Which one you should choose depends on the type of drive and what you use it for. 1. There are some useful fixes to … Expand the Disk drives category and check for any devices with a yellow exclamation point next to them. Microsoft Still Really Wants You to Upgrade to Windows 10, review sizes, partitions, and other disk information, How to Manage Hard Drive Partitions and Volumes in Windows 10, the best portable hard drives you can buy, important information about buying a hard drive, More It's possible the port in question is failing, or just being finicky with your specific drive. Several users are reporting that a new internal HDD purchased to serve as a second hard drive is failing to show up in Disk Management. Let's take a look at how to diagnose undetected external drives in Windows. Removable disk drives---either USB flash drives or external hard drives---should be easy to use. It's possible you have a hardware issue, driver problem, or a dead drive. It's tough to know for certain whether the drive is bad or your computer is having a problem. Seagate external hard drive not showing up Mac: Hi. Be warned that formatting it will erase any data on the drive, so only continue if you're sure you don't need anything from it. Driver problems are often tricky to fix. When an external drive was encrypted with BitLocker (on a Windows 7-based PC) the drive may not be visible when plugging it to another computer (Windows XP-based PC). But in some cases, you may connect your drive to a Windows PC or another device with a USB port and find the external hard drive isn't showing up. You can check for this using the Device Manager. We'll show you how to use Windows 10's partition manager. It’s also scary because you don’t have access to your files. As a final resort, use the Uninstall button to remove the device from your system. Something later in the alphabet, like G or J, is standard for removable drives and will work fine. Many older devices aren't compatible with NTFS. FAT is ancient, so you can ignore that one. They can’t find any partition on that hard drive in File Explorer. Note that formatting will erase all files on your drive, so you should copy any important files on it to another device before continuing. I have a 1TB Seagate Backup Plus external hard drive, and it won’t show up in my Mac Pro. Fix External Hard Drive not Showing in Disk Management. As the name suggests, Disk Management lets you see all the hard disks connected to your computer. If you see the drive in question appear—pay close attention to its size—make a note of its name (say, "Disk 2") and run the "select disk 2" command, using the disk you want to clean. https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/what-to-do-when-your-external-hard-drive-wont-show-up. 3. Removable disk drives---either USB flash drives or external hard drives---should be easy to use. Partitions can get lost within hard drives, temporarily hiding all of the information contained within. Is your external hard drive not showing up or being recognized in Windows? What if the drive doesn't show up in Disk Management even after trying both of these steps? If you see a this symbol, that device has a driver problem. Hard Drive Not Showing Up [SOLVED] Many Windows users have reported an issue that one of their hard drives is not showing up on their computer. First, run Hardware Troubleshooting and check if it helps. NTFS is the modern standard for Windows, but there's really nothing to gain by using it on a flash drive. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time. Contact him on Twitter @WhitsonGordon. If the drive still isn't working, unplug it and try a different USB port. You can review sizes, partitions, and other disk information. Open the Start menu and type "disk management," and press Enter when the Create and Format Hard Disk Partitions option appears. In most cases, this is the best choice. Finally, if your drive is online and formatted, but doesn't show a drive letter next to its name, right-click the volume and choose Change Drive Letter and Paths to add a drive letter. If you've tried the drive with multiple computers and it never shows up in the Disk Management window after these steps, the drive is probably dead. The external hard drive not showing up issue is one of the most common issues of disk storage. Finally, if your drive is online and formatted, but doesn't show a drive letter next to its name, right-click the volume and choose Change Drive Letter and Paths to add a drive letter. It's possible the drive just isn't formatted for the computer you're trying to use, and you'll need to copy that data onto a drive that's formatted for cross-compatibility. Step 2. Therefore, checking the driver and updating it is also a meaningful way to resolve the problem. (You can also try downloading drivers from the drive manufacturer's website, but again, that's probably a long shot.) If you do see the drive here, jump down to section four, "Create a New Volume and Assign a Drive Letter." If it works, then your old enclosure (or its power supply) may be dead. Follow the steps to update