“I want some songs from my iTunes on my own USB stick. Is an in-depth tutorial on how to get your iTunes music on your USB flash drive. Secure Download. Even if you get your files on a USB, you still need some kind of interface to play the files. Maybe they make a car radio to do that but I just use my iPhone. Also, I always back up my iTunes folder onto a flash drive in case I make some kind of mistake or something. Just go to Music and you should see your iTunes folder.
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The Rundown
- Best Overall:SanDisk Ultra Fit at Amazon, “If you have plenty of music, want a simple and easily portable device and don’t want to spend too much to carry it all around, look no further.”
- Best Budget:SanDisk Cruzer CZ36 at Amazon, “Price is substantially less than the vast majority of other high-quality drives.”
- Best Performance:Patriot 512GB Supersonic Rage 2 Series at Amazon, “A whopping 512GB of storage, which means you should be able to store more than 32,000 songs on the device.”
- Best Design:Samsung 128GB Bar at Amazon, “Comes with a metal finish that hides the USB connector to keep it safe while you’re not using it.”
- Best USB-C: SanDisk Ultra 128GB Dual Drive at Amazon, “Since it supports read speeds up to 150MB per second, you shouldn’t have any trouble accessing tracks on your devices.”
- Best for Travelers: Patriot Supersonic Boost XT at Amazon, “Is compatible with both USB 3.0 and USB 2.0, so any machine you throw at it will work just fine.”
- Best Novelty: CHUYI Music Note at Amazon, “The cool-looking music note… is made from PVC rubber, which helps to protect the drive inside if you drop it or it suffers a fall.”
Our Top Picks
Best Overall: SanDisk Ultra Fit
If you have plenty of music, want a simple and easily portable device and don’t want to spend too much to carry it all around, look no further than the SanDisk Ultra Fit.
The device is a USB 3.0 flash drive that offers read speeds up to 150MB per second. That should translate to outstanding performance on any machine that supports USB 3.0. Additionally, SanDisk said that the flash drive can offer write speeds, or the time it takes to copy music files to your drive, that are up to 15 times faster than standard USB 2.0 drives. And just in case you’re concerned about privacy, the Ultra Fit comes with SanDisk’s SecureAccess password protection feature.
SanDisk’s Ultra Fit is diminutive, so you’ll want to keep a close eye on it in case someone wants to walk off with it. And if you put it in your pocket, it might be hard to find.
But with 128GB of onboard storage, which will allow you to hold up to 8,000 songs, that’s a small price to pay for such a powerful and impressive flash drive.
Best Budget: SanDisk Cruzer CZ36
It’s always nice to save a few bucks. And that’s exactly what you can do with the SanDisk Cruzer CZ36.
The flash drive comes with 64GB of storage, which should accommodate up to 4,000 songs. It has a black plastic finish and a red switch-like mechanism on the side that will allow you to extend the USB connector or retract it. The feature means you can keep your USB connector safe when it’s not in use and makes the flash drive a little bit smaller and therefore easier to pop in your pocket.
The flash drive comes with USB 2.0 support and can protect your files with SanDisk SecureAccess software. It also comes with password protection and 128-bit AES encryption, which collectively, should ensure your privacy.
But easily the best feature in the SanDisk Cruzer CZ36 is its price, which is substantially less than the vast majority of other high-quality drives.
Best Performance: Patriot 512GB Supersonic Rage 2 Series
The Patriot 512GB Supersonic Rage 2 Series isn’t for everyone. The device is extremely expensive, has a bulky design, and isn’t the best-looking drive in this round-up. But if it’s the ultimate in performance you’re seeking, the Patriot flash drive is the best option available.
The drive comes with a whopping 512GB of storage, which means you should be able to store more than 32,000 songs on the device. And since it comes with USB 3.0/3.1 support, it’ll offer read times of 400MB per second and write times of 400MB per second. That’s really fast.
In addition to the storage and performance, the Patriot 512GB Supersonic Rage 2 Series comes with a rubber housing that will make it a bit bulky, but will also ensure it can stay safe when you drop it or it faces other daily abuse.
Best Design: Samsung 128GB Bar
Samsung’s 128GB Bar is all about design. And compared to the vast majority of flash drives on the market, it’s extremely attractive.
The device comes with a metal finish that hides the USB connector to keep it safe while you’re not using it. There’s also a loop at the end that lets you connect it to a keyring, lanyard or any other connector, so you can carry it around town without ever needing to drop it in your bag.
On the performance side, you can expect the Samsung 128GB Bar to support up to 8,000 songs. It also comes with a water-, shock-, magnet-, temperature- and X-ray-proof design. And with a five-year warranty, the drive will hold up for the long haul.
According to Samsung, the 128GB Bar offers a read rate up to 150MB per second.
