Choose a USB drive for the part of the move that matters most to you: room and transfer time for large project folders, a convenient connector for the devices you will use, or suitable encryption for confidential drafts. Whatever the drive offers, make it one checked copy of the archive, not the only copy; the Library of Congress advises keeping copies on different storage media in separate physical locations.
If your devices and boxes will be in different places, you need a portable copy without making one small drive your entire archive. The Library of Congress advises keeping copies on different media and in separate locations.
If your selected archive includes large exports, images or renders, check that it fits and allow time to copy it. Manufacturer speed figures describe particular drives and conditions, not the time your whole project will take.
If you will carry client files, personal information or unpublished work, consider how the files would be protected if the drive went missing. The Information Commissioner's Office identifies encryption as a protection for personal information stored on USB media.
Plan where the other archive copy will live, then measure the files you intend to take and check the ports on the devices you will use. If the drafts are sensitive, decide how you will manage access before copying them onto a portable drive.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Separate archive copies | Keep another copy on a different medium in a separate location; check important files after copying. | If the drive disappears among moving boxes, I still need my drafts elsewhere. Around 42% of consumers would put independent copies first. |
| Capacity and transfer time | Measure the selected archive, allow headroom and check which capacity and host port a stated speed applies to. | When a project includes linked assets and large exports, I need the whole selected archive to fit without rushing the copy. Around 33% of consumers would make capacity and transfer time their primary concern. |
| Confidentiality in transit | Check the encryption method, connector and what happens if access credentials are lost. | If a drive carrying client or personal files goes missing, I want those files protected from unauthorised access. For around 25% of consumers, confidentiality would be the main priority. |
A portable drive can be lost, damaged or become unreadable during a move; a durable casing or warranty does not preserve files on its own.
Follow the Library of Congress advice to keep copies on different media in separate locations. Check the new copy before packing away the device you copied from.
Recreating lost drafts can take substantial time, particularly if earlier versions are needed.
Linked assets, exports and revisions may be outside the folder you first measure, while labelled drive capacity is not entirely available for files.
Measure everything you intend to preserve and leave room for additions before choosing a capacity.
A drive is easy to misplace. The Information Commissioner's Office identifies encryption as a way to protect personal information stored on USB media.
If the archive is sensitive, check how encryption is set up and how access can be recovered. Keep credentials separate from the drive and retain another accessible copy.
Manufacturer maximum sequential speeds can depend on capacity, the computer's port and transfer conditions; they do not promise the same result for a folder of mixed files.
Check the figure for the exact variant and connection you plan to use, and leave time to inspect the copied archive before moving day.
Samsung BAR Plus is a USB-A range to consider when carrying an additional archive copy.
SanDisk Extreme PRO USB 3.2 is a USB-A option for people copying large project files.
Kingston offers distinct options for a straightforward USB-A copy and for carrying sensitive files.
These drives cover different capacities, connectors and portable-copy needs. Measure your complete design archive before choosing one, and keep another copy on a different medium in a separate location.
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Consider this additional copy if you need both USB-A and Type-C connections and want to assess fingerprint access for sensitive drafts.
The listing specifies 256GB, a zinc-alloy body and fingerprint and AES-256 features. Check the security setup and recovery process before storing confidential files, and confirm that your full archive fits with headroom.
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Consider this additional copy if your measured archive needs the listed 512GB capacity and you use USB-A and Type-C devices.
The listing describes a dual-interface drive with a zinc-alloy housing. Check the applicable transfer speed for this variant and connection before planning copy time; leave capacity headroom for revisions.
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Consider this additional copy if the files you intend to retain call for the listed 1TB capacity and access through USB-A and Type-C.
The listing describes a dual-interface drive with a zinc-alloy housing. Measure the archive rather than choosing capacity by its label alone, and check the applicable transfer speed for this variant and connection.
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Consider this USB-A drive for an additional portable copy if your measured archive fits within its capacity.
The listing specifies USB 3.2 Gen 1 and a capless design. If physical-protection or password-protection claims matter to you, check their conditions and the security method for this exact model.
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Consider this straightforward additional copy if your selected drafts fit with headroom and your computer has USB-A.
The listing describes a retractable design and SecureAccess software. Do not treat that software feature as hardware encryption; check whether its access method suits any sensitive files you intend to carry.
No, not if you intend to preserve the drafts. The Library of Congress advises keeping copies on at least two different storage media in separate physical locations and migrating saved copies to current media about every five years. Check the USB copy, then retain another copy elsewhere.
Choose capacity after measuring the files you will actually preserve, including linked assets, exports and versions you want to keep. Leave headroom: Samsung notes that a drive's usable file capacity can be lower than its labelled capacity.
If it carries personal information or confidential work, encryption is a relevant protection if the drive is lost. The Information Commissioner's Office identifies encryption of USB media as a protection for stored personal information. Choose an access method you can manage, keep credentials separate and maintain another accessible copy.
No. Manufacturer figures are maximum sequential speeds for particular models and conditions; the host port and mix of files can affect an archive transfer. Check the figure for your chosen variant and allow time to inspect the copied files.
Protect the files before passing the drive on or recycling it: retain any drafts you need and securely remove the stored data. Ask your local authority or retailer which collection route is available. GOV.UK describes the UK waste electrical and electronic equipment framework, but its guidance for businesses does not prescribe one household collection route.