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You can install Linux on an external hard drive by booting a separate USB installer and choosing the external drive as the installation destination. This walkthrough uses Ubuntu Desktop; other distributions may have different installer screens. The most important safety step is to confirm the selected disk before approving any erase or partitioning action, because Ubuntu’s erase-disk option uses the full selected disk.
What you need before installing
- A Linux distribution image: Download Ubuntu Desktop from its official download page. The steps below describe Ubuntu specifically; follow the current official instructions for another distribution.
- A separate USB flash drive for the installer: Ubuntu recommends a stick of 8 GB or larger. Creating the bootable installer overwrites data on that USB stick, so copy off anything you want to keep first. This recommendation is for installer media, not for the external drive where Linux will be installed. See Ubuntu’s bootable USB instructions.
- An external destination drive: Connect it before starting the installer. The reviewed Ubuntu instructions do not establish a universal minimum capacity or a speed requirement for the installed system.
- Backups: Back up important files on the computer and on both drives. Disk selection mistakes can erase data, and you should not assume an external installation will leave the computer’s internal disk or boot setup untouched in every configuration.
How to install Ubuntu on an external hard drive
1. Create the installer USB
Use Ubuntu’s current instructions to write the downloaded Ubuntu Desktop image to the USB flash drive. This USB is installation media; it is not the external drive that will hold the persistent Linux installation. The writing process erases the installer USB’s existing contents.
2. Boot the computer from the installer
Leave the installer USB connected, restart the computer, and open its firmware boot menu if the installer does not start on its own. Ubuntu lists F12 as the most common PC boot-menu key, with Escape, F2, and F10 also common. The key varies by computer: follow the startup prompt or check the manufacturer’s instructions. Select the USB installer from the menu.
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Proceed through the Ubuntu installer until it asks about disk setup. Inspect the displayed disk details and identify the external drive by its size, model, or other information shown. If you cannot confidently tell which entry is the external drive, stop rather than guess. Having the external drive connected does not prevent you from selecting the internal disk by mistake.
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- Get NVMe solid state performance with up to 1050MB/s read and 1000MB/s write speeds in a portable, high-capacity drive(1) (Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending on host device & other factors. 1MB=1,000,000 bytes.)
- Up to 3-meter drop protection and IP65 water and dust resistance mean this tough drive can take a beating(3) (Previously rated for 2-meter drop protection and IP55 rating. Now qualified for the higher, stated specs.)
- Use the handy carabiner loop to secure it to your belt loop or backpack for extra peace of mind.
- Help keep private content private with the included password protection featuring 256‐bit AES hardware encryption.(3)
- Easily manage files and automatically free up space with the SanDisk Memory Zone app.(5). Non-Operating Temperature -20°C to 85°C
4. Choose disk setup carefully
If you choose Ubuntu’s erase-disk setup, it uses all the space on the selected disk. Confirm that the selected destination is the external drive before continuing; selecting the wrong disk can erase its contents, including data on an internal drive. Ubuntu describes manual partitioning as intended for advanced users: “Manual partitioning is designed for advanced users who want to create a specific configuration for their use case.” If you need custom partitions or encryption, use the current documentation for your chosen distribution rather than relying on a universal partition recipe.
5. Finish installation and restart
Complete the remaining installer prompts and allow installation to finish. Restart when prompted. Depending on the computer’s boot order, you may need to open the firmware boot menu again and select the external drive to start Linux from it.
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- Capacity Display Variance: 500GB external ssd often appears as around 465GB on Windows. MacOS can show full 500 GB capacity. This is binary calculation difference and doesn’t affect SSD hard drive actual physical storage
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Can you run Ubuntu from an external hard drive on different computers?
Sometimes, but it is not guaranteed. Whether an external installation boots depends on the computer’s firmware support, boot mode, and the distribution’s boot setup. A drive that boots on one machine may not appear or start on another. Ubuntu community documentation discusses external-drive installations and UEFI/BIOS considerations, but its instructions include older or version-specific material and should not be treated as a universal current recipe: Ubuntu Community Help Wiki: UEFI and BIOS installation notes.
If the external drive is missing from the boot menu or fails to start, consult the current support documentation for your distribution and computer. There is no single fix established for every device.
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- Solid state performance with up to 800MB/s read speeds in a portable drive. (Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending on host device, interface, usage conditions and other factors. 1MB=1,000,000 bytes.)
- Back up your content and memories on a storage solution that fits seamlessly into your mobile lifestyle.
- Take it with you on your adventures—up to two-meter drop protection means this durable drive can take a beating. (Based on internal testing.)
- Secure it to your belt loop or backpack for extra peace of mind thanks to the tough rubber hook.
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External hard drive or SSD: what should you consider?
Choose based on the capacity you need, whether the drive’s connection works with the computer, the workload you expect, portability, and budget. The cited guidance does not establish a universal capacity requirement or provide tested HDD-versus-SSD performance, reliability, or value comparisons, so compare the specific options you are considering rather than assuming one type is always faster or better.
Quick Recap
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- POCKET-SIZED – fits easily in pockets and small bags.
- SPACE TO OWN YOUR AI CONTENT – speed and capacity to download your high-res clips and photo edits.
- 256-BIT AES ENCRYPTION(4) – helps keep private files secure with password protection.
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Common mistakes to avoid
- Confusing the installer USB with the installation target: The USB flash drive starts the installer; the external drive is the destination for the installed system.
- Approving disk erasure before verifying the selected drive: Check the installer’s displayed disk details, and stop if the target is unclear.
- Assuming a live session is a full installation: Starting a temporary live session from installer media is not the same as installing a persistent system to the external drive.
- Expecting guaranteed portability: Boot support can differ among computers, firmware settings, and boot modes.
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