Reference number: CH001027

Do airport X-rays damage flash media, floppy diskettes, or laptop computers?

Question:

Do airport X-rays damage flash media, floppy diskettes, or laptop computers?

Answer:

Many users who travel or plan on traveling may be concerned about their laptop computers or the media holding their important data getting damaged or erased when putting them through an X-ray machine at an airport. X-ray machines emit an electromagnetic energy, which is not magnetic and does not damage or destroy electrical equipment or magnetic sensitive data. Below is additional information about each of the common concerns relating to computers and X-ray machines.

Note: This document contains information about X-ray machines. Taking a laptop, hard disk drive, flash media, or other magnetic sensitive device through a metal detector can cause damage. In addition to metal detectors if your laptop is improperly handled while traveling it too can cause damage. We always recommend users carry their laptops on the plane with them.

CD, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD, DVD+R, etc

All types of optical discs are not affected by X-rays and will not be damaged or erased when sent through an X-ray machine.

Computer, Laptop, or PDA

Computers, Laptops, and PDA's and the components within them are not sensitive to X-rays and will not be damaged when sent through an X-ray machine.

Flash media (storage cards for digital cameras)

Unlike traditional film that can be damaged by X-rays the flash cards used to store the pictures created by your digital camera are not sensitive to light and will not be damaged when going through an X-ray.

Floppy diskettes

Floppy diskettes are sensitive to magnetic charges, taking them or a computer with them through an X-ray will not damage the drive.

Hard disk drives (external hard drives)

Hard disk drives are sensitive to magnetic charges, taking a hard disk drive or computer with a hard disk drive through an X-ray will not damage the drive.

MP3 players, cell phones, other electronics

Like a laptop computer MP3 players, cell phones and other electronics are not affected by X-rays unless otherwise stated by the hardware manufacturer.

Additional information:

• See our X-ray definition for additional information about this term and related links.