Carrying sensitive files on a flash drive usually means trusting whoever finds it. The Lexar JumpDrive Fingerprint F35 takes a different approach, putting a biometric sensor on the drive body so your files stay locked until your finger touches the pad.
This 64GB drive pairs hardware-level 256-bit AES encryption with fingerprint authentication that unlocks in under a second, and it stores up to 10 registered fingerprints for shared team access. That combination puts it in a small category of USB drives that protect data without asking you to install anything on the host machine for everyday use.
- Up to 10 fingerprint IDs allowed
- Ultra-fast recognition – Less than 1 second
- Easy set-up, no software driver needed (fingerprint registration software only compatible with Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10. Software required to create/edit accounts and adjust partition size. Regular Flash Drive use Compatible with Windows, Linux and Mac OS.)
Read speeds reach 150MB/s over USB 3.0, and the drive splits itself into a public partition and a secured private partition. That means you can hand it to someone without exposing everything on it.
Bottom Line
If you move contracts, client files, or personal records between machines, the F35 gives you real encryption without a password manager or a subscription.
Check current availability and pricing for the Lexar JumpDrive Fingerprint F35 here.
Lexar JumpDrive Fingerprint F35 Overview
At its core, this is a 64GB USB 3.0 stick with a capacitive fingerprint sensor built into the black-and-silver housing. It weighs roughly 23 grams, so it disappears in a pocket alongside keys.
The drive presents itself to your computer as three volumes: a small read-only partition holding the registration utility, a public partition anyone can browse, and an encrypted private partition that stays hidden until you authenticate.
Key specifications at a glance:
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 64GB |
| Interface | USB 3.0 Type-A |
| Read speed | Up to 150MB/s |
| Write speed | Up to 60MB/s |
| Encryption | 256-bit AES |
| Fingerprint IDs | Up to 10 |
| Warranty | Three-year limited |
Lexar backs it with a three-year limited warranty, which is standard for the brand’s flash lineup.
Fingerprint Unlocking in Under One Second
Authentication is the standout here. Press your registered finger against the sensor pad and the private partition mounts almost immediately, with recognition rated at under one second.
In practice, the reader rewards a clean, flat press. Dry skin, a partial angle, or moisture on the pad causes rejections, and several owners report falling back on the password option more often than they expected.
A practical tip: register the same finger two or three times at slightly different angles during setup. Since the drive holds 10 IDs, spending a few of them on redundant scans of your own thumb noticeably cuts down on failed reads.
The password fallback exists precisely for those moments, and it works even when the biometric hardware isn’t cooperating.
256-Bit AES File Encryption
Files placed on the private partition are encrypted with 256-bit AES, the same standard used for full-disk encryption on business laptops. Nothing on that partition is readable if the drive is lost or stolen.
The encryption runs on the drive itself, so there is no host software decrypting data in the background and no cloud account tied to your files.
What this protects against is straightforward physical loss. Anyone plugging the drive into their machine sees the public partition and the registration tool, with the private volume invisible until authentication succeeds.
Worth noting: the public partition is not encrypted, so treat it as open storage and keep anything sensitive on the secured side.
USB 3.0 Transfer Speeds and 64GB Capacity
Rated read speeds of 150MB/s put this well ahead of USB 2.0 drives, and large file copies off the drive feel quick on a USB 3.0 port. Write speeds top out at 60MB/s, which is where you notice the gap.
Dumping a 10GB video folder onto the drive takes a few minutes. Pulling that same folder back off is considerably faster.
Sixty-four gigabytes handles document archives, project files, photo libraries, and encrypted backups comfortably. If you need terabyte-scale portable storage with similar speed headroom, a SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable SSD covers different ground entirely.
Partition sizing between public and private space is adjustable through the setup utility.
Setup Requirements and Device Compatibility
Registering fingerprints requires a Windows PC. The enrollment software supports Windows XP through Windows 10, and it also handles account creation and partition resizing.
