Customer Ratings & Reviews

Used only for two weeks and became read only. I should have did a search first to see sandisk flash drives have this issue. Do not buy this garbage or anything from sandisk.

I could not get this Flash drive to work with my computer It saved documents but when I tried I tried to retrieve them they were in some kind of code. I am not happy. This item was very expensive

Got this at a great price but there's no way it's USB three

The SanDisk Ultra 256gb Flash Drive is a huge storage medium that allows for transfer and back-up of a massive amount of files quickly with minimal issues. Transfer speeds are way up there and make transferring files quick. Software pre-loaded on the flash drive allow for encryption and security of the flash drive and it's contents were it to become lost. It also has software that allows for the uploading or "backup" of contents of the flash drive to be uploaded to a SanDisk cloud account. I have too many cloud accounts as it is. Anyway, I did not try this feature but definitely use the security software. If there is a downside to this flash drive is it's physical makeup. It feels somewhat flimsy with not too thick plastic as it's shell. As this is a retractable thumb drive, meaning you push the USB connector open and closed, the longevity of this seems to be in question. With prolonged use, I'm not sure how this housing will hold up. Only time will tell. This is still a great flash drive with lots of storage at a great price and is recommended!

[ Overview ] The performance of the drive is decent, generally matching what is advertised, and fitting well with the price point. I found the ‘value-adding’ software to be quite disappointing, and not something I’d recommend using. While usage of this software is optional, and I wouldn’t usually take them into consideration when purchasing or recommending this type of product, as a Tech Insider, I’ve been asked to focus my review on this software, which includes Flashback and SecureAccess. As a result, my overall rating gives significant consideration to this software. [ Flashback ] The Flashback software and service are designed to automatically backup files that are on the flash drive, to the cloud. While it is (perhaps misleadingly) indicated that you “get Flashback with these drives”, as found on the Flashback landing page, it is important to note that what you’re actually getting is a one-year trial period of the service, after which a scaled fee is charged based on the storage capacity of the drive. While the promotional materials direct users to the Flashback landing page (sandisk.com/flashback) to create an account and download the software, I was unable to find a means of achieving either from this page. I had to go out of my way to search the web for the download page (sandisk.com/flashback/apps). Once downloaded, installation of the software was quick and simple, and directed me through the required account creation process. The software automatically detected my flash drive, at which point the automatic backups were working. The software quickly detects new files as well as file changes, and by default displays a notification that a backup is underway. This notification, thankfully, can be disabled. The flashback service site is clean and easy to navigate, allowing users to quickly find files that have been deleted (or ‘lost’), as well as share/unshare, preview, and download individual files. Sharing a file provides a URL that can be used by anyone to preview the file (for supported file types), as well as download it. While the ability to download all backed up content was included, its implementation is rather clunky, where an email is sent containing a download link/URL for the archive Both the software and service are quite basic, missing many features found in competing products/services. Noticeably lacking are file versioning, which would allow you to view/download old versions of backed up files, control over which files/folders get backed up, as well as integrated client-side encryption. Granted, you can still perform encryption independently, with either Sandisk’s own SecureAccess software or similar third-party software. Unfortunately, the Flashback software has what I consider to be a critical flaw, making it rather unwieldy to use. While the Flashback software is running, the flash drive is locked such that using the ‘safe removal’ or ejection features of Windows fails, and the Flashback software doesn’t seem to provide its own safe removal option. This means that in order to safely remove the drive, I must terminate the Flashback process. I then must remember to manually launch Flashback once I’ve re-inserted the flash drive, if I want the automatic backups to resume. [ SecureAccess ] SecureAccess is a way of storing and backing up files in encrypted form. This is basically shareware/crippleware used to promote a paid product that goes by a different name. Setup is quick and easy, and usage is fairly straightforward, if a bit clunky. The features provided are a small fraction of what can be found in free competing products. Features such as single-file containers, being able to mount a ‘vault’ (as this software calls it) as a drive, having choice of encryption algorithm used, and integration with any type of backup service (even Sandisk’s own) are all noticeably missing. [ Hardware ] The outer design of this drive isn’t great. The thin, tapered notch used for the mechanical sliding action is particularly bad, worse than those found on any other similar drive I’ve owned, including several Sandisk Cruzers that each have different slide designs. On the potentially positive side, the case has a hole that allows attachment to a keyring with reasonable ease, where-as most other USB flash drives I’ve owned are only designed for attachment to lanyards. The drive benchmarks well, backing up the advertised speeds as reasonable. These speeds are considerably faster than much cheaper drives while falling short of higher end drives that charge a premium for increased speeds (particularly write speeds), putting this drive in a comfortable middle zone. The good capacity and performance to cost ratio should serve most people well. [ Conclusion ] My experience with Sandisk’s flash media have been mostly positive; it’s a brand I trust. I find this drive’s capacity and performance at this price point to be a good value. The optional ‘value-adding’ software is not great, and I wouldn’t recommend their use. I would, however, recommend the device itself.

It does work Very slow write. I am hugely disappointed.

Do not buy this product the cruzer is way too slow fornwrite speeds. 4gb will take for ever

This storage stick just stopped working - everything I had on it got deleted. I had important data on it as well - this product is not reliable.

Somehow inadvertently got set to "read only" -- is now completely useless

difficult to download things and for things to show up

Your 15 day return SUCKS. Hope to not have to buy from BB again

Representative told me it would copy music but it will not...

This flash drive is poorl designed, very hard to push the button and slide open. Don't buy this. Sandisk should have stayed with their origional big red button design.

It keeps opening and won't stay closed I am getting back soon an will return it

Was non functioning. The desktop did not recognize the drive as a device.

I plugged this into my laptop andc2 days later my laptop stopped working completely.

App needed to use. Couldn't save anything to this type usb..

Rated at 256GB but provided approximately 10% less! Should change stated capacity to agree with what's actually available

Works fine on my computer at home but does not work on my computer at work for some reason.

This does not work with a MacBook. I wish they did!