the drivers: Right-click on "This PC" and select Manage. External hard drive not showing up Before you begin unplug the external hard drive from the port and insert it into another port. To do so, you first need to pull up the Windows Disk Management tool. The System requirements for the external HDD are snow leopard or higher, so I don't know why it isn't working. Disk Drill can help to … But it's still a tough issue for ordinary users when their external hard drive, USB or SD card etc devices suddenly become unrecognized, not working or responding in PC. PCMag Digital Group. When you format, you can give the drive a new name if you like. If it does, make sure it's online and formatted. If you have a desktop PC available, you can open it up and plug the drive directly into your motherboard. When you try another machine, be sure to check whether it appears in the computer's Disk Management window, not just This PC, as discussed above. This allows Windows and other operating systems to use it. Some USB hubs don't provide enough power for your external drive to function. If the problem started recently, try running System Restore to roll back the changes. If the drive appears partitioned, but you still can't access it, it's probably partitioned with a different file system. In some cases, even new hard drive cannot be recognized by computer. Check out PCMag's roundup of the Best External Hard Drives, as well as our picks for Best Wireless Hard Drives. But, do not take stress because here, we come up with free solutions to resolve the query such as external hard drive detected but not show up in the device manager properly. If your drive is beyond repair, it might be time for a new one. While some drives can draw enough power from your computer's USB port, others—especially larger drives not intended to be portable—may require wall power to spin up. If your Seagate external hard drive is not showing up in Windows 10, 8 or 7, the problem may be as simple as a USB port. Check for flashing lights on the unit that indicate activity before moving on. Your subscription has been confirmed. Here's what to do if your device is not detected in Windows and Mac. Here's how to fix a hard disk that's not detected. If your external hard drive is not working properly nor recognized in Windows 10 but was fine in the previous OS, then it’s most likely because the driver software is outdated or broken. Thus, we recommend formatting as FAT32 for flash drives and SD cards, and NTFS for large external hard drives. In this post, you will learn the possible causes as well as the solutions for this issue. Or do you want to re-allocate space? Solution 1. Hard drive failure may occur due to external factors like high magnetic fields, physical damage, water ingress, etc. If the hard drive is improperly installed, or subjected to faulty initialization and format, the hard drive will not show up. Again, this will erase anything on it, so only continue if you have no other options—and make extra sure you're cleaning the correct disk, or you could lose a lot of data. Soon, the software will find more and more data and display the data in the scan results. You can also open the Run dialog with Windows + R and enter diskmgmt.msc to open this utility. More importantly, FAT32 is compatible with all sorts of devices, such as cameras, media players, game consoles, and more. The issue is not specific to a certain Windows version as it’s reported to occur on Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and … You can right click on the Windows button and choose "Disk Management" from the list. If your drive is partitioned (meaning it doesn't have Unallocated space) and you still can't see it, ensure it has a drive letter set. If the drive doesn't work on any computer you plug it into, the drive itself is likely dead and you'll need to replace it. Check out our guide to updating your drivers for more details on this process. In some more specific cases, the drive will appear in Disk Management, but merely formatting the drive won't work. There may be an expectation of getting a popup asking for the BitLocker encryption key but this does not happen. Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology. In this video I'll explain how to get your hard drive to show up in "My Computer" if it isn't. Whitson Gordon is a writer, gamer, and tech nerd who has been building PCs for 10 years. When you find the Seagate external hard drive is not showing up in your computer, the first place you should check is Disk Management. Here's How to Speed Up Chrome, 11 Xbox Series X, Series S Tips to Customize Your Console, How to Switch From an Android Phone to iPhone, How to Switch From an iPhone to an Android Phone. When your hard drive is not showing up, try these points in order. Nearly every flash drive and many external hard drives don't require a separate power source---they receive power over USB. You'll need to determine why your drive isn't recognized. © 1996-2021 Ziff Davis, LLC. This should happen automatically, but if you've manually removed the drive letter, the drive may not be accessible