10 best external backup drives

Product description

Easily store and access 2TB of content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a great laptop hard drive. Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this compact external hard drive makes backup a snap. Just drag and drop To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition—no software required—and enjoy plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable.

• Easily store and access 2TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive
• Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
• To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
• This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
• Enjoy long-term peace of mind with the included one-year limited warranty and 1 year rescue data recovery services

Product features

Always Spacious. Always Easy.

Back up yesterday’s memories and today’s documents, even on the go. Seagate Portable makes it possible thanks to the plug-and-play simplicity of USB 3.0 and drag-and-drop functionality.

What's Included

Seagate Portable, 18-inch (45.72cm) USB 3.0 cable, Quick start guide

Product description

Get solid USB storage and 4TB capacity in an external desktop hard drive for Mac and Windows. Featuring dual front-facing, high-speed USB 3.0 ports, Backup Plus Hub makes it easy to charge mobile devices and transfer files from cameras, USB keys, and more. Even charge USB game controllers Enjoy simple, one-click backups, or schedule automatic daily, weekly, or monthly backup by downloading Seagate Toolkit software. Plus, take advantage of a complimentary two-month membership to the Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan for access to awesome photo and video editing apps.

• Store and access content for years with up to 14TB in a USB drive
• A great external hard drive for Mac and Windows, this hub can charge mobile devices and transfer files from USB cameras and USB thumb drives via its two USB 3.0 ports
• Use seamlessly between windows and Mac by installing the provided NTFS driver for Mac
• Complimentary four-month membership to the Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan’s photo and video editing apps (Must be redeemed within 1 year of drive registration. Not available in all countries)
• Enjoy long-term peace of mind with the included two-year limited warranty External desktop hard drive offers two front-facing, high-speed USB 3.0 ports for connecting to and recharging other USB devices like phones, cameras, and tablets

Product features

Backup and Recharge in One Place

Thousands of photos, hundreds of songs, loads of movies and docs—sound familiar? Backup Plus Hub helps protect all of it with proven reliability, seamless backup, Mac and Windows usability, plus two front-facing USB 3.0 ports for charging and managing devices like phones, tablets, and cameras.

Desk, Office, and Dorm Life—Made Easier

Backup Plus Hub helps protect important files and can’t-live-without memories with a single click. To schedule automatic backups, simply use the included Seagate software.

What's Included

Backup Plus Hub, 18-inch (45.72cm) USB 3.0 cable, 18W power adapter, Quick start guide, Seagate backup software, Mac driver

Product description

Every journey needs a passport. The My Passport drive is trusted, portable storage that gives you the confidence and freedom to drive forward in life. With a new, stylish design that fits in the palm of your hand, there's space to store, organize, and share your photos, videos, music, and documents. Perfectly paired with Western Digital backup software and password protection, the My Passport drive helps keep your digital life's contents safe.

• Slim design
• Automatic backup - easy to use
• Password protection + 256-bit AES hardware encryption
• WD Discovery software for WD Backup, password protection and drive management
• SuperSpeed USB port; USB 2.0 compatible

Product features

Backed Up

Make sure everything you create while on your own life journey - photos, videos, music, and documents - doesn’t get lost. The My Passport drive comes equipped with WD Backup software that can be set to run automatically to your schedule.

Locked Down

Keep your digital life's contents secure with My Passport password protection and built-in 256-bit AES hardware encryption. Just activate password protection and set your own personalized password using WD Discovery.

Product description

The My Book drive is trusted desktop storage designed to complement your personal style with a massive amount of space to store your photos, videos, music and documents. Equipped with password protection and perfectly paired with WD Backup or Apple Time Machine, My Book desktop storage helps keep your files safe.

• Auto backup with included WD Backup software and Time Machine compatibility
• Password protection with hardware encryption
• Trusted storage built with WD reliability
• USB 3.0 port; USB 2.0 compatible
• 3-year manufacturer's limited warranty

Product features

Complete Backup

My Book desktop storage comes equipped with WD Backup software and Time Machine compatibility* to help make sure your photos, videos, music and documents don’t get lost. You can set it to run automatically to your schedule. Just pick the time and frequency to back up important files from your system.

*Reformatting required.

Product description

WD Elements desktop storage with USB 3.0 offers reliable, high-capacity, add-on storage, fast data transfer rates and universal connectivity with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 devices. The sleek design features up to 10TB capacity plus WD quality and reliability.

