Where to find flash drives in Escape from Tarkov. “What’s on the Flash Drive?” quest guide and spawn spots

Every Tarkov wipe presents the same critical challenge: locating those elusive flash drives for Skier’s “What’s on the Flash Drive?” mission. This notoriously frustrating quest stands as one of the most RNG-dependent tasks in the entire game, creating a significant progression bottleneck that locks advancement with both Skier and Peacekeeper traders. Understanding its strategic importance early can dramatically improve your entire wipe experience.

Unlike many other quest items, flash drives lack guaranteed static spawn positions, forcing players to employ systematic farming approaches rather than relying on predictable locations. The randomness factor makes preparation and knowledge your most valuable assets when tackling this essential early-game objective.

Safes represent your most reliable source for flash drive acquisition, with Customs emerging as the optimal farming location due to its concentration of accessible safes and compatibility with other early-game objectives. If you’ve reached level 15 and gained flea market access, strategic key purchases can dramatically accelerate your collection progress while completing multiple quests simultaneously.

Prioritize keys that serve dual purposes: Tarcone Director’s office key, rooms 204 and 214 in three-story dorms, plus 105, 110 and 114 in two-story dorms. Many of these locations also contain items needed for other early quests, making them efficient multi-target runs. Avoid overspending on keys that don’t align with your broader progression goals.

Shoreline offers substantial safe density with 11 potential locations scattered across the map—2 in the pier building, 4 spread through cottages, 3 within the resort complex, plus single safes at weather station and gas station (though the latter may be inaccessible depending on spawn conditions). Several of these safes require specific keys, so plan your purchases accordingly.

Filing cabinets provide another viable flash drive source, with five specific drawers located throughout Customs dorms—two on the first floor of three-story building and three on the second floor of two-story structure. Jackets scattered across all maps occasionally yield flash drives, though their drop rate remains substantially lower than safes and drawers, making them supplemental rather than primary targets.

World spawns exist but present extremely low probability opportunities. Tent locations offer the most consistent world spawn points, with one positioned near Woods logging camp and two adjacent to Customs dorms. Computer USB ports occasionally generate flash drives, making Interchange’s tech stores theoretically viable, though many veteran players report not encountering them there for multiple consecutive wipes.

For players experiencing exceptionally poor RNG luck or those who’ve progressed significantly without completing this quest, hideout crafting provides a reliable alternative pathway. The flash drive crafting recipe unlocks at Intelligence Center Level 2, requiring prior upgrades to Security, Medstation, and Nutrition Unit—all at Level 3. This represents a substantial resource investment but guarantees completion once established.

Optimize your farming routes by combining flash drive searches with other quest objectives. Customs remains superior for early wipe due to its concentration of early-game tasks, while Shoreline becomes more viable once you’ve acquired the necessary keys. Time your raids to avoid high-traffic periods when competing for these contested locations.

Common mistakes include over-investing in unnecessary keys, neglecting secondary spawn locations, and failing to coordinate multiple objective completion. Advanced players should prioritize nighttime raids on weekdays when player density typically decreases, improving safe access probability.

No reproduction without permission：Game Guides » Where to find flash drives in Escape from Tarkov. “What’s on the Flash Drive?” quest guide and spawn spots Master flash drive locations and strategies to complete Skier's crucial early quest efficiently