Western Digital

WD My Book 4TB External Hard Drive Storage USB 3.0 File Backup and Storage

Name: WD My Book 4TB External Hard Drive Storage USB 3.0 File Backup and Storage
Brand: Western Digital
SKU: B008S94HXG

Status: WD My Book 4TB External Hard Drive Storage USB… (4TB hard drive): Unavailable on Amazon as of 2026-10-22 04:31 UTC. Closest in-stock match (same 4TB hard drive): Seagate Portable 4TB External Hard Drive HDD, $189.99 on Amazon as of 2026-10-22 04:13 UTC (price may vary). eBay sellers may still list this model new or used.

View Current Price — $189.99 🛒 Search eBay for this model

Bottom line: The WD My Book 4TB External Hard Drive Storage USB 3.0 File Backup and: 4 TB capacity absorbs full system images plus 4K video archives; main trade-off: desktop form factor needs AC power, so it is not travel-friendly.

Unavailable on Amazon as of 2026-10-22 04:31 UTC

As an Amazon Associate, SpecPicks earns from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure →

Currently unavailable on Amazon. Not the same product — 3 in-stock alternatives with matching specs:

Same 4TB hard drive: Seagate Portable 4TB External Hard Drive HDD — $189.99 on Amazon as of 2026-10-22 04:13 UTC (price may vary).

View Current Price — $189.99

Same 4TB hard drive: Western Digital 4TB My Book Desktop External… — $263.00 on Amazon as of 2026-10-21 12:20 UTC (price may vary).

View Current Price — $263.00

Same 4TB hard drive: WD 4TB My Passport — $179.99 on Amazon as of 2026-10-21 12:20 UTC (price may vary).

View Current Price — $179.99

Original listing (currently unavailable) → Compare to similar external storage

By Mike Perry, Founder & Editor-in-Chief · Listing data updated 2026-10-22

Mike Perry — Hardware researcher since 2014. For external drives and portable storage, synthesises manufacturer specs and independent reviews rather than first-hand lab testing. Core beat: GPU performance across gaming, rendering, and local-LLM inference. About the author →

Pros & Cons

Pros

✓ 4 TB capacity absorbs full system images plus 4K video archives
✓ Dual USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports work with legacy and modern machines
✓ WD SmartWare runs continuous automatic backup with no manual triggering
✓ Hardware encryption plus password lock protects the drive if it walks off

Cons

✗ Desktop form factor needs AC power, so it is not travel-friendly
✗ 2-year limited warranty trails the 3-5 years on many rival drives
✗ USB 3.0 caps transfer speed well below any SSD alternative
✗ SmartWare backup software is Windows-centric for mixed Mac households

Manufacturer description

The WD My Book 4TB external hard drive turns a single USB 3.0 cable into a complete desktop backup station. With up to 4 TB of capacity, this Western Digital desktop drive holds years of photo libraries, 4K video projects, game captures, and full system images without forcing you to prune what you keep. The dual USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 interface means it plugs into a current workstation at USB 3.0 speeds and still works with older machines you have not retired yet, which matters if you are moving archives off a legacy build. WD SmartWare software handles the part most people skip: it runs…

SpecPicks Verdict

SpecPicks scored WD My Book 4TB External Hard Drive Storage USB 3.0 File Backup and… using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the external storage category. Western Digital's external storage lineup sits within the broader category mid-tier; price and specs are the deciding factors over brand loyalty here. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.

Common buyer scenarios for external storage of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much can a 4TB My Book actually hold?

Up to 4 TB of usable capacity, enough for several full system images alongside large photo libraries and 4K video projects. Formatted capacity is slightly lower than the 4 TB label, as with all drives.

Will this work with my older PC that only has USB 2.0?

Yes. The My Book supports dual USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 compatibility, so it connects to older systems at USB 2.0 speeds and runs at full USB 3.0 speeds on a newer port.

Does the WD My Book back up automatically or do I have to remember?

WD SmartWare software offers automatic, continuous backup that runs in the background, plus a selective file backup mode if you prefer to choose specific folders yourself.

Can I password-protect the drive if someone takes it?

Yes. The My Book includes password protection with hardware encryption, so the contents stay locked without the password even if the drive is removed from your desk.

What warranty does Western Digital include?

A 2-year limited warranty is listed for this model. Check the product listing for current warranty terms and regional coverage before you buy.

Key Features

Up to 4 TB capacity
Dual USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 compatibility
Automatic, continuous backup or file backup option
Password protection and hardware encryption
2-year limited warranty

Full Specifications

Brand	Western Digital
Color	Black
Model Name	My Book
Form Factor	Portable
Media Speed	625 MB/s
Connectivity	USB
Model Number	WDBACW0040HBK-NESN
Built-In Media	External Hard Drive
Hard-Drive Size	4096 GB
Mfr Part Number	WDBACW0040HBK-NESN
Number of Items	1
Special Feature	Hardware Encryption
Hardware Platform	Mac, PC
Installation Type	External Hard Drive
Compatible Devices	Formatted NTFS for Windows 10, Windows 8 or Windows 7 operating system. Requires reformatting for Mac OS X
Data Transfer Rate	5000 megabits_per_second
Enclosure Material	Aluminum/Glass
Additional Features	Hardware Encryption
Hard Disk Interface	USB 1.1
Hard Disk Description	Desktop

Ready to buy?

Amazon shows no buyable offer for WD My Book 4TB External Hard Drive Storage USB… at the last check. The closest in-stock match with the same 4TB hard drive is Seagate Portable 4TB External Hard Drive HDD. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.

View Current Price — $189.99