This article shows you how to transfer audio files to a USB stick (or any removable USB memory device). Read on to find out how to do it based on the operating system installed on your computer.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Windows 10 and Windows 8
Step 1. Insert the USB key into a free port on your computer
If you can, try to always use the built-in ports on your computer, avoiding using USB hubs, as they cause a drop in data transfer speed.
- Windows normally generates a notification message as soon as a USB drive is connected to the computer and, if the configuration settings allow it, the "AutoPlay" system window should also open. Should the latter appear on the screen, you can close it for now.
- If this is the first time you connect a USB key to your computer, Windows may need to install the necessary drivers for communication between the peripherals. This step should only take a few seconds.
- A USB hub is an external device that allows you to connect multiple USB peripherals to a single USB port.
Step 2. Open File Explorer
It has a folder-like icon with a blue clothespin on it. It is usually found on the bar at the bottom of the screen.
Alternatively, you can press the right mouse button and then choose "File Explorer" from the context menu that appeared, or the hotkey combination ⊞ Win + E
Step 3. Open the "This PC" window
If you are using Windows 10, press the "Windows" button (the old "Start" menu) located in the lower left corner of the desktop, then choose "File Explorer". If you are using Windows 8, select the same button.
Step 4. Locate the USB drive
The icon of the USB stick you connected to your computer should be visible in the "Devices and Drives" section of the "This PC" window.
If you do not find the USB storage media icon, please refer to the "Troubleshooting" section available at the end of the article
Step 5. Make a note of the drive letter associated with the USB device
This is the letter in parentheses that appears after the name of the USB stick, for example "(E:)" or "(F:)". Knowing this information, you will be able to transfer data to your device more easily and quickly.
Step 6. Check the amount of free space on the media
In this way, you can quickly calculate the number of songs that can be stored in it. The amount of free space is displayed under the name of the memory unit.
- The average size of a normal MP3 file is between 3 and 5 MB, but it can vary considerably depending on the length of the song and the audio quality with which it was recorded. To get an idea of how this information can affect the number of songs that can be stored on a USB stick, refer to the table at the end of the article.
- To erase all the contents of a USB drive, select it with the right mouse button, then choose the "Format" option from the context menu that appears. Press the "Start" button to delete all data currently on the media.
Step 7. Locate the audio files you want to transfer to the USB stick
Your music may be stored in different folders on your computer:
- Many programs store audio files within the "Music" system folder.
- If you have downloaded your music from a website, it is most likely that it has been saved in the system's "Downloads" folder.
- If you normally use Windows Media Player to listen to music, start the program, select a file in the media library with the right mouse button, then choose the "Open file path" option from the context menu that appears. This will bring up a new "File Explorer" window for the folder that contains the chosen audio track.
- If you use iTunes, select one of the songs in the library with the right mouse button, then choose the item "Show in Windows Explorer" to directly access the folder where the chosen file is stored.
- If you wish, you can also search your computer using the keyword "mp3". In this way, you will get the complete list of all MP3 files stored in the system. To do this, go to the menu or the "Start" screen, then type the word "mp3" to start the search.
Step 8. Select all files and folders you want to copy
Remember that multiple files and folders can be transferred to any USB memory device at the same time. Make a multiple selection of items by clicking an empty spot in the window and dragging the mouse cursor (without releasing the left button) to create a selection area large enough to include all desired files and folders. Alternatively, you can hold down the Ctrl key while clicking each individual item you want to include in the selection. You can use the hotkey combination Ctrl + A to select everything in the current folder.
- Check the total size of all the selected elements by clicking the set with the right mouse button and choosing the item "Properties" from the contextual menu that appeared. Make sure the total size of the files is less than the amount of free space on the USB stick you are using.
- By storing your music in one place on your computer, using a folder structure, it may be easier to manage it. You would then be able to transfer it to a removable USB media in a single operation.
Step 9. Click on the file and folder selection with the right mouse button
The relevant context menu will be displayed, without canceling the current selection.
Step 10. Choose the Send to option
It's in the menu that appears when you right-click on a file. All your drives and some other options will appear.
