Data backups are essential. Most people are used to keeping all their information in cloud storage, which differs from keeping everything in physical media.

An external hard disk drive may only sometimes appear when connected to your computer. On Windows PCs and Macs, the external hard drive not showing up is a frequent issue that can cause data loss. The following are some solutions for an external hard disc that isn’t showing up: 

Why Does My USB External Hard Disc Not Show Up?

There are several probable reasons why your USB external hard disc is not showing up: 

  • USB Port Connection Issues: 

The USB port, plug, or cable is damaged.

  • Power Supply Issues: 

The external hard disc isn’t receiving enough power from your computer.

  • Unstable or Corrupt Drive: 

The USB controllers have become unstable or corrupt.

  • Incompatible or Outdated Drivers: 

You need to load the most recent driver for your external device.

  • Hard Drive Malfunction:

The external drive may require repair or replacement. 

Check your External Hard Drive is Powered Up:

This can seem simple, but the easiest mistakes are often the most prevalent with technology. Some external hard drives require an additional power source, such as an AC adapter or USB connection. In contrast, most power is drawn from a single USB port as a data transfer channel.  

Turn to Another USB Port or Computer:

If the computer does not recognize your external hard drive, the adapter that links your device to the computer could be the issue. Unplug it and try another port to see whether it works in this scenario. 

When it works, you know that the old port has died. You must determine whether the issue is with your computer or an external hard disc. Manufacturers typically have an on-demand support team that can assist with technical inquiries and walk you through any unique issues you may have with their products.    

Run the Hardware and Device Troubleshooter. 

A Windows snap-in program called Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter can help you resolve the issue of an external hard drive being detected. 

  • To enter the Settings window, press Win + I, then pick Update Security. 
  • Select “Run the troubleshooter.”
  • Select one problem from the list after scanning and click Next. 

Try another method if you are still looking for Hardware and Device options after completing the steps above. 

  • To open the Run window, press Win + R. 
  • Type msdt.exe -id Device Diagnostic and press Enter to launch the Hardware and Device Troubleshooter. 

Check your Drive is Mounted and Check First aid macOS:

If you are using a Mac, the equivalent of verifying if a disc is enabled is determining whether it is mounted. 

  • Launch Disc Utility by typing “disc utility” into Spotlight or from the Utilities folder in Applications. Your drive should display on the left-hand side, under External. 
  • If you can see the drive but its name is greyed off, select Mount in the top right corner of the page. 
  • If mounting the drive does not function, select First Aid and click Run. 
  • If First Aid discovers no problems but you still can’t mount or access the disc, click Erase to format the drive. 
  • Then, choose Format from the dropdown, name the drive, and click Erase. 
  • If you cannot view your drive, restart your Mac while it is plugged in. If this still doesn’t work, consider purchasing a new external hard disk drive.

Disable USB Selective Suspend Setting:

  • Type “power plan” into the Cortana search box, then pick one from the results list by clicking on it.  
  • Next to the plan you are presently using, click Change plan settings. 
  • Select Change Advanced Power Settings. 
  • Locate USB settings and click the + button to expand them. 
  • Click the + button to expand the USB selective suspend options. 
  • Change the settings to Disabled. 
  • To confirm, click the Apply button and then click OK to close.

Reinstall USB Controllers:

  • Launch Device Manager, then select and expand Universal Serial Bus controllers. 
  • Right-click a device and select Uninstall device from the context menu.  
  • Click the Uninstall button in the pop-up box. 
  • Repeat steps 2 and 3 to uninstall all devices listed under USB controllers. 
  • Restart your computer, and Windows will automatically install the USB controllers.

Also Read: The Best External Hard Drive to Backup Your Photos and Videos

Final Thoughts:

Now that you know how to solve an external hard disk drive not showing up, you should evaluate whether giving up on your drive is a better alternative by reading the points above. 

If you find it hard to do it yourself, you can appoint a Recovery Squad. Recovery Squad is the best option for external hard drive recovery. We offer top-quality service to ensure our customers’ satisfaction. Our engineers have a thorough grasp of how data is kept and accessed, and they can use this knowledge to recover data that other organizations cannot restore.