Using a USB stick and removing it safely

In short: A USB stick is a small storage device to take along. Plug it in, copy files, and choose “Eject” before pulling it out.

In more detail: While copying, the computer often still writes data in the background. If you pull the stick too early, files may be damaged or lost. “Safely remove” ensures everything has been written.

In Depth

• Plugging in: Into a free USB port. The stick appears in File Explorer as its own drive.
• Copying: Bring files onto the stick by dragging or copy/paste.
• Ejecting: Right-click the drive → Eject, or use the icon in the notification area.
• Capacity: Measured in GB. Small sticks suffice for documents, photos and videos need more.
• Security: Never just open unknown sticks (malware). Encrypt important data.
• Not a backup: Sticks are easily lost or broken.

See also: Backups for beginners, Understanding files and folders