Macbooks not Recognizing External Hard Drives Cause & Fixing

Why is my Mac not Recognizing my external hard drive?

Mac users from different corners of the world are concerned about their Macbooks not recognizing external hard drives. You can jot down several reasons for the same. And post, you will be able to understand where exactly the issue is arising;

The drive is corrupted— One of the common issues for not recognizing the external hard drive would be it is corrupted.
Incorrect formatting: This issue may occur if you have not safely formatted your hard drive or stored the data. Hence, it is suggested that the one makes proper hard disk formatting.
Unfunctional cables: The issue also arises in the case when the cables that are connected to the device are malfunctioning or damaged.
Updates: The chances of not recognizing your hard drive may also occur when your hardware or software is outdated or not updated.

How can I fix the error of the Macbook not recognizing the external drive?

To make your hard drive or external drive function swiftly, you are advised to follow some of the procedures below:

  • Make Modifications to your preferences.
  • Tap the Menu section in the Finder tab.
  • Tap on the Preferences>General>Show these items on the desktop.
  • Out of the list, click on the External or Hard disk to display on the screen.
  • Then, you can fix the concern.

Modify the Drive Format.

There is a need to change the Drive format because if it is damaged, it will keep displaying “Unable to recognize.” Hence, to begin this, you have to ensure your Mac can detect your drive, and with this, you can format it with FAT32.

Verify your cable.

There is also a need to verify whether your cable is providing a sufficient supply. For more information, any device requires 500 mA, which the 1.0 or 2.0 USB can provide. Hence, it is suggested to use these cables.

How can I use my Macbook finder Preferences?

If you want to use finder preferences on your Mac, you are advised to follow some of the steps that are elaborated:

  • Unlock your Mac to begin the process.
  • Click on the Finder section and then to Preferences.
  • Once you are done with the above point, tap on the General.
  • There will be a window or a bar; tap and choose them.

How do I reset my Macbook NVRAM?

If you feel like resetting your Macbook NVRAM, you are advised to follow the steps as described below; consider and follow them:

  • First, you have to shut down your Mac to begin the process.
  • Turn on and instantly tap four tabs simultaneously, “Command, Option, P, and R.”
  • Release them after 20 seconds, and you will complete the process.

How can I run First Aid to resolve the error?

There are specific points through which you can run First Aid to resolve the error in your device. So, for that, you have to observe and examine them very carefully; take a look:

  • On your Mac, tap on the Disk Utility>view>Show all devices.
  • Tap the “Volume” button and then to the First Aid.
  • You will find the option to “RUN,” tap on it to complete the process.

Read More About:

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Disclaimer: We are the leading and autonomous technical support provider for different third party products and services. We provide only remote support for a portfolio of services, which are offered by other third party companies. In doing so, the logo, mascot, brand name, trademark etc are used as reference only and purely for informational purpose of the services. We do not own or sponsor the products or services offered by third party company and also not related with any such company in any case. We are not responsible for the quality, guarantee or any other claims done by these third party companies to their customers. We only provide completely independent, online and paid support for the different technical issues, the customers may face while using the products or services. So, hereby we disclaim that sponsorship, association, affiliation or endorsement of any kind with these or any such third party companies for our technical support website.