Many people use external hard drives and SSDs to expand the storage capacity of their computers. While these drives provide a convenient way to store large amounts of data externally, some users wonder if it’s safe or recommended to leave them plugged in and powered on at all times. There are pros and cons to consider when deciding whether to disconnect your external drive when you’re not actively accessing files.
On the plus side, leaving your external drive connected allows for easy access to your files whenever you need them. It also avoids wear and tear from repeatedly plugging and unplugging the drive. However, there are also risks to be aware of, like shorter drive lifespan from constant operation, vulnerability to power surges, and physical theft if your computer is stolen. There are also some security and malware risks to weigh.
In this article, we’ll explore the key factors to consider when deciding if you should leave an external drive plugged in or regularly disconnect it, so you can make an informed decision for your specific needs. We’ll look at power usage, data security, drive lifespan, convenience, physical theft risk, and malware vulnerability.
Power Usage
One concern with leaving an external hard drive plugged in is that it will continue to draw power even when not being accessed. According to tests on reddit, most external hard drives draw between 5-10 watts while idle (https://www.reddit.com/r/DataHoarder/comments/tuckil/drives_with_low_idle_power_consumption/). This can add up over time, especially if you have multiple external drives connected. Some users on forums like Unraid have measured as much as 70-150 watts of idle power draw from their external hard drives (https://forums.unraid.net/topic/135369-insane-power-usage-on-idle-70w-with-hdds-off-150w-with-hdds-on/).
In general, a 7200 rpm external hard drive will use around 25 watts when idle according to tests (https://superuser.com/questions/565653/how-much-power-does-a-hard-drive-use). This is not an insignificant amount of power if left connected continuously. While convenience may make you want to leave your external drive plugged in, it’s worth considering unplugging it when not in use to conserve energy.
Data Security
One major risk of leaving an external drive plugged in is potential data corruption or loss if the drive is unplugged improperly. When files are copied to an external drive, they are initially stored in a buffer before being written to the physical disk. If the drive is disconnected before this write process finishes, the files may not be fully saved and can become corrupted. According to one source, “The problem is that if you then disconnect the disk without unmounting, the data wasn’t really saved to the disk yet. In practical what happens is you get fragmented files.”
To avoid data loss, it is important to properly eject the external drive before unplugging it. This ensures any pending disk writes are completed. However, accidentally disconnecting the drive without ejecting can still happen. In this case, the risks are lower on modern operating systems. As one expert explains, “You will not lose data, unless you physically damage the drive, e.g., dropping it, during the move.”
Overall, leaving an external drive plugged in raises the chances of it being unplugged improperly and suffering data loss. So it is safest practice to only connect the drive when needed for active file transfers or backups.
Drive Lifespan
Frequent plugging and unplugging of an external hard drive can potentially reduce its lifespan over time. This is because each time you plug and unplug the drive, it experiences physical stress and potential electrostatic discharge which can damage the drive’s components.
However, most modern external hard drives are designed to withstand frequent connections and disconnections. As long as you are careful when plugging and unplugging the drive, avoiding any excessive force, drops, or static buildup, the drive should last for years of typical use.
One Reddit user with data hoarding experience commented that “mechanical drives are designed for 24/7 operation. The damage comes if you’re powering it up and down multiple times a day, the power spikes…”
In summary, leave the drive plugged in whenever possible, only disconnect it when necessary, handle it gently, and take steps to mitigate electrostatic discharge. With care, an external drive can survive many plug/unplug cycles over years of use.
Convenience
Keeping an external drive plugged in makes accessing the data more convenient. You don’t have to plug in the drive every time you want to access files, which saves time and effort. This can be especially useful if you frequently access or back up files to the external drive.
