mac external hard drive not showing up in disk utility

Whenever a device stops working properly, the device driver is one of the first things you should check. Msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic Update Device Driver and System You can run this tool automatically by executing the following command in CMD: Since the drive is at least accessible via Disk Management, we also recommend using the Hardware and Device troubleshooter before trying the solutions below. If you can’t afford to lose the data, we recommend using the Change Drive Letter and Paths option to assign a drive letter manually, as this alone can solve the problem at times. WARNING: You need to format the drive before you can use it. In this case, you can bring the drive online, initialize it, create a new volume, and then format it to resolve the issue. This happens most of the time because the drive is uninitialized.

Troubleshoot via Disk ManagementĪ lot of users have reported that the hard drive shows up in Disk Management but not in File Explorer. Additionally, you should also access the BIOS setup utility and ensure that there are no issues with the power output of the USB Port. Next, check for any bent or otherwise damaged pins and verify the integrity of the USB Ports.

If you hear a clicking sound (click of death) coming from the hard drive, the drive is likely dead. Check Physical Componentsįirst things first, check for any LEDs or sound to make sure the HDD is actually working and there’s no physical damage. If these didn’t help, you should move on to the solutions listed below.

Connect the HDD using different ports and cables to check if a faulty port or cable is the issue. Next, disconnect any unnecessary peripheral devices. This is rare, but the OS can take a few minutes to mount the drive, especially in lower-spec systems.

Regardless of whether a hardware or software issue is causing this problem, a simple restart can be enough to solve it sometimes. How to Fix External Hard Drive Not Showing Up?Īs usual, reboot your PC first. On the software end, an uninitialized drive, an unsupported file system, and outdated device and motherboard drivers are the main culprits behind this issue. This could be anything from the ports and cables to internal parts like the USB to SATA interface. The main reason why an External Hard Drive doesn’t show up is faulty components.

Mac external hard drive not showing up in disk utility