External Hard Drive Not Showing Up on Mac: Solutions to Fix the Issue

Are you frustrated because your external hard drive is not showing up on your MacBook Pro/Air or iMac? Don't worry; you're not alone. Many Mac users face this problem, and it's easy to resolve with the right solutions.

Before we dive into the fixes, let's quickly understand some common reasons why your external hard drive might not be detected by your Mac. These include issues with superdrive, NAS, SD cards, or USB ports. If you're experiencing any of these problems, try the following solutions:

Tick External Disks on Finder Preferences

Go to System Preferences > Finder and check if 'Show external disks' is enabled. This simple step can resolve the issue.

Solution 1: Check USB Port

Ensure that your external hard drive is properly connected to a working USB port. Try plugging it into a different USB port or using a different cable.

Solution 2: Restart Your Mac

Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve connectivity issues. Shut down your Mac, wait for 10 seconds, and then turn it back on.

Solution 3: Check Disk Utility

Open Disk Utility (Applications > Utilities) and look for your external hard drive in the list of available devices. If you don't see it, try restarting your Mac or using a different USB port.

Solution 4: Update Your Mac's Operating System

If you're running an older version of macOS, updating to the latest version might resolve the issue.

Solution 5: Reset NVRAM and SMC

Resetting NVRAM and SMC can sometimes resolve connectivity issues. To do this, press the power button, the Command + Option + P + R keys simultaneously for at least 10 seconds, then release them.

If none of these solutions work, you may want to try resetting your Mac's System Management Controller (SMC) or trying a different USB port on your Mac.

By following these simple steps, you should be able to get your external hard drive detected and working again. If you're still experiencing issues, feel free to share more details about your problem in the comments below.

Drive not showing up in disk utility