Alternatively, you can also click on Copy in the menu that appears when you click the right mouse button.
Step 11. Select the drive corresponding to the desired USB media
At this point it is very useful to know in advance the drive letter that has been assigned to your USB stick by the operating system. Removable storage devices are usually listed at the end of the "Send to" menu.
Alternatively, you can drag and drop music files directly onto the stick in Windows Explorer. You can also right-click and select paste, than paste the files you had previously copied.
Step 12. Wait for the file copying to complete
All selected items will be copied and transferred automatically to the indicated USB media. The time required to perform this step varies depending on the number of files to be copied, the transfer speed of the USB device, and the processing capacity of the computer.
- In this case the original files are not changed. The data that is transferred to the chosen USB media is a perfect copy of the original data.
- If a message appears indicating that the chosen USB device has run out of free space, it simply means that you have selected more files than can fit on the storage media. Try repeating the procedure by selecting fewer songs.
Step 13. After copying is complete, select the "Safely Remove Hardware" icon on the right side of the taskbar
This icon features a USB connector flanked by a small check mark. If this icon is not visible, try expanding the notification area of the taskbar so that hidden icons are also shown. Clicking on this item will bring up a small context menu listing all removable USB media and devices.
Step 14. Select the USB stick you are using to disconnect it from the system
This way you will be able to remove it from the USB port it is connected to without fear of corrupting the data inside it.
Step 15. Extract the USB memory media from its port on your computer
At this point, all the selected music has been transferred to the USB stick you are holding.
Method 2 of 4: macOS
Step 1. Insert the USB stick into a free port on your Mac
If you can, avoid using USB hubs, as they cause a drop in data transfer speed. The icon of the USB media in use should appear on the desktop.
- If the USB memory media connected to your computer is not detected automatically, please refer to the "Troubleshooting" section.
- A USB hub is an external device that allows you to connect multiple USB peripherals to a single USB port.
Step 2. Check the space available on the USB stick
You can usually see this information directly on the desktop, under the name of the key.
- MP3 files usually weigh around 3-5MB, or 1MB per minute of audio, although this can vary based on the quality of the file. Take a look at the table at the bottom of this article to understand how many songs can be contained (on average) on a USB stick.
- Alternatively, you can right-click on the USB stick in the Finder and then click on Get Information, to find out how much space is still available inside.
Step 3. Open an iTunes or Finder window
If you use iTunes to manage your music, you are able to transfer it directly to a USB stick quickly and easily using Apple's program.
Otherwise, the process remains the same, but instead of using iTunes, you will need to use the Finder to locate all the files to copy to the media
Step 4. Select all the files in the iTunes library that you want to transfer
You can copy any song or music album, but not a playlist. To perform a multiple selection of non-consecutive files, hold down the ⌘ Command key. To make a multiple selection of consecutive items, hold down the ⇧ Shift key instead.
If you've chosen to use a Finder window, navigate to the folder where your music is stored, then select all the files and folders you want to transfer to the USB stick
Step 5. Drag the object selection to the icon identifying the USB memory device that appears on the desktop
The files will automatically be copied to the indicated drive. Again, the original data will not be changed in any way.
- If you are performing this procedure using a Finder window, hold down the ⌥ Option key as you drag the selected files onto the USB drive icon. In this way, the original data will be left on the computer while an identical copy will be transferred to the USB memory media. This step is not necessary if you are using iTunes.
- Alternatively, you can find the USB drive on the left side of any Finder window. You can drag your files there too.
Step 6. Wait for the data transfer process to complete
You may have to wait a few minutes, especially if a large number of files are involved.
Step 7. After the data transfer is complete, drag the USB stick icon from the desktop to the trash
In this way, the device will be unmounted allowing you to remove it from your computer without fear that the data inside it may get corrupted.
Alternatively, you can click the eject icon next to the key name in the Finder
Step 8. Remove the USB drive from the Mac
After you have performed the safe removal of USB removable media steps as described in the previous step, you can safely remove the USB stick from its port.
Method 3 of 4: Troubleshooting
Step 1. Try using a different USB port
Sometimes, a USB port may stop working; so if you have any difficulty connecting your USB stick to your computer, try changing the USB port first.