As one Reddit user explained, keeping a portable external drive plugged in avoids “the inconvenience of having to plug it in every time you need it.” [1]
Datanumen notes that keeping the drive connected makes manual backups much more convenient: “With the drive always plugged in, you can easily drag and drop or copy and paste files to the drive whenever you want to back up data.” [2]
So keeping the external drive plugged in can save you time and hassle when frequently accessing or backing up files. The convenience factor is something to consider alongside other factors like drive lifespan, security, and physical theft risk.
Physical Theft
One of the biggest risks of leaving an external hard drive plugged in is the increased chance of physical theft if the drive is stolen. External hard drives are small and portable, which makes them easy to steal (https://accushred.net/blog/pros-and-cons-of-using-external-hard-drives/). If a thief gains physical access to your computer and the drive is plugged in, it is trivial for them to steal the drive along with the potentially sensitive data stored on it.
Drives that remain plugged in are especially vulnerable because they are always connected and powered on, ready for quick and easy theft. Best practices recommend unplugging external drives when not in use to reduce the risk of theft and making sure they are stored securely (https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/RisksOfPortableDevices.pdf). While external drives offer great portability and convenience for users, their small size unfortunately makes them prime targets for theft if left exposed.
Malware Risk
One potential risk of leaving an external hard drive plugged in is the possibility of auto-run malware infecting your computer if the external drive has been infected. Some types of malware are designed to automatically run and spread to a computer as soon as an infected USB device is connected A. This can happen quickly in the background without any action needed on the user’s part.
Once infected, the malware could steal data, install ransomware, spyware or other malicious software. It could also infect any other external drives plugged into that computer, spreading the infection further. While modern operating systems have more security built in to prevent auto-run malware, it is still a risk if you plug an infected drive into an older machine. So keeping your anti-virus software up-to-date and scanning any external drives before use is important to mitigate this threat.
Best Practices
When using an external hard drive, following best practices can help keep your data secure and extend the life of your drive.
One important best practice is to always use the “eject” function before disconnecting or unplugging your external drive. Simply pulling out the cable or power cord could corrupt data if files are still being written to. Ejecting the drive properly closes any open files and unmounts the drive before disconnecting. On Windows, you can eject via the Taskbar. On Mac, right-click the drive icon and select Eject.
Proper storage when the drive is not in use is also advised. External hard drives should be stored in a clean, dry, temperate location away from magnets, excessive heat, and potential impacts. Do not set drinks or other liquids nearby that could spill on the drive. Also avoid stacking items on top of the drive when powered down and stored. Placing the drive in a protective case or pouch can add extra precaution.
Following these simple practices helps prevent file corruption, extends the operating life of your external drive, and keeps your data secure.
Alternatives
While external hard drives offer a convenient portable storage solution, there are some alternatives worth considering:
Cloud storage services like Dropbox and Google Drive allow you to access your files from anywhere with an internet connection. They provide robust backup and syncing capabilities. Cloud storage alleviates concerns over physical theft and drive failure. However, internet connectivity is required to access files.
Using internal drives provides more physical security and removes the need to carry an external drive around. But internal drive space is limited and upgrades can get expensive. Internal drives also lack portability.
Network-attached storage (NAS) devices let you access data over a local network or remotely over the internet. NAS devices offer abundant secure storage and built-in backup features. However, they can be more complex to set up and manage versus external drives.
The right alternative depends on your specific needs. For physical portability and simplicity, external drives are hard to beat. But other options excel in areas like accessibility, redundancy, and security.
Summary
In summary, there are some advantages and disadvantages to leaving an external drive plugged in. The main advantages are convenience, since the drive is always ready to use, and avoiding wear from plugging/unplugging. However, leaving it plugged in uses extra electricity, wears down the drive faster from constant spinning, and poses data security and malware risks if the drive is infected or stolen.
The best practice is to only keep the drive plugged in when you are actively using it, and eject and disconnect it when not needed. If you use it frequently, get a powered hub so you can easily unplug the drive without unplugging everything. And make sure to use encryption, passwords, and backups to protect your data. Overall, plugging in only when needed, combined with proper security precautions, balances convenience, lifespan, and data protection.