{"id":"external-drives.what-do-usb-version-names-mean","url":"/faq/external-drives/what-do-usb-version-names-mean","category":{"id":"external-drives","title":"External drives"},"subcategory":{"id":"speed-and-hardware","title":"Speed, cables and hardware"},"question":"What do USB 3.0, 3.1, 3.2 and USB4 mean when buying a drive?","alt_questions":["USB 3.2 Gen 2 vs Gen 2x2 explained","Difference between USB 3.1 and 3.2","Which USB version do I need for an external SSD?","USB4 vs Thunderbolt drive Mac","confusing usb names gen 1 gen 2"],"short_answer":"They're USB generations with confusing, repeatedly changed names. Compare the speed in Gbps on the drive, cable and port instead — the slowest part sets the speed, and some top USB modes aren't supported by Mac ports.","answer_markdown":"They're generations of the USB standard, and the names have been changed several times, so the same speed can appear under different labels. Ignore the version number and look at the **speed in Gbps** printed on the drive, cable and port — that's what decides how fast a copy can go.\n\nRules of thumb for a Mac:\n\n- The connection runs at the speed of the slowest part — drive, cable, hub or port.\n- Some very fast USB modes aren't supported by Mac ports, so a drive advertised at the top USB speed may run slower on a Mac.\n- USB4 and Thunderbolt drives work at their best on Macs with Thunderbolt or USB4 ports.\n\nFor choosing between the two families, see [Thunderbolt or USB-C](/faq/external-drives/thunderbolt-or-usb-c-for-an-external-ssd).","answer_html":"

They're generations of the USB standard, and the names have been changed several times, so the same speed can appear under different labels. Ignore the version number and look at the speed in Gbps printed on the drive, cable and port — that's what decides how fast a copy can go.

\n

Rules of thumb for a Mac:

\n\n

For choosing between the two families, see Thunderbolt or USB-C.

","answer_text":"They're generations of the USB standard, and the names have been changed several times, so the same speed can appear under different labels. Ignore the version number and look at the speed in Gbps printed on the drive, cable and port — that's what decides how fast a copy can go.\n\nRules of thumb for a Mac:\n\n- The connection runs at the speed of the slowest part — drive, cable, hub or port.\n- Some very fast USB modes aren't supported by Mac ports, so a drive advertised at the top USB speed may run slower on a Mac.\n- USB4 and Thunderbolt drives work at their best on Macs with Thunderbolt or USB4 ports.\n\nFor choosing between the two families, see Thunderbolt or USB-C.","tags":["usb","usb4","buying","speed"],"related":[{"id":"external-drives.thunderbolt-or-usb-c-for-an-external-ssd","question":"Should I get a Thunderbolt or a USB-C external SSD?","url":"/faq/external-drives/thunderbolt-or-usb-c-for-an-external-ssd"},{"id":"external-drives.does-the-cable-matter-for-an-external-ssd","question":"Does the cable matter for my external SSD's speed?","url":"/faq/external-drives/does-the-cable-matter-for-an-external-ssd"},{"id":"external-drives.what-kind-of-external-drive-should-i-use-with-storage-studio","question":"What kind of external drive should I use with Storage Studio?","url":"/faq/external-drives/what-kind-of-external-drive-should-i-use-with-storage-studio"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"What do USB 3.0, 3.1, 3.2 and USB4 mean when buying a drive? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"They're USB generations with confusing, repeatedly changed names. Compare the speed in Gbps on the drive, cable and port instead — the slowest part sets the speed, and some top USB modes aren't supported by Mac ports.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"External drives","path":"/faq/external-drives/"},{"name":"What do USB 3.0, 3.1, 3.2 and USB4 mean when buying a drive?","path":"/faq/external-drives/what-do-usb-version-names-mean"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/what-do-usb-version-names-mean","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What do USB 3.0, 3.1, 3.2 and USB4 mean when buying a drive?","alternateName":["USB 3.2 Gen 2 vs Gen 2x2 explained","Difference between USB 3.1 and 3.2","Which USB version do I need for an external SSD?","USB4 vs Thunderbolt drive Mac","confusing usb names gen 1 gen 2"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"They're generations of the USB standard, and the names have been changed several times, so the same speed can appear under different labels. Ignore the version number and look at the speed in Gbps printed on the drive, cable and port — that's what decides how fast a copy can go.\n\nRules of thumb for a Mac:\n\n- The connection runs at the speed of the slowest part — drive, cable, hub or port.\n- Some very fast USB modes aren't supported by Mac ports, so a drive advertised at the top USB speed may run slower on a Mac.\n- USB4 and Thunderbolt drives work at their best on Macs with Thunderbolt or USB4 ports.\n\nFor choosing between the two families, see Thunderbolt or USB-C.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/what-do-usb-version-names-mean"}}]},"fragment":"
\n
\n\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

External drives · Speed, cables and hardware

\n

What do USB 3.0, 3.1, 3.2 and USB4 mean when buying a drive?

\n

Short answer: They're USB generations with confusing, repeatedly changed names. Compare the speed in Gbps on the drive, cable and port instead — the slowest part sets the speed, and some top USB modes aren't supported by Mac ports.

\n

They're generations of the USB standard, and the names have been changed several times, so the same speed can appear under different labels. Ignore the version number and look at the speed in Gbps printed on the drive, cable and port — that's what decides how fast a copy can go.

\n

Rules of thumb for a Mac:

\n
  • The connection runs at the speed of the slowest part — drive, cable, hub or port.
  • Some very fast USB modes aren't supported by Mac ports, so a drive advertised at the top USB speed may run slower on a Mac.
  • USB4 and Thunderbolt drives work at their best on Macs with Thunderbolt or USB4 ports.
\n

For choosing between the two families, see Thunderbolt or USB-C.

\n\n

Last reviewed

\n\n

Related questions

\n

Also available as Markdown and JSON.

\n
"}