1. Connect your external drive to your computer
– If you are using an external hard drive, plug the drive into an available power source, and then connect it to your computer using the appropriate cable for your drive.
2. Open File Explorer
– On Windows 10, press the Windows key + E to quickly open File Explorer.
3. Locate the files you want to move
– In the left-hand pane of File Explorer, navigate to the folder that contains the files you want to move. For example, if the file is on your Desktop, open the C: drive > Users > [your username] > Desktop.
4. Select and copy the files
– Click on the first file, or hold down the “Ctrl” key and click on multiple files to select them all. Right-click on the selected files and choose “Copy” from the popup menu.
5. Navigate to your external drive
– In the left-hand pane of File Explorer, locate the icon for your external drive. Double-click the external drive icon to open it.
6. Paste the copied files
– Right-click anywhere inside the window and select “Paste” from the popup menu. The files will begin copying to the external drive. Depending on the number of files, and their size, this may take several minutes.
7. Disconnect the drive
– Once the files have finished copying, disconnect the drive by either unplugging the USB cable or turning off the power to the external drive.