How to Test USB Speed: Simple Guide for Windows & Mac

Easy ways to test the speed of your USB storage devices

If you need to find the speed of a connected USB drive, such as a flash drive or external SSD, it's easy to do. On Windows, you can use a built-in command line tool called Winsat, or download a free graphical program called USBDeview. On a Mac, you can install a free app called Blackmagic Disk Speed Test from the App Store. Read on to learn easy ways to test USB speeds on a Windows PC or Mac, plus how to find out the speed of your USB port.

Testing USB Drive Speed: Overview

  • To test the speed of a USB storage device, such as a flash drive, on Windows, use the "winsat" command in Command Prompt, or try USBDeview.
  • On a Mac, install Blackmagic Disk Speed to find the read and write speeds of any connected drive.
  • To find the speed of your USB ports, check Device Manager (Windows) or run a System Report (Mac).
Section 1 of 4:

Using Winsat on Windows

  1. Step 1 Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
    If you want to see the read/write speed of a USB drive, including a flash drive, on your Windows PC, you don't have to install any software. To get started, type cmd into the Windows search bar, right-click Command Prompt in the search results, then select Run as administrator.[1]
  2. Step 2 Type winsat disk -drive [drive letter] and press ↵ Enter.
    For example, if your USB drive is your D drive, you'd use the command winsat disk -drive D. After a few moments, you'll see a report in the Command Prompt window.
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  3. Step 3 Find the USB drive speeds near the bottom of the report.
    The winsat report will list the read and write speeds (in MB/s), average read time (in ms), latency (in ms), and average read/write time (in ms).[2]
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Section 2 of 4:

Using USBDeview on Windows

  1. Step 1 Download the USBDeview zip file.
    Here's how:
    • Go to www.nirsoft.net/utils/usb_devices_view.html in a web browser.
    • Scroll down to the “Download USBDeview” links (Download USBDeview and Download USBDeview for x64 systems).
    • Click the link that pertains to your version of Windows.
    • If the download does not begin automatically, click Save File.
  2. Step 2 Unzip the downloaded file.
    You'll find it in your default downloads folder.
    • To unzip the file, right-click it, select Extract all…, and click Extract. A window containing the unzipped files will appear.
  3. Step 3 Double-click USBDeview.
    This runs the USBDeview program.
    • If prompted to do so, click Yes to continue.
  4. Step 4 Click the USB drive you want to test.
    You may have to scroll down the list to find it. Just click the drive once to select it.
    • To determine which of the devices is your USB drive, look for a device with the "device type" set to "Mass storage."
    • Mass storage devices will also have serial numbers.[3]
  5. Step 5 Click the File menu and select Speed Test.
    It’s near the bottom of the menu.[4]
  6. Step 6 Select the drive letter if needed.
    If it's not already selected, use the "Drive Letter" drop-down menu to select the letter assigned to your USB drive.
  7. Step 7 Click Start Test.
    USBDeview will now check the read and write speeds for this drive. The results will appear next to “Write Speed” and “Read Speed.”
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Section 3 of 4:

Using Blackmagic Disk Speed Test for Mac

  1. Step 1 Install Blackmagic Disk Speed Test from the App Store.
    Open the App Store on your Mac and search for blackmagic disk speed test. Click Blackmagic Disk Speed Test, click GET, and follow the on-screen instructions to install it.
    • Older versions of Blackmagic Disk Speed Test didn't work for testing the speed of a USB SSD drive, but a recent update has fixed the problem.
    • If you run into trouble with Blackmagic, try using AmorphousDiskMark instead. Both tools are 100% free.
  2. Step 2 Open Blackmagic Disk Speed Test and click the gear icon.
    You'll see the gear between the two meters at the center of the app.[5]
  3. Step 3 Click Select Target Drive….
    This opens a Finder window.[6]
  4. Step 4 Select your USB drive and click Open.
    You will see your drive in the left column. Once you click Open, you'll return to Blackmagic Disk Speed Test.
  5. Step 5 Click Speed Test Start.
    The test will begin. Once the test is finished, the read and write speeds will appear at the bottom of each meter, with a more detailed breakdown in the "How fast?" column.[7]
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Section 4 of 4:

Finding USB Port Speed

  1. Step 1 Windows
    If you're not sure whether your USB ports are 3.2, 2.0, or something else, you can check in Device Manager. Here's how:[8]
    • Right-click the Start menu and select Device Manager.
    • Expand the "Universal Serial Bus Controllers" menu.
    • If you see "eXtensible Host Controller" on a USB port, that port supports USB 3.0 or higher. The exact version will appear beside it.
    • If you see "Enhanced Host Controller Interface (EHCI)" on a port, it's a USB 2.0 port.
  2. Step 2 Mac
    To determine whether the USB ports on your Mac are 3.2, 3.0, or a different version:[9]
    • Click the Apple menu and select System Settings.
    • Click General in the sidebar.
    • Click About.
    • Click System Report. It’s at the bottom of the menu.
    • Click the USB tab. You might need to expand the Hardware section in the left menu panel to see it.
    • Each USB port and its version will be displayed in the right panel.[10]
  3. Step 3 Understand USB transfer speeds
    The USB port version determines the transfer speed. Transfer speeds should be similar to the speed here as long as the USB device and cable support the same USB version as the port it's plugged into.[11]
    • USB 4.0 (USB-C): 3750 MB/s to 5000 MB/s
    • USB 3.2 Gen 2x2: 2000 MB/s to 2500 MB/s
    • USB 3.2 Gen 2: 900 MB/s to 1250 MB/s
    • USB 3.2 Gen 1: 400 MB/s to 625 MB/s
    • USB 2.0: 30 MB/s to 60 MB/s
    • USB 1.1: 1.0 MB/s to 1.5 MB/s
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References

  1. ↑ https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-server-2012-r2-and-2012/cc742157(v=ws.11)
  2. ↑ https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-server-2012-r2-and-2012/cc771080(v=ws.11)
  3. ↑ https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/usb_devices_view.html
  4. ↑ https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/usb_devices_view.html
  5. ↑ https://youtu.be/1J6tDyqzc2g?si=CLmcFmjzyc-Yk1tU&t=85
  6. ↑ https://youtu.be/1J6tDyqzc2g?si=j-cbpqKp1t9ZCC8p&t=125
  7. ↑ https://www.theverge.com/23294234/blackmagic-disk-speed-benchmark-how-to
  8. ↑ https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/usbcon/usb-faq--introductory-level
  9. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/get-system-information-about-your-mac-syspr35536/mac
  1. ↑ https://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare/articles/how-do-i-know-if-my-computer-has-usb-3-0-ports/
  2. ↑ https://support-en.sandisk.com/app/answers/detailweb/a_id/5043/~/learn-about-usb-interface-standards-and-theoretical-speeds

About This Article

Nicole Levine, MFA
Written by:
Nicole Levine, MFA
wikiHow Technology Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Nicole Levine, MFA. Nicole Levine is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. She has more than 20 years of experience creating technical documentation and leading support teams at major web hosting and software companies. Nicole also holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Portland State University and teaches composition, fiction-writing, and zine-making at various institutions. This article has been viewed 103,756 times.
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Co-authors: 6
Updated: March 3, 2026
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