This article will show you how to move, save and load files to a flash drive (USB stick) connected to your computer.
Steps
Part 1 of 6: How to determine the type of flash drive and connect it to your computer
Step 1. Find the USB port on your computer
On laptops, the USB ports are on the left or right panel. On desktop computers, the USB ports are located on the back or front of the chassis; iMac USB ports can be found on the back of your monitor.
Step 2. Determine the type of USB port on your computer
There are two main types of USB ports on modern computers:
- USB 3.0: Slim rectangular port just under 2cm in size. There is a plastic piece at the top of the USB port. USB 3.0 ports are found on most Windows computers and Mac computers manufactured prior to 2016.
- USB-C: A thin, oval port just over 1cm in size. These are most commonly found on MacBooks and MacBook Pros and on some Windows laptops.
- If your computer has both types of USB ports, use either port depending on the type of flash drive.
Step 3. Determine the type of flash drive
Take a look at the metal connector on the end of the flash drive:
- If the connector is rectangular and has a plastic part, it is a USB 3.0 flash drive.
- If the connector is oval with no plastic parts, it's a USB-C flash drive.
Step 4. Buy and connect an adapter (if needed)
If you have a USB 3.0 flash drive and your computer only has USB-C ports, buy a USB-C adapter and connect it to a USB-C port on your computer.
This applies to most MacBooks and MacBook Pros released after 2016, and some Windows computers that only have USB-C ports
Step 5. Connect your flash drive to your computer
Connect the USB 3.0 flash drive with the plastic part of the connector at the bottom. It should slide under the plastic part of the USB port on top.
- You can connect USB-C flash drives however you like.
- If you are using a USB-C adapter, connect the flash drive to the adapter's USB 3.0 port.
Part 2 of 6: How to copy a file to a flash drive in Windows
Step 1. Make sure your flash drive is connected to your computer
If it isn't, connect it to your computer.
Step 2. Open an Explorer window
Click the folder-shaped icon on the taskbar or press ⊞ Win + E.
Step 3. Copy the file
Open the folder with the desired file, click on it and press Ctrl + C.
To copy multiple files, hold Ctrl and click on each desired file
Step 4. Click on the name of the flash drive
It's in the left pane of the Explorer window. Scroll down the left pane to find the name.
If you don't see the name of your flash drive, click This PC in the left pane, and then double-click the name of your flash drive under Devices and Drives
Step 5. Insert the file (s)
Click on an empty space in the flash drive window and then press Ctrl + V. The copied file (s) will appear in the Explorer window.
To insert file (s) into a specific folder on your flash drive, first double-click on that folder
Step 6. Remove the USB flash drive before disconnecting it
This ensures that the files on the flash drive are not damaged when you unplug it from your computer:
- Windows: Click the flash drive-shaped icon in the lower right corner of the screen (you must first click
-
Android7expandless ), and then click Safely Remove.
- Mac: Open Finder and then click the Check Out icon
-
Maceject to the right of the flash drive name in the lower left of the window.
Step 7. Unplug your flash drive
When you safely remove the drive, disconnect it from your computer, that is, pull it out of the USB port.
Part 3 of 6: How to copy a file to a flash drive in Mac OS X
Step 1. Make sure your flash drive is connected to your computer
If it isn't, connect it to your computer.
Step 2. Open Finder
Click the blue face icon in the dock.
Step 3. Copy the file
Open the folder with the desired file, click on it and press ⌘ Command + C.
To copy multiple files, hold ⌘ Command and click on each desired file
Step 4. Open the flash drive window
Click on the name of your flash drive in the lower left side of the Finder window. You will find it in the "Devices" section.
Step 5. Paste the copied file (s)
To do this, press ⌘ Command + V. The copied file (s) will appear in the Finder window.
To insert file (s) into a specific folder on your flash drive, first double-click on that folder
Step 6. Remove the USB flash drive before disconnecting it
This ensures that the files on the flash drive are not damaged when you unplug it from your computer:
- Windows: Click the flash drive-shaped icon in the lower right corner of the screen (you must first click
-
Android7expandless ), and then click Safely Remove.
- Mac: Open Finder and then click the Check Out icon
-
Maceject to the right of the flash drive name in the lower left of the window.
Step 7. Unplug your flash drive
When you safely remove the drive, disconnect it from your computer, that is, pull it out of the USB port.
Part 4 of 6: How to Write a File Directly to a Flash Drive
Step 1. Make sure your flash drive is connected to your computer
If it isn't, connect it to your computer.
