{"id":"external-drives.how-should-i-store-a-drive-i-rarely-use","url":"/faq/external-drives/how-should-i-store-a-drive-i-rarely-use","category":{"id":"external-drives","title":"External drives"},"subcategory":{"id":"care-and-lifespan","title":"Caring for a drive"},"question":"How should I store an external drive I only use now and then?","alt_questions":["Storing an external hard drive long term","Do SSDs lose data if left unplugged?","Best way to keep an archive drive","external drive in a drawer for years","cold storage external SSD Mac"],"short_answer":"Keep it cool, dry and safe from knocks, plug it in every so often to check it mounts and files open, and never let it be the only copy. SSDs hold data unpowered for a long time but not forever, so power them up occasionally.","answer_markdown":"Keep it somewhere cool, dry and safe from knocks, eject it properly before unplugging, and plug it in now and then to check it still mounts and your files open. Don't let a drive in a drawer be the only copy of anything.\n\nA few specifics:\n\n- **Hard disks** dislike drops and bumps, especially while running.\n- **SSDs** hold data without power for a long time, but not indefinitely — manufacturers advise against leaving one unpowered for very long periods, so power it up occasionally.\n- Note what's on it, so you know what you'd lose.\n\nIf the drive holds items Storage Studio moved, plug it in before you need them — see [using the drive as an occasional archive](/faq/external-drives/can-i-use-the-drive-as-an-occasional-archive).","answer_html":"

Keep it somewhere cool, dry and safe from knocks, eject it properly before unplugging, and plug it in now and then to check it still mounts and your files open. Don't let a drive in a drawer be the only copy of anything.

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A few specifics:

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If the drive holds items Storage Studio moved, plug it in before you need them — see using the drive as an occasional archive.

","answer_text":"Keep it somewhere cool, dry and safe from knocks, eject it properly before unplugging, and plug it in now and then to check it still mounts and your files open. Don't let a drive in a drawer be the only copy of anything.\n\nA few specifics:\n\n- Hard disks dislike drops and bumps, especially while running.\n- SSDs hold data without power for a long time, but not indefinitely — manufacturers advise against leaving one unpowered for very long periods, so power it up occasionally.\n- Note what's on it, so you know what you'd lose.\n\nIf the drive holds items Storage Studio moved, plug it in before you need them — see using the drive as an occasional archive.","tags":["archive","storage","care"],"related":[{"id":"external-drives.can-i-use-the-drive-as-an-occasional-archive","question":"Can I keep the fast drive in a drawer and plug it in only when I need old files?","url":"/faq/external-drives/can-i-use-the-drive-as-an-occasional-archive"},{"id":"external-drives.how-do-i-make-a-backup-of-my-fast-drive","question":"How do I back up my fast drive to another drive?","url":"/faq/external-drives/how-do-i-make-a-backup-of-my-fast-drive"},{"id":"external-drives.how-long-do-external-ssds-last","question":"How long does an external SSD last?","url":"/faq/external-drives/how-long-do-external-ssds-last"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"How should I store an external drive I only use now and then? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Keep it cool, dry and safe from knocks, plug it in every so often to check it mounts and files open, and never let it be the only copy. SSDs hold data unpowered for a long time but not forever, so power them up occasionally.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"External drives","path":"/faq/external-drives/"},{"name":"How should I store an external drive I only use now and then?","path":"/faq/external-drives/how-should-i-store-a-drive-i-rarely-use"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/how-should-i-store-a-drive-i-rarely-use","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"How should I store an external drive I only use now and then?","alternateName":["Storing an external hard drive long term","Do SSDs lose data if left unplugged?","Best way to keep an archive drive","external drive in a drawer for years","cold storage external SSD Mac"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Keep it somewhere cool, dry and safe from knocks, eject it properly before unplugging, and plug it in now and then to check it still mounts and your files open. Don't let a drive in a drawer be the only copy of anything.\n\nA few specifics:\n\n- Hard disks dislike drops and bumps, especially while running.\n- SSDs hold data without power for a long time, but not indefinitely — manufacturers advise against leaving one unpowered for very long periods, so power it up occasionally.\n- Note what's on it, so you know what you'd lose.\n\nIf the drive holds items Storage Studio moved, plug it in before you need them — see using the drive as an occasional archive.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/how-should-i-store-a-drive-i-rarely-use"}}]},"fragment":"
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External drives · Caring for a drive

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How should I store an external drive I only use now and then?

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Short answer: Keep it cool, dry and safe from knocks, plug it in every so often to check it mounts and files open, and never let it be the only copy. SSDs hold data unpowered for a long time but not forever, so power them up occasionally.

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Keep it somewhere cool, dry and safe from knocks, eject it properly before unplugging, and plug it in now and then to check it still mounts and your files open. Don't let a drive in a drawer be the only copy of anything.

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A few specifics:

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  • Hard disks dislike drops and bumps, especially while running.
  • SSDs hold data without power for a long time, but not indefinitely — manufacturers advise against leaving one unpowered for very long periods, so power it up occasionally.
  • Note what's on it, so you know what you'd lose.
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If the drive holds items Storage Studio moved, plug it in before you need them — see using the drive as an occasional archive.

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Last reviewed

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Related questions

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