Macbook Pro Not Recognising External Hard Drive

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• Macbook Pro Not Recognizing External Hard Drive
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Sep 28, 2020 • Filed to: Answer Hard Drive Problems • Proven solutions

1. Test it with another computer, if it doesn't work with another computer then the problem is with the WD drive. Check Disk Utility (in the Applications - Utilities folder) to see if it is recognised at all, it may be possible to run 'First Aid' on the Disk to repair it.
2. Macbook Pro won't recognize my external hard drive.Help! My Macbook Pro suddenly stopped recognizing my external hard drive yesterday and I have no idea why. I've had both the Mac and the external hard drive for about a year and a half and never had any issues until now.
3. When your external storage drive turns corrupt, your Mac may not recognize the drive. You can use Disk Utility to mount and repair your unrecognized external SSD. Steps are as follows: Go to Finder Applications Utilities. Double-click Disk Utility to launch it. Select your external SSD from the left pane. Click Mount to mount your unmounted SSD.

Sounds like you? Don't worry! Whether you are working with your old external hard drive or plugging a new one, there is a possibility that the drive fails to show up. Many of us experience it one time or another. It can be due to an upgraded Window, corrupted drive, unsuccessful connection, etc. the reason can be any. This article will help you to fix Toshiba external hard drive, not working. We will also introduce you to the reasons that cause Toshiba hard disk not detected/recognized, data recovery with Recoverit, and how to use the Toshiba hard drive.

Part 1. Can You Fix an External Hard Drive?

Note- there are plenty of options you will find on internet for this issue, e.g. Safe mode unmount 2.repair ext. Hard drive in disk utility 3. I plugged it into my iMac and the hard drive never showed up in Finder. The drive does not appear in Disk Utility and the command diskutil list outputs only my system HD /dev/disk0. Even when I go to the System Profiler the drive does not appear under USB. However, when I plug the device into a MacBook the drive shows up and runs regularly.

Yes! The external hard drive that becomes unrecognizable by your computer can surely be fixed. But before learning the troubleshooting methods, let's first understand what non-working hard drive means and the reasons that make it non-working.

What does Toshiba external hard drive, not working or recognized mean?

You connect the external hard drive to your computer or laptop, and you get a message 'USB device not recognized.' When you come across such messages, you are not able to view your external hard drive on your computer. Sometimes you even hear the connection sound, but when you look it up on your computer, nothing show's up because the AutoPlay doesn't run.

Why Toshiba External Hard Drive Not Working/Recognized?

The possible reasons for Toshiba hard drive not working can be:

• Missing necessary software or hardware updates
• Corrupt file system in the external hard drive
• Virus attack
• Power failure
• Unsafe ejection
• Unreadable disk structure
• Absence of drive letter
• Outdated drivers
• Partition issues
• Dead USB port

When the drive becomes non-working or unrecognizable, what matters the most at that time is the invaluable data. The chances are high that you lose your crucial data at this moment.

Let's move on to the next part of the solutions.

Part 2. How to Fix Toshiba Drive Not Working/Recognized on PC

Is your 1TB Toshiba external hard drive not showing up on your computer? Can you withstand the loss of the crucial information saved on it? No! The hard drive can become undetectable because of numerous reasons. Fix the problem quickly with the below solutions.

1. Check The Port And Computer

When you connect your external drive through USB to the computer and fail to see it, first try these two quick fixes.

• Check If The USB Port Is Clean

The port on being filled with dust blocks the airflow, which in turn overheats the drive and make it non-workable. Check and ensure whether the ports are clean.

• Check It On Different Ports

Even after cleaning the port if it doesn't show up, try reconnecting it from different ports. See, whether the issue is resolved by it or not. If it does not solve the problem, follow the next solutions for Toshiba hard drive repair.

2. Initialize Toshiba External Hard Drive

The hard drive does not get initialized because of various reasons like MBR damage, connection problem, bad blocks, etc. Initialize it with these steps.

Step 1- Open the Disk Management and right-click on the non-initialized disk and select 'Initialize disk.'

Step 2- Select the partition style and click OK

After selecting the partition style from MBR and GPT, click on OK to continue the procedure. Wait till the process completes.

3. Change the Toshiba Drive Letter

When the corrupted file system makes the Toshiba hard drive not working, you can fix it by changing the external hard drive letter. By doing so, the drive's file system gets repaired. Before changing the drive letter Window will display the warning.

