Plugging a USB flash drive into a Windows 10 PC should be simple, but it’s not always obvious where the drive shows up, and sometimes it doesn’t appear at all. This guide shows how to open a USB drive in File Explorer, set what happens when you plug one in, remove it safely, and fix a drive that Windows doesn’t recognize.
Quick Answer
Plug in the USB drive, press Windows + E to open File Explorer, and click This PC. Double-click the drive under Devices and drives (for example, USB Drive (E:)) to see its files. You can also click the notification that appears when you plug it in.
Open a USB Drive
- Insert the USB drive into a USB port. Wait a few seconds while Windows installs drivers the first time.
- Click the AutoPlay notification and choose Open folder to view files, or:
- Open File Explorer (Windows + E or the folder icon on the taskbar).
- Click This PC in the left pane.
- Double-click the USB drive under Devices and drives. It may also appear by name in the left pane.
Copy Files To or From the Drive
- Drag files between the USB drive window and another folder.
- Or select files, press Ctrl + C, open the destination, and press Ctrl + V.
- Right-click a file and choose Send to > USB Drive for a quick copy.
Change What Happens When You Plug In a USB Drive
- Open Settings > Devices > AutoPlay.
- Under Removable drive, choose Open folder to view files, Take no action, or Ask me every time.
Remove the Drive Safely
Close any files from the drive, then click the USB icon in the system tray (click ^ if hidden) and choose Eject, or right-click the drive in This PC and choose Eject. Wait for the “Safe to remove hardware” message before unplugging.
USB Drive Not Showing Up?
- Try another port or computer. Front-panel ports and unpowered hubs are common culprits.
- Check Disk Management: right-click Start > Disk Management. If the drive appears without a letter, right-click its partition and choose Change Drive Letter and Paths > Add.
- Unallocated or RAW drive: the drive needs formatting, which erases data. Recover files first if needed, then right-click and choose New Simple Volume or Format (exFAT works across Windows and Mac).
- Device Manager: right-click Start > Device Manager, expand Disk drives and Universal Serial Bus controllers, right-click the device, and choose Uninstall device. Unplug, restart, and plug it in again.
- Run the hardware troubleshooter: press Windows + R and run
msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic(on versions where it’s available). - Scan and repair: right-click the drive, choose Properties > Tools > Check.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my USB drive have a different letter each time?
Windows assigns the next available letter. Assign a fixed letter in Disk Management if you like.
Is it safe to just unplug the drive?
Usually, if nothing is being written, but ejecting first prevents data corruption.
Summary
- Plug in the drive and open File Explorer > This PC.
- Double-click the drive to see files.
- Eject it from the system tray before unplugging.
- Use Disk Management or Device Manager if it doesn’t appear.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.