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How To Add More Storage To Laptop (Best Options)

By Michael | Last Updated: August 21, 2022

Laptops are amazing devices that have completely transformed the way we work and live. They’re portable, powerful, and versatile, making them the perfect tool for everything from working on the go to watching movies at home. However, one of the few downsides of laptops is that they often don’t come with valuable data storage space.

This can be a problem if you need to store large files or install many applications. Fortunately, there are a few ways you can add more storage to your laptop. This article will show you the best options for doing just that without you having the need to delete files

Contents

  • USB Flash Drives
  • Use an External Storage
  • Get a Cloud Storage Subscription
  • Upgrade Your Laptop’s Hard Drive
  • Purchase a Portable SSD
  • Get a NAS Device
  • Use Your Laptop’s Optical Drive
  • Purchase a Docking Station
  • Get a Thunderbolt Dock
  • Use an mSATA SSD
  • Factors to Consider when Adding Storage to Laptop
    • Type of Storage
    • External Drives
    • SSDs
    • Flash Drives
    • SD Cards
    • Capacity
    • Speed
  • Conclusion
    • Related Articles

USB Flash Drives

USB flash drives are a great way to add more storage to your laptop. They’re small, portable, relatively inexpensive, and can hold a lot of data. A USB flash drive is a great option if you need to store large files or install multiple applications. Plus, many flash drives come with built-in security features that can help keep your data safe.

Use an External Storage

If you need even more storage than a USB flash drive can provide, an external drive is a good option. External hard drives are larger and more expensive than flash drives but can hold much more data. They’re also easy to use – just plug them into your laptop’s USB port, and you’re ready to go.

Get a Cloud Storage Subscription

Cloud storage is a great way to add extra storage to your laptop without carrying any physical devices. Many cloud storage providers include Google Drive, Dropbox, and iCloud. Most offer free plans with limited storage or paid plans with more space. Cloud storage is perfect for storing files you need to access from multiple devices or for sharing files.

Upgrade Your Laptop’s Hard Drive

You can upgrade your laptop’s hard drive if you want a more permanent solution. This will give you more storage and improve your laptop’s performance. Upgrading your hard drive is a good option if you have some technical knowledge and are comfortable opening up your laptop.

Purchase a Portable SSD

A portable SSD is a great option if you need fast, reliable storage. Portable SSDs are more expensive than other storage options but offer much higher speeds. They’re also small and light, making them easy to take with you on the go.

Get a NAS Device

A NAS (Network Attached Storage) device is a good option if you have multiple devices or need to share files with others. A NAS is a small, standalone device that connects to your home network and provides extra storage. NAS devices typically come with their own operating system software for managing and accessing files.

Use Your Laptop’s Optical Drive

Many laptops come with an optical drive, such as a CD or DVD drive. Optical drives can be used for additional storage by burning files to a disc. This is a relatively slow process, but it’s still an option if you need more storage.

Purchase a Docking Station

A docking station is a great way to add more storage and connectivity to your laptop. A docking station typically includes multiple USB ports, an Ethernet port, and additional video outputs. This can be a good option if you connect your laptop to multiple external devices.

Get a Thunderbolt Dock

Thunderbolt docks are the most expensive option on this list but offer the fastest speeds. Thunderbolt docks allow you to connect multiple devices and peripherals to your laptop. They’re perfect for creative professionals who need to connect high-end devices, such as 4K monitors or external graphics cards.

Use an mSATA SSD

An mSATA SSD is a small form factor SSD typically used in laptops. mSATA SSDs are slower than other types of SSDs but are still much faster than traditional hard drives. This option is only available on certain laptops that have an mSATA slot.

Factors to Consider when Adding Storage to Laptop

You need to consider several factors before adding more storage to your laptop. These include the type of storage, the capacity, the speed, and the price. You also need to consider whether you need additional connectivity or not.

Type of Storage

The first factor to consider is the type of storage you want to add to your laptop. There are four main types of storage: hard drives, SSDs, flash drives, and SD cards. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages that you need to consider.

External Drives

Hard drives are the traditional type of storage found in laptops. They’re large, heavy, power-hungry, and slow. However, they’re also relatively inexpensive and offer much storage space. Hard drives are a good option if you need much data storage space but don’t care about speed.

SSDs

Solid-State Drives (SSDs) are the new kid on the block regarding laptop storage. They’re much faster than hard drives, use less power, and generate less heat. However, they’re also more expensive and typically don’t offer much additional storage space. SSDs are a good option if you need fast storage but don’t need much space.

Flash Drives

Flash drives are small, lightweight, and portable. They’re also relatively inexpensive and offer decent speeds. However, flash drives typically don’t offer as much storage space as hard drives or SSDs. Flash drive is a good external drive option if you need portability and decent storage space but don’t need speed.

SD Cards

Secure Digital (SD) cards are small, lightweight, and portable, like flash drives. However, they’re typically used for storing data on devices such as cameras and smartphones. SD cards are a good option if you need portability but don’t need much storage space or speed.

Capacity

Another factor to consider is the storage capacity you want to add to your laptop. Storage capacity is measured in gigabytes (GB) or terabytes (TB). 1 GB is equal to 1,000 MB, and 1 TB is equal to 1,000 GB. Hard drives typically have a capacity of 1 TB, while SSDs typically have a capacity of 250 GB to 1 TB. Flash drives and SD cards typically have a capacity of 16 GB to 64 GB.

Speed

Speed is another factor to consider when adding storage space to your laptop. Storage data transfer speed is measured in megabytes per second (MB/s). The higher the number, the faster the storage.

Hard drives typically have a speed of 5400 RPM or 7200 RPM. SSDs typically have a speed of 3 Gb/s or 6 Gb/s. Flash drives and SD cards typically have a speed of 100 MB/s to 400 MB/s.

Conclusion

Adding more storage to your laptop is a great way to improve its performance and increase its storage space, besides 15GB free cloud storage available on signing up for a Google account. There are several factors to consider when adding storage to your laptop, including the type of storage, the capacity, the speed, and the price. You also need to consider whether you need additional connectivity or not. When adding storage to your laptop, choose the option that best meets your needs and budget.

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About Michael

I am a computer hardware engineer. I have 10 years of experience in troubleshooting laptop issues. I love to write about technology gadgets.

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