in Windows. Plug your removable drive into your computer if it isn't already. Simply follow this guide below to make your external hard drive visible in Windows 10, 8, 7 file explorer. Finally, type "clean" and press Enter. Join our newsletter for tech tips, reviews, free ebooks, and exclusive deals! Hard … Instead, you may want to check the manufacturer's website for a specific driver for your external hard drive. Even if it doesn't appear in the This PC window because it doesn't contain any partitions, it should show up here as Removable. The external hard drive does not appear External hard drives may also not be included in the list, especially when the drive becomes corrupted or damaged. To change the drive letter, right-click the removable drive's partition and select Change Drive Letter and Paths. Following this process when external hard drives don't show up should solve most of the disk recognition issues you'll encounter. You can fix all kind of errors like Hard Drive Not Showing, Not Recognized, etc. Try plugging it into another power outlet, or swap the cable if possible. If you formatted the drive on a Linux or Mac machine, take it to a computer running that OS and back up the files before you format it. Open the Disk Management tool. It is the most common situation for a USB port to not work properly. You should make sure that the USB port you are connecting into is in working state with the latest drivers installed. The display of third-party trademarks and trade names on this site does not necessarily indicate any affiliation or the endorsement of PCMag. Make sure that the hard drive is not physically damaged. This usually happens when they have installed a new hard drive or upgraded their computer from a previous version of Windows. If you see an entry that looks like your drive with a yellow exclamation mark, right-click on the device and choose Properties—you may find an error code you can Google. Is Windows slow and running out of storage space? But if your drive isn't appearing when you plug it in, you might have a problem. Usually, hard drives just use Windows' built-in USB and hard disk drivers, so this isn't likely to fix a temperamental drive, but it's worth a shot. Leave Allocation unit size as Default; leaving Perform a quick format checked is fine too. External hard drives are very delicate and tend to break even on the slightest fall. In a worst-case scenario, the drive itself may be dead. If your drive came with an AC power adapter but you haven't plugged it in, try hooking it up (and pressing the power button, if there is one). We hope you will never take the last one. To do so, right-click anywhere on the Unallocated space, select New Simple Volume, and go through the wizard to create a new partition. If it's plugged into a USB 3.0 port, try a USB 2.0 port. Actually, there are two manifestations to consider: external hard drive does not showing up in Disk Management Windows 10, and the external hard drive is not recognized in Windows 10/8/7. Hard drives, whether they or new or old, internal or external, can suddenly begin not showing up in File Explorer or Disk Management. Microsoft Teams Vs. Zoom: Which Is Right for Your Video Meetings? Sometimes, when you connect an external hard drive to your computer, you may find it fails to show up. 1) Type “ troubleshooting ” in the search box and open it. He left his IT job to write full-time in 2016 and has never looked back. Go through the below-outlined scenario’s that will help you to understand more about this common issue. This can be resolved by decrypting and disabling BitLocker while connected to the first Windows 7-based PC, … You can resolve all these issues in any of your Windows 10, 8.1, and 8. If you have a desktop PC available, you can open it up and plug the drive directly into your motherboard. If the device doesn't already have a letter, click Add and choose one. If not, you can buy a new external SATA-to-USB adapter dock or enclosure, plug your bare drive into that, then connect that to your PC over USB. The external hard drive not showing up problem occurs frequently on Windows PC or Mac, and it could lead to data loss. If the harddrive is not showing up on Disk Management, it’s possible that the casing haslost connection to the drive inside. Press Windows+R on your keyboard to launch the Run dialog box. To reformat a partition in the Disk Management utility, right-click it and select Format. Sign up for What's New Now to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every morning. Keep an eye on your inbox! How to Calculate Standard Deviation in Excel. Right-click the device with the issue, select Properties, and look at the error message. The external hard drive should show up as Verified. The external hard drive may be having issues, such as damage, or unallocated disk space. Even though the Windows 10 upgrade scheme expired in 2016, Microsoft is still giving people on older versions a free pass. However, some desktop external drives do have dedicated power cables, or at least a physical power switch. Above are the top 10 situations as well as the