Step 1- Click on Manage, reach the 'Manage' option, by right-clicking on the 'My Computer' or 'Computer' icon.

Step 2- Select Disk Management that is located under the storage tab in the left bar.

Step 3- Select the non-accessible hard drive by looking at disk information. Right-click, to change its letter.

If you are thinking that changing the drive letter would delete your saved data on the drive, then don't worry, it won't happen. It will only repair the file system of your hard drive. If Toshiba hard drive repair fails, you can change the drive letter back to its previous one.

4. Check and Repair Toshiba Drive

Sometimes the external hard drive is not visible in Windows Explorer, but if you check it in Disk Management, it appears there. Check it with the below steps:

Step 1- Type disk management in the search bar and open it

Step 2- Right-click on unallocated space, select 'New simple volume' and click on 'next'

Step 3- Select volume size and then 'next'

Step 4- Assign drive letter and path and move to 'next' to finish formatting

Step 5- After format finishes, click on 'next' and then hit on 'finish' button

Step 6- Wait till the operation completes after a click on 'finish' in the 'new simple volume' window.

5. Run Windows Troubleshooter

There are various troubleshooters in windows. These are designed to automatically solve the problems of the computer by swiftly diagnosing them. While working on your computer, whenever you come across a problem, it would be better if you initiate to resolve it with troubleshooting. Begin Toshiba hard drive repair with Windows Troubleshooter by following the below steps:

Step 1- Find troubleshooting by typing Troubleshoot in the search bar

Step 2- Find 'Hardware and Devices'

Under the tab- Hardware, and Sound, you will get 'Find and fix other problems.' Click on 'Run the troubleshooter.' Once you select it, the troubleshooter will start looking for problematic areas of hardware and devices.

Step 3- Click Next To Fix the Issue

Wait till the detection completes and Window makes you available with the list of issues found during scanning. Click next after selecting the problem that you want to fix.

A troubleshooter is a useful tool that helps to solve the problems of the Window.

6. Update or Uninstall Drivers

If you are working with outdated drivers on your Window, then also the external hard drives become non-accessible. Update the drivers quickly with these steps:

Step 1- Open device manager and expand disk drives.

Step 2- Update Driver Software

Right-click on the Toshiba external hard drive, and from the available options, select update driver. If updates are available, it will show up, else select on uninstall. Follow the instructions as guided by the wizard to update the driver of your hard disk.

• The updated driver helps to diagnose the problem and solve it that is caused by a corrupted or outdated driver.
• If no update is available; with an uninstall device feature, you can uninstall the Toshiba external drive. Remove the drive from the system and try to reconnect it again after a minute. When the disk becomes unstable or corrupt, this can resolve the matter.
• From the properties, you can diagnose the problem a little further.

7. Reinstall USB Controllers

If your previously installed USB driver has become corrupt and is preventing the hard drive from showing up, fix it with these steps.

Step 1- Select Device Manager

Type device manager after clicking on the start button, and select it.

Step 2- Expand the Option- Universal Serial BUS Controllers

Click on the icon in front of 'Universal Serial BUS Controllers' to view its options. Look for your hard drive that must be marked with yellow exclamation.

Step 3- Update Driver Software

Update the software for the one that is marked in yellow. Right-click on it and from the given options, click on the Update driver software. Select 'Search automatically for updated driver software.' If there is no update, right-click it and select uninstall from the available options.

Step 4- Go to Action Tab

From the device manager window, go to the 'Actions' tab and select the option 'scan for hardware changes.' You can see the USB port now. Try to reconnect the hard drive to the computer through the USB port, and you will be able to see it on your computer now.

8. Enable Legacy USB Support

When the Toshiba external hard drive was not recognized by Windows 10, it can be due to Legacy USB Support Disabled. Enable it with these steps.

Step 1- Restart your computer and Enter the BIOS utility by pressing the corresponding button.

Step 2- Move to the 'Advanced' tab and select USB configuration.

Step 3- Click on Legacy USB Support and set the option to 'Enabled.'

Step 4- Exit from the page and save the respective changes.

9. Turn on USB Hub and Show All Hidden Devices

If the USB selective suspend mode is enabled on your computer, it suspends individual port without causing any effect to the other drives. The selective suspension is useful in laptops as it conserves the battery. Enable the USB hub with these steps.

