Move files to your Surface

You can easily add music, pictures, videos, and documents to your Surface using one of the following methods:

• Connect to a networked computer
• Use a USB flash drive or a memory card—microSD, microSDHC, or microSDXC cards all work with Surface.
• Surface Pro: Use Windows Easy Transfer to transfer files and settings from another PC.

Windows comes with four libraries: Documents, Music, Pictures, and Videos. It's a good idea to put your files in their corresponding libraries to make sure they show up in your apps. Plus you'll be able to see them in one place whenever you open that library. For more info on libraries, see Libraries: Frequently asked questions.

To see how much storage space you have:

1. Open the Settings charm, and tap or click Change PC settings.
2. Tap or click General.
   Scroll down to Available storage to see how much storage space you have. For more info on available storage, see Surface disk space FAQ.

Surface can access music, pictures, videos, and documents on computers that are part of a network. To see the files and folders that have been shared on your network, open the Search charm and search for File Explorer. Shared items appear under HomeGroup or Network.

Note  If you're on your home network, turn on network sharing so that Surface can see other computers on your network.

Surface Pro: For info on network file sharing, see Share files and folders on a network or a shared PC.

Surface RT: For info on network file sharing, see Share files on a home network or your Surface.

You can also move files to Surface by copying them to a USB flash drive or memory card (microSD, microSDHC, and microSDXC cards all work with Surface) and then adding the files to Surface.

Here’s how:

1. Copy files onto a USB flash drive or memory card on your other computer.
2. Insert the USB flash drive or memory card into Surface (See Surface storage options for the locations of the USB port and memory card slot).
3. Tap or click the notification that appears in the upper-right corner of the screen.
4. Tap or click Open folder to view files.
   File Explorer opens. 
5. Select the files or folders you want to add to Surface.
6. Tap or click Home, and then tap or click Copy to.
7. Select a location. For example, choose Documents if the flash drive or memory card contains documents.

For help using File Explorer (formerly called Windows Explorer), see How to work with files and folders.

Instead of moving files to Surface, you can store them in the cloud using SkyDrive. This way you can access your files from other computers or from your phone.

To learn more see SkyDrive or start the SkyDrive app on your Surface, then open the Settings charm, and tap Help.

Notes

• You need to have a Microsoft account to use SkyDrive.
• Office 2013 apps save documents to SkyDrive by default when you’re signed in with a Microsoft account.