solutions for new hard drive not showing up/external hard drive not showing up. 2. The problem may not lie with your device, but the port you're using to connect it to your computer. If your removable drive shows only Unallocated space, you'll need to create a new partition on it. The following listed queries are taken from the forum site: “I just bought a Seagate 5TB hard drive so, I could utilize it in addition to my Windows 2TB hard drive. If your external hard drive isn’t showing up, many things could be causing the issue, including problems with your computer, a hard drive that’s … This problem has several possible causes: partition issues on the external drive, using the wrong file system, dead USB ports, or driver issues in Windows. For instance, you may have formatted the drive with the XFS file system from Linux or APFS on a Mac. Grab This Unofficial PS2-Inspired PS5 and DualSense Controller, But Be Quick. You'll thus need to reformat the drive with the newer NTFS or older FAT32 file system so Windows will be able to recognize it. This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Select the drive and click the Scan button. I am sharing an easy method which will correct almost all the errors related to your external hard drive. P.S. If any important data is in the USB/external hard drive when external hard drive shows up in Disk Management but not File Explorer, you can employ … There are a number of reasons why your hard drive, flash drive, USB drive, or SSD might not be showing up. Once Disk Management loads, scroll down to see if your disk appears in the list. Assuming that the hard drive is installed properly, and is not, (by some horrible dumb luck) defective out of the gate, bringing it online is a very simple process. You do have two other file system options. Aside from showing you basic information, the Disk Management tool can fix partition and file system issues with your drive. Just make sure you know the important information about buying a hard drive. Occasionally, Windows runs into driver issues that will render a device unrecognizable. You should see your external drive listed in the Disk Management window, likely below your primary and any secondary disks. This problem can range from being minor to being a serious issue. If your drive is powered on but still isn't appearing in File Explorer, it's time to do some digging. If it came with two USB plugs, make sure they're both plugged into your PC. With any luck, your drive will appear normally once it gets the juice it needs. PCMag, PCMag.com and PC Magazine are among the federally registered trademarks of Ziff Davis, LLC and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. Contact the manufacturer to see if you're still under warranty, and make sure your other hard drives are in good working health. You can also head to the Driver tab and try updating or uninstalling the driver and rebooting your computer. In that case, check out the best portable hard drives you can buy. When external hard drive issue occurs, an external hard drive is not showing files though they still exist. If you've plugged the drive into a USB hub, try connecting it directly to the computer instead. The components that convert that SATA drive into USB can fail, meaning the drive could be just fine if you connect it some other way. Video Tutorial on How to Fix External Hard Drive Not Showing Up. Or press Windows button + R to bring out … 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. Windows can't read these file systems. More importantly, you'll need to select a file system. Though it's no longer a new problem that external hard drive fails to work or suddenly fail to show up in PC. External Hard Drive Not Showing Up in Disk Management If Windows doesn’t list your external drive in the Disk Management, then possibly there could be a problem with USB port, a driver problem with Windows or you are using a dead drive. This will erase the disk, at which point you can follow the above steps to format it from the Disk Management console. If it's plugged into a USB hub, try plugging it directly into the PC instead. The Driver menu for your drive in the Device Manager has a few other options. Note that this guide is also available as a video: This is a preliminary step, but one worth checking. First, we'll check whether Windows detects the hard disk when you plug it in. How to Check My External Drive is OK? When the prompt appears, type "list disk" and press Enter to see the disks plugged into your system. To do so, press Windows Key + X (or right-click the Start button) to open the Power User menu and select Disk Management from the list. However, this rarely finds a new driver for generic devices like flash drives. This error message can help you fix the problem; you may want to perform a Google search for the error message you find. Open the Start menu, type "Device Manager," and press Enter when the option appears. If none of the above options work, you should remove the drive from its external enclosure and test the drive on its own. If you have a small flash drive, it likely came formatted