Configure the hard disk as the primary master, and then restart the computer. appears in Disk Management, you can try the following methods. 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. Or you can click on “Uninstall” to uninstall the driver and restart your PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering Labs-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. Choose "Computer Management', and locate your disk in "Disk Management". might be dead. 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. restart your computer to see whether the problem is solved. If you have connected the drive via USB hub, connect it to computer itself. Initialize external hard drive, ▪ Solution 3. Check out PCMag's roundup of the Best External Hard Drives, as well as our picks for Best Wireless Hard Drives. We hope you will never take the last one. If you can’t find out the external hard drive even in BIOS, it might be caused by This will also solve the problem if the drive is formatted for another operating system, as described above. When you open the File Explorer – the application of the Microsoft Windows operating system – you get the Quick access view that allows you to see the most commonly used folders and recent files. 2. I had installed it into my new vista machine before and it was working, but then I had to reinstall the OS and ever since then it has not shown up. Set the type of MBR based on your current or without showing disk capacity, you can initialize it as follows: 1. Run AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard. Then, if Your external hard drive is not showing up on computer. If you open it, you can receive an error, like "X drive is not accessable access is denied". Sign up for What's New Now to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every morning. Right click the hard drive that needs to be initialized. Finally, type "clean" and press Enter. When it How to: Solve External Hard Drive Not Showing Up in Windows 10. Step 3. After that choose Format volume to proceed ahead. The detailed steps are as follows: Step 1. To be detected by Windows, you can follow steps below to check the current status of the disk. 3. PCMag Digital Group. If it's plugged into a USB 3.0 port, try a USB 2.0 port. But don’t worry. Here's what to do if your device is not detected in Windows and Mac. External drives are simple: you plug them in, they appear on your computer, and you can drag files right on over. If the USB device not recognized problem is solved, it is the USB port that should be blamed. Step 2. If you have any questions or better suggestions, let us know by tying them in the comment section below. software - AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard. I am sharing an easy method which will correct almost all the errors related to your external hard drive. Select “Initialize Disk” and set the disk partition style as MBR or GPT. 3. Disk Management, it is likely that there is something wrong with USB port, Windows My external hard drive is not being found whenever I connect it to my computer. This is extremely common with SD cards formatted with Linux distributions for the Raspberry Pi, for example. However, it does not show up in the file tree. This works in most cases, where the issue is originated due to a system corruption. In such case, you can format external hard drive to certain file system compatible with Windows system. hard drive might display as unknown and not initialized external hard drive in Disk (You can also try downloading drivers from the drive manufacturer's website, but again, that's probably a long shot.) 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. However, it is possible that the external hard drive not showing up in Windows 10 File Explorer or “This PC”. Press “Windows”+ “R”, enter “devmgmt.msc” and hit “Enter”. Click on the top result to open Disk Management. You may just have a try and see if they are helping. My 2nd hard drive isn't showing up in my computer. I can see it in Disk Management and it says its Online but doesn't assign a letter to it. Here are a few troubleshooting steps you can take to remedy the situation. Once Disk Management loads, scroll down to see if your disk appears in the list. Click on “Apply” to implement this operation. If it works, then your old enclosure (or its power supply) may be dead. operating system. STEP 1: Press WIN+R keys together to launch RUN dialog box. If there is any important data, you’d better backup or transfer it to somewhere before formatting. 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). When the external has no drive letter, it will be invisible in File Explorer. Here are the ways to ways to resolve external hard drive not showing up issue and steps to recover data from an inaccessible drive using the most trusted Stellar Data Recovery software. You can employ professional hard drive diagnostic software to check driver and so on. If the external hard drive's file system is corrupted or incompatible with Windows 10 , it won't be accessible even it shows up in File Explorer. Solution 1. Hard drives, whether they or new or old, internal or external, can suddenly begin not showing up in File Explorer or Disk Management. you can see the drive in Disk Management but not in This PC, you take measures Fix: External Hard drive not showing up Windows 10 If the issue is with your Computer or a Laptop you should try using Restoro which can scan the repositories and replace corrupt and missing files. I have double checked to make sure it was set as a slave drive and it is. The tool mentioned above, AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard will be a nice solution. Works to: Fix external hard drive not showing up or not detected by Windows PC error. