Fix External Hard Drive Not Showing Up on Mac

If your external hard drive is not appearing on your Mac, it can be frustrating and worrisome, especially if you have important data stored on it. However, in most cases, this issue can be resolved with a few simple steps. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you get your external hard drive recognized by your Mac.

Check the Connection and Hardware

  • Ensure the drive is properly plugged in: Make sure the external hard drive is connected to your Mac using a correct and undamaged cable. If the cable is faulty, try using a different one.
  • Check the USB ports: If the drive is connected through a USB port, try using a different port on your Mac to rule out any issues with the current port.

Adjust Finder Settings

  • Go to Finder Preferences: Open the Finder and select Finder > Settings from the menu.
  • Enable External Disks: Under the General tab, ensure that the External disks option is checked. This will make the external drive visible on your desktop.
  • Check Sidebar Settings: In the Sidebar tab, make sure External disks is selected under the Locations section. This ensures the drive appears in the Finder sidebar.

Restart Your Mac

  • Restart to Clear Temporary Glitches: Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve the issue. Unplug your external drive, restart your Mac, and then reconnect the drive after the Mac has booted up.

Use Disk Utility to Mount the Drive

  • Open Disk Utility: You can find Disk Utility in Applications > Utilities or by using Spotlight to search for it.
  • Select the External Drive: In Disk Utility, locate your external drive in the sidebar and select it.
  • Mount the Drive: Click the Mount button at the top of the Disk Utility window to manually mount the drive. If the drive is visible but not mounted, this step should make it accessible.
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Run First Aid on the Drive

  • Open Disk Utility Again: If mounting the drive doesn’t work, open Disk Utility and select your external drive.
  • Run First Aid: Click on the First Aid tab and then click Run to start the diagnostics and repair process. This tool can fix a range of issues related to file system problems.

Reset NVRAM (For Intel-Based Macs)

  • Reset NVRAM: If you are using an Intel-based Mac, resetting the NVRAM can help resolve issues related to external drive recognition. Shut down your Mac, then press the power button and immediately hold down Option + Command + P + R for at least 20 seconds. Release the keys when you hear the second startup chime.

Force Connect the Drive

  • Force Mounting: If the drive is still not recognized, try force-mounting it. Open Disk Utility, select the drive, and click Mount. If this doesn’t work, you can also try unmounting and then remounting the drive.

Check and Repair Disk Formatting

  • Check Disk Format: Ensure the external drive is formatted correctly for your Mac. If the drive is not readable, you may need to reformat it using Disk Utility. Go to Disk Utility, select the drive, and click Erase. Choose the correct format (APFS for macOS) and confirm the erase process.

Additional Troubleshooting Steps

  • Disconnect and Reconnect: Sometimes, simply disconnecting all external devices, waiting a few seconds, and then reconnecting them can resolve the issue.
  • Reset SMC: For desktop Macs, resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) can also help. Shut down your Mac, unplug the power cord, wait 15 seconds, plug it back in, and then press the power button.
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By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the issue of your external hard drive not showing up on your Mac. Remember to always back up your data to avoid any potential losses.