USB Sticks Explained: Which Type and Format Do You Need?
When you have old photographs scanned or videotapes digitised, the files usually come back on a USB stick. But not every USB stick works with every device. A stick that plugs straight into your laptop may not fit your phone, and one that works on your computer may not play on your TV.
There are three things to check: the connector, which determines whether the stick physically fits; the stick's speed and quality, which determine how quickly and reliably it works; and the format, which determines whether your device can read the files.
Connector types
USB-A
The traditional rectangular connector. It only goes in one way up, which is why most people try it twice. USB-A ports are found on most desktop computers, older laptops, TVs, game consoles and car stereos. It is still the most widely compatible option.
USB-C
The smaller, oval connector that fits either way up. It is now standard on newer laptops, Android phones, tablets, iPads and recent iPhones. Some newer laptops, particularly MacBooks, have only USB-C ports.
Dual-connector sticks
Many USB sticks now have a USB-A plug at one end and a USB-C plug at the other. These are a good choice for families, because the same stick works on an older computer, a new laptop, a TV and a modern phone.
Speed and quality
Speed
USB sticks come in two main speeds: USB 2.0, which is older and slower, and USB 3.0 or above, which is much faster. The packaging usually says which. On a USB-A stick, blue plastic inside the plug usually means USB 3.0.
The difference shows when copying large files. Copying a few hours of digitised video might take half an hour on a USB 2.0 stick and a few minutes on a good USB 3.0 one. For photographs, you will hardly notice.
Speed does not matter for watching. Any USB stick is fast enough to play a video.
USB-C is the plug used for the newest, fastest standards, but the plug alone does not guarantee speed. Many cheaper USB-C sticks still run at USB 2.0 speed, so check the packaging.
Quality
Cheap, unbranded sticks are more likely to fail or lose files. Some online sellers sell fakes that claim to hold more than they can, and anything saved beyond their real capacity is quietly lost. For family photographs and videos, buy a recognised brand from a reputable retailer.
File formats
Every USB stick has a file system, which is how files are organised on it. Different devices understand different file systems. This is the part most people never think about, and it is the most common reason a stick "doesn't work".
FAT32
The oldest and most widely supported format. It works on almost everything: Windows, Mac, TVs, car stereos and older devices.
The drawback is a 4GB file-size limit. This applies to each individual file, not the stick. A 64GB stick formatted as FAT32 can hold 64GB total, but no single file can be larger than 4GB.
Photographs never come close to this limit. Video is a different matter. How much fits in 4GB depends on the quality of the file:
Video type | Roughly how much fits in 4GB |
MP4, standard quality | about 1 hour 45 minutes |
MP4, higher quality | about 50 minutes |
Uncompressed tape capture (DV/AVI) | about 18 minutes |
A typical three-hour VHS tape saved as one file will usually be too large. If you try to copy it to a FAT32 stick, your computer will show a "file too large" error, even when the stick has plenty of free space. This catches a lot of people out.
There are three ways around it: use a stick formatted as exFAT, split long recordings into parts under 4GB, or reduce the video quality so the file fits.
exFAT
The modern replacement for FAT32. It has no practical file size limit and works on both Windows and Mac, as well as most recent TVs, phones and tablets. For digitised video, exFAT is usually the best choice.
Some older TVs, media players and car systems cannot read exFAT. If you plan to watch videos on an older TV, check its manual first.
NTFS
The standard format for Windows computers. It handles large files, and many TVs can read it. Macs can open files on an NTFS stick but cannot save or delete files on it without extra software. Not ideal if your family uses a mix of Windows and Apple devices.
APFS and Mac OS Extended
Apple's own formats. They work well on Macs, but Windows computers and most TVs cannot read them. Avoid these for sticks you plan to share.
Quick guide: which should you choose?
If you want to... | Choose |
Use it on almost any computer, TV or phone | Dual USB-A/USB-C stick, exFAT format |
Copy hours of video quickly | Branded USB 3.0 stick or faster |
Play videos on an older TV | USB-A, FAT32, with long videos split into parts |
Use only Windows computers | USB-A or USB-C, NTFS or exFAT |
Use a Mac and a Windows PC | exFAT |
A USB stick is not a permanent archive
USB sticks are convenient, but they are small, easy to lose and not designed for long-term storage. Flash memory can deteriorate if you leave a stick unused for many years.
Treat a USB stick as one copy among several. Keep another copy on an external hard drive or computer, and give family members copies of the most important files.
Getting your files in the right format
When you have photographs or videotapes digitised, tell us which devices you plan to use: a Windows laptop, a Mac, a smart TV, a phone, or a mix. At Photo Revivals, we can supply your files on a USB stick that suits the way your family will actually watch and share them.