• Fast data transfers
• High Capacity add on storage
• Plug and Play Ready for Windows PCs
• WD quality inside and out
• 2 year manufacturer's limited warranty

User questions & answers

Question:	Does this come with the power adapter
Answer:	Yes, 110-240v power supply
Question:	Is this compatabible with the ps
Answer:	PS4 maxes out at 8TB. Do not buy this 12TB thinking it will work...trust me I already checked.
Question:	Will this work with a system that only has USB2.0 ports
Answer:	Technically it won't be any faster than a USB2 drive since the limit will be the port on the PC. But it will work no worse and if you ever get a PC with USB3 ports it will work much better.
Question:	which one is better? elements 8tb or my book 8tb
Answer:	Looking at Western Digital's Warranty information page I see this: ----- Elements - THIS MODEL - (Product Designator WDBWLG ) 1 year in the USA, Canada & Latin America 2 year in Europe, Middle East & Africa 3 year in Asia Pacific & India ------ My Book FIRST I FOUND LISTED Product Code WDBBGB NO warranty info for US, Canada & Latin America NO warranty info for Asia Pacific & India 3 Year for Europe, Middle East & Africa https://www.amazon.com/Book-Desktop-External-Drive-WDBBGB0080HBK-NESN/dp/B01LQQHLGC/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1547662493&sr=1-1&keywords=western+digital+my+book&refinements=p_n_feature_three_browse-bin%3A668383011%2Cp_n_feature_two_browse-bin%3A5446816011 ----- The only "My Book" for the USA, Canada & Latin America I see listed is: Product Code WDBFJK , and that has only a 2 year warranty and sells for a higher price. https://www.amazon.com/Book-Desktop-External-Drive-WDBFJK0080HBK-NESN/dp/B01B6BN0Q2/ref=sr_1_6?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1547665593&sr=1-6&keywords=western+digital+my+book+8TB&refinements=p_89%3AWestern+Digital There are other variations of the "My Book" series that have 3 year warranty in The USA, Canada & Latin America: My Book for Mac, My Book VelociRaptor Duo, My Book Thunderbolt Duo, My Book Mirror, My Book Pro, My Book Pro II, My Book World, My Book World II, My Book Studio, My Book Studio II, My Book Home, My Book Office, My Book Elite, My Book Studio, My Book Studio LX, My Book Live, My Book Duo, My Book Duo Pro Thos have Product Designators: WDBYCC, WDBUWZ, WDBUPB, WDBUSK, WDH2U, WDG1T, WDG2TP, WDG1NC, WDH1NC, WDG2NC, WDH2NC, WDH1Q, WDH2Q, WDH1CS, WDH1B, WDBAAH, WDBAAJ, WDBC3G, WDBACH, WDBACG, WDBCPZ, BDTB, WDBUTV, WDBFBE, WDBRMH, WDBDFM It seems that all should refer to WD website to match Product Designator with warranty for your locale: https://support.wdc.com/warranty/warrantypolicy.aspx#group1

Product description

2019 LATEST VERSION

Updated with reliable USB 3.0 connector, MegaZ portable external hard drive 2526 is the latest version.   

KEY FEATURES

Plug-and-Play High Speed Connectivity

Ready to plug in and play without software installation or external power required.

Ultra fast transfer speed at up to 5Gbit/s, effectively improve your PC's performance.

Compatible With More Systems/Devices

Pre-formatted as exFAT for: Windows/Mac OS(10.6.5 and above)/PS4/Xbox.

Y cable will be needed for Wii U.

Durable and Light Weight

Protected by sturdy an compact case, MegaZ portable drive makes you bring your files and collections anywhere with its massive space and reliability.

SPECIFICATIONS

Item Dimensions: 4.52 x 3.15 x 0.39 in

Item Weight: 140 g(4.9 oz)

USB 3.0 Cable Length: 49 cm(19.29 in)

 NOTE

Type of file system used for the drive, type of operating system, and various other factors can affect the actual storage capacity displayed by your computer.

160 GB ≈ 149 GB 

250 GB ≈ 238 GB 

320 GB ≈ 298 GB 

500 GB ≈ 465 GB 

1TB GB ≈ 931GB

MANUFACTURER WARRANTY AND CUSTOMER SERVICE

• 45 Days Money-Back Guarantee for ANY reason, return your undamaged MegaZ product and receive a full refund for ANY reason.

• 3 Years Manufacturer Warranty  for quality-related issues. For 36 months after the date of purchase, we take care of all quality-related issues with a replacement or full refund including the return shipping cost.

