Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →To put files on a flash drive in Windows, open File Explorer, select the files, copy them to the USB drive, confirm they arrived, then eject the drive before unplugging it. Use Copy if you want to keep the originals on your PC.
Copy files from your PC to a flash drive
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Plug the flash drive into a USB port and give Windows a moment to recognize it. Open File Explorer from the taskbar, then look for the drive under This PC.
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In File Explorer, open the folder containing the files. If you are not sure where they are, check common folders such as Documents, Desktop, Downloads, Music, Pictures, and Videos.
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy. -
Select a file or folder. To select several items, hold Ctrl while clicking each one.
#1 Best Overall
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Lexar D40E 128GB Dual USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C Jump Drive, Champagne Silver- USB-C 2-in-1 storage OTG: The Lexar JumpDrive Dual Drive D40E features USB Type-A and Type-C connectors in a slim, portable form factor for easy device compatibility
- Transfer speeds up to 100MB/s: Based on internal testing, performance may vary depending upon the host device, interface, and usage conditions. 1MB=1,000,000 bytes
- Plug and Play: Widely compatible with USB Type-C smartphones, tablets, laptops, Macs, and traditional Type-A devices, no software installation required. The 360° swivel design allows for easy switching between connectors without the hassle of losing a cap
- Durable & Compact: The Lexar D40E USB memory stick features a metal enclosure, withstands temperatures from 0° to 50° C (32°F to 122°F), and is lightweight at 26g with dimensions of 70.4 x 16.9 x 11.7mm
- Security & Warranty: Securely protects files using an advanced security software solution with 256-bit AES encryption. Backed by a Lexar 3-year limited warranty
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Right-click the selection and choose Show more options > Send to, then choose the flash drive. Menu labels and placement can vary between Windows versions. Alternatively, choose Copy, open the flash drive in File Explorer, and choose Paste.
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Wait for the copy to finish. The time depends on the number and size of the files.
Rank #2
SANDISK 128GB Ultra Flair, USB-A Flash Drive, Up to 150MB/s Read Speeds | USB Flash Drive, Up to 15x Faster than standard 2.0, Password Protection, Durable, Sleek Metal Casing, USB 3.0, Silver/Black- High-speed USB 3.0 performance of up to 150MB/s(1) [(1) Write to drive up to 15x faster than standard USB 2.0 drives (4MB/s); varies by drive capacity. Up to 150MB/s read speed. USB 3.0 port required. Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending on host device, usage conditions, and other factors; 1MB=1,000,000 bytes]
- Transfer a full-length movie in less than 30 seconds(2) [(2) Based on 1.2GB MPEG-4 video transfer with USB 3.0 host device. Results may vary based on host device, file attributes and other factors]
- Transfer to drive up to 15 times faster than standard USB 2.0 drives(1)
- Sleek, durable metal casing
- Easy-to-use password protection for your private files(3) [(3)Password protection uses 128-bit AES encryption and is supported by Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, and Mac OS X v10.9 plus; Software download required for Mac, visit the SanDisk SecureAccess support page]
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Open the flash drive in File Explorer and check that the files appear in the expected location before relying on the transfer. Microsoft’s external-storage file-transfer guide also recommends checking the copied files.
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Copy or move: which should you choose?
Choose Copy when you want the files on the flash drive and still on your PC. Move relocates them, so they no longer remain in their original location. Microsoft describes moving files to external storage separately in its guide to freeing up drive space.