Remember that it is always best to avoid using a USB hub, as it may not be able to provide enough power to run USB devices (especially the latest generation ones)
Step 2. Try installing USB media on another computer
If in this case the drive is detected without problems and is working properly, it means that the problem is limited to the first computer or how you connect the USB stick to the latter. In this case, try updating or reinstalling the drivers for managing USB drives, or check the functionality of the USB ports on your computer which may be faulty.
Step 3. Check if your music files have DRM protection
DRM is an acronym for Digital Rights Management. It is not very common in music files, but if it is present it allows the execution of protected files only on certain devices with a specific account. Follow these steps to find out if your music files have DRM protection.
- Right click on the music file.
- Click on Property.
- Click on the window Details.
- Check if it says next to "Protected" Yup.
Step 4. Search for the USB drive in the "Disk Management" (for Windows computer) or "Disk Utility" (for Mac) system utility
If the USB memory medium does not appear in the "This PC" window (Windows systems) or on the desktop (macOS systems), there is still a possibility that it may have been detected by the system. If its icon appears in the "Disk Management" or "Disk Utility" window, you will be able to format and use it. If not, it means that the operating system cannot detect it and the cause of the problem could be the USB device itself.
- Windows: Press the hotkey combination ⊞ Win + R, then type the command diskmgmt.msc in the "Open" field of the "Run" window that appears. Search for USB media in the box at the top of the "Disk Management" window, which lists all hard drives and drives connected to your computer. Alternatively, you can use the lower pane of the same window which lists all the volumes of each storage media installed on your computer.
- macOS: go to the "Utilities" folder inside the "Applications" directory, then select the "Disk Utility" option. Again, it searches for the USB memory medium in the list of all drives connected to the computer located on the left side of the window that appears.
Step 5. If the USB key appears in the "Disk Management" or "Disk Utility" window, proceed to format it
If the USB drive under consideration is only detected by these two programs, the problem may lie in the fact that it is currently formatted with a file system that is not compatible with your operating system. To fix this, try formatting it using the "exFAT" file system format, which is compatible with both Windows and macOS systems. Remember that unfortunately all data on the media will be lost during the formatting process.
- Windows: Right-click the drive icon displayed in the "Disk Management" window, then choose the "Format" option from the menu that appears. Select the "exFAT" file system format as it is the option that guarantees the best compatibility with computers and other devices.
- Mac: Select the drive icon displayed in the "Disk Utility" window, then go to the "Initialize" tab. Choose the "ExFAT" option from the "Format" menu, then press the "Initialize" button.
- If you need to format your key with an old format like FAT32, you can use a third party app.
Step 6. Verify that the total size of the file selection you are trying to copy does not exceed the amount of free space on the USB stick
If so, you will receive a notification message informing you that the memory space on the USB media is exhausted. Before starting the data copy process, make sure that the storage media you choose has enough free space to complete the file transfer. Remember that the storage capacity indicated by the manufacturers of hard drives, USB sticks and memory cards is always greater than the real one. The approximate number of music tracks that can be stored in a memory medium varies in some respects. Refer to the table shown below for more information on this.
| Format, Duration and Quality Level | 1 GB | 2 GB | 4 GB | 8 GB | 16 GB | 32 GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MP3 210 seconds 128 kbit / s | 319 | 639 | 1278 | 2556 | 5113 | 10226 |
| MP3 210 seconds 256 kbit / s | 159 | 319 | 639 | 1278 | 2556 | 5113 |
| MP3 210 seconds 320 kbit / s | 127 | 255 | 511 | 1022 | 2045 | 4090 |
| WAV 210 seconds | 28 | 66 | 113 | 227 | 455 | 910 |
Method 4 of 4: Windows 7 and Earlier Versions
Step 1. Insert the USB key into a free port on your computer
If you can, try to always use the built-in ports on your computer, avoiding using USB hubs, as they cause a drop in data transfer speed.
- Normally the "AutoPlay" system window should open automatically, but this will not happen if you have disabled this feature in the past. Choose the "Open folder to view files" option in the "AutoPlay" window or read on to find out how to perform the same operation manually.
