<p>The simplest way to carry around the documents that you want to use
with Tails encrypted is to use the [[Persistent
Storage|persistent_storage]].</p>

<p>Such encrypted volumes, like the Persistent Storage, are not hidden.</p>

<p>An attacker in possession of the device can know that there is an encrypted
volume on it. Take into consideration that you can be forced or tricked to give
out its passphrase.</p>

You can also open *VeraCrypt* encrypted volumes in Tails. *VeraCrypt* is a disk encryption tool for Windows, macOS, and Linux. [[See our documentation about *VeraCrypt*.|veracrypt]]

Choose **Apps&nbsp;▸ Utilities&nbsp;▸ Disks** to open the *Disks* utility.

The *Disks* utility lists all the current storage devices on the left side of the screen.

1. Check that the description of the device on the right side of the screen
corresponds to your device: its brand, its size, etc.

<h2 id="formatting">Formatting the device</h2>

<div class="caution">
<p>Overwriting existing data does not erase all data on flash
memories, such as USB sticks and SSDs (Solid-State Drives).</p>

<p>See the [[limitations of file deletion|doc/encryption_and_privacy/secure_deletion#spare]].</p>

Click **Format**.

In the confirmation dialog, make sure that the device is correct.

Now the schema of the partitions in the middle of the screen shows an empty device:

1. Configure the various settings of your new partition in the
partition creation assistant:

**Partition Size**: you can create a partition on the whole device or only on part of it.

In the example below, we are creating a partition of 4.0 GB on a device of 8.1 GB.

**Volume Name**

You can give a name to the partition.
This name remains invisible until the partition is open but can help
you to identify it during use.

**Erase**

You can choose to overwrite existing data on the partition.