launch the game.
What to Do If Your Apex Legends Download Is Larger Than Expected
Every once in a while, you might see a download size that’s way larger than the numbers we listed above, and that’s usually not a mistake. If you’re updating the game after not playing for a few seasons, your launcher will have to download all the patches you missed in one go, so the total size will be much bigger than a single seasonal update. Some launchers also reserve extra temporary space for unpacking and installing files, so you might see a prompt asking for 100GB of free space even if the final install size is only 85GB.
Always leave at least 20GB of free space on your drive before downloading or updating Apex Legends to avoid installation errors or corrupted files. If you’re on a metered internet connection, you can check the exact update size in your launcher’s download queue before you start the install, so you don’t accidentally blow through your monthly data cap. I’ve had friends who forgot to check the update size before a new ranked split dropped, and ended up without internet for the rest of the month because they used all their data on the patch.
If the download still seems excessively large, try restarting your launcher or console. Sometimes glitches in the download queue can make the size show up incorrectly, and a quick restart will fix that issue 9 times out of 10. If it still looks wrong, you can check the official Apex Legends social media pages for notes about patch sizes for the latest update, to confirm you’re seeing the right number.
At the end of the day, knowing how big of a download is Apex Legends for your specific platform can save you a ton of frustration when you’re getting ready to play. While the file size has grown a lot over the years, it’s a small tradeoff for the constant stream of new content, balance updates, and limited-time events that keep the game fun year after year. With the simple storage tips we covered, you can easily fit the game on your drive without deleting all your other favorite titles. Now go grab your squad and drop into your next match – you don’t have to waste any more time clearing storage space.