External Storage Devices
One of the most common criticisms of ChromeOS is that many ChromeOS devices ship with a smaller amount of built-in storage than their traditional Windows/macOS counterparts. ChromeOS does indeed try to encourage the use of Cloud Storage in favor of local storage; however, ChromeOS does allow for external storage options.
Please keep in mind that ChromeOS does not encrypt external storage, so it is strongly advised not to store any sensitive information on an external storage device unless your external storage device includes a biometric security option that only exposes the storage when unlocked. Please refer to the ChromeOS Security Guide - External Storage Limitations to understand the limitations of ChromeOS Security on external storage devices.
USB Flash Drives
ChromeOS works well with all USB Flash Drives on the market and offers a lot of flexibility as they can easily be swapped between multiple devices. Unlike MicroSD Cards or Full Size SD Cards, you should remove your USB Flash Drive whenever you plan to move or transport your ChromeOS Device.
| Product Description | Purchase |
|---|---|
| SanDisk 128GB Ultra Flair USB 3.0 Flash Drive - SDCZ73-128G-G46, black | Buy Now on Amazon ($11.99) |
| Amazon Basics 128 GB Ultra Fast USB 3.1 Flash Drive, Black | Buy Now on Amazon ($14.99) |
| Amazon Basics 256GB Ultra Fast USB 3.1 High Capacity Flash Drive for Fast Data Transfer and Storage, Black | Buy Now on Amazon ($24.99) |
| SanDisk 512GB Ultra USB 3.0 Flash Drive - SDCZ48-512G-G46, Black | Buy Now on Amazon ($34.99) |
| SanDisk 256GB Ultra Dual Drive USB Type-C - USB-C, USB 3.1 - SDDDC2-256G-G46,Black | Buy Now on Amazon ($22.99) |
| SanDisk 128GB Extreme Go USB 3.1 Flash Drive - SDCZ800-128G-G46 | Buy Now on Amazon ($76.50) |
| SanDisk 256GB Extreme PRO USB 3.1 Solid State Flash Drive - SDCZ880-256G-G46, Black | Buy Now on Amazon ($59.99) |
| SanDisk 256GB Ultra Dual Drive Go USB Type-C Flash Drive, Black - SDDDC3-256G-GAM46 | Buy Now on Amazon ($24.60) |
| SSK External USB C SSD Flash Drive 512GB, Up to 550MB/s 2-in-1 Type C+ USB A USB3.2 Gen2 Solid State Thumb Drive, Memory Stick Data Storage for iPhone 15/PS4/PS5/Android Phone/Windows/Mac | Buy Now on Amazon ($49.99) |
| SAMSUNG MUF-256AB/AM FIT Plus 256GB - 400MB/s USB 3.1 Flash Drive, Gunmetal Gray | Buy Now on Amazon ($22.00) |
| Kingston DataTraveler Max 512GB USB-C Flash Drive with USB 3.2 Gen 2 Performance,Black | Buy Now on Amazon ($54.75) |
| Kingston DataTraveler Max 1TB USB-C Flash Drive with USB 3.2 Gen 2 Performance | Buy Now on Amazon ($85.79) |
| Samsung Type-C™ USB Flash Drive, 128GB, Transfers 4GB Files in 11 Secs w/Up to 400MB/s 3.13 Read Speeds, Compatible w/USB 3.0/2.0, Waterproof, 2022, Blue, MUF-128DA/AM | Buy Now on Amazon ($17.99) |
| SAMSUNG Type-C™ USB Flash Drive, 512GB, Transfers 4GB Files in 11 Secs w/Up to 400MB/s 3.13 Read Speeds, Compatible w/USB 3.0/2.0, Waterproof, 2024, Blue, MUF-512DA/AM | Buy Now on Amazon ($64.99) |
| TEAMGROUP X1 MAX 1TB USB 3.2 1000MB/s Gen 2 Type A & Type C (3.1/3.0) OTG Dual Interface USB Flash Drive Data Storage Memory Stick Compatible with Smartphone/Tablet/Laptop/PC/MacBook TX1MAX31TBB01 | Buy Now on Amazon ($74.99) |
| PNY 128GB Turbo Attaché 3 USB 3.0 Flash Drive, Silver (Pack of 2) | Buy Now on Amazon ($17.99) |
External Hard Drives/External SSD
ChromeOS works well with all USB External Hard Drives on the market and is ideal for those who need a large amount of storage as the capabilities typically exceed the limits of USB Flash Drives. External USB Hard Drives offer the highest capacity options at a lower cost but sacrifice the speed and reliability that can be found with an External SSD. If you do plan to travel with your external drive, it is strongly advised to obtain an external SSD. Some External Hard Drives may also require external power as their power requirements are often higher than their SSD counterparts, some draw power from a second USB connection and others may require being connected to a power source.
