---
product_id: 9087380
title: "Western Digital 4TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive, USB 3.0 for plug-and-play storage - Western DigitalBWLG0040HBK-NESN"
brand: "western digital"
price: "$393.18"
currency: USD
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 9
category: "Wd"
url: https://www.desertcart.us/products/9087380-western-digital-4tb-elements-desktop-external-hard-drive-usb-3
store_origin: US
region: United States of America
---

# USB 3.0 blazing transfer 4TB massive storage Plug & play universal Western Digital 4TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive, USB 3.0 for plug-and-play storage - Western DigitalBWLG0040HBK-NESN

**Brand:** western digital
**Price:** $393.18
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Summary

> 💼 Elevate your digital workspace with storage that works as hard as you do.

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Western Digital 4TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive, USB 3.0 for plug-and-play storage - Western DigitalBWLG0040HBK-NESN by western digital
- **How much does it cost?** $393.18 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.us](https://www.desertcart.us/products/9087380-western-digital-4tb-elements-desktop-external-hard-drive-usb-3)

## Best For

- western digital enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted western digital brand quality
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Key Features

- • **Reliable WD Quality:** Built to last with quiet operation and consistent performance you can trust daily.
- • **Blazing Fast USB 3.0:** Experience rapid data transfers that keep your workflow seamless and efficient.
- • **Massive 4TB Capacity:** Store your entire digital life—photos, videos, and work files—in one sleek device.
- • **Plug-and-Play Simplicity:** No setup headaches—just connect and start backing up or accessing files instantly.
- • **Cross-Platform Compatibility:** Works effortlessly with Windows and Mac (format accordingly) for ultimate flexibility.

## Overview

The Western Digital 4TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive offers a massive 4TB capacity with fast USB 3.0 connectivity for quick file transfers. Designed for plug-and-play ease, it supports both Windows and Mac systems (formatting may be required for full compatibility). Its reliable WD build ensures quiet, consistent performance, making it the perfect storage upgrade for professionals managing large data sets or backups.

## Description

WD Elements desktop storage with USB 3.0 offers reliable, high-capacity, add-on storage, fast data transfer rates and universal connectivity with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 devices. The sleek design features up to 10TB capacity plus WD quality and reliability.Formatted NTFS and compatible with Windows 10, Windows 8.1 or Windows 7. Compatibility may vary depending on user’s hardware configuration and operating system.

Review: Massive capacity, true CMR reliability, and excellent sustained performance - The WD 20TB Elements Desktop drive is exactly what a large‑capacity external should be: simple, quiet, and built around a proper CMR hard drive that delivers consistent performance across the entire 20TB span. In an era where many high‑capacity externals quietly use SMR, it’s refreshing to see Western Digital stick to a full CMR design that maintains stable write speeds, predictable behavior, and long‑term reliability. Real‑world performance is strong for a drive of this size. Sequential transfers remain steady without the drop‑off or cache exhaustion issues common in SMR‑based units. The enclosure runs cool, the USB bridge is stable, and the drive behaves exactly as expected during large file moves, backups, and long‑duration workloads. For anyone dealing with multi‑terabyte datasets, this consistency matters far more than peak numbers. The 20TB capacity is a game‑changer. It consolidates what would normally require multiple smaller drives into a single, clean volume, making organization and backup workflows far easier. For the price — especially when purchased renewed — the cost‑per‑terabyte is outstanding. If you need a high‑capacity external that prioritizes reliability, sustained throughput, and no‑nonsense operation, the WD 20TB Elements is an easy 5‑star pick. It’s a workhorse drive with real CMR performance and the kind of long‑term stability Western Digital is known for.
Review: A Tale of 2 drives (WD 20TB Elements Desktop & WD 2TB Elements Portable) - Well, I have to edit this review to include a NEW western digital drive I recently ordered (because desertcart doesn't let you leave separate reviews for different drives made by the same company. My reviews here are for VERY different products and we should be allowed to review them separately, but... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ------------------------------------------------------------ REVIEW for the "WD Elements Portable External Hard Drive for Windows, USB 3.2 Gen 1/USB 3.0 for PC & Mac, WDBU6Y0020BBK-WESN": Anyway, the TWO terabyte WD drive I bought on January 1, 2026 for $79.99 had obvious signs of use. There was a small but noticeable 'ding' on the right side of the drive, and the CrystalDiskInfo utility software showed that the drive had been used for 3 hours. That's far more than any drive that's fresh & straight from the factory will have accrued for simple testing. I kept this drive because I needed it immediately, but I'm not happy about it having been USED and the 'ding' chipped off on the side that shows it had been dropped. Even so, it's performing wonderfully (so far) on a new Mac & an old Windows computer, but time will tell the true tale. ------------------------------------------------------------ REVIEW for the "WD 20TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive, USB 3.0 drive, WDBWLG0200HBK-NESN" I ordered the WD 20TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive in early May 2025, wiped it and re-formatted it as NTFS for Windows, and then transferred a ton of backups to it. (A little note: 20 TB drives have an *actual* capacity of 18.19 TB). This WD drive is reliable, sturdy, and a winner by every metric. It's a very quiet drive (I only ever hear a very soft & short 'brrr' when it's waking up, but then it falls silent and remains quiet for the rest of the time that it's active). My drive is on all day, yet I never hear any sounds while it's working. I actually forget that it's on until I need to search it for something! Even with my ancient PC, this WD drive had smooth transfers of up to 180 MB/sec. When that PC died and I connected the WD drive to a new mac laptop, the transfer speed was even faster. This drive has been in use every single day for almost 8 months and it's still just as quick and quiet as the first day I used it. Of course, if you format any drive as NTFS like I did, and then you use that drive with a Mac, you can only copy files FROM the drive while it's connected to the mac device, and you can't can't copy files TO the drive. I thought I'd only use this with my old windows comp and didn't forsee its overdue demise so I used the NTFS format... but since I can access those files, it's no biggie. I'm about to order another WD drive and I'll format it as ExFat so that it'll have full read & write abilities on both mac & windows. This is a great drive and if you're a dual-OS user like me, just format your drive accordingly. It's nice to be able to have the best of both worlds. :)

