WD My Passport Ultra 500GB USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive, Black (2015)

2025-04-23T20:00:00

I've purchased at least 6 of these 2 TB over the years and have never had an issue. I use them heavy for a year or two for on the job photo back up, then store them for random access. Couldn't ask for more, never had one fail. I can't imagine why all these people are experiencing failing drives unless it's their machines or the fact that any more than 2 TB storage is a high risk.

TimT

Originally posted at

2025-02-24T19:00:00

I purchased 10 mths ago. I was disappointed when I plugged it in and found out the WD backup software requires you to purchase a plan to use it with this drive. While the software is free when using it for my other older My Passport WD drives. So I manually just copied over the files. Once complete I properly ejected the disc and placed it in my safe. Pulled out to do an annual back up and the drive did not work. Just makes a clicking sound for 5 seconds and stops. My PC never recognizes the drive. I spent way to much money for this drive to not work. I do feel like this is all a scam for a product between the additional software costs and a drive that did not work. It annoying that I now need to go find another brand.

Indy

Originally posted at

2025-02-09T19:00:00

Works seamlessly, quite, would buy again, what else?

GregV

Originally posted at

2025-02-08T19:00:00

We were able to use the drive for less than a year before it failed - no longer recognized on our Windows devices. Technical support asked if I'd tried a different cord, and that was the limit of the "assistance". The downloaded repair tool/utility did not resolve the problem. They only offer a refund in the first 30-days, and the limited warranty will replace it for an assumably faulty replacement device. Don't waste your money on this one.

none2025

Originally posted at

2025-01-19T19:00:00

I bought this thing 3 months ago and crashed on me last week. Had a few gigs of storage on it. Don't trust this product.

dontbuypassport

Originally posted at

2024-12-31T19:00:00

First time buying direct from WD and I have to say that their shipping and order confirmation was very reliable and quick! Thank you!

JRMJ

Originally posted at

2024-12-17T19:00:00

I've relied on MyPassport's for over 10 years. I've got 4 filled with historical data.

Larry F.

Originally posted at

2024-11-13T19:00:00

hate WD'S products..i'll never buy from them again.. had drive less for two months and already acting janky!!! cheap crap

goody2shoes12247

Originally posted at

2024-09-22T20:00:00

I always counted on WD passport drives. One of the main reasons was the ease and simplicity if their backup software. I discovered this after purchasing several new passports. I work with a lot of seniors that are not computer savvy. So maybe they are only saving a billion pictures of their pets or the grandkids, it was simple and should someone become confused I could always walk them through whatever fix was necessary. The list of backup software WD provides just doesn't provide the simplicity needed for the non-technical individual . There really isn't a reason to recommend passports any longer.

NJTeddy

Originally posted at

2024-08-24T20:00:00

Great sales and after sales support - availability - it's too early to report on the device as I just got it - so far so good. I don't like the format of this review- -too fussy with.

RDBeyer

Originally posted at

2024-08-18T20:00:00

Sent the wrong drive then wouldn't issue a refund, sent the device back without the cord. Terrible customer service. $90 paperweight. This company is trash.

Wd_trash

Originally posted at

2024-06-20T20:00:00

Unable to format. Total garbage.unable to format it. Basically a paperweight but 90$.

Onion K.

Originally posted at

2024-05-29T20:00:00

Typical WD quality and materials...easy to set up, does everything I need it to do. Comes with all of the cables, instructions and documentation that one needs to get up and running fast. WD gave me a great price and as always, shipping was free and fast! WD is always the way to go your storage needs!

SCJE8

Originally posted at

2024-02-25T19:00:00

Over 100 PC games. 20 of them hog space like GTA5, and I keep it plugged in behind my PC so no one messes with it or bothers with it, including myself. I also use it for music production. No loading issues

Game G.

Originally posted at

2024-02-10T19:00:00

Plugged it in and it worked perfect with my windows ten backup. No issues.

Very H.

Originally posted at

2024-01-24T19:00:00

Device is working well so far. Only used to backup files on notebooks so far.

Darrell

Originally posted at

2024-01-10T19:00:00

I purchased 8 of these and 2 out of the 8 were DOA. Trying to get an RMA setup was a nightmare

techteam

Originally posted at

2023-12-15T19:00:00

Same as many others have already complained, my 5TB failed just after the warranty expired. This one was a disk used just for backups once over week or so, and it was never subjected to any kind of stress. Suddenly an SMART report informed about issues with the disk. The next time the disk was totally useless. About one hundred dollars wen't to the bin just like that! While I can't recall the details, as an occasional customer of disk for me and my relatives, this is something recurrent with any of the WD brands. I have other disks with the same use, even older ones, that are still running.

maov

Originally posted at

2023-11-03T20:00:00

Shame on me for not doing better research. I purchased the WD My Passport Ultra in 2022 to back up thousands of pictures I had on my mac. Transferring them to the hard drive was no problem, made sure they were there. Flash forward to June 2023 and I try to access the photos on the hard drive. My Mac didn't recognize the hard drive and I could get access to my photos. Tried several things, including asking my son in law (computer genius) for help. Still no access. Took it and my mac to Apple and they inform me that the WD hardrive is one of the most fail prone hard drives on the market. I ended up taking the hard drive to a Salvage Shop and they weren't able to access the photos, again telling me the WD Passport hard drives are very prone to failure. Now I have to send it out to another salvage shop and I may be looking at a $500 or more fee to recover my photos, IF THEY CAN RECOVER THEM. Hard financial lesson to learn but the biggest regret is all the photos I've lost. NEVER AGAIN!