Step 2. Open the required program
Use the search bar on the Start menu to find a program
(Windows) or Spotlight
(Mac).
Step 3. Create a file (if needed)
Do this if you are going to write a new file to the flash drive.
Skip this step if you just want to keep a copy of the existing file on your flash drive
Step 4. Open the "Save As" window
If it's a new file, press Ctrl + S (Windows) or ⌘ Command + S (Mac). If it is an existing file, follow these steps:
- Windows: Click File> Save As. In Microsoft Office, click Save As and double-click This PC to open an Explorer window.
- Mac: Click File> Save As.
Step 5. Give the file a new name (if necessary)
To do this, enter a name in the File Name (Windows) or Name (Mac) text box.
Step 6. Select a flash drive
Click on the name of your flash drive in the left pane of the window (first scroll down that pane).
On your Mac, open the Where menu, and then click the name of your flash drive, either in the drop-down menu or in the left pane of the Finder window
Step 7. Click Save
It's in the lower-right corner of the window. The file will be saved to your flash drive.
Step 8. Remove the USB flash drive before disconnecting it
This ensures that the files on the flash drive are not damaged when you unplug it from your computer:
- Windows: Click the flash drive-shaped icon in the lower right corner of the screen (you must first click
-
Android7expandless ), and then click Safely Remove.
- Mac: Open Finder and then click the Check Out icon
-
Maceject to the right of the flash drive name in the lower left of the window.
Step 9. Unplug your flash drive
When you safely remove the drive, disconnect it from your computer, that is, pull it out of the USB port.
Part 5 of 6: How to Download a File Directly to a Flash Drive
Step 1. Make sure your flash drive is connected to your computer
If it isn't, connect it to your computer.
Step 2. Open your web browser
It is required to download a file from the Internet.
Step 3. Turn on the download confirmation function
Most browsers automatically download files to the Downloads folder, but you can have the browser ask you which folder to download the file to. To do this, follow these steps:
- Chrome: Click ⋮ in the upper right corner, click Settings> Advanced, scroll down to the Downloads section, and click the gray slider next to Always specify where to download.
- Firefox: Click ☰ in the upper right corner, click Settings (or Options on a Mac), scroll down to the Downloads section and check the box next to Always ask me to save files.
- Edge: Click ⋯ in the upper right corner, click Options, scroll down and click Advanced Options, then click the gray slider next to Ask where to save each file before uploading.
- Safari: Click "Safari" in the upper left corner, click "Preferences", open the "Save Downloads to Folder" menu and select "Run Prompt Before Downloading."
Step 4. Find the file you want to download
In a web browser, navigate to the page with the desired file.
Step 5. Click Download or similar button / link
It depends on what you want to download. A pop-up window will open.
Step 6. Select a flash drive
When prompted to choose a folder to download, click on the name of your flash drive in the left menu and then click Save. The file will download directly to your flash drive.
- On a Mac, click Select (instead of Save).
- To save a file to a specific folder on your flash drive, first double-click that folder.
Step 7. Remove the USB flash drive before disconnecting it
This ensures that the files on the flash drive are not damaged when you unplug it from your computer:
- Windows: Click the flash drive-shaped icon in the lower right corner of the screen (you must first click
-
Android7expandless ), and then click Safely Remove.
- Mac: Open Finder and then click the Check Out icon
-
Maceject to the right of the flash drive name in the lower left of the window.
Step 8. Unplug your flash drive
When you safely remove the drive, disconnect it from your computer, that is, pull it out of the USB port.
Part 6 of 6: How to troubleshoot your flash drive
Step 1. Make sure the drive is not full
Flash drives tend to fill up quickly, especially older, smaller drives. In this case, try deleting unnecessary files.
To quickly delete unneeded files, drag and drop them to the Trash
Step 2. Check the size of the file you want to copy / download to the flash drive
Many drives cannot store files larger than 4 GB. If the size of the required file exceeds the specified value, format the flash drive in a different file system (read about this in the next step).
Step 3. Format your flash drive
Formatting will change the file system of the flash drive to store files larger than 4 GB or use it on a specific system. Formatting will erase all of the contents on the flash drive.
- Select exFAT (Windows) or ExFAT (Mac) to store files larger than 4 GB on the drive.
- Flash drives formatted for Windows only are not compatible with Mac computers (and vice versa). Formatting the flash drive to a compatible format will fix this problem.