Saving files to an external hard drive means copying or moving your digital data—like documents, photos, or videos—from your computer's internal storage to a separate, portable storage device. This is typically done by physically connecting the hard drive to your computer via a USB, Thunderbolt, or USB-C cable. Unlike saving files to your computer's built-in drive, this process creates a separate copy on removable hardware you can disconnect and carry.

Common examples include backing up important personal files like family photos using a drive from brands like Seagate or WD. Professionals, such as video editors, frequently save large project files directly onto high-capacity external drives like LaCie Rugged drives to free up space on their computer's main drive and allow portability between workstations.

The main advantage is increased storage space and portability for backups or file transfer. However, transfer speeds are generally slower than internal drives, especially for large files. Physical vulnerability (e.g., drops) is a limitation compared to cloud storage. Always safely eject the drive using your computer's OS function before unplugging to avoid data corruption. Regularly backing up your external drive's data to another location is recommended for security.