Season 3, Episode 270 · Hands-On Tech (Video)
HOT 270: Troubleshooting External Storage - Optimizing Your External Drive's Performance
7 Jun 2026 · 23 min
Episode notes
On this week's episode of Hands-On Tech, listener Lenny asks Mikah for advice on how to get the best performance out of an external SSD connected to his MacBook Pro. Don't forget to send in your questions for Mikah to answer during the show! [email protected] Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Tech at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-tech Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in…
Transcript
Read the transcript · about 300 words
Jun 9th 2026
AI-generated, human-reviewed.
If your MacBook Pro is running out of storage and your external SSD feels sluggish, you may be missing critical steps in setup and hardware choice. On Hands-On Tech , Mikah Sargent shared proven advice for selecting the right external drive, cable, and format to achieve near-internal SSD speeds.
The most common causes of slow external SSD speeds on Macs are using the wrong cable, picking a USB (not Thunderbolt) drive, or formatting drives in a way that limits macOS performance. Solving these issues can dramatically boost your data transfer rates and improve productivity, especially for photo, video, and large file work.
Modern MacBook Pros, especially those with the latest Apple silicon chips, offer extremely fast built-in SSDs. However, storage upgrades are expensive at purchase, pushing many to rely on external drives. For tasks like video editing or managing large photo libraries, sluggish external drives can hinder workflow.
Drive shortages and higher prices make getting value from external SSDs more important than ever. Knowing how to set them up for max speed saves both time and money.
On Hands-On Tech , Mikah Sargent outlined three main bottlenecks:
Mikah Sargent recommends choosing based on your needs and budget:
Price Check: As of June 7th, a 2TB SanDisk Thunderbolt SSD was $530+, and OWC/LaCie Thunderbolt enclosures ranged from $120 (bare) to nearly $500 (with 1TB NVMe SSD).
For MacBook Pro users hitting storage limits, upgrading to a Thunderbolt external SSD (with a certified cable and APFS formatting) offers the next-best performance to internal storage—ideal for media production and heavy file work. If budget is tight, start by replacing your cable and checking current drive specs before shopping for a new drive.
Ready for more tips and gadget advice? Subscribe to Hands-On Tech : https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-tech/episodes/270
Transcript supplied by the publisher with the episode.
Podcast
Hands-On Tech (Video)
TWiT · Tech & Science · English
Welcome to Hands-On Tech , where host Mikah Sargent turns tech troubles into tech triumphs. Each episode zooms in on a specific theme, unpacking listener questions with expert analysis and easy-to-follow advice. From decoding the latest gadgets to simplifying everyday tech, Mikah's got you covered.
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