Fix Hard Drive Not Showing Up on Mac: Step-by-Step Solutions & Data Recovery

You plug in your external drive, wait for that satisfying Finder pop-up... and nothing happens. I remember the first time my LaCie rugged drive vanished from my MacBook Pro. Panic set in – years of client photos apparently gone. After trying every trick (and nearly giving up), I finally heard that beautiful USB chime. Let me save you that stress.

When your hard drive isn't showing up on Mac, it's usually fixable. Based on repairing hundreds of drives at my old tech job, I'll walk you through real solutions – no jargon, just what actually works.

Why Your Hard Drive Disappears on Mac

Before we fix it, understand why this happens. Nine times out of ten, it's one of these culprits:

  • Power issue Your drive isn't getting enough juice (common with bus-powered drives)
  • Bad connection Faulty cable, port, or dock (I've wasted hours only to find a $2 cable was the problem)
  • Format problem The drive uses NTFS (Windows format) which macOS can't write to by default
  • Corrupted data Directory damage making the drive unreadable
  • System glitch macOS sometimes "forgets" drives after sleep mode
  • Failing hardware The drive itself might be dying (listen for clicking sounds!)

Quick Fixes to Try Immediately

Do these first when your external hard drive isn't showing up on Mac:

The 5-Minute Rescue Plan

  1. Swap cables and ports: Try a different USB-C/Thunderbolt cable (preferably Apple-certified). Test all ports.
  2. Restart your Mac: Seriously – it fixes more glitches than Apple admits.
  3. Check power: If it's a desktop drive, ensure the power brick is firmly plugged in. For bus-powered drives, avoid USB hubs.
  4. Try on another Mac: Borrow a friend's laptop to rule out computer-specific issues.
  5. Listen and feel: Does the drive spin up? Vibrate? If completely dead, skip to data recovery section.

Last Tuesday, my neighbor swore his SSD was dead. I switched his generic USB-C cable for my Anker one – boom, instantly mounted. Don't overlook the basics.

Using Disk Utility to Force Your Mac to See the Drive

When my hard drive refused to show up after a macOS update, Disk Utility saved me. Here's how to use it:

  1. Open Applications → Utilities → Disk Utility
  2. Check the left sidebar. If your drive appears here but not Finder, it's detectable!
  3. Look for:
    • Grayed-out drive name = Not mounted
    • "External" tab missing = Connection issue
    • "Uninitialized" status = Format problem

How to Mount a Hidden Drive

If visible in Disk Utility but grayed out:

  1. Select the drive name (not the partition)
  2. Click Mount in toolbar
  3. If it fails, try First Aid (more on this later)

Pro tip: Disk Utility sometimes hides drives in "View → Show All Devices". Toggle this if missing!

Step-by-Step Solutions for Specific Scenarios

Fix 1: Drive Visible in Disk Utility But Not Finder

This happened with my WD My Passport last month. Solution:

  1. Go to Finder → Settings → Sidebar
  2. Under Locations, ensure "External disks" is checked
  3. Still missing? Open Terminal, paste: defaults write com.apple.finder ShowExternalHardDrivesOnDesktop -bool true
  4. Hold Option, right-click Finder icon, select Relaunch

Fix 2: Formatting Issues (Especially NTFS)

Macs can't write to Windows NTFS drives natively. Options:

Solution Cost Best For Downsides
Reformat to APFS/ExFAT Free Drives used only with Macs ERASES ALL DATA
Install NTFS driver
(Paragon NTFS, Tuxera)
$15-$30 Drives shared with Windows PCs Occasional stability issues
Terminal command hack
(Enable native NTFS write)
Free Tech-savvy users Risk of data corruption

I avoid the Terminal hack after it corrupted my gaming drive. For most, ExFAT is the sweet spot if you don't need Windows boot drives.

Fix 3: Running First Aid on Your Drive

Think of this as disk CPR:

  1. In Disk Utility, select the drive (top level, not partition)
  2. Click First Aid
  3. If it fails, select the partition (indented) and run again
  4. Successful repair? The drive should remount automatically

Warning: If First Aid finds "overlapped extent allocation" errors, STOP. Your drive is failing – back up immediately.

