How to Use a USB Flash Drive on Your Computer

What you will learn

In this guide, you will learn how to use a USB flash drive (also called a USB stick or thumb drive) to copy files between computers, create backups, or carry important documents with you.

What you need

• A computer (Windows or Mac) with a USB port
• A USB flash drive

Step-by-step instructions

Step 1: Plug in the USB drive

Find a USB port on your computer. On laptops, USB ports are usually on the sides. On desktops, they are on the front or back.

Insert the USB drive into the port. It only fits one way. If it does not slide in easily, flip it around and try again. Do not force it.

Step 2: Open the USB drive

On Windows: A notification may appear saying a new device was detected. Click it to open the drive. If no notification appears, open File Explorer (folder icon on the taskbar) and look for the USB drive under This PC on the left side. It will have a name like “USB Drive (E:)” or the brand name.

On Mac: The USB drive will appear on your Desktop as an icon, and also in the Finder sidebar under Locations.

Double-click to open it and see what is on it.

Step 3: Copy files to the USB drive

To copy a file from your computer to the USB drive:

1. Open the folder where the file is stored on your computer.
2. Right-click the file and select Copy (or press Ctrl + C on Windows, Cmd + C on Mac).
3. Open the USB drive folder.
4. Right-click inside the USB drive folder and select Paste (or press Ctrl + V on Windows, Cmd + V on Mac).

The file will be copied to the USB drive. A progress bar will appear if the file is large.

Step 4: Copy files from the USB drive to your computer

The process is the same, but reversed:

1. Open the USB drive folder.
2. Right-click the file you want and select Copy.
3. Navigate to the folder on your computer where you want to save it (for example, Documents).
4. Right-click and select Paste.

Step 5: Safely remove the USB drive

Before pulling the USB drive out, always eject it safely:

On Windows: Click the small arrow in the bottom-right corner of the screen (system tray). Click the USB icon and select Eject next to your drive’s name. Wait for the “Safe to Remove Hardware” message.

On Mac: Right-click the USB drive icon on the Desktop and select Eject. Or click the eject button (triangle with a line) next to the drive name in Finder.

Step 6: Remove the USB drive

Once you see the confirmation that it is safe, gently pull the USB drive out of the port.

Keep it somewhere safe. Many USB drives come with a cap or retractable connector to protect the plug.

Tips

• Label your USB drives or use different colours to remember what is on each one.
• USB drives are great for sharing files with friends and family who are nearby. Just copy the files and hand them the drive.
• Do not use a USB drive as your only copy of important files. It can be lost or damaged. Always keep a copy on your computer or in the cloud as well.
• If your computer only has USB-C ports (small, oval-shaped), you may need a small adapter to use a traditional USB drive.