| Product Description | Purchase |
|---|---|
| SSK Portable SSD 1TB External Solid State Drives, up to 1050MB/s USB C SSD External Hard Drive USB 3.2 Gen2 for iPhone 15/Pro, Windows, Mac, Android Phones and Tablets | Buy Now on Amazon ($74.99) |
| SanDisk 4TB Extreme Portable SSD - Up to 1050MB/s, USB-C, USB 3.2 Gen 2, IP65 Water and Dust Resistance, Updated Firmware - External Solid State Drive - SDSSDE61-4T00-G25 | Buy Now on Amazon ($269.99) |
| Crucial X6 2TB Portable SSD - Up to 800MB/s - PC and Mac - USB 3.2 USB-C External Solid State Drive - CT2000X6SSD9, Black | Buy Now on Amazon ($99.99) |
| SanDisk Professional 5TB G-Drive ArmorATD - Rugged, Durable Portable External Hard Drive HDD, USB-C, USB 3.2 Gen 1 - SDPH81G-005T-GBA1D | Buy Now on Amazon ($162.99) |
| LaCie Rugged Mini, 5T,B USB 3.0 Portable 2.5 inch External Hard Drive for PC and Mac, Orange/Grey, with Rescue Services (STJJ5000400) | Buy Now on Amazon ($153.99) |
| SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 4TB, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 External Solid State Drive, Seq. Read Speeds Up to 2,000MB/s for Gaming, Students and Professionals,MU-PG4T0B/AM, Black (Pack of 1) | Buy Now on Amazon ($339.28) |
| SAMSUNG T7 Portable SSD, 1TB External Solid State Drive, Speeds Up to 1,050MB/s, USB 3.2 Gen 2, Reliable Storage for Gaming, Students, Professionals, MU-PC1T0T/AM, Gray | Buy Now on Amazon ($99.99) |
| Toshiba Canvio Basics 2TB Portable External Hard Drive USB 3.0, Black - HDTB520XK3AA | Buy Now on Amazon ($76.45) |
| Seagate Portable 5TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, PS4, & Xbox - 1-Year Rescue Service (STGX5000400), Black | Buy Now on Amazon ($128.90) |
MicroSD Cards
Most ChromeOS Devices have a MicroSD card that can be used to expand the storage available to your device. MicroSD Cards are designed to be removable but work very well as a fixed storage option for those who want a semi-permanent way to increase their storage.
| Product Description | Purchase |
|---|---|
| SanDisk 256GB Extreme microSDXC UHS-I Memory Card with Adapter - Up to 190MB/s, C10, U3, V30, 4K, 5K, A2, Micro SD Card - SDSQXAV-256G-GN6MA | Buy Now on Amazon ($24.20) |
| Amazon Basics Micro SDXC Memory Card with Full Size Adapter, A2, U3, Read Speed up to 100 MB/s, 128 GB, Black | Buy Now on Amazon ($11.99) |
| Amazon Basics Micro SDXC Memory Card with Full Size Adapter, A2, U3, Read Speed up to 100 MB/s, 256 GB, Black | Buy Now on Amazon ($25.99) |
| Amazon Basics Micro SDXC Memory Card with Full Size Adapter, A2, U3, Read Speed up to 100 MB/s, 512 GB, Black | Buy Now on Amazon ($40.99) |
| Amazon Basics microSDXC Memory Card with Full Size Adapter, A2, U3, Read Speed up to 100 MB/s, 1 Tb, Black | Buy Now on Amazon ($89.99) |
| SAMSUNG PRO Plus microSD Memory Card + Adapter, 128GB microSDXC, Up to 180 MB/s, Full HD & 4K UHD, UHS I, C10, U3, V30, A2, for Android Smartphones, Tablets, GoPRO, and DJI Drone (MB MD128SA/AM) | Buy Now on Amazon ($19.99) |
| SAMSUNG PRO Plus microSD Memory Card + Adapter, 256GB microSDXC, Up to 180 MB/s, Full HD & 4K UHD, UHS I, C10, U3, V30, A2, for Android Smartphones, Tablets, GoPRO, and DJI Drone (MB MD256SA/AM) | Buy Now on Amazon ($24.99) |
| SAMSUNG PRO Plus microSD Memory Card + Adapter, 512GB microSDXC, Up to 180 MB/s, Full HD & 4K UHD, UHS I, C10, U3, V30, A2, for Android Smartphones, Tablets, GoPRO, and DJI Drone (MB MD512SA/AM) | Buy Now on Amazon ($42.99) |
| SAMSUNG PRO Plus microSD Memory Card + Adapter, 1TB MicroSDXC, Up to 180 MB/s, Full HD & 4K UHD, UHS-I, C10, U3, V30, A2 for Android Phones, Tablets, GoPRO, DJI Drone, MB-MD1T0SA/AM, 2024 | Buy Now on Amazon ($99.99) |