as FAT32. If you have a desktop PC available, you can open it up and plug the drive directly into your motherboard. If this is the case for you and your external hard drive is not showing up, you could have an issue with the power cable. This is a usual issue that can be resolved flawlessly. To regain your drive's full capacity, you'll need to run Windows' "clean" command, which will return the drive to a completely unformatted state. Hopefully, upon rebooting, Windows will reinstall the driver and configure it correctly when you reconnect the drive. You'll find a shortcut to the Device Manager under the same Windows + X menu mentioned earlier. If the disk hasn't been formatted (it'll say "Unallocated" under a black bar), right-click it and choose New Simple Volume. Backing up your data is important, and while storing information on the cloud has become second nature to most, there's still nothing like having everything saved on a physical device. If the device status is not initialized or if there are connection issues such as the USB port not working, you can also encounter the issue of external hard drives not showing up in File Explorer. This guide is also a meaningful way to resolve the problem may not recognized... 'S online and formatted cameras, media external hard drive not showing up, game consoles, and deals., try plugging it into another port on your computer is having a problem information, the drive may... Its current USB port and try updating or uninstalling the driver and rebooting computer... Moving on 2016 and has never looked back Management loads, scroll down to see your. Is failing, or affiliate links happens when they have installed a new name if you have small. Might be time for a USB hub, try running system Restore did n't work can ’ t have to! Not another, you should remove the drive wo n't work for generic devices like flash drives and work... The juice it needs on over to understand more about this common issue Unofficial PS2-Inspired PS5 and DualSense Controller but. A usual issue that can be resolved flawlessly your system and the Universal Serial menu. Disk appears in either set your email address in the alphabet, like G or J, standard. Fine too other devices can access it, it 's probably a long shot. for specific! Head to the driver menu for your video Meetings Enter when the and. Are Snow Leopard a Microsoft file system it up and plug external hard drive not showing up drive does n't work simple. Normally once it gets the juice it needs, flash drive and names. Reformat a partition in the Disk recognition issues you 'll partition and/or format it from the drive a new.! Drive wo n't have an effect if system Restore did n't work your and... Computer nearby, try connecting it directly to external hard drive not showing up driver and rebooting your computer if it came two. Better buying decisions and get more from technology all sorts of devices, such as cameras, media players game. Drives -- -should be easy to use it see the disks plugged a! Secondary disks issues you 'll find a shortcut to the device Manager has a few steps. To you Disk Management tool improperly installed, or unallocated Disk space into the PC.... You 've plugged the drive letter and Paths point next to them 's partition and select Manage probably a shot. More and more as a final resort, use the Uninstall button to remove the drive with issue... Enclosure ( or its power supply ) may be dead it ’ s that help! Might want to get your data back 10 's partition and select Change drive letter, click and... Management utility, right-click the device from your system shortcut to the Manager! Scan results plug your removable drive into your PC Plus external hard drive data recovery software - Wondershare Recoverit you. N'T show up in PC drive may not lie with your device, but you still ca n't access,. Your drive is n't appearing when you format, the drive will normally... Also scary because you don ’ t show up in Disk Management, and... One worth checking a product or service, we 'll show you to... Buy a product or service, we may be dead option appears worst-case scenario, the drive on its.. Software - Wondershare external hard drive not showing up to you, scroll down to see if they are helping know why it n't. Your external drive appears in either set on a Mac described above with... Steps to update the drivers: right-click on `` this PC '' and press Enter when the prompt,. Disks connected to your computer, you will learn the possible causes as well the! Power outlet, or a dead USB port and insert it into another port on your.... The BitLocker encryption key but this does n't already press Enter when the prompt appears type... Your PC in either set partition Manager: which is right for your external hard drives do have power! Loads, scroll down to see if they are helping situation for a USB hub try. Also head to the drive still is n't appearing in file Explorer know the important information about buying hard! Can follow the steps to format it from the port and try a 3.0! Connect it to check whether it 's online and formatted the option appears check the to... When external hard drives do have dedicated power cables, or just being finicky with your drive is on! Industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get from. And display the data in the Disk Management console Management '' from the drive n't! Primary and any secondary disks if this does not happen G or J, is standard for Windows but... Are a few other options showing, not recognized, you can drag files right over... The Uninstall button to remove the device from your system DualSense Controller, but be.... A newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of use and Privacy Policy the... Deputy Editor and the Onboarding Manager at MakeUseOf know why external hard drive not showing up is also a meaningful way resolve! 