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WD My Passport vs WD Elements Portable 2TB: Which Fits Your Backup Routine?

The choice is about backup/security setup and fit in a measured case, not proven transfer speed. My Passport is the documented choice for WD backup, password and hardware-encryption tools. WD lists its 2TB drive footprint as shorter and narrower; check the dimensions of the specific offer/unit against your sleeve or compartment before relying on that difference.

Published by Pickoryx · Published 2026-10-04

Source checked 2026-10-04 08:55 UTC

Products compared

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The buying question

Do you want WD’s documented backup/security tools, or is basic storage enough—and does the listed length or width affect fit in your actual sleeve or compartment?

My Passport documents WD backup software, password protection and hardware encryption; Elements is described as plug-and-play storage. WD's published 2TB drive footprints list My Passport as shorter and narrower, which may matter only for a measured sleeve or compartment.

Quick verdict

Choose WD My Passport 2TB Portable Hard Drive (WDBYVG0020BBK-WESN) if

  • You want WD’s included Acronis backup software and the documented My Passport password-protection/hardware-encryption workflow.
  • WD's published My Passport drive footprint fits a sleeve or compartment that you have measured.
View WD My Passport 2TB Portable Hard Drive (WDBYVG0020BBK-WESN) on AmazonPaid link
When to skip: Skip both if you require a portable SSD rather than a hard drive.
When the recommendation changes
  • Measure the usable sleeve or compartment length and width. WD's published drive footprints list My Passport at 107.2 × 75.0 mm and Elements at 110.5 × 82.0 mm; actual fit depends on the specific unit and case clearance.
  • If you rely on WD-supported password protection or hardware encryption, the official product and support records make My Passport the documented fit; do not assume third-party security tools are unavailable for Elements.

The differences that matter

Backup Security And Software Setup

WD My Passport 2TB Portable Hard Drive (WDBYVG0020BBK-WESN)

Exact Black 2TB SKU WDBYVG0020BBK-WESN: WD lists included Acronis True Image for WD backup software, password protection and hardware encryption; download/installation and possible account registration apply. WD’s matrix lists My Passport with hardware encryption and WD Security password protection.[1, 3]

WD Elements Portable 2TB External Hard Drive (WDBU6Y0020BBK-WESN)

Exact Black 2TB SKU WDBU6Y0020BBK-WESN: WD describes Elements Portable as plug-and-play expandability. WD’s matrix lists Elements Portable USB 3.0 without hardware encryption/password protection, and the WDBU6Y model prefix is listed as unsupported by WD Security.[2, 3, 4]

What this changes: Choose according to whether you want WD’s documented backup/security setup. This only describes WD-supported features; it does not rule out other backup or security software on Elements.[1, 2, 3, 4]

The better fit depends on your priorities

Drive Dimensions And Carry Fit

WD My Passport 2TB Portable Hard Drive (WDBYVG0020BBK-WESN)

WD's published 2TB My Passport drive footprint: 107.2 mm long × 75.0 mm wide. Verify the dimensions of the specific offer/unit if clearance is tight.[1]

WD Elements Portable 2TB External Hard Drive (WDBU6Y0020BBK-WESN)

WD's published 2TB Elements drive footprint: 110.5 mm long × 82.0 mm wide. Verify the dimensions of the specific offer/unit if clearance is tight.[2]

What this changes: WD lists My Passport's drive footprint as 3.3 mm shorter and 7 mm narrower. A measured sleeve or compartment may favor that listed footprint; the dimensions alone do not establish an overall portability winner. Confirm the dimensions of the specific offer/unit when clearance is tight.[1, 2]

The better fit depends on your priorities

Best for your routine

You want WD backup and drive-security setup.

Best fit: WD My Passport 2TB Portable Hard Drive (WDBYVG0020BBK-WESN)

Based on listed features, not comparative testing.

My Passport’s exact 2TB SKU is mapped to WD’s sheet listing Acronis backup software, password protection and hardware encryption; WD also lists its My Passport line as supported for both encryption and password protection.

View WD My Passport 2TB Portable Hard Drive (WDBYVG0020BBK-WESN) on AmazonPaid link

A measured sleeve or compartment has a restrictive length or width, and the My Passport footprint fits that limit.

Best fit: WD My Passport 2TB Portable Hard Drive (WDBYVG0020BBK-WESN)

Based on listed features, not comparative testing.

