- Can't Read External Hard Drive
- External Drive Read Only Windows
- Windows Can't Read My External Hard Drive For Mac
- Can't Recognize External Hard Drive
While transferring data I accidentally unplugged my verbatim external HD, light comes on and I can feel it spinning but it's not being recognized. I'm not getting any error message, like it's not even plugged in, both the USB plugs on the external hard drive and computer are ok. Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks in advance.
Aug 08, 2019 External hard drive cables rarely fail unless they get the same sort of abuse. However, if you have two devices that use the same type of cable, you can swap them over to see if that solves the. THIS DELETES ALL DATA A lot of people are having issues where they don't see their Hard drive or partition on their brand new Windows 10 PC, this is how to.
No matter what computer you use, Windows or Mac, accidentally unplugging an external hard drive without safely ejecting will easily cause serious problems, such as the external hard drive not recognized, lost data, corrupted file system, crashing programs or Windows not booting up.
This passage will offer you the best way to fix external hard drive not recognized after accidental unplugging on Windows and Mac.
- The solutions for Windows:
- 1. Fix corrupted external hard drive using cmd.
- 2. Reformat the corrupted external hard drive.
- 3. Try other ways.
- The solutions for Mac:
- 1. Mount external hard drive in Disk Utility.
- 2. Repair unmountable external hard drive via Disk Utility.
- 3. Reformat the unmountable external hard drive.
- 4. Try other ways.
• Definite Guide to hard drives not showing up/mounting issues
Fix external hard drive not recognized after accidental unplugging on Windows
First thing: check if the drive is visible in the Disk Management or Device Manager. If fortunately, the external hard drive is there, just follow the below steps.
Solution 1: Fix corrupted external hard drive using cmd
You can fix the corrupted hard drive using cmd like chkdsk command on Windows.
- 1. Go to the start menu, type in 'cmd' in a search bar, right click 'cmd. exe'.
- 2. Type in 'chkdsk /X /f drive letter:' or 'chkdsk drive letter: /f ', for example, 'chkdsk /X /f G:' or 'chkdsk G: /f'.
Solution 2: Reformat the corrupted external hard drive
If chkdsk fails to fix external hard drive not recognized after accidental unplugging on Windows, the last choice is to reformat the corrupted external hard drive. But reformatting will clean all data stored on the external hard drive. If you care about data on external hard drive, you'd better recover lost data from the corrupted external hard drive. Here recommend you a free data recovery software -iBoysoft Data Recovery for Windows.
iBoysoft Data Recovery for Windows is a free data recovery tool for Windows that enables you to recover lost data from external hard drive that was accidentally unplugged on Windows XP/Vista/7/8/10 as well as in Windows Server 2019/2016/2012/2008/2003.
Besides, it can also recover deleted/lost files from formatted, RAW, corrupted, inaccessible drive, recover lost data from deleted or lost partition, etc. It supports to recover lost data from external hard drive, hard drive, USB flash drive, SD card, memory card, pen drive, etc.
Step 1: Recover lost data from external hard drive that was accidentally unplugged with freeware
Here is a video guide
- 1. Download, intall and launch iBoysoft Data Recovery for Windows.
- 2. Select the corrupted external hard drive and click 'Next' button to scan all lost data.
- 3. Preview the searching results, choose files you need, and click 'Recover' to get them back.
Step 2: Reformat the corrupted external hard drive
- 1. Go to My Computer (or This PC) or Disk Management, right click the corrupted external hard drive and select 'Format' from right-click menu.
- 2. Set information about format: File system, allocation unit size, volume label, format options (The default format option is Quick Format).
- 3. Click Start, the format operation will be completed in several minutes.
Fix accidentally unplugged external hard drive not recognized on Mac
First thing: check whether external hard drive can be found in Disk Utility. When your external hard drive can show up in Disk Utility, follow the below guidance.
Solution 1: Mount external hard drive in Disk Utility
- 1. Open Disk Utility.
- 2. Right click the external hard drive from the left sidebar and then click the Mount button.
Solution 2: Repair unmountable external hard drive via Disk Utility
- 1. Launch Disk Utility.
- 2. Choose the grayed out external hard drive.
- 3. Select First Aid in the top center and click Run.
