How to download flash drive file to a chromebook

Many files, including videos, music files, images, PDFs, and other documents can be opened directly from the external drive. Just store them on the drive and double-click them. To see how much storage space is available on your external drive, select it in the left pane and then click the menu button at the top right corner of the Files window.

Delete files from the drive to make more room. You can also use this trick to see how much space is available on your Chromebook. Though this experimental feature will give you more information. Warning : Formatting a drive will erase the current file system and any files on the drive at the moment.

This protects against data loss by ensuring your Chromebook is done writing to the drive before you remove it. But if all you need is some extra space, an external drive will do the trick. Browse All iPhone Articles Browse All Mac Articles Do I need one? Browse All Android Articles Browse All Smart Home Articles Customize the Taskbar in Windows Browse All Microsoft Office Articles What Is svchost.

Browse All Privacy and Security Articles Browse All Linux Articles Browse All Buying Guides. Best iPhone 13 Pro Case. Best Bluetooth Headphones for Switch. Best Roku TV.

Best Apple Watch. Best iPad Cases. Best Portable Monitors. Select files to transfer. Click Edit and select Copy. Open a folder on your Mac. Windows: 1. Open File Explorer. Click Home. Click Move to. Click Choose location. Select a folder and click Move. Did this summary help you? Yes No. Log in Social login does not work in incognito and private browsers.

Please log in with your username or email to continue. No account yet? Create an account. Edit this Article. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article methods. Tips and Warnings. Related Articles. Article Summary. Method 1. Plug the flash drive into your computer. Your flash drive should plug into one of the rectangular USB ports on your computer's housing.

Most flash drives only fit one way, so don't force the flash drive; if it won't fit, rotate it degrees and try again. Click This PC. It's a computer-shaped icon on the left side of the File Explorer window.

This will open a list of your computer's attached drives, including your flash drive. You may have to scroll down on the left-hand column of options in order to find This PC.

Open your flash drive. Under the "Devices and drives" heading, double-click the name of your flash drive. The flash drive usually has the " F: " drive letter assigned to it. Select files to move. Click an individual file to select it, or hold down Ctrl while clicking each file that you want to select. It's a tab in the upper-left side of the flash drive's window. Doing so prompts a drop-down toolbar at the top of the window.

If you're comfortable with Windows' click-and-drag feature, you can instead click and drag the selected files onto your desktop or into your preferred folder. If you do this, skip to the last step in this method. You'll find this option in the "Organize" section of the toolbar. A drop-down menu will appear.

Click Choose location…. It's at the bottom of the drop-down menu. Doing so opens a new window. Select a folder. Click the folder into which you want to transfer the selected folder.

You can also create a new folder by selecting a destination folder, clicking Make New Folder , and entering a name for the folder. Click Move. With an easy to use dashboard, you'll always know where you stand for storage and your Google account. We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more. If you need to turn your Chromebook into an easy-to-use desktop, these docking stations are exactly what you need.

Here are our favorites you should check out! Laptop speakers suck. Here are a few easy ways to go from 'aww' to 'aww yeah' when listening to your Chromebook. A Chromebook's trackpad may work just fine. But sometimes, a wireless mouse can come in handy when you're navigating multiple documents and spreadsheets or playing a round of intense video games.

Here are the best wireless mice for Chromebooks! Jerry is an amateur woodworker and struggling shade tree mechanic. There's nothing he can't take apart, but many things he can't reassemble. You'll find him writing and speaking his loud opinion on Android Central and occasionally on Twitter. Forums Shop Toggle Search. What to know about storing files on Chromebooks Regardless of whether you are using an older Chromebook or something newer like the Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook is a lot like your Android phone when it comes to downloading and storing files.

Files won't be mirrored or stored in your Google Drive account unless you put them in the Google Drive folder through the file manager. Files kept in the "Downloads" folder can be deleted when you get low on space. How to manage removable storage One of the most common ways to expand the storage on a Chromebook is with an SD card , thumb drive, or an external hard drive. If it's a USB device that will be getting unplugged after each of your computing sessions, click on the eject symbol the upward-pointing arrow with a line under it before removing the storage.

How to allow apps to use external storage Apps like Netflix and Hulu allow for downloading shows for offline viewing. Open settings on your Chromebook. Select apps in the left hand column. Here you will want to choose Google Play Store in the main window.

You need to change the permission for that app, so click on permissions. Select the toggle by storage to enable that app to store downloads to your installed storage. How to manage files on the cloud You get free Google Drive space when you set up a Google account, and most Chromebooks also get you a bit of extra storage free for a year. To get started, open the Files app. Along the left side of the window, you'll see Google Drive , click on it. You can make a folder available for when you don't have internet access by right-clicking two-finger tap on the trackpad on the folder and selecting available offline.

How to manage backups If you keep everything in Google Drive, you don't have to worry about backups. The first thing is to open up the Files app. Click on Google Drive and create a folder by right-clicking on my drive, pressing ctrl and E at the same time, or clicking on the three dots in the upper right corner then selecting "new folder.

Choose the files from your Chromebook that you'd like to move into your newly created Google Drive backup folder. You only remember backups twice — when someone reminds you and when you wish you had one.

Setting up Dropbox or OneDrive with the file manager is as easy as clicking a button. About the Downloads folder The Downloads folder in Chrome is not a regular folder. Our top equipment picks. Sounds great!