Skip to main content
WD 4TB My Passport, Portable External Hard Drive, Red, backup software with defense against ransomware, and password protection, USB 3.1/USB 3.0 compatible - WDBPKJ0040BRD-WESN
Western Digital

Western Digital WD 4TB My Passport (WDBPKJ0040BRD-WESN)

Bottom line: The Western Digital WD 4TB My Passport ($219.95 on Amazon as of 2026-10-08): 4TB in a bus-powered pocket enclosure - no AC adapter to pack; main trade-off: spinning platter drive - far slower than an SSD and shock-sensitive.

$219.95

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

Buy on Amazon — $219.95 Compare to similar external storage

By , Founder & Editor-in-Chief · Listing data updated

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.

*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-08. Price and availability subject to change.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • ✓ 4TB in a bus-powered pocket enclosure - no AC adapter to pack
  • ✓ Hardware encryption plus password protection, not a software-only lock
  • ✓ Bundled Acronis True Image with ransomware defense for scheduled backups
  • ✓ 3-year limited warranty from Western Digital

Cons

  • ✗ Spinning platter drive - far slower than an SSD and shock-sensitive
  • ✗ USB 3.1 Gen 1 speeds cap well below USB 3.2 Gen 2 or Thunderbolt
  • ✗ Backup software is Acronis-branded and WD-locked, not a full Acronis license
  • ✗ Ships formatted for Windows - Mac users must reformat before use

Manufacturer description

The WD My Passport 4TB puts Western Digital's portable storage in a slim USB 3.1/3.0 bus-powered enclosure that fits a jacket pocket or laptop bag, with no external power brick to carry. Four terabytes is enough headroom for a full photo library, years of 4K phone footage, and a working document archive on the same drive, and the My Passport line scales up to 6TB if you need more room later. Connectivity is plug-and-play over USB 3.0 or USB 3.1 ports, so it works with current laptops and older machines alike. What separates this from a bare portable drive is the software and security layer…

Related Products

Other products in this category you may like:

SpecPicks Verdict

SpecPicks scored Western Digital WD 4TB My Passport 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

Does the WD My Passport 4TB need a separate power adapter?

No. It is bus-powered over the USB cable, drawing power from your laptop or desktop port, so the drive plus cable is everything you need to carry.

Will it work with my older laptop's USB 3.0 port?

Yes. Western Digital lists the drive as USB 3.1/USB 3.0 compatible, so it works on both current and older USB 3.0 machines.

How does the password protection actually work?

The drive pairs password protection with hardware encryption, so the encryption runs on the drive itself rather than depending on software running on your computer.

What backup software is included?

Acronis True Image for Western Digital, which handles scheduled backups and includes defense against ransomware. It is included with the drive at no extra cost.

What warranty does Western Digital provide?

A 3-year limited warranty. Check the product listing for current terms and regional coverage before you buy.

Key Features

  • Slim durable design to help take your important files with you
  • Vast capacities up to 6TB[1] to store your photos, videos, music, important documents and more
  • Back up smarter with included device management software[2] with defense against ransomware
  • Help secure your important files with password protection and hardware encryption
  • 3-year limited warranty

Full Specifications

BrandWD
ColorRed
Model NameMy Passport External Hard Drive
Unit Count1 Count
Form Factor2.5-inch
ConnectivityUSB
Model NumberWDBPKJ0040BRD-WESN
Built-In MediaMy Passport portable hard drive, Quick Start Guide, Software[2] for device management and backup with password protection, SuperSpeed USB-A cable (5Gbps)
Hard-Drive Size4 TB
Mfr Part NumberWDBPKJ0040BRD-WESN
Number of Items1
Special FeatureHardware Encryption, Portable
Hardware PlatformPC
Installation TypeExternal Hard Drive
Compatible DevicesWindows 10 or Windows 8.1 Chrome OS Requires reformatting for other operating systems.
Data Transfer Rate1 megabits_per_second
Enclosure MaterialAluminum
Additional FeaturesHardware Encryption, Portable
Hard Disk InterfaceUSB 2.0/3.0
Warranty Description3-year manufacturer's limited warranty
Full listing titleWD 4TB My Passport, Portable External Hard Drive, Red, backup software with defense against ransomware, and password protection, USB 3.1/USB 3.0 compatible - WDBPKJ0040BRD-WESN

Ready to buy?

WD 4TB My Passport, Portable External Hard Drive, Red, backup software with defense against ransomware, and password protection, USB 3.1/USB 3.0 compatible - WDBPKJ0040BRD-WESN is listed on Amazon. Price, availability, shipping and returns are set by Amazon and its sellers — check the listing for current terms. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.

Buy on Amazon — $219.95

*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-08. Price and availability subject to change.

Related External Storage

Keep exploring SpecPicks

Other buying guides

Browse the catalog

Editorial

More guides & deep dives from the SpecPicks archive

Browse all articles & guides →

More reviews from the SpecPicks archive

Browse all reviews →

Earliest SpecPicks reviews

Browse full archive →
WD 4TB My Passport, Portable External Hard Drive, Red, backup software with defense against ransomware, and password protection, USB 3.1/USB 3.0 compatible - WDBPKJ0040BRD-WESN
$219.95
View on Amazon →