• Compatible With - Microsoft Windows/ Mac/ PS4/ Xbox One(No need reformat)
• Latest Model - Equipped with USB 3.0 connection, this portable hard drive enables you to backup massive data in seconds, delivering ultra fast transfer speed to improve your PC performance
• Designed for PC and Mac - This external drive is ready to go without extra power supply or software installation needed
• Slim Style Handy Sized Design - 11.5 X 8 X 1 cm, light weight hard disk drive protected by sturdy and compact case, comfortably fits your palm
• Package Content - Portable external hard drive, 19-inch USB 3.0 hard drive cable, user’s manual, 3-Year friendly manufacturer warranty. Quick replacement or refund service. (1MB=1,000,000 bytes, 1GB=1,000,000,000 bytes. The actual usable storage capacity may be less, 500GB ≈ 465GB)

User questions & answers

Question:	Will this external hard drive work with Windows
Answer:	It will work with Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, MacOS X.
Question:	could i use this with my chromebook to xfer music from one mps player to another
Answer:	Based on my experience, I would say no. Chromebooks aren't good with zip files which is how music albums download.
Question:	Can i set this up to automatically back up certain files say once a week and walk away from it
Answer:	I'm sorry. I have only used this hard drive as a means to store videos for my DVR. I have never used it to do anything else, but it has been flawless as storage for my videos. I'm not sure I understand exactly what you're wanting it to do, but as a storage for videos, it has been flawless. I hope this helps and apologize if it doesn't.
Question:	What does it mean if this product starts beeping
Answer:	Since the product is not a sold state drive if you bump it or drop it the disk can become unbalanced the beeping indicates that

Product description

Store and access 2TB of photos and files on the go, with Seagate Backup Plus Slim. The perfect complement to personal aesthetic, this compact, portable external hard drive features a minimalist brushed metal enclosure and quick plug-and-play connectivity with the included USB 3. 0 cable. Giving files extra protection is practically effortless—simply back up with a single click or schedule automatic daily, weekly, or monthly backups. Plus—edit, manage, and share photos with a one-year complimentary subscription to Mylio Create and a two-month membership to Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan.

• Store and access 2TB of photos and files on the go, with Seagate Backup Plus Slim, an external hard drive for Mac and Windows
• This portable external hard drive features a minimalist brushed metal enclosure, and is a stylish USB drive
• Simply plug this external hard drive for Mac and Windows into a computer via the included USB 3. 0 cable to back up files with a single click or schedule automatic daily, weekly, or monthly backups. Reformatting may be required for use with time machine
• Edit, manage, and share photos with a 1 year complimentary subscription to Mylio Create and a 2 month membership to Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan
• Enjoy long term peace of mind with the included 2 year limited

Product features

A Little Fits a Lot

Small enough for a loaded laptop bag, spacious enough for loads of content—Backup Plus Slim is the perfect marriage of easy portability and truly useful file storage. Easily plug into Windows and Mac computers via USB 3.0 and enjoy helpful tools like customizable backup and folder mirroring.

What's Included

Seagate Backup Plus Slim drive | 18-inch (45.72cm) USB 3.0 cable | Quick start guide | Downloadable Seagate Toolkit backup software | One-year Mylio Create plan | Two-month membership Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan

Product description

The WD Black P10 Game Drive gives your console or PC the performance-enhancing tools it needs to keep your competitive edge. It's a top-tier external HDD in available in capacities up to 5TB, built specifically for gamers looking to expand the potential of their console or PC by saving their game library in an on-the-go form factor. Now, with WD Black P10 Game Drive, you can drive your game the way you choose.

• Up to 5TB that can hold up to 125 games, so that you can save old favorites and still have room for new titles. Number of games based on a 36GB average per game. The number of games will vary based on file size, formatting, other programs, and factors.
• Portable and durable form factor that provides fast access to your gaming library, anywhere you go.
• High-performance HDD to optimize your console or PC gaming experience and drive your game.
• Purpose-built for gamers based on WD Black quality and reliability so you can play without limits.

