When your phone keeps saying “storage full” and your computer starts slowing down from too many files, it gets frustrating real quick.
That’s exactly where I found myself. Between all my photos, videos, and everyday files, I had a lot of data taking up space, and I didn’t want to keep paying monthly just to store my own memories online.
So I started looking into portable hard drives as a better option, and that’s how I came across
This little device is designed to give you extra storage without the hassle.
It’s one of those external drives that lets you move your photos, videos, and important files off your phone or computer and store them safely in one place.
And with features like automatic backups and password protection, it’s built to keep your personal data secure while freeing up space where you need it most.
In this review, I’m going to walk you through what this drive actually does, how easy it is to use, and if it’s really worth buying or just another tech item you don’t need.
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Why I Got This in the First Place
I had way too many videos and pictures on my phone and computer. Every time I tried to take a new photo or record something, I kept getting that “storage full” message.
Then I started paying for Google Photos just to get more space. And I’ll be honest… I was about to give that up because it adds up over time.
So I started thinking, there has to be a better way to store all this without paying every month.
That’s when I decided to try one of these portable hard drives, specifically WD My Passport 2TB Portable External Hard Drive.
What This Device Does (Super Simple)
Think of this as extra storage space that you carry with you.
It’s an external hard drive that plugs into your computer using the included cable (USB connection). Once you plug it in, it shows up like another folder on your computer.
You can:
- Move your photos and videos onto it
- Store large files you don’t want clogging up your computer
- Keep important files in one place
- Free up space on your phone and desktop PC
It basically gives you a lot of portable storage without needing the internet.
How to Move Files From Your Computer to the WD My Passport 2TB Portable Drive
If you have never done this before, don’t worry. It is actually pretty simple once you see it step by step.
Before You Start
You will need:
- Your WD My Passport portable drive
- The included cable
- Your computer
Step 1: Plug the Drive Into Your Computer
Take your WD My Passport and plug the small end of the cable into the drive.
Then plug the other end into a USB port on your computer.
Once it is plugged in, give it a moment. Your computer should recognize it.
If I don’t see it, I go to files and you should see on the left side, “Passport.”
Step 2: Open the Drive on Your Computer
On a Windows computer:
- Open File Explorer
- Look on the left side for This PC
- You should see your external hard drive listed there, usually as WD My Passport
On a Mac:
- Open Finder
- Look for the drive name on the left side
Click on it to open it.
Step 3: Find the Files You Want to Move
Now open another window and go to the place where your files are stored.
This might be:
- Pictures
- Videos
- Downloads
- Documents
- Your desktop
Look for the photos, videos, or other files you want to move.
Step 4: Decide If You Want to Copy or Move
This part is important.
Copy means the file stays on your computer and also goes onto the drive.
Move means the file leaves your computer and goes onto the drive.
If you are new to this, I suggest you copy first. That way you still have the original on your computer until you make sure everything transferred correctly.
Step 5: Copy the Files to the Drive
Easy way:
- Click on the file you want
- Right click
- Choose Copy
Then go to the WD My Passport window:
- Right click in the empty space
- Choose Paste
Your file will start transferring.
You can also click the file and drag it to the passport folder.
Step 6: For Multiple Files
If you want to transfer more than one file:
- Hold down the Ctrl key on Windows while clicking files one by one
- On Mac, hold the Command key while clicking files
Or if you want everything in a folder:
- Right click the folder
- Choose Copy
- Open the drive
- Right click
- Choose Paste
This is a good way to move large files or whole photo folders at once.
Or, after you clicked all you want, grab them by clicking on one and drag them all to the passport folder.
Step 7: Wait for the Transfer to Finish
If you are moving photos or videos, especially lots of them, it may take a few minutes.
Do not unplug the drive while files are transferring.
You may see a progress bar. Just let it finish.
This device transfers pretty quick. I also has a fast internet connection.
Step 8: Check That Your Files Are There
Once it finishes, open the file or folder on the drive and make sure your pictures or videos are there.
This is why copying first is smart. You can make sure everything worked before deleting anything from your computer.
So simple click on the passport folder to check. I do this everytime I transfer. This is especially important before I erase them off my computer.
Step 9: Delete the Originals From Your Computer Only After Checking
After you confirm the files are safely on the portable drive, you can go back to your computer and delete the originals if you want to free up space.
Be careful here. Only delete them after you are sure they copied over correctly.
I use Google Photos, which is great because it won’t totally erase until after 30 days.
Step 10: Safely Remove the Drive
Before unplugging it, safely eject it.
On Windows:
- Look near the bottom right of the screen
- Click the USB icon
- Choose Eject WD My Passport
- Just remove the USB connected to the device.
On Mac:
- Click the little eject symbol next to the drive name in Finder
Once your computer says it is safe, unplug it.
Super Simple Example
Let’s say you want to move vacation pictures:
- Plug in the drive
- Open File Explorer
- Open your Pictures folder
- Find your vacation folder
- Right click the folder and click Copy
- Open WD My Passport
- Right click and click Paste
- Wait for it to finish
- Open the folder on the drive and check your pictures
- Eject the drive safely
Helpful Tip
You can also make folders on the drive to stay organized, like:
- Family Photos
- Travel Videos
- Blog Pictures
- Important Documents
To do that:
- Right click inside the drive window
- Click New Folder
- Type the folder name
That makes it much easier to find things later.
What Makes It Useful
This is part of Western Digital’s WD My Passport line, and here are some of the best features:
1. 2TB of Storage (That’s a Lot)
- This tb drive holds thousands of photos and videos
- Great for people like us who save everything
2. Portable and Easy to Carry
- Small enough to toss in your bag
- No heavy setup or bulky equipment
3. Automatic Backups
- Comes with WD’s backup software
- You can set it and forget it
- It will back up your files automatically
4. Password Protection + Security
- Includes password protection and hardware encryption
- Helps keep your personal data safe
- Uses WD security software, which is a nice touch
5. Plug and Play
- Uses a standard USB port (USB Micro-B on the drive side)
- Works right away on most computers
Who Should Use This
This is a good choice if you:
- Take a lot of photos and videos
- Are running out of space on your phone or computer
- Don’t want to keep paying monthly for cloud storage
- Want a simple backup for your important files
- Need something easy, not tech complicated
Honestly, if you’ve ever seen that “storage full” message… this is for you.
Pros
- Tons of storage (2TB option)
- Very easy to use, even if you’re not tech savvy
- Helps free up space fast
- Automatic backups are super helpful
- Password protection and security encryption
- Small and truly portable
Cons
- You have to plug it in (not wireless)
- Not as fast as newer portable SSDs
- Another item to keep up with (don’t lose it)
- Setup for backup software may take a few extra minutes
My Overall Take
For me, this was a better choice than continuing to pay for more online storage.
It gave me control over my files, helped clear space on my devices, and now I don’t stress every time I take a picture or video.
If you have a lot of data, this is one of those storage devices that just makes life easier.
Simple, useful, and does exactly what it’s supposed to do.