Solution 3: Reformat the unmountable external hard drive
Reformatting will erase data on external hard drive. To avoid data loss, professional data recovery software is needed.iBoysoft Data Recovery for Mac is such a professional data recovery tool.
iBoysoft Data Recovery for Mac is the best free Mac data recovery software that canrecover deleted files from emptied Mac trash, recover lost data from formatted, inaccessible, corrupted, unmountable, unreadable external hard drive, hard drive, USB flash drive, SD card, memory card, etc. It is compatible withmacOS High Sierra/10.12/10.11/10.10/10.9/10.8/10.7.
It can recover lost data from no matter what are documents, pictures, music, videos, emails. More importantly, iBoysoft Data Recovery for Mac supports file systems APFS, encrypted APFS, HFS+, HFS, FAT32 and exFAT drive.
Step 1: Recover lost data from external hard drive that was accidentally unplugged on Mac
- 1. Launch iBoysoft Data Recovery for Mac.
- 2. Select unmountable external hard drive and click 'Next' button to scan all lost data.
- 3. Preview the searching results, choose files you need, and click 'Recover' to get them back.
Step 2: Reformat the unmountable external hard drive
- 1. Launch Disk Utility.
- 2. Select the unmountable external hard drive on the left part of the window.
- 3. Click the Erase on the top of the Disk Utility window.
- 4. Complete the related information (name, format, scheme), then click Erase.
If unfortunately, your external hard drive can't be found in Disk Management/Disk Utility. Try the ways listed below:
Solution 1: Try a different USB port or USB cable
Can't Read External Hard Drive
You can change a USB cable, connect the drive to a different USB port or different computer.
Solution 2: Try data recovery software
If the external hard drive is not showing up on PC, you should use data recovery software to get files off as soon as possible.
Solution 3: Send it to a local technician for help
If you failed with the above two solutions, it is very possible that the external hard drive has some serious hardware problem, and you need to seek help from a local technician.
• Quickly Fix WD External Hard Drive Not Recognized
Mar 11, 2021 • Filed to: Answer Hard Drive Problems • Proven solutions
Have you ever met the above-described scenario before? While your Seagate, Western Digital, PS4, or Buffalo external hard drive connected to the Windows or Mac computer, the device did not show up. The situation will erode your calmness especially when you have extremely important files in the unrecognized external hard drive. How to fix external hard drive not recognized? Don't worry, this article will provide you step-by-step instructions on how to get the problem settled.
Why Does Your PC Not Recognize External Hard Drive?
You might wonders why your Windows or Mac computer does not recognize the external hard drive. And this problem can be caused by some partition issues:
- The external hard drive partition gets damaged.
- The file system is crashed.
- the drive errors occur in Windows or Mac computers.
- The USB port is dead.
You can try to connect the hard drive to another computer or connect it with other USB ports. If all the methods do not work, you can follow the article tutorial to fix the external hard drive not recognized on Windows or Mac computer, and you can recover lost data from an external hard drive with Recoverit Data Recovery.
How to Fix External Hard Drive Not Recognized on Windows?
If you want to solve your external hard drive not recognized on Windows 7, Windows 10 efficiently, it is advised that you conduct a problem diagnosis. Only when you know the specific reason why your external hard drive not showing up, can you settle it case by case. If you are not sure of the cause, just follow the guide to eliminate the causes one by one and get the issue done.
Step 1 Make Sure Your USB Port Is Dead or Not
You might be plugging in the USB cable in a dead USB port. Unplug your external hard drive and plugin it into another USB port. Now, see if it is present there in the My Computer window. If not, follow step 2.
Step 2 Find Your External Hard Drive Partition in Disk Management Windows
Now, look for the external drive in the Disk Management window. To begin with, press Windows+R to arouse the Run interface. Type diskmgmt. msc to open the Disk Management window, where you can find your drive even if it is not recognized because of no partition. If you cannot find the drive in the Disk Management window then you can go for step 3.
Step 3 Check It Is Computer or Hard Drive Default
By plugging in another USB port or finding the hard drive in the Disk Management interface, still, you cannot get the issue settled. Then there might be any problem with your Windows computer. Connect it to another computer, and follow step 1 to step 3 to check the external drive is recognized or not. If the drive still not shows up on another Windows computer, there must be something wrong with the drive, otherwise follow step 4.