## Features

- Elevate your storage capabilities with easy access to photos, music, videos, and files in one reliable device
- Simplify your data backup routine with a plug-and-play hard drive
- Fast data transfer speeds so you can quickly access and share your files with ease

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| ASIN | B00ODEGWN8 |
| Best Sellers Rank | #2 in External Hard Drives |
| Brand | Western Digital |
| Color | Black |
| Customer Reviews | 4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars (27,514) |
| Date First Available | August 30, 2017 |
| Flash Memory Size | 4 |
| Hard Drive | 4 TB Portable |
| Hard Drive Interface | USB 3.0 |
| Hardware Platform | PC;Mac |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 5.3 x 1.9 x 6.5 inches |
| Item Weight | 4.8 ounces |
| Item model number | WDBWLG0040HBK-NESN |
| Manufacturer | Western Digital Technologies, Inc. |
| Number of USB 3.0 Ports | 1 |
| Operating System | PC; Mac |
| Product Dimensions | 5.3 x 1.9 x 6.5 inches |
| Series | Elements Desktop |

## Product Details

- **Brand:** Western Digital
- **Color:** Black
- **Compatible Devices:** PC, Mac
- **Connectivity Technology:** USB
- **Digital Storage Capacity:** 4 TB
- **Hard Disk Description:** Portable
- **Hard Disk Form Factor:** 3.5 Inches
- **Hard Disk Interface:** USB 3.0
- **Installation Type:** External Hard Drive
- **Special Feature:** Plug-and-Play simplicity

## Images

![Western Digital 4TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive, USB 3.0 for plug-and-play storage - Western DigitalBWLG0040HBK-NESN - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71MDGnNGWYL.jpg)
![Western Digital 4TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive, USB 3.0 for plug-and-play storage - Western DigitalBWLG0040HBK-NESN - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81WJTxJmyQL.jpg)
![Western Digital 4TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive, USB 3.0 for plug-and-play storage - Western DigitalBWLG0040HBK-NESN - Image 3](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/816Toywv3FL.jpg)
![Western Digital 4TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive, USB 3.0 for plug-and-play storage - Western DigitalBWLG0040HBK-NESN - Image 4](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91DB3u20ndL.jpg)
![Western Digital 4TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive, USB 3.0 for plug-and-play storage - Western DigitalBWLG0040HBK-NESN - Image 5](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71XOpe55h7L.jpg)

## Available Options

This product comes in different **Size, Style** options.

## Questions & Answers

**Q: Will this drive WD Elements Desktop work with my Xbox or PS4? What about my Mac or PC?**
A: Yes, however, it’s best suited for PC or Mac. For the best gaming experience, we recommend the WD_BLACK D50, which is designed for optimal compatibility with Xbox/PS5/PS4.

**Q: I'm not computer savvy, is the set-up easy?**
A: Setup is simple! Plug the drive into a USB Type-A 3.0 or 2.0 port using the included USB Type-A cable and open your device’s file manager, such as File Explorer or Finder.

**Q: Do you need a battery for the drive to work?**
A: The Elements Desktop drive is powered with the included AC adapter. There is no battery or battery replacement to worry about.

**Q: What needs to be done to format this device for mac?**
A: To easily reformat to Mac, plug in the drive, open your Mac’s Disk Utility application, and follow the steps from there. Please note, this will erase any data on the drive.

