External Hard Drive might be inconvenient and alarming when your computer fails to appear, particularly if it contains crucial information. This problem can happen with any storage device like SD cards, SSDs, and USB drives.
It might be caused by issues with the power supply, USB connections, or compatibility with your computer. In this guide, we’ll show you easy ways to figure out and fix why your external drive isn’t showing up, so you can get back to your files quickly.
What is External Drive not Showing up?
External Drive Not Showing Up means your computer is not recognizing an external hard drive or USB stick. Problems with the power source, USB port, or device compatibility may be the cause of this. It stops you from accessing the files stored on the device and needs some troubleshooting to fix.
Reasons an External Hard Drive Might Not Show Up
There may be a hardware or software problem with your hard disk if it isn’t visible on your computer. Storage devices like SD cards, portable SSDs, and USB drives can experience the same problem of not showing up, while not having moving elements like hard disks.
An external hard disk may not appear for the following frequent causes, which are very simple to troubleshoot:
- Issues with the power supply
- Problems with the USB port or cable
- Compatibility problems with the computer
Here are more serious reasons that could lead to losing your data:
- Removing the hard drive improperly
- Physical damage leading to hardware failure
- Corruption of the hard drive data
- Problems with driver installation
Ways to Fix External Drive Not Showing Up
Following are different ways to fix External Drive Not Showing Up
Method 1: Update the Device Driver
If your WD hard drive isn’t recognized, try the following steps:
Step 1: Right-click ‘This PC’ or ‘My Computer’ on your Windows desktop or laptop, and select ‘Properties’.
Step 2: Click ‘Device Manager’ on the left sidebar. Then, expand the ‘Universal Serial Bus controllers’ section. If you see a yellow exclamation mark, it indicates that your disk driver is outdated.
Step 3: After doing a right-click, pick ‘Update driver’ and then ‘Search automatically for updated driver software’.
Method 2: Troubleshoot Your Hard Drive
You can use Windows’ built-in utility to fix your WD external hard disk if it isn’t showing up. This is a brief guide:
- Open ‘Control Panel’, go to ‘Hardware and Sound’, and then click ‘Configure a device’.
- The hardware troubleshooter will start. It automatically looks for problems and suggests solutions. Choose what you want to fix and click ‘Next’.
- To choose and resolve the particular hard drive problem, adhere to the instructions.
Method 3: Restart Your Computer and Switch to Another USB Port
The USB port may be the problem if your computer isn’t recognizing your hard disk. To check if it works, try plugging your hard drive into a different port. Additionally, be sure to inspect the connection and cable:
- If the USB cable isn’t working right, switch it out for a new one.
- Switch to a different USB port to check if it resolves the issue.
- Connect your hard drive to another computer that is free from viruses to ensure it’s recognized correctly.
Method 4: Set Up a New Partition on Your Drive
Step 1: Type ‘diskmgmt.msc’ into the box, then press ‘OK’ after pressing the ‘Windows’ and ‘R’ keys simultaneously.
Step 2: Use the ‘Unallocated area’ right-click menu to select ‘New Simple Volume’.
Step 3: Follow the wizard to create the partition.
Step 4: Restart your Windows computer to see if the drive is detected. If your external hard drive is still not recognized in Windows 10, repeat step 2.
Method 5: Adjust the Drive Letter and Path
Try the following actions if your hard disk isn’t being recognized:
1: Simultaneously press the ‘Windows’ and ‘R’ keys. Click ‘OK’ after entering ‘diskmgmt.msc’ in the box.
2: Choose “Change Drive Letter and Paths” with a right-click on the WD drive that is displayed.
3: Select a new letter from the drop-down menu by clicking “Change,” and then click “OK.”
4: Restart your Windows computer to see if the WD external hard drive is now recognized
Conclusion
External Drive Not Showing Up on your computer can be upsetting, especially if it has important files. This common issue affects various storage devices such as SD cards, SSDs, and USB drives, often due to problems with the power supply, USB connections, or compatibility.
This guide provides both simple and advanced troubleshooting methods to help you quickly regain access to your important data.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does “External Drive Not showing Up” Mean?
External Drive Not Showing Up means your computer can’t detect an external hard drive or USB stick you’ve connected to it.
Why Might my External Drive not Show up on my Computer?
Common reasons include issues with the USB port, a faulty cable, power supply problems, or compatibility issues with your computer.
What Should I Do First if my External Drive isn’t Recognized?
Try plugging it into a different USB port and check if the USB cable is working properly.
How Can I Check if my External Drive has a Problem with its Driver?
Go to ‘Device Manager’ on your computer, find your drive under ‘Disk drives,’ and see if there’s a yellow exclamation mark, which indicates a driver issue.
Can Updating the Driver Solve the Problem of my External Drive not Showing up?
Yes, updating the driver can sometimes resolve the issue. Right-click on the drive in ‘Device Manager’ and select ‘Update driver
What Should I Do if Changing Ports and Updating Drivers don’t Work?
To see if the problem is with the external drive itself, try connecting it to a different computer. If it still doesn’t show up, the drive might need professional repair.