Step 1- Type the power plan in the search box and select 'Choose a power plan.'

Step 2- Click on 'change plan settings' and then move to 'change advanced power settings.'

Step 3- Expand the 'USB settings' and then expand the 'USB selective suspend setting.'

Step 4- If it is enabled, click on disabled

Step 5- Click on 'Apply' and then 'OK'

If the device is still not visible go to type devmgmt.msc in the run dialogue box, open device manager, and select 'show hidden devices' by clicking on a view.

10. Check for the Windows Updates

Sometimes the older version of Windows becomes incompatible with the external hard drive and thus fails to show it up on the computer. Updating the Windows to the latest version can help resolve the matter. Do it with the following steps.

Step 1- Go to Windows Update and Check for Updates.

Write windows update in the search box and find it. Click on check for updates to view the latest version. Now, wait till it is checking for the updates.

Top 3d animation software. Step 2- If any of the updates are available, it will provide you the link. But, if it displays system is up to date, it signifies that there no updates currently for your system.

Step 3- If updates are available, click on 'download and install' to install them.

Step 4- Windows will install the updates now automatically. Once all the updates get installed, if 'restart' is scheduled, restart it when prompted to finish the update process.

Part 3. How to Fix Toshiba Drive Not Working/Recognized on Mac

If you are a Mac user and unable to see your Toshiba external drive on your MacBook, fix it with the following solutions.

Solution 1- Try fixing the problem with the basic troubleshooting steps

• If the external hard drive is not powered correctly, it will not show up on your desktop. Try connecting it to the USB hub that is externally powered.
• The USB cable that you are using might be faulty, try to connect it with the Mac by using a different USB cable
• Join the external hard drive to the computer from the various other ports of the computer.
• Rebooting Mac can also fix the issue, as it clears the Mac operating system's memory and gives it a fresh start.

These primary troubleshooting steps fix the problem mostly. If the issue persists, follow the next solutions.

Solution 2- Enable External Hard Drive on Desktop

When you connect the external hard drive to the computer, generally it shows on the desktop, Finder and Disk Utility. If you are unable to view it there, check the settings of Mac.

Step 1- Click on Finder and go to Preferences

Step 2- Under the 'General' tab, look if 'External disks' is checked or not

If it is unchecked, enable it by clicking on the box in front of it.

This will help you to show your Toshiba external hard drive on your desktop.

Solution 3- Fix in Disk Utility

Disk Utility helps you to resolve disk and disk-volume related problems on Mac. Solve it with first-aid in Disk Utility.

Step 1- Reach Disk Utilities with the path Utilities -> Disk Utility

Step 2- Select Unmounted Toshiba drive and go to First Aid

Wait until the repair and verification process completes.

Solution 4- Reset NVRAM

NVRAM is non-volatile random access memory. The memory will keep the stored data irrespective of whether the power is off or on.

Step 1- Shut down Mac and restart it. Press Command, Option, P, and R keys all together when you hear startup tune.

Step 2- Release the keys when you listen to the startup tune for the second time.

This resets the NVRAM. Check, the Toshiba hard drive should have shown up.

Solution 5- Fix it with Terminal

If the system information of your Mac recognizes the Toshiba external hard drive, but still it doesn't show up, remount the hard drive with Terminal.

Step 1- Open Terminal

Reach terminal through the path – Applications -> Utilities -> Terminal

Step 2- Open it and type diskutil list

The command makes you available with the list of all the attached drives and available volumes. It would be better to check with this command that whether the drive is connected to the computer or not.

Step 3- Look for the section /dev/disk* (external, physical)

disk* is a physical disk identifier. Here the * denotes the number that is assigned to the disk. Note it down. If the disk is partitioned, the number after the letter 's' symbolizes the partition number.

Step 4- Type diskutil info disk*

In place of * add the number that is assigned to the drive. You will get the complete information of the drive here like its size, manufacturer name, removable or unremovable, etc.

Step 5- Type diskutil eject disk *

Once the Toshiba hard drive gets established by your Mac, eject it by using Terminal, with the above command. Write the disk identifier number in place of *.

Step 6- Again type diskutil list

You need to type the command again to view whether the Toshiba hard drive is gone from the list of attached drives.

