30 Must-Have Portable Apps for Your USB Drive
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Sometimes you just need to get work done – any time, any place.
That’s where your trusty USB drive comes in.
Load that baby up with a killer collection of portable apps and you’ll be an unstoppable productivity machine!
I’ve experimented with tons of apps over the years, and today I’m sharing my top 30 go-to’s.
Mozilla Firefox
I practically live in my web browser, so Firefox is always the first thing I install.
But here’s the real magic: containers.
You can isolate different browsing contexts (like “Work“, “Shopping“, “Banking“) so sites can’t track you between them.
Huge for privacy. Once you try containers, you’ll never go back.
You can also create totally separate browser profiles – bookmarks, history, extensions and all other settings, then switch between them with a click.
Download: https://portableapps.com/apps/internet/firefox_portable
Thunderbird
What good is a browser without an email client?
Thunderbird Portable lets you take your email on the road.
It stores all your accounts, contacts, and messages on your USB drive, so you can stay on top of your inbox no matter where you are.
Plus, it’s got great junk mail filters to keep the spam out of your inbox, even when you’re using it on the go.
Download: https://portableapps.com/apps/internet/thunderbird_portable
LibreOffice
Microsoft Office is great and all, but I don’t always have a license handy on every computer I use.
That’s where LibreOffice Portable comes in clutch.
This full-featured office suite has everything – word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and more.
The interface is refreshingly simple and it’s got great compatibility with MS Office formats.
Download: https://www.libreoffice.org/download/portable-versions/
Notepad++
If you caught my article on Notepad tips, you might remember me gushing about Notepad++ at the end.
Well, I wasn’t kidding – If you do any kind of coding or text editing, you NEED this app.
Don’t let the name fool you, Notepad++ is waaay more than a simple notepad.
It supports syntax highlighting for dozens of programming languages, has killer find-and-replace, and even lets you run macros.
I use it for everything from jotting quick notes to editing HTML.
I honestly can’t imagine using Windows without it at this point.
Download: https://portableapps.com/apps/development/notepadpp_portable
Joplin
I’ll admit, I’m picky about my note-taking apps.
I’ve tried ’em all – Evernote, OneNote, SimpleNote, Google Keep…you name it.
And after MUCH experimentation, Joplin gets my vote.
It’s open source. Your notes are saved in Markdown format so you’ll never be locked in.
And get this – it can sync with Dropbox, OneDrive, NextCloud, or even your own WebDAV server.
Trust me, this is the note-taking setup you’ve been waiting for.
Download: https://portableapps.com/apps/office/joplin-portable
ShareX
Capturing your screen should be fast, flexible, and never make you think.
That’s ShareX and Flameshot in a nutshell.
ShareX is my top choice for its sheer power – scrolling capture, GIFs, blurring, custom workflows, it does it all.
Flameshot gets the nod for dead-simple selection-based grabs.
Both are leagues ahead of PrtScn + MS Paint!
Download: https://portableapps.com/apps/graphics_pictures/sharex-portable
Calibre
If you’ve got ebooks, you need Calibre.
This all-in-one ebook manager is tailor-made for digital bookworms.
Importing your library is a snap – just point Calibre at a folder or drag and drop.
From there you can edit metadata, convert between formats, and sync with a slew of e-readers.
Calibre really shines with its vast library management options.
Tag, sort, and search your collection to your heart’s content. Pull in book covers and metadata from a dozen sources.
Heck, you can even share your library over the web with Calibre’s built-in server.
Download: https://calibre-ebook.com/download_portable
KeePassXC
I don’t need to tell you how critical password management is these days.
But you might not know about KeePassXC – it’s hands-down the best solution I’ve found for portable password management.
The key thing is it stores your database locally, not in the cloud.
Your passwords never leave your flash drive.
That’s huge for security.
Only downside is no mobile apps, but honestly, I prefer to keep my passwords air-gapped from the internet anyway.
Download: https://keepassxc.org/download/#
VeraCrypt
Sometimes you need James Bond-level security.
Encryption so strong, you could safely stash state secrets on a subway seat.
That’s VeraCrypt.
VeraCrypt creates an encrypted volume, just like a real disk, except everything inside is scrambled with rock-solid AES encryption.
It’s like a portable safe for your most sensitive files.
I keep a VeraCrypt volume right on my USB drive for things like tax docs and personal records.
Mount it when needed, toss the files inside, and dismount.
Easy as pie and secure as Fort Knox.
Yes, the interface is a little bare-bones. And make triple sure you don’t forget that password!
But for quick, simple encryption, VeraCrypt has your back.
Download: https://portableapps.com/apps/security/veracrypt-portable
Everything
Windows Search got you down? Everything is here to save the day.
It indexes every file and folder on your drive in milliseconds. Milliseconds!
And searching? Fuggedaboutit. Everything is so fast, it feels like cheating.
Type a few letters and there’s your file.
Regular expressions, boolean operators, wildcards…it’s got more search kung fu than Google.