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Massive capacity, true CMR reliability, and excellent sustained performance
*by T***G on January 22, 2026*

The WD 20TB Elements Desktop drive is exactly what a large‑capacity external should be: simple, quiet, and built around a proper CMR hard drive that delivers consistent performance across the entire 20TB span. In an era where many high‑capacity externals quietly use SMR, it’s refreshing to see Western Digital stick to a full CMR design that maintains stable write speeds, predictable behavior, and long‑term reliability. Real‑world performance is strong for a drive of this size. Sequential transfers remain steady without the drop‑off or cache exhaustion issues common in SMR‑based units. The enclosure runs cool, the USB bridge is stable, and the drive behaves exactly as expected during large file moves, backups, and long‑duration workloads. For anyone dealing with multi‑terabyte datasets, this consistency matters far more than peak numbers. The 20TB capacity is a game‑changer. It consolidates what would normally require multiple smaller drives into a single, clean volume, making organization and backup workflows far easier. For the price — especially when purchased renewed — the cost‑per‑terabyte is outstanding. If you need a high‑capacity external that prioritizes reliability, sustained throughput, and no‑nonsense operation, the WD 20TB Elements is an easy 5‑star pick. It’s a workhorse drive with real CMR performance and the kind of long‑term stability Western Digital is known for.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Tale of 2 drives (WD 20TB Elements Desktop & WD 2TB Elements Portable)
*by C***D on December 30, 2025*

Well, I have to edit this review to include a NEW western digital drive I recently ordered (because amazon doesn't let you leave separate reviews for different drives made by the same company. My reviews here are for VERY different products and we should be allowed to review them separately, but... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ------------------------------------------------------------ REVIEW for the "WD Elements Portable External Hard Drive for Windows, USB 3.2 Gen 1/USB 3.0 for PC & Mac, WDBU6Y0020BBK-WESN": Anyway, the TWO terabyte WD drive I bought on January 1, 2026 for $79.99 had obvious signs of use. There was a small but noticeable 'ding' on the right side of the drive, and the CrystalDiskInfo utility software showed that the drive had been used for 3 hours. That's far more than any drive that's fresh & straight from the factory will have accrued for simple testing. I kept this drive because I needed it immediately, but I'm not happy about it having been USED and the 'ding' chipped off on the side that shows it had been dropped. Even so, it's performing wonderfully (so far) on a new Mac & an old Windows computer, but time will tell the true tale. ------------------------------------------------------------ REVIEW for the "WD 20TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive, USB 3.0 drive, WDBWLG0200HBK-NESN" I ordered the WD 20TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive in early May 2025, wiped it and re-formatted it as NTFS for Windows, and then transferred a ton of backups to it. (A little note: 20 TB drives have an *actual* capacity of 18.19 TB). This WD drive is reliable, sturdy, and a winner by every metric. It's a very quiet drive (I only ever hear a very soft & short 'brrr' when it's waking up, but then it falls silent and remains quiet for the rest of the time that it's active). My drive is on all day, yet I never hear any sounds while it's working. I actually forget that it's on until I need to search it for something! Even with my ancient PC, this WD drive had smooth transfers of up to 180 MB/sec. When that PC died and I connected the WD drive to a new mac laptop, the transfer speed was even faster. This drive has been in use every single day for almost 8 months and it's still just as quick and quiet as the first day I used it. Of course, if you format any drive as NTFS like I did, and then you use that drive with a Mac, you can only copy files FROM the drive while it's connected to the mac device, and you can't can't copy files TO the drive. I thought I'd only use this with my old windows comp and didn't forsee its overdue demise so I used the NTFS format... but since I can access those files, it's no biggie. I'm about to order another WD drive and I'll format it as ExFat so that it'll have full read & write abilities on both mac & windows. This is a great drive and if you're a dual-OS user like me, just format your drive accordingly. It's nice to be able to have the best of both worlds. :)

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Lots of space, has been quite reliable.
*by B***D on January 21, 2026*

I've been using this for a media server's storage for over a year now and it has been pretty flawless. It just sits on the floor next to my little mini-pc that runs linux and several docker containers for serving media. It's quiet for the most part and it has been on for over a year straight and has been pretty heavily used and so far no issues. 12TB is a fair amount of space for my use case and I'm quite happy with this purchase.

## Frequently Bought Together

- Western Digital 4TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive, USB 3.0 for plug-and-play storage - Western DigitalBWLG0040HBK-NESN
- Western Digital 8TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive, USB 3.0 external hard drive for plug-and-play storage - Western DigitalBWLG0080HBK-NESN, Black

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*Product available on Desertcart United States of America*
*Store origin: US*
*Last updated: 2026-03-22*