# Is USB 3.0 backwards compatible?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-usb-3-0-backwards-compatible/676897>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 21, 2013, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-usb-3-0-backwards-compatible/676897 "2013-12-21T14:05:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Doughbag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Doughbag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doughbag)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-usb-3-0-backwards-compatible/676897/41 "2014-01-20T14:54:39Z")

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> [@buddha\_david](#):
>
> I’ve run into my first serious problem using 3.0 -\> 2.0 ; apparently, and this appears to be confirmed, any DVD I’ve saved on the external drive cannot be played by any software that I own, nor can I rip DVDs to the drive directly (whether the disc is one that I purchased or created myself, it makes no difference.) The former Elements drive had no issues, and granted my computer is fairly ancient with extremely outdated software, so YMMV. (The obvious workaround is to copy any movie I want to watch to the main HD itself prior to viewing it.)

Nothing to do with USB 2 or 3.

This problem might be down to the ability to access your 3TB drive by some software – depending on operating system and software.

Also, there is “no burn” in time.

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