Best External Hard Drives for PC of 2025
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External hard drives have become an essential accessory for computer users who need extra storage space for their files, documents, photos, and videos. These devices are portable and easy to use, allowing you to store and transfer data between computers, laptops, and other devices. With a variety of sizes and capacities available, external hard drives are perfect for anyone who needs to backup or store large amounts of data. They also offer a convenient way to free up space on your computer's internal hard drive, which can help improve performance and speed.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 10 External Hard Drives for PC
Seagate 2TB Portable External Hard Drive
The Seagate Portable Drive is a handy 2TB external hard drive that allows you to easily store and access your content while on the go. It is designed for seamless compatibility with both Windows and Mac computers, making backup as simple as drag and drop. Setting it up requires no software, just connect it to your computer for automatic recognition. Additionally, the included 18-inch USB 3.0 cable ensures plug and play convenience, allowing you to transfer files effortlessly.
WD 5TB My Passport Portable External Hard Drive
The WD My Passport Drive offers trusted, portable storage to keep your digital life organised and safe. Its slim design allows for easy carrying, making it perfect for on-the-go use. With built-in backup software, you can effortlessly schedule automatic backups of your essential files, ensuring that your precious photos, videos, music, and documents are never lost. Additionally, the drive features 256-bit AES hardware encryption, providing an extra layer of security through password protection, so you can feel confident about your data's safety.
WD 2TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive
The WD Elements 2TB Drive offers ample extra storage for your videos, music, photos, and files, making it an ideal choice for those needing to expand their digital library. Its plug-and-play feature ensures you can easily connect it to your Windows PC without any hassle. Enjoy fast data transfer speeds with USB 3.0, allowing you to quickly move large files. Additionally, this drive comes with a free trial of WD SmartWare Pro software, providing automatic and cloud data protection for your important information.
Meyritech 1TB USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive
The Meyritech 1TB Hard Drive is a versatile external storage solution for your devices. With USB 3.0 connectivity, you can quickly back up data or expand storage on PCs, laptops, Macs, and gaming consoles like Xbox One and PS4. It operates without needing an external power source, making it highly portable. Additionally, the drive's compact size means it easily fits into your bag, ensuring your data is always accessible when you need it.
Storite 500GB External Hard Drive for Gaming
The Storite External Hard Drive offers high-speed data transfer with USB 3.0 technology, allowing you to move files swiftly and efficiently. Its universal compatibility means you can use it with various devices, including PS4, Mac, and PCs, making it a versatile choice. With 500GB of storage, you can easily back up your games, videos, and pictures without needing to delete anything. Plus, it's incredibly user-friendly; simply plug it in and start using it right away.
ModusTech 500GB Portable External Hard Drive
The ModusTech External HDD is an excellent choice for quick and efficient data management. With ultra-fast USB 3.0 connectivity, you can transfer files at speeds up to 5 Gbps, making backups and data transfers effortless. Its compact and portable design allows you to carry large amounts of data easily, whether for work or leisure. Additionally, it features a plug-and-play setup, meaning you can start using it immediately without any software installation. This convenience lets you focus on your tasks without delays or complications.
Sonnics 1TB Blue Portable External Hard Drive
The Sonnics 1TB Hard Drive offers a USB 3.0 super speed transfer rate of 5Gbps, ensuring quick and efficient file transfers for your Windows PC and Apple Mac. Its ultra-slim and lightweight design makes it easy to transport, perfect for users on the go. You can connect it directly to a USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 port without needing an external power source, simplifying your setup. Additionally, it is formatted to FAT32, allowing seamless compatibility with various operating systems and devices.
UnionSine HD2510 500GB Portable External Hard Drive
The UnionSine HD2510 Hard Drive offers versatile compatibility, allowing you to connect it to various devices like TVs, game consoles, and computers. This ensures you can easily access your data wherever you need it. Its improved design features rounded corners and a non-slip surface, providing a comfortable grip during use. With lightning-fast transfer speeds of up to 120MB/s read and 103MB/s write, you can quickly move large files. Plus, the plug-and-play functionality makes setup effortless, as there's no need for software installation.
Ezekers 1TB Portable External Hard Drive
The Ezekers External Hard Drive offers a hassle-free plug and play experience, allowing you to simply connect it without the need for software installation. With a generous storage capacity of 1TB, it effectively meets your data storage needs, whether for work or play. Its compact 2.5-inch size ensures portability, making it easy to carry around. Furthermore, its multi-platform compatibility means you can use it with a range of devices, including PCs, Macs, and gaming consoles, providing versatility for your data management.
UnionSine 10TB External Hard Drive
The UnionSine External HDD offers a substantial 10TB capacity, making it ideal for storing large files such as 4K videos and games. With its advanced MTC multi-layer caching technology, you can expect faster loading times for applications and files, enhancing your productivity. Its USB-C 3.2 Gen2 interface ensures compatibility with various devices, including PCs, Macs, and gaming consoles. Additionally, the upgraded cable and anti-vibration design help maintain efficient data transfer and reduce noise during operation, providing a seamless user experience.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is it worth getting an external hard drive for PC?
SSD external hard drives easily outperform their traditional rivals: the mechanical hard drives. This is because these external SSDs are faster, more durable, and efficient and have higher portability. They even manufacture external SSD for gaming now.
2. Can a computer run on a external hard drive?
While 500GB storage is more than enough for most users, you might run out of free space if you have lots of large files like movies, PC games, and editing files. Thankfully, you can always use an external hard drive to store your computer data.
During our external hard drive for pc research, we found 219 external hard drive for pc products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 2,909,522 customer reviews through our big data system to write the external hard drives for pc list. We found that most customers choose external hard drives for pc with an average price of £75.69.
The external hard drives for pc are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of external hard drives for pc, including Seagate, WD, Meyritech, Storite, ModusTech.
Kenneth Collin graduated from Imperial College, London, at 22. He is a UX/UI designer, a web developer, and a writer, amongst others. At age 14, Kenneth programmed his first app. Kenneth's app served as a remote control for censored devices. "When I was 8, I would pick up scraps from electronics and try to rebuild or at least fix them," Kenneth said in one of his recent articles on Home repairs for top gadgets.