| SanDisk 256GB High Endurance Video microSDXC Card with Adapter for Dash Cam and Home Monitoring systems - C10, U3, V30, 4K UHD, Micro SD Card - SDSQQNR-256G-GN6IA | Buy Now on Amazon ($22.99) |
| PNY 256GB PRO Elite Prime™ C10 U3 V30 A2 microSDXC Flash Memory Card – Ultra-Fast Speeds, Read 200MB/s, Write 150MB/s, 4K UHD, Full HD, UHS-I, for Smartphones, Drones, Action Cameras | Buy Now on Amazon ($19.79) |
| PNY 512GB PRO Elite Prime™ C10 U3 V30 A2 microSDXC Flash Memory Card – Ultra-Fast Speeds, Read 200MB/s, Write 150MB/s, 4K UHD, Full HD, UHS-I, for Smartphones, Drones, Action Cameras | Buy Now on Amazon ($35.99) |
| PNY 1TB PRO Elite Prime C10 U3 V30 A2 microSDXC Flash Memory Card – Ultra-Fast Speeds, Read 200MB/s, Write 150MB/s, 4K UHD, Full HD, UHS-I, for Smartphones, Drones, Action Cameras | Buy Now on Amazon ($71.99) |
| PNY 1.5TB PRO Elite Prime C10 U3 V30 A2 microSDXC Flash Memory Card – Ultra-Fast Speeds, Read 200MB/s, Write 150MB/s, 4K UHD, Full HD, UHS-I, for Smartphones, Drones, Action Cameras | Buy Now on Amazon ($109.99) |
| SABRENT Rocket V30 A2 256GB MicroSDXC Memory Card R100MB/s W30MB/s Compatible with Steam Deck, Nintendo-Switch, Go Pro, Cameras, Smartphones. (SD-MQ30-256) | Buy Now on Amazon ($19.99) |
| SABRENT Rocket V30 A2 512GB MicroSDXC Memory Card R100MB/s W30MB/s Compatible with Steam Deck, Nintendo-Switch, Go Pro, Cameras, Smartphones. (SD-MQ30-512) | Buy Now on Amazon ($34.99) |
| SABRENT Rocket V30 A2 1TB MicroSDXC Memory Card R100MB/s W30MB/s Compatible with Steam Deck, Nintendo-Switch, Go Pro, Cameras, Smartphones. (SD-MQ30-1TB) | Buy Now on Amazon ($99.99) |
| Kingston 256GB Canvas Go Plus microSDXC Card | Up to 170MB/s | UHS-I, C10, U3, V30, A2/A1 | with Adapter | SDCG3/256GB | Buy Now on Amazon ($22.90) |
| Kingston 512GB Canvas Go Plus microSDXC Card | Up to 170MB/s | UHS-I, C10, U3, V30, A2/A1 | with Adapter | SDCG3/512GB | Buy Now on Amazon ($53.13) |
| Kingston 1TB Canvas Go Plus microSDXC Card | Up to 170MB/s | Class 10, UHS-I, U3, V30, A2 | SDCG3/1TB | Buy Now on Amazon ($99.99) |
| Lexar E-Series 512GB Micro SD Card, microSDXC UHS-I Flash Memory Card with Adapter, 100MB/s, C10, U3, A1, V30, Full HD, 4K UHD, High Speed TF Card | Buy Now on Amazon ($42.99) |
Full SD Cards
| Product Description | Purchase |
|---|---|
| SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-I Memory Card - C10, U3, V30, 4K UHD, SD Card - SDSDXXD-128G-GN4IN | Buy Now on Amazon ($21.98) |
| SanDisk 256GB Ultra SDXC UHS-I Memory Card - Up to 150MB/s, C10, U1, Full HD, SD Card - SDSDUNC-256G-GN6IN | Buy Now on Amazon ($25.99) |
| SanDisk 256GB Extreme SDXC UHS-I Memory Card - C10, U3, V30, 4K, UHD, SD Card - SDSDXVV-256G-GNCIN | Buy Now on Amazon ($29.99) |
| PNY 128GB Elite-X Class 10 U3 V30 SDXC Flash Memory Card - 100MB/s, Class 10, U3, V30, 4K UHD, Full HD, UHS-I, Full Size SD (Pack of 2) | Buy Now on Amazon ($21.99) |
| TEAMGROUP PRO 512GB UHS-I U3 A2 V30 4K UHD Read/Write Speed up to 160/120MB/s SDXC Memory Card for Professional Vloggers, Filmmakers, Photographers & Content Curators TPPSDX512GIA2V3001 | Buy Now on Amazon ($52.99) |
| SAMSUNG PRO Ultimate Full Size 128GB SDXC Memory Card, Up to 200 MB/s, 4K UHD, UHS-I, C10, U3, V30, A2, for DSLR, Mirrorless Cameras, PCs, MB-SY128S/AM | Buy Now on Amazon ($15.99) |
| SABRENT Rocket V60 1TB SD UHS-II Memory Card R270MB/s W170MB/s (SD-TL60-1TB) | Buy Now on Amazon ($179.99) |
| PNY 256GB Elite-X Class 10 U3 V30 SDXC Flash Memory Card - 100MB/s, Class 10, U3, V30, 4K UHD, Full HD, UHS-I, Full Size SD (Pack of 1) | Buy Now on Amazon ($19.99) |