{"id":"data-transfers.transfer-to-a-usb-stick-or-another-disk","url":"/faq/data-transfers/transfer-to-a-usb-stick-or-another-disk","category":{"id":"data-transfers","title":"Data Transfers"},"subcategory":{"id":"setting-up","title":"Setting up a transfer"},"question":"Can I transfer to a USB stick, SD card or other disk that isn't my main external drive?","alt_questions":["copy to USB flash drive storage studio","transfer to SD card mac","use a second external drive in data transfers","sync to another disk","transfer to any connected drive"],"short_answer":"Yes. Pick a folder on any connected disk — USB stick, SD card or a second drive — with the folder button. Only your main Storage Studio drive gets “Waiting for drive”; connect other disks before the transfer runs.","answer_markdown":"Yes. The folder button lets you choose a folder on any disk your Mac can see — a USB stick, an SD card, a second external drive. Data Transfers treats it like any other local folder.\n\nThe *Waiting for drive* behaviour applies to your main Storage Studio external drive. For another disk, make sure it's connected before the transfer runs; if it isn't there, the transfer can't reach the folder and fails with an explanation, and you can run it again once the disk is back.\n\nRelated: [Transfer between folders on my Mac](/faq/data-transfers/transfer-between-folders-on-my-mac) · [External drives](/faq/external-drives/)","answer_html":"

Yes. The folder button lets you choose a folder on any disk your Mac can see — a USB stick, an SD card, a second external drive. Data Transfers treats it like any other local folder.

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The Waiting for drive behaviour applies to your main Storage Studio external drive. For another disk, make sure it's connected before the transfer runs; if it isn't there, the transfer can't reach the folder and fails with an explanation, and you can run it again once the disk is back.

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Related: Transfer between folders on my Mac · External drives

","answer_text":"Yes. The folder button lets you choose a folder on any disk your Mac can see — a USB stick, an SD card, a second external drive. Data Transfers treats it like any other local folder.\n\nThe Waiting for drive behaviour applies to your main Storage Studio external drive. For another disk, make sure it's connected before the transfer runs; if it isn't there, the transfer can't reach the folder and fails with an explanation, and you can run it again once the disk is back.\n\nRelated: Transfer between folders on my Mac · External drives","tags":["usb","sd card","disks"],"related":[{"id":"data-transfers.transfer-between-folders-on-my-mac","question":"Can I use Data Transfers to copy between two folders or drives on my Mac?","url":"/faq/data-transfers/transfer-between-folders-on-my-mac"},{"id":"data-transfers.what-does-waiting-for-drive-mean","question":"What does “Waiting for drive” mean on a transfer?","url":"/faq/data-transfers/what-does-waiting-for-drive-mean"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"Can I transfer to a USB stick, SD card or other disk that isn't my main external drive? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Yes. Pick a folder on any connected disk — USB stick, SD card or a second drive — with the folder button. Only your main Storage Studio drive gets “Waiting for drive”; connect other disks before the transfer runs.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Data Transfers","path":"/faq/data-transfers/"},{"name":"Can I transfer to a USB stick, SD card or other disk that isn't my main external drive?","path":"/faq/data-transfers/transfer-to-a-usb-stick-or-another-disk"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/data-transfers/transfer-to-a-usb-stick-or-another-disk","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Can I transfer to a USB stick, SD card or other disk that isn't my main external drive?","alternateName":["copy to USB flash drive storage studio","transfer to SD card mac","use a second external drive in data transfers","sync to another disk","transfer to any connected drive"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. The folder button lets you choose a folder on any disk your Mac can see — a USB stick, an SD card, a second external drive. Data Transfers treats it like any other local folder.\n\nThe Waiting for drive behaviour applies to your main Storage Studio external drive. For another disk, make sure it's connected before the transfer runs; if it isn't there, the transfer can't reach the folder and fails with an explanation, and you can run it again once the disk is back.\n\nRelated: Transfer between folders on my Mac · External drives","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/data-transfers/transfer-to-a-usb-stick-or-another-disk"}}]},"fragment":"
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Data Transfers · Setting up a transfer

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Can I transfer to a USB stick, SD card or other disk that isn't my main external drive?

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Short answer: Yes. Pick a folder on any connected disk — USB stick, SD card or a second drive — with the folder button. Only your main Storage Studio drive gets “Waiting for drive”; connect other disks before the transfer runs.

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Yes. The folder button lets you choose a folder on any disk your Mac can see — a USB stick, an SD card, a second external drive. Data Transfers treats it like any other local folder.

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The Waiting for drive behaviour applies to your main Storage Studio external drive. For another disk, make sure it's connected before the transfer runs; if it isn't there, the transfer can't reach the folder and fails with an explanation, and you can run it again once the disk is back.

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Related: Transfer between folders on my Mac · External drives

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Last reviewed

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