To open a flash drive in Windows 10, plug it into a USB port, press Windows key + E to open File Explorer, and select This PC. Double-click the drive under Devices and drives, such as USB Drive (E:). External hard drives open the same way.
Applies to: Windows 10. Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025, and only PCs enrolled in Extended Security Updates still get security fixes, through October 12, 2027.
Open the drive in File Explorer
- Plug the flash drive or external hard drive into a USB port on your PC. If yours is a SanDisk portable drive, see how to set up a SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD.
- Press Windows key + E to open File Explorer.
- Select This PC on the left.
- Double-click the drive under Devices and drives.
The drive also shows in the left pane, so you can select it there next time.
Open it from the AutoPlay message
When you plug in a drive, a message may appear in the lower-right corner. Select it, then select Open folder to view files.
Copy files to or from the drive
- To the drive: right-click a file or folder on your PC, select Send to, and choose the drive. Or drag it onto the drive in File Explorer’s left pane.
- From the drive: open the drive, select the files, press Ctrl + C, open a folder on your PC such as Documents, and press Ctrl + V.
Dragging between the PC and a USB drive copies rather than moves, so the original stays where it was. Wait for the copy window to close before you unplug the drive.
Remove the drive safely
Before you unplug it, select the Safely Remove Hardware icon on the taskbar and select the drive. Or right-click the drive in File Explorer and select Eject. If Windows reports that the drive is still in use, safely ejecting a drive in Windows 10 covers what to do.
Choose what happens when you plug it in
Go to Settings > Devices > AutoPlay. Under Removable drive, choose Open folder to view files (File Explorer) to have the drive open automatically, Ask me every time to see the choices, or Take no action to stop the pop-ups.
If you can’t open or use the drive
- “The disk is write-protected.” Some USB drives and SD card adapters have a small lock switch on the side. Slide it to unlocked, then reconnect the drive.
- “Location is not available” or “The parameter is incorrect.” The drive may have been unplugged while copying. Right-click it in This PC, select Properties > Tools > Check to scan and repair it.
- A file is too big to copy. Drives formatted as FAT32 can’t hold files larger than 4 GB. Reformat the drive as exFAT after moving its files elsewhere.
- The drive shows the wrong size. Very cheap drives that claim huge sizes are often fakes. Copy a large file onto it and open it again to test.
Check the drive in Disk Management
If the drive doesn’t appear in File Explorer, see whether Windows detects it at all. Right-click Start and select Disk Management. Look for a disk that matches your drive’s size, then check what it says:
- Healthy, but no drive letter: right-click the partition, select Change Drive Letter and Paths > Add, and pick a letter. The drive then shows in File Explorer.
- RAW: Windows can’t read the file system, so it asks you to format. Formatting erases the drive. If you need the files, use a data recovery tool or a repair shop first.
- Unallocated: the drive has no partition. On a new drive, right-click it and select New Simple Volume to set it up. On a drive that had files, recover them before you do this.
- No Media: Windows sees the USB connection but not the storage inside. This usually means the flash drive has failed.
- Not listed at all: try a different port, cable, or PC. If it isn’t detected anywhere, the drive or its enclosure is likely faulty.
Repair errors with Check Disk
If the drive opens but shows errors, or files won’t copy, scan it for problems:
- Select Start, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.
- Type
chkdsk E: /f, replacing E with your drive’s letter, and press Enter. - Wait for the scan to finish, then try opening the drive again.
If Windows reports an I/O device error or Access is denied on a work PC, your organization may block USB storage. Ask your IT team before trying other fixes.
Reinstall the USB driver
- Right-click Start and select Device Manager.
- Expand Disk drives, right-click your USB drive, and select Uninstall device.
- Unplug the drive, wait a few seconds, and plug it back in. Windows reinstalls the driver automatically.
Frequently asked questions
Why doesn’t my drive show up?
- Try another USB port, or plug it straight into the PC instead of a hub.
- Some external hard drives need their own power cable. Make sure it’s plugged in and turned on.
- Check whether Windows sees the device at all by listing connected USB devices in Windows 10.
- If the drive shows in Disk Management but has no letter, give it one as described above, or read more on changing a drive letter in Windows 10.
Windows says I need to format the drive. Should I?
Formatting erases everything on the drive. If the files matter, copy them another way first or try the drive on another PC. For an empty drive, go ahead and format the drive in Windows 10.
Where is This PC?
It’s in the left pane of File Explorer. Other ways to reach it are in finding This PC (My Computer) in Windows 10.
Can I open a flash drive on a Mac or phone too?
Yes, if it’s formatted as exFAT or FAT32, which most new drives are. Drives formatted as NTFS open on a Mac but are read-only there. Android phones and iPhones can open USB drives with the right adapter.
Is it safe to leave a flash drive plugged in?
Yes. It does no harm, though it’s easy to forget and leave behind.
For more background, Microsoft has pages on File Explorer in Windows and Safely remove hardware in Windows.
Matt Jacobs writes and maintains the guides on Support Your Tech, which he started in 2017. He spent most of his career keeping small-business PCs running and still takes the occasional consulting job, so the steps here come from fixing the same problems on other people’s computers. Every guide is checked on his own Windows 11, Windows 10, Mac, iPhone and iPad before it goes up.