WD lists the My Passport drive footprint as 107.2 mm long and 75.0 mm wide, versus 110.5 mm and 82.0 mm for Elements. Compare WD's published measurements with usable clearance and confirm the specific offer/unit dimensions if the fit is tight; this is not a general portability or handling ranking.

View WD My Passport 2TB Portable Hard Drive (WDBYVG0020BBK-WESN) on AmazonPaid link

You want the Elements drive’s documented plug-and-play storage positioning and do not need My Passport’s WD backup/security workflow.

Best fit: WD Elements Portable 2TB External Hard Drive (WDBU6Y0020BBK-WESN)

Based on listed features, not comparative testing.

WD describes Elements as plug-and-play expandability. Choose it when that storage setup meets your needs and the My Passport-specific WD workflow does not matter to you.

View WD Elements Portable 2TB External Hard Drive (WDBU6Y0020BBK-WESN) on AmazonPaid link

Value and trade-offs

One or both observed offers have eligibility conditions, so no unrestricted price difference is shown.

Any price premium should be weighed against the My Passport security/software workflow or the listed length and width; no price observation is being used here.

There is not enough price history to say whether to buy now or wait; compare current checkout offers when you are ready.

Limitations

  • Manufacturer specifications do not establish comparative transfer speed, real-world backup time, durability or failure rates.
  • Carry-fit guidance uses only WD's published drive-footprint length and width, not a measurement of the particular unit in a retailer offer. If clearance is tight, verify dimensions for the exact offer/unit before buying.
  • WD’s official WD Security records describe these product lines; they do not establish whether third-party software can provide other security workflows.

Questions shoppers ask

Does My Passport need software setup?

WD says its included Acronis True Image for WD software requires download and installation; account registration may be required. Elements is described as plug-and-play expandability, but this does not determine which backup software you should use.

Which 2TB drive has the shorter and narrower listed footprint?

WD's published 2TB drive footprints list My Passport at 107.2 mm long and 75.0 mm wide, and Elements at 110.5 mm long and 82.0 mm wide. These are manufacturer-listed drive measurements, not measurements of a particular retailer offer; verify the exact unit's dimensions if case clearance is tight.

Methodology and sources

Compared the two selected US 2TB black product numbers using their manufacturer product overviews and WD support records, then translated the documented software/security setup and WD-published drive-footprint length/width into conditional buyer guidance. No height or weight comparison is used.

AI-assisted source organization and draft preparation; no hands-on testing was performed.

View 4 sources
  1. 1.Data Sheet: My Passport Portable HDD StorageWestern Digital · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-04 08:55 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • PDF p.2: specification table, 2TB length/width row; worldwide SKU table, exact Black 2TB part.: The overview maps Black 2TB SKU WDBYVG0020BBK-WESN. WD's published 2TB drive footprint is 107.2 mm long and 75.0 mm wide. The overview also lists Acronis backup software, password protection and hardware encryption; download/installation and possible registration apply.
  2. 2.Data Sheet: WD Elements PortableWestern Digital · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-04 08:55 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • PDF p.1: plug-and-play positioning; PDF p.2: 2TB length/width specification row and exact Black 2TB SKU table.: The overview maps Black 2TB SKU WDBU6Y0020BBK-WESN. WD's published 2TB drive footprint is 110.5 mm long and 82.0 mm wide, and the product is described as plug-and-play expandability. It notes reformatting may be required for non-Windows systems.
  3. 3.WD External Drive Hardware Encryption Compatibility MatrixWestern Digital Support · Official support · Source checked 2026-10-04 08:17 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Hardware Encryption Table, rows “My Passport” and “WD Elements Portable USB 3.0” (lines 41–65); note 4 clarifies password setting via WD Security (line 72); lines 32–35 distinguishes hardware encryption from password protection.: WD’s matrix lists My Passport with hardware encryption and WD Security password protection, while WD Elements Portable USB 3.0 is listed without either. WD states hardware encryption and password protection are separate. Exact selected parts are bridged through the matching product-overview SKU tables.
  4. 4.External Drives Not Supported by WD SecurityWestern Digital Support · Official support · Source checked 2026-10-04 08:17 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Unsupported Drives table: WD Elements Portable lists model prefixes WDBUZG and WDBU6Y (lines 32–45). Selected SKU begins WDBU6Y; exact 2TB part is identified in the WD Elements overview.: WD explicitly lists WDBU6Y Elements Portable drives as not supported by WD Security. The selected product’s WDBU6Y0020BBK-WESN part shares that listed model prefix; the 2TB/color match is supplied by the product overview.

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