- Windows may automatically install the drivers required for USB media connected to your computer to function properly. If this is the case, please wait for the operation to complete before continuing.
- A USB hub is an external device that allows you to connect multiple USB peripherals to a single USB port.
Step 2. Click on the Start menu
It's the Windows logo icon on the bottom bar. By default it is usually located in the lower left corner.
Step 3. Go to the "Computer" window
It is to the right of the Windows "Start" menu and shows all the drives connected to your computer.
- You can also press the hotkey combination ⊞ Win + E. Depending on the system configuration settings, there may be a shortcut icon directly on the desktop.
- If you are using Windows XP, this icon is labeled "My Computer".
Step 4. Find the icon for the USB media connected to your computer
Look at the "Devices with Removable Storage" section of the "My Computer" window. The USB stick you plugged into your computer may be labeled with the manufacturer name, model name, or simply "Removable Disk".
Step 5. Make a note of the drive letter associated with the USB device
This is the letter in parentheses that appears after the name of the USB stick, for example "(E:)" or "(F:)". Knowing this information, you will be able to transfer data to your device more easily and quickly.
Step 6. Check the amount of free space on the media
The status bar below the drive name graphically shows the amount of free space still available. Using this information, you can quickly calculate the number of songs that can be stored in it.
Refer to the table at the end of the article to make a rough estimate of how many audio files can be stored on a USB stick, based on the free space available
Step 7. Locate the audio files you want to transfer to the USB stick
To do this, you can use the "My Computer" window. Remember that depending on the settings of the media player you normally use, your music may be stored in different folders on your computer.
- Windows uses the "Music" system folder as the default directory to store audio files created or managed by a large number of programs.
- Most likely the music you downloaded from the web were saved in the system "Downloads" folder.
- If you normally use Windows Media Player to listen to music on your computer, start the program, select a file in the media library with the right mouse button, then choose the "Open file path" option from the context menu that appears. This will bring up a new window for the folder that contains the chosen audio track.
- If you use iTunes, select one of the songs in the program library with the right mouse button, then choose the item "Show in Windows Explorer" to directly access the folder where the chosen file is stored.
Step 8. Select all files and folders you want to copy
You can copy any item in the "My Computer" window by simply selecting it. Make a multiple selection by clicking an empty spot in the window, then drag the mouse cursor (without releasing the left button) to create a selection area large enough to include all the files and folders you want. Alternatively, you can hold down the Ctrl key while clicking on each individual item you want to include in the selection. Finally, you can use the hotkey combination Ctrl + A to select everything in the current folder.
Step 9. Check the total size of all the selected elements by clicking on the set with the right mouse button and choosing the item "Properties" from the contextual menu that appeared
In this way, you will get the total size of the files and folders you have chosen, thus being able to compare it with the amount of free space on the USB stick in use.
Step 10. Right click on the selection
A menu will appear to the right of the selected files.
Step 11. Choose the "Send to" option
It is found in the menu that appears after right-clicking a selected object in File Explorer.
Alternatively, you can also click on Copy in the menu that appears when you click the right mouse button.
Step 12. Select the drive corresponding to the desired USB media
You will be able to identify the latter very easily by using the name and its drive letter.
Alternatively, you can drag and drop music files directly onto the stick in Windows Explorer. You can also right-click and select paste, than paste the files you had previously copied.
Step 13. Wait for the file copying to complete
The time required to perform this step varies depending on the number of files to be copied, the transfer speed of the USB device, and the processing capacity of the computer. Make sure you do not remove the stick or USB memory media while copying data.
Step 14. After copying is complete, select the "Safely Remove Hardware" icon on the right side of the taskbar
This is the Windows notification area on the left of the system clock (look at the lower right corner of the desktop). This icon is characterized by a USB connector flanked by a small check mark. If it's not visible, try expanding the notification area of the taskbar to show hidden icons as well. To do this, click on the small arrow displayed in this area of the taskbar.
Step 15. Select the USB key in use from the context menu that appeared to disconnect it from the system
This way, you will be able to remove it from the USB port it is connected to without fear of corrupting the data inside it.
