USB Adapter
USB to SATA Adapters
USB to SATA adapters connect SATA hard drives and SSDs to computers through USB.
Related: USB to IDE · USB SD Card · USB-A to USB-C
Characteristics
| USB side | USB-A or USB-C, depending on adapter design |
|---|---|
| Drive side | SATA data and, where required, power connections |
| Adapter type | Active USB-to-SATA bridge |
| Typical drives | 2.5-inch SSDs and hard drives; some powered adapters also support 3.5-inch drives |
| External power | May be required for drives whose power needs exceed what the USB connection can provide |
| Performance limit | Depends on the drive, SATA link, bridge controller, USB connection, and host |
| Common uses | Data recovery, cloning, backups, drive testing, and temporary external access |