Rank #3
- What You Get - 2 pack 64GB genuine USB 2.0 flash drives, 12-month warranty and lifetime friendly customer service
- Great for All Ages and Purposes – the thumb drives are suitable for storing digital data for school, business or daily usage. Apply to data storage of music, photos, movies and other files
- Easy to Use - Plug and play USB memory stick, no need to install any software. Support Windows 7 / 8 / 10 / Vista / XP / Unix / 2000 / ME / NT Linux and Mac OS, compatible with USB 2.0 and 1.1 ports
- Convenient Design - 360°metal swivel cap with matt surface and ring designed zip drive can protect USB connector, avoid to leave your fingerprint and easily attach to your key chain to avoid from losing and for easy carrying
- Brand Yourself - Brand the flash drive with your company's name and provide company's overview, policies, etc. to the newly joined employees or your customers
Eject the flash drive before unplugging it
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In the taskbar notification area, select the Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media icon. If you do not see it, check the hidden system-tray icons.
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Choose Eject for the flash drive and wait for Windows to indicate that it is safe to remove.
Rank #4
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SIMMAX 32GB Memory Stick USB 2.0 Flash Drives Swivel Thumb Drive Pen Drive (32GB Purple)- GOOD VALUE PACKAGE - 1 Pack 32GB Memory Stick USB 2.0 Flash Drives with great cost performance and high quality.
- BIG CAPACITY - The available capacity: 29.10GB-29.8GB, You can save the data of movies, music, photos, designs, programs, manuals, handouts in a high speed.Good performance in digital data storing, transferring and sharing with families, friends, workmates, clients and machines.
- EASY TO USE & PLUG AND WORK - Support windows 7 / 8 / 10 / Vista / XP / 2000 / ME / NT Linux and Mac OS, Compatible with USB2.0 and below.
- TWISTTURN DESIGN & EASY CARRY - The metal clip rotates 360° round the ABS plastic body which with rubber oil skin feeling finish. The capless design can avoid lossing of cap, and providing efficient protection to the USB port.
- WARRANTY & SUPPORT - SIMMAX logo is laser printed on the USB connector surface, our products are of good quality and we promise that any problem about the product within one year since you buy.
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Unplug the drive only after Windows confirms it can be removed. Microsoft warns: “To avoid losing data, always safely remove hardware devices like USB flash drives or external hard drives before disconnecting them.” See Microsoft’s instructions for safely removing hardware in Windows.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
If Windows will not copy a file
Check both the drive’s available space and the file system. A FAT32 drive cannot store a single file larger than 4 GiB, even when the drive has enough free space overall. Microsoft’s file-system comparison, last updated in 2023, lists that FAT32 limit and higher maximum file sizes for exFAT and NTFS.
Best Value
- 【16GB Flash Drive】USB flash drives with 16GB capacity, meet your needs of daily use on work, school, home and travelling for photos, music, videos, files storage and transfer. IMEASON thumb drives can be used to store different files, easy to data backup.
- 【Metal Swivel Cap Design】USB thumb drive is metal swivel cover provides extra protection for the usb thumbdrive connector, no usb drive cap to lose; keychain design makes it easier to carry without worrying lose it.
- 【Wide Compatibility】USB drive supports Windows 7/8/10/11 / Vista / XP / Unix / 2000 / ME / NT Linux and Mac OS, also Supports USB 2.0 and 1.1 ports. USB Stick support TV, desktop, notebook computer, car, audio and other device. The USB Memory Stick is your great data storage and transfer companion with traveling and working.
- 【Easy to use】usb memory stick is plug and play without any software installation. Just simply plug the Flashdrive into the port of your USB-compatible devices such as computer, laptop to start data storage or transmission.
- 【What You Get】16 GB USB Flash Drive Thumb Drive, The default format of the usb storage flash drive is FAT32.
Do not format the drive as a first troubleshooting step: formatting erases its contents. If you are considering a format change, copy needed files elsewhere first and check that the file system will work with the devices that need to read the drive. Microsoft identifies FAT/exFAT and NTFS among file systems used with USB drives in its Windows File Recovery information.
Windows version note
These file-copy and safe-ejection instructions apply to Windows 10 and Windows 11. Microsoft support for Windows 10 ended on October 14, 2025; that lifecycle change does not alter the basic File Explorer copying steps.
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