Fix 4: Power Issues with Bus-Powered Drives

My 4TB Seagate Backup Plus constantly disconnected until I:

  • Plugged it directly into MacBook Pro (no hubs)
  • Used both USB-C ports with Y-cable (some drives include these)
  • Disabled "Put hard disks to sleep when possible" in System Settings → Battery → Options

Advanced Tactics When Nothing Works

If you're still battling a hard drive not showing up on Mac, try these:

Terminal Commands That Actually Help

  1. Open Terminal
  2. Type: diskutil list (identify your drive - look for size)
  3. See it listed? Try mounting manually: diskutil mountDisk /dev/diskX (replace X with your disk number)
  4. Still invisible? Update drive info: sudo kextcache -i /

Reset NVRAM and SMC

These fix hardware detection issues:

Reset Type How To When to Try
NVRAM Shut down → Power on → Immediately hold Option+Command+P+R for 20 seconds Drive recognized intermittently
SMC (Intel Macs) Shut down → Hold Shift+Control+Option + Power → Release after 10 seconds Power-related issues
SMC (Apple Silicon) Simply restart your Mac Same as above

Data Recovery Options When All Else Fails

That sinking feeling when your drive is physically detected but won't mount? I've been there. Options:

  1. Professional recovery services ($300-$3000): For critical data only. I recommend DriveSavers.
  2. Linux Live USB: Boot from Ubuntu USB, access drives macOS can't read.
  3. Target Disk Mode: Connect Mac to another Mac via Thunderbolt, hold T during boot.

Important: If you hear clicking sounds, POWER OFF IMMEDIATELY. Continued use destroys data.

Preventing Future Disconnections

After fixing a Mac not recognizing your hard drive, avoid repeats:

  • Always eject properly: Right-click → Eject (don't just unplug!)
  • Use surge protectors: Power spikes fry drive controllers
  • Keep macOS updated: But wait 2 weeks after major releases (avoid bugs)
  • Format wisely: APFS for SSD macOS drives, ExFAT for cross-platform

I now keep critical backups on two different drives – lesson learned after that LaCie scare.

Hard Drive Not Showing Up on Mac FAQ

Q: Why does my hard drive show up on Windows but not my Mac?

A: Likely an incompatible format (NTFS) or damaged filesystem that Windows handles better. Try reformatting to ExFAT using a Windows PC if you can't access it on Mac.

Q: How do I recover data from a drive my Mac won't recognize?

A: First, try data recovery software like Disk Drill (works without mounting). If that fails, Linux bootable USB often accesses drives Macs can't. Last resort: professional recovery services.

Q: Could updating macOS cause my hard drive to disappear?

A: Absolutely! Every major macOS update breaks compatibility for some drives. Check manufacturer's site for updated drivers after OS updates.

Q: Is it safe to use First Aid repeatedly on a failing drive?

A: No – excessive read attempts can worsen physical damage. Run it once. If errors persist, stop and focus on data recovery.

Q: Why does my hard drive disconnect randomly on Mac?

A: Usually power-related. Avoid USB hubs with high-power drives. For desktops, try different outlets. If using USB-C, ensure cable supports data + power (not all do).

When to Give Up and Buy a New Drive

After helping hundreds of clients, I'll be blunt: if your drive exhibits these signs, replace it:

  • Clicking/grinding noises (the dreaded "click of death")
  • Extreme overheating even when idle
  • Multiple computer failures to detect it
  • First Aid consistently fails with allocation errors

My go-to reliable drives after years of testing:

  • Samsung T7 SSD (fast, durable)
  • WD My Book Desktop (great value for large storage)
  • LaCie Rugged (best for photographers)

Nothing feels better than rescuing a "dead" drive. But when you hear that click... pour one out and start shopping.

Still stuck? Drop your specific symptoms in the comments – I'll personally suggest fixes.

Leave a Comments

Recommended Article