You’ve used USB sticks to transport files between computers and back up files. But did you know that they’re handy in so many other ways?
Use a USB Flash Drive to Lock/Unlock Your PC
Do you want to lock and unlock your computer with a physical key like they do in the movies? With USB Raptor, you can.
USB Raptor turns a USB flash drive into an access control device—a key for your computer. When you leave your PC, unplug the USB stick and your computer will be locked. When you return, plug it back in, and your computer will be unlocked. It’s available for Windows 11 and Windows 10.
It’s like using the built-in functions to lock your Windows 11 PC, but you don’t have to type your password when you return.
Download: USB Raptor for Windows (Free)
Run Portable Apps Anywhere With a USB Flash Drive
Software usually needs to be installed; however, that isn’t the case with portable apps.
Portable apps and games can be easily copied to a USB stick and run from any suitable device—usually a 32-bit or 64-bit PC. Browsers, email tools, messaging apps, and games can all be run from a USB flash drive.
It’s a particularly useful solution if you’re keen to keep a selection of apps close to hand to use on any PC that might be nearby. This might be in a library or even a cybercafe at a holiday resort.
Increase Performance With ReadyBoost (Up to Windows 10)
If your computer has a slow hard disk drive, ReadyBoost can help speed things up. When you enable ReadyBoost for a USB stick, it acts as a hard drive cache, caching frequently used files. If it’s faster to read from the USB stick instead of your HDD, Windows will read the flash drive cache instead.
You won’t see much performance boost if you have a 7200+ RPM drive. If you have a solid-state drive, Windows won’t let you use ReadyBoost because the cache will be slower than your SSD.
To enable ReadyBoost, right-click a USB stick in Windows Explorer, select Properties, and use the options on the ReadyBoost tab. Windows will only let you enable ReadyBoost if your USB stick is fast enough, so you might see these options grayed out for some devices. ReadyBoost also requires a flash drive with at least 256 MB of free space.
However, the ReadyBoost menu was removed with the launch of Windows 11, but is still available to Windows 10 users.
Back Up Your USB Drive With Win32 Disk Imager
If you’re using your USB stick for many purposes, it might be useful to back up the contents. An easy way to do this is with Win32 Disk Imager.
Although Win32 Disk Imager is usually used to write bootable disk images to flash drives, it can also create images. Install and run the tool, insert the USB stick, and select a destination and name for the Image File. Click Read to clone the disk contents.
When you need to restore the disk image, browse to the image and click Write.
Download: Win32 Disk Imager for Windows (Free)
Store Vital Travel Documents
If you travel often, you’ve probably misplaced documents. Visas, booking confirmations, and even passports can easily go missing. Packing papers in the wrong bag can lead to problems if baggage handlers make a mistake.
Some of the most important things you can put on a USB are your travel documents. Simply slip it into your wallet or bag and carry it with you. It might even be worth scanning your passport to provide immigration with the information they need to conduct background checks if your passport has gone missing.
Install Almost Any Operating System With a USB Stick
Bootable USB disk images of operating systems can be used to install a new OS on your PC.
For example, you can create a Windows 11 bootable USB drive using a dedicated tool. In the event of a problem with the operating system, this can be used to recover or even reinstall Windows.
Similarly, all manner of Linux operating systems can be installed with a USB drive. It’s even possible to install macOS from a USB drive.
Stay Secure Online With Tails Live Operating System
Alternatively, you might be looking for an OS that you can run from USB to keep your online activity private.
The solution is Tails, one of the best privacy-focused operating systems. Unlike standard operating systems, Tails preserves your privacy and anonymity by not keeping logs on your system. Meanwhile, state-of-the-art cryptographic software encrypts your files, emails, and instant messages, while internet data is routed via Tor.
Each time you use Tails on your USB flash drive, it starts a whole new session, retaining no data. This helps to enhance your online privacy and security—just be sure to use secure passwords!
Download: Tails (Free)
Boot a Live Operating System With Your Flash Drive
You don’t have to install a whole new operating system with a USB drive on your computer. You might just boot one instead.
From portable versions of Windows to “Live” builds of Linux distros that can be used on the go, this option has a huge privacy advantage. You see, the OS is loaded into the computer’s memory, which means when the computer restarts, data about your activity is lost.
Furthermore, you can keep your portable operating system in your pocket, ready to plug into any computer. As cool things to do with a USB stick go, this is up there with the best.
Make a Password Reset Disk on USB for Windows
Concerned you’ll forget your Windows password? Already lost it?
If you use a local account in Windows, there’s no easy way to reset the password if you forget it. Your Microsoft online account can be reset from any other device, but with a local account, things are different.
Your choice is simple: abandon the account or create a password reset disk in Windows 10 & 11. For the second option, plug in a formatted USB stick, click Start, and type “password reset disk.” When you see Create a password reset disk click Open and follow the instructions.
It’s a good idea to use the USB flash drive for this purpose permanently, so keep it in a drawer for next time, just in case.
Rescue Your PC From Hardware Failure and Viruses
You should always keep a recovery USB handy. That way, if your PC has crashed and you need to recover it or retrieve data from your hard disk, you’re already equipped to fix it. Flash drives are ideal for this task, as they can store and boot recovery tools to help you fix your computer.
These tools include:
Download your preferred tool, write to USB, and boot your prone computer from the USB stick.