Once the drive is not visible in the list, remove it physically from your Mac to reinsert it. The drive should have mounted, and you can work on it usually.

Macbook Pro Not Reading Usb

If you are unable to execute the Terminal commands, then grant full disk access to it.

Part 4. How to Recover Data from Hard Drive After Format?

After trying the solution explained above for Toshiba hard disk repair, if at any step you find the data is lost, what will you do then? Well once the Toshiba hard drive repair is successful, you can easily recover the lost data with Recoverit data recovery software.

Taking a backup of your device before performing any repair steps is always suggested. Still, if you can't manage to take it, Recoverit data recovery software will help you.

Macbook Pro Not Recognizing External Hard Drive

Recoverit Data Recovery

With the highest recovery rate, Recoverit Data Recovery is the leading software to recover lost data. It supports more than 1000+ file formats and can easily get back deleted or lost data from storage spaces like internal and external hard drive, desktop, SD card, crashed computer, etc.

Launch Recoverit after downloading to gain access to your lost data.

Step 1- Connect the Toshiba External Hard Drive

Before beginning with the recovery procedure, connect your hard drive with the computer first. Ensure it is viewable in the drives list.

Step 2- Select the External Hard Drive

To get back the deleted data, select your hard drive from where the data is lost. After choosing the location, begin scanning by hitting the 'Start' button.

Step 3- Scan the External Hard Drive

Recoverit begins the scanning with the all-around scan. As per the size of the file, the scan takes a few minutes to hours to complete. It even enables you to pause or stop the scan anytime according to your convenience. So when the scan is running, if you find your lost data, stop the scan over there to save your time that will go in completing it.

Step 4- Preview and Recover Data

Before recovering the images found during the scan, you are allowed to view the files before. See them by clicking on them and then on the preview button. You are also made available with the information like modified date, path, name, and size of the file.

Once you preview the files, confirm after selecting the targeted files. Apple wireless keyboard replacement. Complete the procedure of recovering files by clicking on 'Recover' and save data on a different path.

It is necessary never to save the files retrieved during the scan on the same location from where you lost them initially. If you do, it will increase the chances of data being overwritten and also lead to permanent loss of data. So, always save files at a new location after recovering them.

Part 5. How Do I Use a Toshiba External Hard Drive?

Most of the Toshiba external drives are compatible with computers that have a USB port. You can use the drive to store any type of folder or files and even store backup of your computer or laptops.

• The hard drive can last for longer than its lifetime if maintained well. Keep the device free from dust to maintain proper airflow that prevents it from heating. Clean the hard drive regularly to maintain it in good working condition.
• Keep the hard drives password-protected to avoid data leakage. If you encrypt the hard drive, it will prevent any data loss or leakage even when you lose your hard drive.
• When you set a password to protect the hard drive, it would be beneficial to set a hint for the set password to let you remind your password. The hint and the password should be easy for you and difficult for others to guess.
• Defragment the hard drive, because of continuous saving and deleting files the disk becomes fragmented. It creates gaps in the hard drive, where files don't fit is left vacant. Fragmentation slows down the hard disk speed. It is also advisable not to defragment the device too often, as it reduces the hard drive lifespan.
• Remove duplicated files from the hard drive. Duplicate files increase disk usage and fragments which impacts the health of the hard drive.

Closing Words

Working on the external hard drives is very beneficial as the portables drive allows you to work at your comfort at any place. However, the disk can become inaccessible on Windows or Mac computers because of various reasons. So, the next time whenever your Toshiba external hard drive becomes non-working or unrecognizable by your computer, try fixing it with the methods discussed above.

It is necessary to always take a backup before trying any repair steps. Somehow if you are unable to have a backup and your files got lost during the disk repair, recover your lost information with three easy steps of Recoverit.

What's Wrong with Drive

Recover Your Drive

Fix Your Drive

Format/Wipe Drive

Know Your Drive

Your Mac not recognizing an external hard drive can be cause for panic. But try to remain calm — it's unlikely that anything has happened to your files. All of your data will still be on the hard drive, it just that, for whatever reason, you can't access it.

Just so that you worry not about losing data, get Disk Drill. Available via Setapp, the app is the best tool that will rescue your files.

Fortunately, there are ways and means of getting the hard drive back up and running. Let's get into some of them right now.

Why a flash drive is not showing up on Mac?

