<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-08-16</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000106040</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WESTERN DIGITAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WDC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001499694</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MORRIS JAMES D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O WESTERN DIGITAL CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>20511 LAKE FOREST DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LAKE FOREST</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92630-7741</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP &amp; GM, Client Sys Storage</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>38937</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>16.85</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-02-04</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-02-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>46863</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>19.4</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-11-08</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-11-08</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7841</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>23.46</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-09-12</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-09-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7194</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>23.78</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-09-11</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-09-11</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>19943</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>28.09</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-02-06</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-02-06</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7438</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>35.75</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-09-10</value>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-09-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>14918</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The option vested 25% one year from the grant date of February 4, 2009, and an additional 6.25% vested at the end of each three-month period through August 4, 2010.  The remaining shares subject to the option will vest at 6.25% at the end of each three-month period until fully vested on February 4, 2013.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The option vested 25% one year from the grant date of November 8, 2006, and an additional 6.25% vested at the end of each three-month period through August 8, 2010.  The remaining shares subject to the option will vest in full on November 8, 2010.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The option vested 25% one year from the grant date of September 12, 2007, and an additional 6.25% vested at the end of each three-month period through June 12, 2010.  The remaining shares subject to the option will vest at 6.25% at the end of each three-month period until fully vested on September 12, 2011.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The option vested 25% one year from the grant date of September 11, 2008, and an additional 6.25% vested at the end of each three-month period through June 11, 2010.  The remaining shares subject to the option will vest at 6.25% at the end of each three-month period until fully vested on September 11, 2012.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The option vested 25% one year from the grant date of February 6, 2008, and an additional 6.25% vested at the end of each three-month period through August 6, 2010.  The remaining shares subject to the option will vest at 6.25% at the end of each three-month period until fully vested on February 6, 2012.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">The option vests 25% on the first anniversary of the grant date and 6.25% at the end of each three-month period thereafter.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: /s/ Sandra Garcia Attorney-in-Fact  For: James D. Morris</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-08-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