Scott42

Originally posted at

2023-10-08T20:00:00

Absolute trash. Transfer speeds are nowhere near as advertised no matter what connection I make. Recently speeds have dropped to 40 MB/s and I bought a proper SSD. It will take 4 days to transfer all my old files off this 4TB paperweight.

WDhater

Originally posted at

2023-10-01T20:00:00

It's junk. A pain in the b't to use with time machine. Spending way too much time searching support and resources to get it to work.

Aweful

Originally posted at

2023-09-09T20:00:00

Started building systems in the mid 1980s, using CP/M. Then IBM OEM partner, and so on. Ever since WD started manufacturing HDD they were my HDD of choice with better reliability. Regretfully I can no longer recommend WD as the product quality is diminished, and they certainly aren't reliable. I own a number of these My Passport Ultra portable drives, from 1 TB to 5 TB, and I've experienced ~ 30% early failure rates in these. Product quality dropped when the drive specifications changed from 3600 RPM and 2 ms track-to-track latency to pretty blue anodized aluminum case, innovative style. Up to 5 Gb/s? Never seen it happen, on my USB 3.2 I've never seen it get above ~ 180 Mb/s. I think the platter must be a stone disc with a miniature chisel writing the information. And yes, the Acronis software is the pits. I'm sorry that I can no longer recommend WD, it had a superb product for many years, but no longer.

SailRN

Originally posted at

2023-09-03T20:00:00

I have always relied on My Passport drives over the years and I have a set of 3x5TB drives, 1x4TB drive, and 2x2TB drives. I recently had an issue with one 5TB drive that failed just before the warranty expired and it was quickly replaced, so I am once again a happy customer.

kevinb

Originally posted at

2023-08-31T20:00:00

I had a regular My Passport for years and thought this would be faster due to the higher throughput of USB-C. But it is not significantly faster. It may be faster but I cannot see it. My backup times are very close to the old drive. Still, these are great little drives.

gorbage

Originally posted at

2023-08-22T20:00:00

DO NOT buy this. You will never know the next update going to be. Many manty People threw this brand away after window 11 Is installed. I upgrade WD driver too. still does NOT work properly, wayyyyyy too slow. that if you are lucky enough, many people can't even see their WD on the comp.

TjAwsaa

Originally posted at

2023-08-21T20:00:00

I had the Passport Ultra stored almost full info in it, NOW after tried many ways still can't retrieve the information out of it. It extremely slow or even not transfer at all. Tried to download driver, but still doesn't work.

TjAwsaa

Originally posted at

2023-08-01T20:00:00

Bought Passport Ultra 5TB came with almost 4TB. I was very upset because I paid for at least 5TB and not for less, you should change this concept of always delivering less than a little more GB. You should deliver at least the minimum of what you inform the consumer and no less.

Alexandre D.

Originally posted at

2023-07-20T20:00:00

This drive arrived in a timely manner. The drive connected to my computer immediately. This drive is fast and reliable.

Moonbase

Originally posted at

2023-06-24T20:00:00

I've been using WD portable hard drives since 2005 when I bought a 60 GB drive to use for backups. Today, you can get more storage than that on an SD card, so times have changed. Every few years as my storage needs change I go out and buy the latest WD portable that fits my budget (the $75-150 range). Currently that is the My Passport Ultra. The reason I chose the Ultra over the vanilla My Passport is the USB-C port. My wife and I are both Mac users and our current laptops are USB-C only. I'm so tired of dongles and adapters to deal with USB-A connections, this just plugs right in and works. Extra points to WD for including a snap-on C-to-A adapter. I have three Ultras, a pair of 2TB drives and one 4TB drive. I cycle these through my safety deposit box, so at least one is always on the box and at least one is at home. I have never had a single WD portable drive fail on me, ever. That 60GB portable lasted over a decade before I replaced it with a 128GB model. When I got my first Ultra, since I wanted the faster USB3 transfers I gave away four old USB2 portables I bought around 2010 and all were working fine. I give WD the highest marks for reliability. I also appreciate that WD has a recycling program where they will take your old drives (any brand) for free and give you a discount coupon you can use for future WD purchases. All in all, I highly recommend this drive for anyone who doesn't need SSD speeds.

Brian B.

Originally posted at

2023-05-08T20:00:00

Mechanical failure after three months, all data lost. Do not buy this product, western digital does not care if all your data gets lost or not, they will not even refund you with proof there was mechanical failure they just Offer to give You the same defective device that you purchased the first time and lost all your data and really don't want to risk losing it again with the same device.

NeverBuyFromWesternDigita

Originally posted at