External hard drives

External hard drives in our range include pocket-sized portable drives, larger desktop drives with their own power supply and rugged models for travel. They suit anyone who needs extra space for backups, photos, video or work files. Over 380 models come from brands such as Western Digital, LaCie, Seagate and ADATA.

How to choose an external hard drive

Capacity. Work out what you need to store today, then leave room to grow. A laptop backup should be at least as large as the laptop's internal drive, and video editors or photographers with large libraries will fill smaller drives quickly. Larger capacities are usually better value per gigabyte.

Portable or desktop. Portable 2.5-inch drives are powered through the USB cable and slip into a laptop bag. Desktop drives use 3.5-inch mechanisms and a mains adapter, which generally means higher capacities and lower cost per terabyte, but they are meant to stay on a desk.

Connection and speed. Check the port on your computer before buying. Most modern drives use USB 3.x, and many come with a USB-C cable or a USB-C connector. Older USB 2.0 ports will work but transfer large files much more slowly. Some professional drives also offer Thunderbolt for faster transfers.

Durability and security. A mechanical hard drive has moving parts, so a drive that travels benefits from a rubber bumper or a shock-resistant case. If the drive will hold confidential files, look for hardware encryption or password protection, and remember that no single drive replaces a second copy of important data.

Compatibility. Many drives arrive formatted for Windows (NTFS). Mac users may need to reformat, or choose a model supplied ready for macOS. The exFAT format works on both systems, which helps if you move files between a PC and a Mac.

Brands we carry

• Western Digital: the largest group in our range, known for the My Passport portable drives and the My Book desktop series, both widely used for backups.
• LaCie: a brand aimed at creative professionals, recognised for distinctive design and rugged drives with protective bumpers.
• Seagate: one of the longest-established hard drive makers, with the Expansion and One Touch families covering simple portable and desktop storage.
• Toshiba: offers the Canvio series of portable drives for everyday backups.
• ADATA: known for shock-resistant portable drives, including rugged models built for outdoor and travel use.
• Transcend: makes the StoreJet range, which includes rugged portable drives with shock protection.
• SanDisk: best known for flash storage, and also makes portable drives for photographers and mobile users.
• Apricorn: specialises in hardware-encrypted drives, such as the Aegis series, which are unlocked with a PIN.
• Verbatim: a long-standing storage media brand that also makes external drives for general file storage.

Also in our range: Intenso and CipherX.

External hard drive FAQ

What size external hard drive do I need?

For a laptop backup, choose a drive at least as large as the laptop's internal storage, and preferably twice that. Photographers and video editors should allow much more, because raw photos and 4K footage take up space quickly. Buying one capacity step above your current needs is a sensible habit.

Is a portable or a desktop external hard drive better?

A portable drive is better if you carry it between places, because it is small and runs from the USB cable alone. A desktop drive suits a fixed setup, as it usually offers more space for the money. Both can be used for backups.

Will an external hard drive work with both Windows and Mac?

Yes, as long as it is formatted with a file system both systems can use, such as exFAT. Many drives are supplied formatted for one system, but you can reformat them. Reformatting erases the drive, so do it before you copy files onto it.

How long does an external hard drive last?

Most mechanical external hard drives work for several years, but there is no guaranteed lifespan. Drops, heat and heavy use shorten it, and a failing drive can lose data without warning. Keep important files in at least two places, and consider a rugged model if the drive travels often.