User questions & answers

Question:	Where is this made? no more ccp stuff for this household
Answer:	Really? Where have you been for the last 50 years? Damn near EVERY major American company manufacturers in China or uses parts made in China. Those Ford luxury cars (and most other luxury American car brands) that people are so envious of? MADE OVERSEAS. Most other American cars? Assembled out of parts manufactured in CHINA. xboxes, playstations, computers, iphones, android phones, board games, dice, radios, speaker systems, video cards, ram cards, motherboards, remote controls, our tvs, our batteries and power cords, our baking pans and plates bowls cups, 90% or our childrens toys, printers, cameras, modems, air conditioners, our food seasonings and herbs, the list is endless, ALL MADE IN CHINA OR ASSEMBLED IN CHINA OR ASSEMBLED IN THE USA WITH CHINESE PRODUCTS AND PARTS. Our major brand (SUNBEAM, HAMILTON BEACH, STANLEY, BLACK AND DECKER, FABERWARE, SONY, PIONEER, TECHNICS, KENMORE, RAY BAN, HUSH PUPPIES, ARROW CLOTHING, WOOLRICH, GILETTE, HUFFY, FISHER PRICE, CONVERSE, NIKE, LEVI, SCHWINN, RADIO FLYER, SAMSONITE, BRACHS, FENDER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, DELL, HP, CRAFTSMAN, COLEMAN, FORD, CHEVROLET, AMERICAN GIRL, GERBER, UNDER ARMOUR, AND EVEN ALL OF THE TRUMP MAGA GEAR EXCEPT THE HATS AND LITERALLY 95% OF THE REST that if i were to type them all this would be 800 times longer than it already is). Name brand Toothpaste, soaps and shampoos, cleaning chemicals and supplies, Toasters, toaster ovens, microwaves, grills, griddles, vacuum cleaners, brooms, mops, towels, garbage bags, dvds, blu rays, dvd players, equalizers, amps, recievers, food storage containers, glassware, mixers, every other appliance in our homes? MADE IN CHINA. Why? Because our "capitalism" has been perverted to the point where it no longer has anything to do with Patriotism, America, or supporting American workers with living wages. Its about nothing but greed and filling the pockets of the most wealthy even fuller than they already are. The few brands that ARE all American cost so much that most of us couldnt even afford to buy them anyway. Like Kitchen Aid with even simple hand mixers costing up to 7 times more than other leading brands at 70-160 bucks instead of 20 Or 3-500 dollars for a table top mixer instead of 100.
Question:	Can I use this hard drive for backing up my PC for pictures, movies, excel, word files
Answer:	yes, it works just like a normal external harddrive, just more reliable and has a quicker read /write speed
Question:	Does it come with the necessary usb cable? lots of marketing blah-blah-blah but little useful information
Answer:	It should come with a 2-3 foot long cable 3.0 cable (B-type to A-type). I have yet to buy an external USB HDD or HDD enclosure without some kind of USB cable.
Question:	The press release for the P10 states it is USB 3.1 Gen 1 capable but it doesn’t advertise it in the current listing. Can anyone confirm this
Answer:	The USB Forum is confusing as hell. Are you ready? Okay: USB 3.0 is SuperSpeed, which would make it too easy to determine which USB is which, so of course they don't use that name. So it's called 3.0, except now it's not. 3.0 and 3.1 gen 1 are the same thing, same speed and all (5gbps). Then you have USB 3.1 gen 2. It's a genuine upgrade over gen 1 speed, but PSYCH! Name swap again! Now 3.1 is 3.2 gen 1, and 3.2 gen 2, and now there is a new one called 3.2 gen 2 by 2! It's maddening! Anyway, in summary, yes this drive is USB 3.0, or 3.1 gen 1, or 3.2 gen 1, whichever you wanna call it.

Product features

Compact SSD, shaped by performance

The WD_Black P50 Game Drive SSD has a portable form factor that can withstand battlefields due to its durable and shock-resistant design.

Massive storage with active cooling

With the WD_Black D10 Game Drive added storage, there's no need to waste time clearing room on your console or PC for new games—now you can keep your old favorites intact as you grow your library.

Level Up to NVMe SSD Performance

The WD_Black SN750 NVMe SSD delivers top-tier performance for gaming and hardware enthusiasts who are looking to build or upgrade their PC.

Product description

The Samsung T5 Portable SSD has the latest in Samsung V-NAND flash memory technology. Its portable design, blazing fast transfer speeds of up to 540 MB/s, shock resistance, and secure encryption make it the best portable SSD on the market.

• Superfast read write speeds: SSD with V-NAND offers ultra-fast data transfer speeds of up to 540MB/s (up to 4.9x faster than external HDDs); Ideal for transferring large-sized data including 4K videos, high-resolution photos, games and more
• Compact and portable design: Top to bottom shock resistant metal design fits in the palm of your hand and easily slides in your pocket or purse to take work and entertainment on the go
• Secure encryption: Optional password protection and AES 256-bit hardware encryption keeps your personal and private data more secure
• Seamless connectivity: Includes USB type C to C and USB type C to A cables to connect to PCs, Macs, smartphones and other devices
• Warranty and compatibility: 3-year limited warranty; Requires Windows 7, Mac OS X 10.9 (Mavericks), Android 4.4 (KitKat), or higher; Older versions of the Windows, Mac and Android operating systems may not be supported