Step 4 Find out The Problematic Hard Drive
To further diagnose a driver problem, press Windows+R and type 'devmgmt.msc' to expand Disk Drives. Look for a device having a yellow exclamation mark, which indicates a problematic hard driver. Now, right-click on the problematic device and read the error message after selecting properties. This issue can resolve in the following two ways:
- Click on the update driver button for installing updated drivers.
- Uninstall the driver and restart your computer. After restarting, the Windows will automatically reinstall and reconfigure the driver.
Now, plug in the external hard drive again or follow step 5 if the drive is still not recognized.
Step 5 Does Partition or Format Cause Hard Drive not Show Up?
Partitioning and formatting can also lead to the external not recognized issue. Partitioning can be fixed through Windows Disk Management tools. To create a new partition, just click the Unallocated Space and select New Simple Volume. You can create a new partition by following onscreen instructions.
Sometimes, your hard drive is formatted by the ext4 file system of Linux, NTFS file system, HFS Plus file system, or FAT32 file system, which is not recognized by your Windows. You can reformat the external hard drive through Windows to solve the issue. For this purpose, right-click on the partition, select Format, and then select the file system. Please kindly get noted! it is important and necessary you backup all your files on other systems before proceeding with 'format instruction', otherwise all your files will be wiped.
How to Fix External Hard Drive Not Recognized on Mac
Mac computer also detects an external drive automatically. If it doesn't, follow these steps:
External Drive Read Only Windows
Step 1 Look for Your External Hard Drive in 'Finder' Interface
First of all, click on File, and then press the New Finder window. Now, look for the hard drive below the Remote Disk.
Step 2 Make Sure the External Hard Drive Is Properly Connected to Mac
If the external drive is not there, make sure that the USB cable is properly plugged in. It is advised you can change another USB port to have a try.
Step 3 Open 'Disk Utility' to Mount The External Hard Drive on Mac
Sometimes, the drive is connected but not mounted. To mount a drive, open Disk Utility and look for the external hard drive in the list. If it is there, click on the Mounting button. Then open a Finder window to see if the drive is mounted or not.
Step 4 Ensure Enough Power for The Drive
If you still cannot find it in the Finder, it is supposed that the drive does not enough power. A single USB port can only provide 5V. In that case, use a USB cable with two USB connections. One is for the external hard drive and the other is for Mac. Therefore, It can supply the power required by the external hard drive.
These steps for fixing an external hard drive not recognized on Windows and Mac are suitable for external hard drives of all capacities and manufacturers. And for your convenience, here also attaches the Wondershare Recoverit tutorial on how to fix the external hard drive not showing up. However, if still the issue is not resolved, you can avail of professional help.
Video Tutorial on How to Fix External Hard Drive Not Showing Up
You can explore more from Wondershare Video Community.
A Professional External Hard Drive Data Recovery Software
- The external hard drive partition gets damaged.
- The file system is crashed.
- the drive errors occur in Windows or Mac computers.
- The USB port is dead.
You can try to connect the hard drive to another computer or connect it with other USB ports. If all the methods do not work, you can follow the article tutorial to fix the external hard drive not recognized on Windows or Mac computer, and you can recover lost data from an external hard drive with Recoverit Data Recovery.
How to Fix External Hard Drive Not Recognized on Windows?
If you want to solve your external hard drive not recognized on Windows 7, Windows 10 efficiently, it is advised that you conduct a problem diagnosis. Only when you know the specific reason why your external hard drive not showing up, can you settle it case by case. If you are not sure of the cause, just follow the guide to eliminate the causes one by one and get the issue done.
Step 1 Make Sure Your USB Port Is Dead or Not
You might be plugging in the USB cable in a dead USB port. Unplug your external hard drive and plugin it into another USB port. Now, see if it is present there in the My Computer window. If not, follow step 2.
Step 2 Find Your External Hard Drive Partition in Disk Management Windows
Now, look for the external drive in the Disk Management window. To begin with, press Windows+R to arouse the Run interface. Type diskmgmt. msc to open the Disk Management window, where you can find your drive even if it is not recognized because of no partition. If you cannot find the drive in the Disk Management window then you can go for step 3.
Step 3 Check It Is Computer or Hard Drive Default
By plugging in another USB port or finding the hard drive in the Disk Management interface, still, you cannot get the issue settled. Then there might be any problem with your Windows computer. Connect it to another computer, and follow step 1 to step 3 to check the external drive is recognized or not. If the drive still not shows up on another Windows computer, there must be something wrong with the drive, otherwise follow step 4.
