You’ve probably used a USB stick to transport files between computers or back up files, but did you know about the other uses for a USB stick? A USB flash drive can also be used to lock and unlock your computer—just like in the movies. You can also use one to quickly connect to a wireless network on all your PCs, increase your computer’s performance, or even run a web server from the USB stick itself!
Use a USB Flash Drive to Lock/Unlock Your PC
Use a USB Flash Drive to Lock/Unlock Your PC: If you’ve ever seen a movie where someone unlocks a computer by scanning their fingerprint or inserting a key, you might be surprised to know that you can do something similar with a USB stick. Just download an app like Predator, copy it to your USB stick, and run it whenever you want to lock your computer. To unlock it, just insert the same USB stick.
Use a USB Flash Drive to Quickly Connect to a Wireless Network
If you have a laptop that you take with you to different places, chances are you’ve had trouble connecting to a wireless network before. If you have a USB flash drive, though, you can easily connect to any wireless network by creating a Wi-Fi hotspot. Just download Connectify and run it from your USB stick whenever you need to connect to a Wi-Fi network.
Use a USB Flash Drive to Increase Your Computer’s Performance
If your computer is starting to feel a bit sluggish, you can use a USB flash drive to give it a boost. Just download ReadyBoost and copy it to your USB stick. Then, insert the USB stick into your computer and follow the instructions to speed up your PC.
Use a USB Flash Drive to Run a Web Server
If you need to run a web server but don’t want to go through the hassle of setting one up, you can use a USB flash drive. Just download XAMPP and copy it to your USB stick. Then, insert the USB stick into your computer and follow the instructions to start running a web server from your USB stick.
Run Portable Apps Anywhere With a USB Flash Drive
Portable apps are programs that don’t need to be installed and can be run from a removable drive, like a USB stick. This means you can take your favorite apps with you wherever you go—no more worrying about whether the computer you’re using has the right software installed. All you need is your trusty USB stick!
To get started, all you need is a USB stick with at least 256 MB of storage space. Then head over to the PortableApps website and download the PortableApps Platform. Once that’s done, just launch the app and follow the instructions to install it on your USB drive. Now you can start adding apps! There are hundreds of portable apps available, including popular programs like Firefox, VLC media player, and GIMP.
Install Almost Any Operating System With a USB Stick
You can install any operating system on a USB stick, including Windows, Linux, and even macOS. This is perfect for if you want to try out a new operating system without installing it on your main computer. You can also use a USB stick to create a “live” version of an operating system, which you can use on any computer.
These are just a few of the unique uses for a USB stick. So, next time you’re looking for a way to transport or backup files, think outside the box and consider one of these other options.
