A memory stick (also known as a flash drive or thumb drive) is used to store data in a convenient, portable way. Transferring data to or from these devices is quick and easy. Connect the device to your computer, find it on your desktop, then click and drag your files.
Steps
Part 1
Part 1 of 2:
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Connect the memory stick. Plug the memory stick into any USB port on the computer.
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Wait a moment for the memory stick to mount. Once the computer recognizes the device it will appear on the desktop.
- If the memory stick does not appear, try unplugging and replugging it in or using a different USB port on the computer. If you have many other USB devices connected, try unplugging ones that are not currently in use.
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Double-click the desktop icon to open the memory stick. Here you can view all of the files stored on the device. You can make a new folder by selecting “File > New Folder” from the menu bar. Click and drag items to move them around within the memory stick.
- It is not necessary to open the memory stick in Finder prior to transferring files, but doing so can make organizing the files much easier.
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Transfer files to your memory stick. Click and drag files you want to transfer to the stick. When you release the mouse, the files will be copied to the destination. A progress bar will appear to indicate a time estimate for the transfer.
- You can click and drag the cursor to form a box and highlight multiple files, then click and drag any of the selected files to copy them simultaneously. You can also press ⌘ Cmd + click to select multiple files that are not next to each other.
- By default, drag and drop will copy files between drives and move files within the same drive. That is, dragging to or from the memory stick will "copy", but dragging between folders on the computer will "move".
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Wait for the transfer to complete. Once the progress bar fills it will disappear, indicating that the transfer is finished.
- If there is not enough space on your memory stick, you will receive an error. If this happens, you can delete items on the memory stick to make more space. Click and drag items to the trash, then go to the “Finder” menu and select “Empty Trash”. The items will not be fully removed from the memory stick until you empty the trash.
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Eject the drive. When you are finished transferring files, you must eject the drive before physically removing it to prevent errors. Click and drag the memory stick’s desktop icon to the trash. When the cursor is hovering over the trash icon, it will change to display the eject symbol. Release and after a moment the icon will disappear from the desktop. It is now safe to unplug the drive from the USB port.
- Alternatively, you can press Ctrl + click on the drive’s desktop icon and select “Eject” from the menu that appears.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 2:
Retrieving Items From the Memory Stick
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Connect the memory stick. Plug the memory stick into any USB port on the computer.
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Wait a moment for the memory stick to mount. Once the computer recognizes the device it will appear on the desktop.
- If the memory stick does not appear, try unplugging and replugging it in or using a different USB port on the computer. If you have many other USB devices connected, try unplugging ones that are not currently in use.
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Open the memory stick. Double-click the desktop icon to view its files in the Finder. You can also open the Finder first and select the drive from the list of connected devices. Here you can view all of the files that are stored on your memory stick.
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Transfer your files. Click and drag the files you want to copy from the memory stick to the desired location on your computer. Any files will be copied upon releasing the mouse button.
- Alternately, you can use copy or cut/paste to move files. This can be done by selecting the files you want to move/copy and pressing ⌘ Cmd + C (copy) (or ⌘ Cmd + X (cut). Next, select the folder or area to which you want to paste the files, and press ⌘ Cmd + V .
- By default, drag and drop will copy files between drives and move files within the same drive. That is, dragging to or from the memory stick will copy, but dragging between folders on the computer will move.
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Eject the drive. When you are finished transferring files, you must eject the drive before physically removing it to prevent errors. Click and drag the memory stick’s desktop icon to the trash. When the cursor is hovering over the trash icon, it will change to display the eject symbol. Release and after a moment the icon will disappear from the desktop. It is now safe to unplug the drive from the USB port.
- Alternatively, you can press Ctrl + click on the drive’s desktop icon and select “Eject” from the menu that appears.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionDo flash drives work on Mac?Chiara Corsaro is the General Manager and Apple Certified Mac & iOS Technician for macVolks, Inc., an Apple Authorized Service Provider located in the San Francisco Bay Area. macVolks, Inc. was founded in 1990, is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) with an A+ rating, and is part of the Apple Consultants Network (ACN).They do, but they have to be compatible with the computer. If your USB drive isn't working, it may not be compatible with the system, or it could be damaged.
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QuestionWhy won't my Mac read my USB?Chiara Corsaro is the General Manager and Apple Certified Mac & iOS Technician for macVolks, Inc., an Apple Authorized Service Provider located in the San Francisco Bay Area. macVolks, Inc. was founded in 1990, is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) with an A+ rating, and is part of the Apple Consultants Network (ACN).If the USB device has been verified with another computer system, it's possible that the port on the machine itself is damaged. Try multiple ports, if they're available. If you have a newer Apple notebook model, they only have USB C ports, so you need an adapter if your device has a standard USB connector. If you're using an adapter, check to ensure it's not damaged.
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QuestionHow to copy multiple pictures to a flash driveCommunity AnswerSelect multiple images by clicking and dragging the cursor across the images. Then click and drag any of the selected images to the flash drive. You can also use Ctrl + click to select multiple images one at a time.
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Video
Tips
- You can force your drag and drop to copy (instead of move) by holding ⌥ Opt as you perform the action.Thanks
- Files can be transferred between folders or copied directly to the desktop. Don't worry, the choice is not permanent and files can always be moved around later.Thanks
- Memory sticks go by many names, including jump drive, flash memory, pen drive, flash drive, thumb drive, and more.Thanks
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Warnings
- Try to avoid removing the drive without properly ejecting it or you may lose some of your work.Thanks
- If you are transferring many or large files, check your flash drive's capacity first by going to "File > Get Info". You will want to make sure that the files you are transferring do not exceed the space on the drive.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- A Mac computer
- A thumb drive
About this article
Article Summary
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1. Plug the memory stick into the USB port.
2. Double-click the drive icon on the desktop.
3. Drag files to the memory stick to add them.
4. Drag files off the memory stick to copy them to your Mac.
5. Drag the drive icon to the Trash to eject the disk.
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Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 144,711 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "It had been a while since I last used a thumb drive. I recently got a new Apple MacBook Air, and I stumbled upon another opportunity to use one. I quickly found this website to drive me through the process. Thanks to the tutorial, I swiftly got my tasks done." ..." more
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"It had been a while since I last used a thumb drive. I recently got a new Apple MacBook Air, and I stumbled upon another opportunity to use one. I quickly found this website to drive me through the process. Thanks to the tutorial, I swiftly got my tasks done."
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"This was very easy to follow and duplicate while I had it up on my screen near the icon I wanted to put on the flash drive. The only difference was that I found "eject" up on my bar at the top of the screen. Hovering over the trash didn't work for me."
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"It was only a simple task, but wikiHow provided exactly the right amount of detail. Great work, thanks."
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