How to Move Files to External Hard Drive Mac

Kyle Wood

Mac, Tutorials

Are you running out of storage space on your Mac? Moving files to an external hard drive can be a great solution to free up space and keep your files organized. In this tutorial, we will guide you through the steps to move files to an external hard drive on your Mac.

Step 1: Connect the External Hard Drive

First, make sure that your external hard drive is properly connected to your Mac. Use a USB cable or Thunderbolt cable to connect the hard drive to any available USB or Thunderbolt port on your Mac.

Step 2: Locate the Files You Want to Move

Next, open Finder by clicking on the Finder icon in your Dock or by pressing Command + Space and typing “Finder” in Spotlight search. Navigate to the location where your files are currently stored. This could be in Documents, Downloads, or any other folder on your Mac.

Step 3: Select and Copy the Files

To select multiple files at once, hold down the Command key on your keyboard while clicking on each file you want to move. Alternatively, you can click and drag to select a group of files. Once you have selected all the files you want to move, right-click (or Control-click) and choose “Copy” from the context menu.

Step 4: Open the External Hard Drive

In Finder, navigate to the external hard drive connected to your Mac. You should see it listed in the sidebar under “Devices” or “Locations.”

Click on its name to open it.

Step 5: Paste the Files

In the external hard drive window, right-click (or Control-click) and choose “Paste Item” from the context menu. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Command + V to paste the files. The files will now be copied to the external hard drive.

Step 6: Verify the Files

After the copying process is complete, take a moment to verify that all the files have been successfully moved to the external hard drive. You can do this by navigating to the external hard drive and checking if the files are present.

Tips:

  • Organize your files: Before moving files, consider creating folders on your external hard drive to keep them organized.
  • Backup regularly: Using an external hard drive for file storage is a great way to backup your important data. Make it a habit to regularly copy important files to your external hard drive.
  • Eject properly: When you’re finished working with your external hard drive, make sure to eject it properly by right-clicking (or Control-clicking) on its icon in Finder and choosing “Eject.” This ensures that no data is lost or corrupted.

In conclusion,

Moving files to an external hard drive on your Mac is a simple process that can help you free up space and keep your files organized. By following these steps and keeping our tips in mind, you’ll be able to efficiently move your files and protect them from accidental loss or damage.

So go ahead, connect your external hard drive and start moving those files! Your Mac will thank you for it!

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