External Hard Drive Not Showing Up in Disk Utility? Try These Solutions

Are you facing issues with your external hard drive not showing up in Disk Utility? Don't worry, we've got you covered. Here are some troubleshooting steps that might help fix the problem.

Solution 1: Change Preferences Settings

The first step is to check if the issue is related to your Mac's preferences settings. Go to System Preferences and select 'General'. In the 'Show these items on the desktop' section, make sure 'External disks' are selected.

Solution 2: Check with Another Drive with Your MAC

If you're using a USB hub to connect your external hard drive to your Mac, try connecting it directly to the computer. This might help identify if the issue is related to the USB hub or not.

Solution 3: Plug and Unplug the USB Connector

Sometimes, unplugging and replugging the USB connector can resolve the issue. Wait for about 30 seconds before plugging it back in.

Solution 4: Check with Another Drive with Your MAC (Again!)

If connecting your external hard drive directly to your Mac doesn't work, try using another external drive or pen drive to rule out any issues with your Mac.

Solution 5: Select the Drive from the Favorite List

In some cases, the external hard drive might be hidden in the 'Favorite' list. Go to the Finder window and view below the favorite list. If you find it there, select it to connect it back to your Mac.

Solution 6: Select the Drive from the Disk Utility List

If the drive is not visible in the Finder window, try selecting it from the Disk Utility list. Type the external drive path that appears under Disk Utility and then restart your Mac and connect the external drive.

Solution 7: Plug and Unplug the USB Connector (Again!)

In some cases, unplugging and replugging the USB connector can resolve the issue. Wait for about 30 seconds before plugging it back in.

Solution 8: First-Aid to Your MAC

The First-Aid option in Disk Utility helps solve startup issues, external drive problems, and corrupted files. Select your External Hard Drive and give the First-Aid option a try.

Solution 9: Install Microsoft NTFS for Mac by iBoysoft

If you're using an unsupported drive format, installing Microsoft NTFS for Mac by iBoysoft might help resolve the issue.

Solution 10: Give First-Aid to Your MAC (Again!)

In some cases, giving your Mac a First-Aid treatment can help resolve the issue. Select 'First-Aid' and follow the prompts to repair any corrupted files or startup issues.

By following these solutions, you should be able to resolve the issue with your external hard drive not showing up in Disk Utility. If none of these solutions work, feel free to share your experiences and suggestions in the comments section below.

Drive not showing up in disk utility