Best of all, Everything Portable works with network and USB drives.
Find that needle in the digital haystack, wherever it may be.
Download: https://www.voidtools.com/downloads/
Revo Uninstaller
We’ve all had that one stubborn program that just WON’T uninstall cleanly.
Orphaned files everywhere, broken registry entries, and a whole mess of leftover junk.
Revo Uninstaller is the silver bullet for killing off unwanted software.
It goes above and beyond the standard uninstall process, rooting out all the leftover junk and debris.
Download: https://www.revouninstaller.com/revo-uninstaller-free-download/
XAMPP
Back when I first started web development, XAMPP was my preferred local server setup.
It had everything I needed – Apache, MySQL, PHP – all preconfigured and ready to go.
While I’ve since switched to a custom LEMP stack, I still keep XAMPP Portable handy for quick testing or client demos.
It’s just so convenient to have a full web server in your pocket!
VSCode
If you’re a developer, VSCode is an absolute must-have.
It’s lightweight, lightning-fast, and has an enormous library of extensions to customize it for any language or framework.
The best part? It runs flawlessly as a portable app!
Here’s a pro tip – create a “data” folder next to your VSCode executable to store all your preferences and extensions.
That way everything stays nicely self-contained on your thumb drive. Check out the detailed instructions here.
No more dealing with poorly configured IDEs on random machines.
With VSCode in your pocket, you’re always ready to code.
Download: https://github.com/garethflowers/vscode-portable/releases/tag/2.0.0
HTTrack
This little gem lets you download a website from the Internet to a local directory, building recursively all directories, getting HTML, images, and other files.
It’s like having a personal mini-internet that you can take anywhere!
I’ve used it to archive old websites, grab research materials, and even clone a site before making changes.
Download: https://www.httrack.com/page/2/en/index.html
VLC Media Player
When it comes to playing any video or audio format under the sun, nothing beats VLC Media Player.
I’ve thrown everything from ancient RealMedia clips to cutting-edge 4K footage at it, and VLC handles it all without breaking a sweat.
The interface is refreshingly minimal, but dig into the menus and you’ll find a wealth of powerful features like video effects, subtitle support, and streaming.
Download: https://portableapps.com/apps/music_video/vlc_portable
7-Zip
Every geek needs a solid file compression tool in their pocket.
7-Zip is fast, powerful, and totally free.
It handles all the major formats like ZIP, GZIP, RAR, and even ISO images.
You can pack and unpack massive file collections in seconds flat.
7-Zip also beats the pants off Windows’ built-in compression.
Encryption, password protection, self-extracting archives – it’s got all the bells and whistles.
Heck, you can even use it to hack together simple installers.
Download: https://www.7-zip.org/
Bulk Rename Utility
Ever need to rename a huge batch of files?
Maybe you’ve got a folder of travel pics called IMG00001.jpg, IMG00002.jpg, etc. and you want them to have sane names like Paris01.jpg.
That’s where Bulk Rename Utility shines!
With support for regular expressions, incremental numbers, case changes, and more,
Bulk Rename Utility makes renaming hundreds of files effortless.
I don’t use it often, but when I need it, I really need it.
Download: https://www.bulkrenameutility.co.uk/Download.php
OpenRGB
Upgrading your motherboard? Swapping out some case fans?
Don’t bother with the manufacturer’s bloated RGB control software.
OpenRGB is fully open source and supports over 100 devices!
I love being able to unify all my RGB gear under one app without ever having to install anything.
Just plug in your stick and light it up!
Plus, OpenRGB has dozens of built-in effects and even lets you design your own.
Download: https://openrgb.org/
Rufus
If you only put one tool on your removable drive, make it Rufus.
This little tool makes creating bootable USBs dead simple.
It supports all the main bootable ISOs – Windows, Linux, UEFI, and more.
Just select the USB drive, choose the ISO or disk image, and Rufus handles the rest.
It can even download the right ISO for you if you don’t have one handy.
I use Rufus anytime I need to install or repair an OS.
It’s way faster and more reliable than other tools I’ve tried.
Seriously, just keep a copy of Rufus on your USB drive. You’ll thank me later.
Download: https://rufus.ie/en/
Paint.NET
Sometimes (okay, a lot of times) I just need to do some quick photo edits on the go.
Cropping, resizing, fixing red-eye – nothing too crazy.
And that’s where Paint.NET stands out.
It’s got a clean, intuitive UI that packs a surprising amount of editing power in a tiny portable package.
Layers, effects, drawing tools – all the essentials without the bloat.
Sorry Photoshop, you’re staying at home.
Download: https://portableapps.com/apps/graphics_pictures/paintdotnet-portable
ExifToolGUI
Working with photo metadata can be a real pain, especially when privacy is involved.
That’s where ExifTool GUI comes in handy.
It’s a portable front-end for the excellent ExifTool library, designed to view and edit metadata for a huge range of file types.