Step 4 Find out The Problematic Hard Drive
To further diagnose a driver problem, press Windows+R and type 'devmgmt.msc' to expand Disk Drives. Look for a device having a yellow exclamation mark, which indicates a problematic hard driver. Now, right-click on the problematic device and read the error message after selecting properties. This issue can resolve in the following two ways:
- Click on the update driver button for installing updated drivers.
- Uninstall the driver and restart your computer. After restarting, the Windows will automatically reinstall and reconfigure the driver.
Now, plug in the external hard drive again or follow step 5 if the drive is still not recognized.
Step 5 Does Partition or Format Cause Hard Drive not Show Up?
Partitioning and formatting can also lead to the external not recognized issue. Partitioning can be fixed through Windows Disk Management tools. To create a new partition, just click the Unallocated Space and select New Simple Volume. You can create a new partition by following onscreen instructions.
Sometimes, your hard drive is formatted by the ext4 file system of Linux, NTFS file system, HFS Plus file system, or FAT32 file system, which is not recognized by your Windows. You can reformat the external hard drive through Windows to solve the issue. For this purpose, right-click on the partition, select Format, and then select the file system. Please kindly get noted! it is important and necessary you backup all your files on other systems before proceeding with 'format instruction', otherwise all your files will be wiped.
How to Fix External Hard Drive Not Recognized on Mac
Mac computer also detects an external drive automatically. If it doesn't, follow these steps:
External Drive Read Only Windows
Step 1 Look for Your External Hard Drive in 'Finder' Interface
First of all, click on File, and then press the New Finder window. Now, look for the hard drive below the Remote Disk.
Step 2 Make Sure the External Hard Drive Is Properly Connected to Mac
If the external drive is not there, make sure that the USB cable is properly plugged in. It is advised you can change another USB port to have a try.
Step 3 Open 'Disk Utility' to Mount The External Hard Drive on Mac
Sometimes, the drive is connected but not mounted. To mount a drive, open Disk Utility and look for the external hard drive in the list. If it is there, click on the Mounting button. Then open a Finder window to see if the drive is mounted or not.
Step 4 Ensure Enough Power for The Drive
If you still cannot find it in the Finder, it is supposed that the drive does not enough power. A single USB port can only provide 5V. In that case, use a USB cable with two USB connections. One is for the external hard drive and the other is for Mac. Therefore, It can supply the power required by the external hard drive.
These steps for fixing an external hard drive not recognized on Windows and Mac are suitable for external hard drives of all capacities and manufacturers. And for your convenience, here also attaches the Wondershare Recoverit tutorial on how to fix the external hard drive not showing up. However, if still the issue is not resolved, you can avail of professional help.
Video Tutorial on How to Fix External Hard Drive Not Showing Up
You can explore more from Wondershare Video Community.
A Professional External Hard Drive Data Recovery Software
After fixing the hard drive that is not recognized on Windows and Mac, you might want to get your data back. Here We introduce a professional external hard drive data recovery software - Wondershare Recoverit to you. Also, its operation steps are clearly listed to help you recover your hard drive data effectively and efficiently.
Wondershare Recoverit
It is trusted by over 5 million global users
It can save your files, photos, videos, audios, etc
It is able to recover data from any Mac or Windows system
Steps on How to Recover Data from External Hard Drive
Windows Can't Read My External Hard Drive For Mac
Download and install Recoverit Data Recovery on your computer. Launch Recoverit to your Windows or Mac computers. Then follow the next step to perform external hard drive data recovery on a Windows or Mac computer.
Step 1. Select The External Hard Drive
Can't Recognize External Hard Drive
Connect your external hard drive to the computer, select it while the disk is detected on the program.
Step 2. Scan The Hard Drive
The external hard drive recovery software will start scanning the device to search the lost files.
Step 3. Preview And Recover The Files
In minutes, all recovered files will display. You can preview photos, videos, music, word, excel, ppt, pdf, etc. Select your files and click the Recover button to restore them.
When the external hard drive gets damaged, you can try to fix it with the solution mentioned above. Also, get your data back with Wondershare Recoverit in three simple steps. Download and try it for now.
What's Wrong with Drive
- Recover Your Drive
- Fix Your Drive
- Format/Wipe Drive
- Know Your Drive