How to Move a File or Folder to a USB Drive on Windows 11

What you need: A Windows 11 computer and a USB flash drive or external drive. Have the drive's cable if it uses one.

Before you begin: Save and close the file you want to move. For a folder, close any files open from inside it. Moving takes the item out of its current folder and puts it on the USB drive. These steps handle one file or folder at a time.

1. Click Start (the Windows logo) on the taskbar at the bottom of the screen.
2. Type File Explorer, then click File Explorer in the search results to open it.
3. Click This PC on the left.
4. Plug the drive into a USB port on the computer that its plug fits, using its cable if needed. Connect its power supply if it has one.
5. Under Devices and drives, find the drive that appeared after you connected it. Remember its name and letter, such as USB Drive (E:). If no new drive appears, stop here. If Windows asks to format the drive, click Cancel and stop.
6. On the left, click the folder containing your item, such as Documents, Pictures, or Downloads. To open a folder inside it, double-click that folder by clicking twice quickly. Continue until you see the item you want to move.
7. Click that file or folder once to select it.
8. At the top of File Explorer, click Cut (the scissors symbol).
9. Click This PC on the left, then double-click the USB drive you identified in step 5.
10. At the top of File Explorer, click Paste (the clipboard symbol). If Windows asks to replace an existing item, close that message using its X to cancel the transfer, then go straight to step 12 to remove the drive safely.
11. Leave the drive connected until the transfer finishes. Check that your item appears on the drive.
12. Close File Explorer by clicking the X in its upper-right corner.
13. Near the clock at the bottom-right of the screen, find the small USB symbol. If it is hidden, click the upward arrow near the clock to show the hidden symbols.
14. Move the pointer over the USB symbol until Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media appears. Right-click the symbol by clicking it once with the right mouse button.
15. Click Eject for your drive. If you cannot identify your drive in this menu, leave it connected and stop here.
16. Wait for Windows to say Safe To Remove Hardware, then unplug the drive. If Windows says the drive is still in use, leave it connected, wait one minute, then repeat steps 13–15. If the message appears again, leave the drive connected and unplug it only after you next turn off the computer.

Expected result: Your file or folder is on the USB drive and is no longer in its previous folder.