User questions & answers

Question:	I just bought i want to use with an imac and a pc should i plug it in when i get it to imac first and if i do can i drag pc files to it after
Answer:	I would do a clean format of it on the imac first, you can choose exFAT (it will work on both PC and mac) or you can choose Mac OS Extended (HFS+) which is more stable than exFAT, but you will need software on your PC to read/write to the drive. If the PC is your main machine I would just choose exFAT.
Question:	How long is the usb cable
Answer:	Measured at 16 inches.
Question:	Should the cable go in smoothly, or does it kind of snap in and need some pull to come out? Just got mine and wondering if that is normal
Answer:	The first one I got the cable did not fit well and Samsung replaced the drive. The second one has been fine
Question:	If i use this drive on my 2012 imac with usb 3.0, will the transfer speeds be less than 540mb/s
Answer:	Your iMac has USB 3.0 which is also known as USB 3.1 Gen 1. That has about half the theoretical maximum transfer rate of USB 3.1 Gen 2, which is the interface used by this drive. On the upside, it is still fully compatible with USB 3.0/3.1 Gen 1 and while the transfer rate you’ll experience will be lower than if you had a computer with Gen 2 USB, it really isn’t that much slower in actual use. If you’re moving from any spinning platter drive to an SSD regardless of the interface you were using with the platter drive, you will see a HUGE performance improvement using this external SSD drive.

Product features

The World in your Pocket

Get your entertainment, coursework, or games anywhere, on any device. Feel the freedom of huge storage and speedy transfers to laptops, smartphones, game consoles and more. The latest T5 easily slides in your pocket or purse, with multiple color options that complement your sense of style.

Fast Transfer Speeds

With Samsung V-NAND flash memory and a USB 3.1 Gen 2 interface, the T5 provides transfer speeds of up to 540 MB/s*, that’s up to 4.9x faster than external HDDs**. Transfers and backups of large-sized data including 4K videos and high-resolution photos will be much quicker and faster.

*Performance may vary depending on host configuration. Must support USB 3.1 Gen 2 and the UASP mode must be enabled.

**Based on internal test results compared to a Samsung external HDD 500GB.

Solid Inside and Out

The T5 has no moving parts and a sturdy metal body, so it can handle drops of up to 2 meters*. The optional password protection with AES 256-bit hardware encryption keeps your personal and private data more secure*.

*The internal free fall shock test was conducted under controlled conditions.

Management Software

Manage your data easily with new intuitive software for PCs and Macs* that makes it simple to set the password and get the latest firmware updates. You can also download the mobile app for Android smartphones and tablets.**

*Software requires Windows 7, Mac OS X 10.9 (Mavericks), Android 4.4 (KitKat), or higher. Older versions of the Windows, Mac and Android operating systems may not be supported.

**Firmware update requires PC or Mac connection. Android app available on Google Play.

Product description

Store and access 2TB of photos and files on the go, with Seagate Backup Plus Slim. The perfect compliment to personal aesthetic, this compact, portable external hard drive features a minimalist brushed metal enclosure and quick plug-and-play connectivity with the included USB 3.0 cable. Giving files extra protection is practically effortless—simply back up with a single click or schedule automatic daily, weekly, or monthly backups. Plus—edit, manage, and share photos with a one-year complimentary subscription to Mylio Create and a two-month membership to Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan!

• Store and access 2TB of photos and files on the go, with Seagate Backup Plus Slim, an external hard drive for Mac and Windows
• This portable external hard drive features a minimalist brushed metal enclosure, and is a stylish USB drive
• Simply plug this external hard drive for Mac and Windows into a computer via the included USB 3.0 cable to back up files with a single click or schedule automatic daily, weekly, or monthly backups. Reformatting may be required for use with Time Machine.
• Edit, manage, and share photos with a one-year complimentary subscription to Mylio Create and a two-month membership to Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan
• Enjoy long-term peace of mind with the included two-year limited warranty

User questions & answers

Question:	Will this work as local storage for an Arlo Pro 3 video system
Answer:	I've had 2 of these and both came with 1 USB cord that has 3 connectors. 1 goes to the hard drive box and the other 2 plug into the computer
Question:	Can you delete backup software and use as aux drive
Answer:	RAID 1 is MIRROR mode, writes same data to both drives for backup so it is normal to get half capacity. Simply follow LaCie directions to switch back to RAID 0 mode, but this will ERASE ALL DATA so if you have anything on the drive, back it up to another drive before switching RAID modes and reformatting.
Question:	Is it compatible with a Samsung S5e tablet
Answer:	Not sure. However, here is the link ti LaCie America. They should be able to aid you. https://www.lacie.com/products/rugged/
Question:	Can it be partitioned for 2 separate backups
Answer:	The computer you attatch it to