With ExifTool GUI, you can easily strip sensitive info like GPS coordinates from your photos and documents.
It’s perfect for sanitizing files before sharing them online.
In fact, it’s a great companion to my Things to Never Share Online guide!
Download: https://github.com/FrankBijnen/ExifToolGui
Recuva
We’ve all had that sinking feeling when we realized we accidentally deleted an important file or formatted the wrong drive.
Recuva is hands-down the best free tool I’ve found for undeleting files and recovering data.
It has an intuitive wizard interface that guides you through the process, but also offers advanced options if you want more control.
I’ve used Recuva to successfully recover photos from a corrupted SD card, Word docs from a formatted USB drive, and even emails from a PST file I thought was lost forever.
It’s like a magic “undo” button for your data!
Download: https://portableapps.com/apps/utilities/rcvportable
HWiNFO64
Need to diagnose a hardware issue on the go?
HWiNFO gives you insanely detailed info on every aspect of a PC’s hardware and sensors.
From CPU clocks to GPU temps to fan speeds, HWiNFO lays out every statistic you could possibly want, and then some!
I always keep a portable copy on hand for those inevitable tech support calls from family and friends.
Download: https://www.hwinfo.com/download/
HWMonitor
For a more real-time view of system performance, nothing beats HWMonitor.
This awesome app displays live readings from all your hardware sensors in one convenient window.
I love being able to see at a glance if a system is thermally throttling, or if a wonky hard drive is on its last legs.
The customizable interface lets you track just the stats you care about, perfect for monitoring during gaming sessions or benchmark runs.
Download: https://www.cpuid.com/softwares/hwmonitor.html
CrystalDiskInfo
SSDs are awesome, but they don’t last forever.
CrystalDiskInfo is like a crystal ball for your drives’ health.
It serves up in-depth intel on things like power-on hours, reallocated sectors, and estimated remaining life.
It color-codes the info too – if you see caution or bad attributes in yellow or red, take notice!
I run this regularly on all my PCs to make sure the storage is shipshape.
Catching a failing drive early can save you from catastrophic data loss. Don’t wait till it’s too late!
Download: https://portableapps.com/apps/utilities/crystaldiskinfo_portable
CrystalDiskMark
CrystalDiskMark is the perfect companion to CrystalDiskInfo.
While Info tells you all about a drive’s health and specs,
Mark measures its actual performance with detailed speed tests.
It can benchmark both sequential read/write speeds (for stuff like copying big files) and random read/write (for everyday tasks like booting up and launching apps).
I find it super handy for comparing different drives, troubleshooting ones that feel sluggish, and verifying that a new SSD is performing as advertised.
Just run a quick test with CrystalDiskMark and you’ll know exactly what kind of speeds you’re getting. No more guesswork!
Download: https://portableapps.com/apps/utilities/crystaldiskmark_portable
GPU-Z
Got graphics card questions? GPU-Z has answers.
GPU-Z is a treasure trove of info about your graphics card.
Clock speeds, memory type and size, driver version, BIOS version… it’s all there!
I also appreciate that it shows your GPU’s current temperature and fan speed right in the main window.
One super useful feature is the ability to save your GPU’s BIOS to a file.
This can be a godsend if you need to reflash a borked BIOS update.
Download: https://portableapps.com/apps/utilities/gpu-z-portable
Speccy
Think of Speccy as a friendlier, more streamlined version of HWiNFO64.
It gathers all the key specs about a system – CPU, RAM, motherboard, the works – and presents them in an easy-to-read layout.
Whenever a non-techy friend asks me for help with their slow PC, Speccy is the first thing I reach for.
Within minutes, I have a complete overview of what I’m dealing with.
Priceless for those unofficial tech support gigs!
Download: https://portableapps.com/apps/utilities/specportable
Process Explorer
Windows Task Manager is fine for basic tasks, but when you need more power, Process Explorer is the way to go.
It gives you insanely detailed info about every process running on your system, including which files and DLLs they’re using.
It’s an invaluable tool for tracking down performance issues or identifying suspicious programs.
Download: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/process-explorer
Angry IP Scanner
For any network admin, Angry IP is a must-have.
This lightning-fast IP scanner lets you quickly map out any network.
I use it all the time to inventory new networks. Within seconds I can see every device, pinpoint problems, and detect unauthorized access.
It even scans ports to identify services and potential vulnerabilities.
What I love most is that Angry IP works without installation. Plug in the USB stick, fire it up, and you’re ready to scan.
It’s a huge time-saver for any network troubleshooting task.
Download: https://angryip.org/download/#windows
Fire Up That USB Drive!
So there you have it, folks. 30 ridiculously handy portable apps that no self-respecting techie should be without.
Did you discover any new tools to add to your USB arsenal?
And hey, if you found this useful, give it a share, would ya? Your friends will thank you.
Where can I find and download these portable apps?
Hi Jay, Apologies for the inconvenience, the article has been updated with the necessary links. Thank You !