Best USB-C: SanDisk Ultra 128GB Dual Drive
While many of the flash drives on the market are designed for USB 2 or USB 3, the SanDisk Ultra 128GB Dual Drive is all about USB-C. And if you have a USB-C drive on your computer, this is a fine choice.
The flash drive has a rugged finish that’s designed to keep your data safe even if you drop it on a hard surface. There’s a feature to eject the USB connector or retract it when it’s not in use to ensure it doesn’t come off, leaving your data inaccessible.
SanDisk’s device comes with 128GB of storage, which should allow it to hold 8,000 songs, and since it supports read speeds up to 150MB per second, you shouldn’t have any trouble accessing tracks on your devices.
In addition to support for USB-C, the SanDisk Ultra works with USB 2.0 and USB 3.0/3.1 ports, so it’s completely compatible with the devices of your choosing.
Best for Travelers: Patriot Supersonic Boost XT
The Patriot Supersonic Boost XT is an ideal choice for anyone who’s hitting the road and wants to ensure the flash drive can hold up wherever it goes.
The device features 128GB of storage, which should allow it to hold 8,000 songs without a problem. It comes with fast 150Mb per second read speeds and is compatible with both USB 3.0 and USB 2.0, so any machine you throw at it will work just fine. In fact, Patriot was quick to note that it’ll work with Windows, macOS and Linux.
The flash drive comes with a “rubberized housing” that’s meant to keep it safe when you drop it. And even if you have it with you in the rain or in conditions that might not be best for a device that carries your music, it’ll hold up.
Best Novelty: CHUYI Music Note
It’s not all serious in the flash drive market. So why not consider getting your hands on a cool-looking music note that can double as a storage device for your music?
A company named CHUYI has designed a flash drive that comes with a musical note design. And while it looks nice, it also has a function: The note is made from PVC rubber, which helps to protect the drive inside if you drop it or it suffers a fall.
The drive is compatible with USB 2.0 or older and comes with just 32GB of storage, so it’ll only be able to hold 2,000 songs. But by saving some of the storage, you can also save some bucks: The CHUYI Music Note is one of the cheapest options on the market.
The device is compatible with just about any computer or device you plug it into and for a little added protection, comes with a cover over its plug so it doesn’t get damaged when it’s not in use.
Related Articles
- 1 Use a USB Memory Stick on a Mac
- 2 Import Files From an External Hard Drive Easily
- 3 Open a Flashdrive on a Mac
- 4 Transferring Data From a Mac to PC via an External Hard Drive
Flash drives can hold a large amount of data in a small package. They are more convenient than CDs as they are easily transportable in your pocket or on a key chain. Take your downloads with you on a flash drive to listen to downloaded music at a friend's house or read downloaded research with a study partner. Flash drives work with both Windows and Mac computers, giving you the ability to take your downloads almost anywhere.
Windows
1.
Expose the USB connector on the flash drive if it is covered by a protective plastic cap. Plug the drive into an open USB port on your computer.
How To Download Music Onto A Usb Flash Drive
2.
Wait for Windows to open a dialog box listing available actions you can take with the flash drive. Choose 'Open Folder to View Files' and click 'OK.' If the dialog box doesn't automatically open, navigate to 'Computer' and locate the flash drive in the list of available drives. It is usually the last drive listed and often named after the drive's manufacturer. Double-click on the flash drive's icon.
3.
Open a new 'Computer' window, navigate to the folder containing your downloads and locate the files that you want to transfer to the flash drive.
4.
Click on the files. Press and hold the 'Shift' key when you click to select multiple files. Drag the files from your hard drive to the flash drive folder. Wait for the file transfer to complete.
5.
Close both windows. Click on the 'Safely Remove Hardware' icon in the bottom right of your screen and select the flash drive. Pull it out of the USB port when Windows says it's safe to remove the drive.
Mac
1.
Connect the flash drive to an available USB port on your Mac.
2.
Click on the flash drive icon that appears on your desktop to open your flash drive folder.
3.
Click on your desktop and then click 'File' on the top Finder menu bar. Choose 'New Finder Window.' Under Places, click on your 'Home' folder, which is represented by a house icon. It might say 'Home,' or it may display your name or the name you gave your computer. Click on the 'Downloads' folder.
4.
Locate the files that you want to transfer to your flash drive. Click and drag them from your hard drive to the flash drive folder. Press and hold the 'Command' key when you click to select multiple files.
5.
Close the windows when the transfer is complete. Drag the flash drive icon to the Trash at the bottom of your screen and then remove the drive from your Mac.
References (2)
About the Author
Based outside Atlanta, Ga., Shala Munroe has been writing and copy editing since 1995. Beginning her career at newspapers such as the 'Marietta Daily Journal' and the 'Atlanta Business Chronicle,' she most recently worked in communications and management for several nonprofit organizations before purchasing a flower shop in 2006. She earned a BA in communications from Jacksonville State University.
Photo Credits
- Jeffrey Hamilton/Digital Vision/Getty Images