If you've plugged in a flash drive or USB drive and it's not showing up on your Mac at all, it could be down to a faulty cable or USB port.

Before you try any system troubleshooting tips, start with the basics.

• Check that the drive is probably plugged in.
• Check the USB connector — does it look damaged or misshapen in any way?
• Check the cable — is it frayed or are there any wires exposed?
• If the external hard drive is plugged into a wall outlet, try a different outlet.
• Try a different USB cable — even cables with no visible defects can fail.
• Try connecting the hard drive to a different USB port — it could be a hardware issue.
• Try the drive in another Mac — if it works there, the problem is with the USB ports on your Mac.
• Test the hard drive on a PC — it could be formatted for PCs and not readable on Macs.
• Reboot your Mac — a simple on and off is sometimes all it takes.
• Reboot USB drives by shutting down your system and restarting it, holding Command+Option+P+R as you do. When you hear a sound and see the screen flash, release the keys and let your Mac boot up as usual.

If you've carried out visually inspections, tested your hard drive with different cables and power outlets, and tried different systems with no luck, it's time to put your Mac to work.

1. Change the Finder settings

One of the most common reasons for Mac not recognizing external hard drives is due to the system not being set up to display hard drives on the desktop. There's a simple fix for this:

1. Open a Finder window.
2. Go to Preferences > General.
3. Check that the External disks option is enabled.

Recording software for windows 10. If your Mac is not recognizing a USB or external hard drive after this, you'll have to try mounting it manually.

2. Mount an external hard drive on Mac

If Mac isn't automatically recognizing your external hard drive, it's time to force it to. Connect your hard drive and follow these instructions:

1. Go to System Preferences > Disk Utility.
2. Check that the external disk is listed in the left sidebar.
3. Highlight your hard drive and select Mount. It should now appear under devices in the Finder.

If the hard drive still isn't playing ball, the next step is First Aid.

3. Run First Aid on an external hard drive

Mac's built-in First Aid tool is designed to verify and repair a range of issues related to corrupted files and apps, startup issues, and, crucially, external hard drive problems.

If your issue has to do with wanting to know how to open a flash drive on Mac that's displaying but not allowing you access to files, First Aid might be able to help.

1. Go to System Preferences > Disk Utility.
2. Highlight your external hard drive and click on First Aid.
3. Select Run to start running diagnostics and prompt Mac to automatically fix any issues.

If First Aid is successful in repairing any faults, your hard drive should be available to mount. If not, you'll need to try the next option.

4. Delete potentially conflicting apps

How recent is the problem? If a flash drive not showing up on Mac was completely fine a few days earlier there could be an app causing conflict. If you've downloaded any new apps recently, uninstall them one at a time, connecting your hard drive after each uninstallation to see if the issue is resolved.

You can delete apps using the Launchpad or by dragging them to the Trash, but neither method is recommended in this situation. You see, while an app might appear to be deleted, associated files will be left on your system — files that could be preventing access to your external hard drive.

Instead, let CleanMyMac X take care of it. CleanMyMac X has an Uninstaller tool that can define your installed applications and associated files and remove every trace of an unwanted app.

And it couldn't be easier to use.

1. Download CleanMyMac X (for free).
2. Launch the app and select Uninstaller.
3. Click on View All Applications and select a recently installed app.
4. Click Uninstall.

If you've worked through all recently installed apps and are still no further forward, your hard drive may have crashed or, worse, be completely broken. In this case, you'll need a heavy duty tool like Disk Drill to rescue files.

5. Repair disk permissions

Disk permissions keeps your files secure. Every file and folder has an associated set of permissions. Unfortunately, these can get messed up without you realising it, which can cause serious problems. You can fix these two ways. Either manually, as we mention in this article, or using CleanMyMac X, which is far easier.

Macbook Not Recognizing Flash Drive

All you need to do is:

1. Click on Maintenance from the left sidebar menu.
2. Check the box next to Repair Disk Permissions.
3. Click Run.

The program will scan and fix any it finds that are broken or faulty. Your Mac should be running as good as new.

To prevent an external hard drive not showing up on Mac turning into an all-out disaster, always backup files on your system hard drive and in the cloud. Anytime you use an external drive, unmount the disk properly and store it safely. And finally, use CleanMyMac to uninstall apps and run regular Maintenance on your system to prevent applications conflicting with hard drive performance.

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