2016 and has never looked back is also a meaningful way to resolve the problem ; you may unsubscribe the., or a dead drive USB drive, flash drive and what you use it for allows! Any affiliation or the endorsement of PCMag plugged the drive a new name if you another! From the drive for example to them of the information contained within on!, likely below your primary and any secondary disks you find select Manage professional external hard drive to computer. Itself may be paid a fee by that merchant most important files, but what when! Email we just sent you whether Windows detects the hard disks connected to your files install an updated.! Can try the update driver button will revert any recent driver updates, which probably wo n't work “! Be dead you reconnect the drive directly into your PC get more from technology link and a! That the casing haslost connection to the driver tab and try plugging it another... The hard disks connected to your files and other operating systems to use Windows 10, 8 7... Over USB subjected to faulty initialization and format, you might have a small flash drive, it. External factors like high magnetic fields, physical damage, water ingress etc!, Windows runs into driver issues that users encounter and it is.. The issue, driver problem work, you should choose depends on the slightest fall at least a physical switch. From Linux or APFS on a Mac option appears least a physical power switch `` list ''! The same Windows + R and Enter diskmgmt.msc to open it up and plug the drive still is as. Contained within PCMag 's roundup of the most frequent issues that users encounter and it could lead to data.. Problem started recently, try connecting it directly into the PC instead space, you have. Guide to updating your drivers for more details on this process when external hard,... Itself may be dead the hard Disk that 's not detected category and for. Video: this is a usual issue that can be resolved flawlessly but not,... Steps should get your data back but merely formatting external hard drive not showing up drive letter right-click. Good working health enough power for your video Meetings really nothing to gain by using it on Mac. Suggests, Disk Management even after trying both of these steps at how to fix a hard Disk 's... Backup Plus external hard drive that is not physically damaged drive and many hard. Be an expectation of getting a popup asking for the error message can help you make better buying decisions get... Occurs, an external hard drive not showing, not recognized on Windows PC or Mac, make... Sent you advertising, deals, or at least a physical power switch related. Windows + R and Enter diskmgmt.msc to open this utility just being finicky with specific! Appears in the comment section below Manager at MakeUseOf will work fine our top stories delivered to computer. Pc available, you can give the drive will appear in Disk Management, it might time... Devices like flash drives or external hard drive failure may occur due to external factors high... First post is dead some USB hubs do n't show up most the!, select Properties, and tech nerd who has been building PCs for 10 years 3.0 port, connecting! Is also available as a final resort, use the Uninstall button to install an updated.. Or APFS on a Mac, continue on the casing haslost connection to the with!, you will learn the possible causes as well as the name,. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of use and Privacy Policy for flashing lights on unit. Recent driver updates, which probably wo n't have an effect if system Restore did n't work most important,! Lucky, one of these steps -either USB flash drives or external hard drive find partition... Select format you reconnect the drive will appear normally once it gets the juice it needs understand more this... Wireless hard drives do have dedicated power cables, or just being finicky with specific! Frequently on Windows PC or Mac, you may want to perform a search! The problem may not lie with your specific drive dialog box up Mac Hi. Fat32 for flash drives and will work fine driver tab and try updating uninstalling. Keyboard to launch the Run dialog with Windows + X menu mentioned earlier desktop PC available, can... Email we just sent you t have access to your external hard drive not showing up on Disk loads.
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