Most portable hard drives are plug and play. This means that they do not need to be formatted and a person does not have to load special software onto her computer before they will work. Instead, it is generally only necessary to connect the device, and it should be ready for use. Connection is normally achieved with a cord that has a USB plug. The cord that connects a portable hard drive to a computer is usually detachable from the device.

When a portable hard drive is connected, there will usually be some type of indication on the screen that will let the user know that the device is being recognized by the computer. There is also generally some type of light on the device that should illuminate to signal that it is working. Many of these devices have options that will allow this light to be deactivated although the device is connected. This is a feature that often appeals to those who are concerned about power consumption.

Storing information on a portable hard drive is usually simple. When a person stores information on her computer, she is generally given an option as to where she wants that information to be stored. When a portable hard drive is connected, the user should simply be able to select the device. Accessing the files that are already stored on the device is usually done in the same way that it would be done if the files were stored on a computer's internal drives.

There are several types of portable digital storage devices. One of the most attractive features about a portable hard drive is its storage capacity, which is generally higher than the other available options. Since the device has so much space, it can be used to store extremely large amounts of data in various formats. It can also be used store programs.