Once fingerprints are enrolled, day-to-day use works across Windows, macOS, and Linux. Mac owners can unlock and read the drive normally; they just need one-time access to a Windows machine first.
That requirement catches people off guard, and Lexar’s documentation is thin on the point. Sorting it out ahead of purchase saves a support call.
Ejecting is another quirk worth knowing: the operating system sees three volumes, so you dismount each one before pulling the drive. If you want biometric security for a desktop login rather than portable files, a dedicated USB fingerprint reader is the better tool.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Fingerprint unlock is fast and removes password typing from daily use
- Hardware 256-bit AES encryption with no subscription or cloud dependency
- Up to 10 registered IDs allows controlled sharing with collaborators
- Adjustable public and private partition sizes
- Works as a plain flash drive on Windows, macOS, and Linux after setup
- Three-year limited warranty
Cons
- Fingerprint enrollment requires a Windows machine
- Sensor can be finicky with dry or angled fingerprints
- Three separate volumes must each be ejected
- USB-A connector limits use on newer USB-C-only laptops
- 60MB/s write speed lags the read performance
What Customer Reviews Reveal
Buyer feedback is broadly positive, and the drive holds a solid rating across several hundred reviews. Owners consistently praise the speed of biometric unlock once setup is complete.
The most common complaint targets sensor reliability. Multiple reviewers describe reaching for the password option more often than they’d like, though they still rate the security and value highly.
Mac users flag the Windows-only enrollment as the biggest friction point, with at least one owner contacting Lexar directly to sort it out.
The triple-volume eject process draws repeated criticism as an awkward design choice. International reviewers in French, German, Spanish, and Portuguese report the same experience: easy configuration, fast recognition, solid build.
Who Should Buy This Secure Flash Drive
This drive suits professionals who physically carry confidential files: attorneys with case documents, consultants with client data, healthcare staff moving records between sites. The 10-ID capacity also fits small teams sharing one encrypted drive.
It makes less sense if your laptop only has USB-C ports, since you’d need a dongle for every use. Anyone without access to a Windows PC should look elsewhere too.
For general-purpose portable storage without encryption, the Lexar 64GB Dual Drive D400 offers dual-connector convenience at lower cost. More tech product reviews cover adjacent storage options.
Conclusion
The F35 delivers on its central promise: encrypted portable storage that opens with a fingertip and requires no software on the machines you plug it into. The 150MB/s read speed keeps it competitive with unencrypted drives at similar capacity.
Two caveats deserve weight before you buy. The Windows-only enrollment step is non-negotiable, and the sensor demands a deliberate, flat press to read consistently.
If those fit your setup, the security-per-dollar here is strong for a 64GB drive with hardware AES.
View the Lexar JumpDrive Fingerprint F35 on Amazon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Lexar JumpDrive Fingerprint F35 compatible with Mac computers?
Yes, the drive functions fully on macOS for reading, writing, and fingerprint unlocking. The initial fingerprint registration must be done on a Windows PC, since the enrollment utility runs only on Windows XP through 10.
How many fingerprints can the Lexar F35 store?
The drive stores up to 10 separate fingerprint IDs. You can assign these to multiple people for shared team access, or register several scans of your own finger to improve recognition reliability.
Do I need software to use the Lexar JumpDrive Fingerprint F35?
No driver installation is required for normal use. The registration tool lives on a read-only partition of the drive itself, and you only run it to enroll fingerprints, manage accounts, or resize the public and private partitions.
How fast is the Lexar JumpDrive Fingerprint F35?
Read speeds reach up to 150MB/s and write speeds up to 60MB/s over a USB 3.0 connection. Plugging it into a USB 2.0 port drops throughput substantially, so use a blue USB 3.0 port for large transfers.
Is a fingerprint USB drive more secure than a regular flash drive?
Yes. The private partition uses 256-bit AES hardware encryption and stays invisible without authentication.
A standard flash drive exposes every file to anyone who plugs it in, while a fingerprint reader adds a physical credential that can’t simply be guessed.
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