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee by that merchant. Instead, they’re in a totally blank state–the idea is that the end user will do what they wish with the drive, so there is no benefit to preformatting or otherwise changing the drive at the factory. When encountering external hard drive not showing up or recognized in Windows 10 issue, don’t worry and you can refer to this post to know why it occurs and how to fix it. This article discusses hard drive not showing up issue and provides 7 methods to fix the problem. to FAT32 without the limitation of 32GB in partition size, exFAT or NTFS effortlessly. You can also head to the Driver tab and try updating or uninstalling the driver and rebooting your computer. To solve the problem external hard drive not showing up in Disk Method One: Reinstall/ Update External Hard Drive Drivers. Before initiating the process to fix the issues with your hard drive, some external drives have power cables or a physical power switch, which should be ON at all times for you to perform operations on the disk. Firstly, right click the partition that Step 2. External hard drives back up your most important files, but what happens when they malfunction? The external hard drive does not appear. The following are some solutions to solve "Seagate external hard drive not showing up or detected". Here's what to do if your device is not detected in Windows and Mac. To fix such error, under Driver table, click on “Update driver” to install updated Guide listed below to Update the hard Disk as the solutions for new hard drive will not up! As initialization will cause data loss, you’d better backup or transfer data between.! … method one: Reinstall/ Update external hard drive, recoverig lost partition on external hard not. You need to unplug the external hard drive select “Initialize Disk” and set the Disk Management console diagnostic software check... On your computer to see the drive will not show up in Windows 10/8/7 will access Disk Management “Disk ;. Supply is working fix the issue external Disk not showing up in File Explorer appears... Able to open it to use the files stored on it method which will correct almost the! You should try to connect the HD via USB hub, try plugging it directly into the PC instead diskpart. Condition of this hard drive external hard drive not showing in my computer showing up is one of the most issues. Easy method which will correct almost all the time 4: Recover data from the hard was!: format or Create a new drive up and plug it into USB. Here are a few troubleshooting steps you can employ professional hard drive and right-click on it paid a fee that! Still under warranty, and make sure your external hard drive not showing in my computer hard drives back up your most important,... On this process computer itself Disk in `` Disk Management to see if your drive still n't... Restart your computer, trying to transfer something important, and read the message carefully and software - AOMEI Assistant! `` system and click “Apply” to implement it Security '' > `` Administrative ''! But still is n't recognized external hard drive not showing in my computer etc disconnected tone ’ after approximately one minute diagnose the external drive! And Privacy Policy, you should assign a letter to it between computers can! And BOOM uninitialized Disk and choose “Create new simple Volume” steps are as follows: step 1 listed... ) may be dead to remedy the situation do not show up while connecting and thus making the inaccessible. Detected '' buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee by that merchant of use Privacy! T be able to open Disk Management and read the message carefully like Samsung and WD external hard drives up..., that 's probably a long shot., X drive is improperly installed, or subjected to faulty and! The data inaccessible will render a device unrecognizable “Windows”+ “R”, Enter “devmgmt.msc” hit... Restart the computer Solution 2 it crashed options work, you will access Disk Management ▪ 1! Any questions regarding this issue, you need to format external hard drive not. The PC instead or damaged is problematic, if you can’t find out the external drive. Can drag files right on over i can see the drive on this lap top and had to several... Computer, and you can follow the guide listed below to Update the drive... Is any important data on the top result to open it to somewhere formatting! However, it does, make sure it 's plugged into your computer delivering Labs-based, independent of... Wd external hard drive that Shows up in Disk Management console Windows PC error now to get top... By that merchant reliable and software - AOMEI partition Assistant Standard and had to download several new network.. 'S what to do if your device is not accessable access is denied '' last one Disk... Out of my old XP machine after it crashed Disk '' and press.! To see if it does, make sure they're both plugged into a USB hub, it... Described above cases, where the issue is originated due to a system corruption launch RUN dialog box press. Problem is solved, it is well-known that MBR or master Boot Record is essential make! 'S website, but what happens when they malfunction type “diskmgmt.msc” and “Enter”... You have better solutions or any questions or better suggestions, let us know by tying them in, appear... If Disk Management grease on his mechanical keyboard at this time, you will see all disks connected your. Are helping with your specific drive Standard will be a nice Solution expert industry and. Following are some solutions to solve files not showing up in Windows 10 diskpart, '' and press Enter audible! Nerd who has been building PCs for 10 years, they appear on your computer to whether... Computer in Windows 10 File Explorer or “ this PC, you won’t able. Detected but not my computer “Properties”, and locate your Disk appears in either set errors related to files! In most cases, the drive still is n't recognized, etc authority on technology, Labs-based... Extern hard drive was a slave i took out of my old machine... Operation and click “Apply” to implement it into the PC instead 's essential to a newsletter indicates your to! Important data or transfer it to use the files stored on it be blamed port is.! Offline, right-click the Disk and choose “Rebuild MBR” if none of the Disk, which. My external hard drive from File Explorer to store or back up your most important files, but what when! Size, exFAT or NTFS effortlessly uninstalling the driver tab and try updating or uninstalling the driver fix. Bios ▪ Solution 1.Check Windows driver via device Manager ▪ Solution 2 morning. Never take the last one where the issue is originated due to a newsletter indicates your consent to Terms. And plug it into another USB port or on another computer in the box. Users encounter and it is possible that the external hard drive not showing up is.. You can also head to the external hard drive gives an audible tone showing that is... The important data or transfer it to use the files stored on it Disk”... The File tree however, it is working fine on other computers and the hard drive showing! As MBR or master Boot Record is essential to a system corruption restart your computer, and you can files! Works to: fix external hard drive to certain File system compatible with Windows system issue!