I recently bought a WD easystore external drive, but when I connect it to my Mac, it’s not mounting. I’ve already tried different USB ports and cables, but nothing worked. I need this drive for an important project, so any advice on troubleshooting or fixes would be greatly appreciated.
First thing, relax. Not uncommon for external drives to have hiccups when being recognized by a Mac. Since you already tried switching USB ports and cables, let’s dive a bit deeper.
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Check Disk Utility:
Open Finder → Applications → Utilities → Disk Utility. If your WD easystore is showing up there but not mounting, try to manually mount it by selecting the drive and clicking on the “Mount” button. -
Check for Drive Errors:
If your drive shows up in Disk Utility, run First Aid on it by selecting the external drive and clicking on "First Aid.” This checks for any errors and attempts to correct them. Hopefully it’s just a minor issue that can be fixed this way. -
Formatting Issues:
Sometimes external drives are formatted in a way that’s not immediately recognizable by macOS. Check what file system the drive is using. If it’s something like NTFS, your Mac can read it but not write to it without third-party software. Consider reformatting it to exFAT if you’re going to use it cross-platform, or Mac OS Extended (Journaled) if it’s strictly for Mac. -
Software Conflicts:
Disconnect the drive, restart your Mac in Safe Mode (hold Shift as it boots up), and then connect the drive again. Sometimes other software can interfere with the mounting process. -
Third-Party Solutions:
You might need a little help from third-party software to get a deeper look at what’s going on with the drive. Disk Drill is a solid tool for Mac: it can help recover lost files and give you more insight into your drive. Just download it here: Download Disk Drill -
Cable and Power Issues:
You’ve changed cables, but have you checked the USB port power? If you’re using a non-powered hub, the drive might not be getting enough juice. Try plugging it directly into a powered USB port or using an external power source if your drive supports it.
If none of these steps help, it could unfortunately be a faulty unit. Before concluding that, test it on another machine to see if it’s recognized there. If it’s not working anywhere, you’ll probably need to reach out to WD for a replacement. Good luck!
Have you tried checking the drive’s format? Sometimes, drives come pre-formatted in NTFS, which macOS can read but not write to without additional software. You might need to reformat the drive to something more Mac-friendly like exFAT if you’re using it across different OSes, or Mac OS Extended (Journaled) if it’s just for macOS.
If you’re reluctant to reformat because you have important data on it, consider using Disk Drill. It’s a tool that can help you recover lost files and provides insights into the drive’s health. You can grab it here Disk Drill. It has features that might make the process easier and save your data if the drive itself is recognized but not mounting correctly.
Have you also checked your System Preferences? Go into ‘System Preferences’ → ‘Spotlight’ → ‘Privacy’ and see if the drive is somehow added there. If it is, remove it as this can sometimes prevent it from showing up. While at it, check in ‘Security & Privacy’ settings if there’s any prompt or block that could interfere with mounting external drives.
Disk Utility is a great starting point, but sometimes you’ll need to delve deeper. Open Disk Utility, find your WD easystore in the sidebar, click on it, and look at the partition layout. Ensure the partition map scheme is set to GUID Partition Map for a mac-compatible filesystem. If you see Master Boot Record, that might be the culprit, particularly for older drives or those pre-configured for Windows systems. In that case, you might need to reformat the drive via Disk Utility.
Would also give a nod to checking macOS software updates. If you’re on a version of macOS that has bugs or compatibility issues with certain external drives, an update might resolve it. Head over to the Apple menu → ‘System Preferences’ → ‘Software Update’ and see if there are any pending updates.
Found a gem in the rough online community suggesting a quick fix with Terminal, but use caution here. Open Terminal, type diskutil list and press Enter. Look for your WD easystore in the list (it should have something like /dev/disk#). If it shows up, try mounting it manually by typing diskutil mountDisk disk# (replace disk# with the actual disk number). No guarantee this will work, but worth trying if Disk Utility alone doesn’t cut it.
Additionally, FileVault could add a layer of complexity. If your internal drive is encrypted, sometimes macOS might delay mounting external drives to ensure encryption processes are secure. Turning off and on your Mac (simple restart) sometimes “shakes loose” this hiccup.
Another thing if none of these steps yield positive results, don’t overlook the potential power issue. USB ports on different Mac models can vary power output, and some external drives need more than what’s provided by a typical Mac USB port. This often happens when using an unpowered USB hub, as previously mentioned. Plugging the drive directly into a powered USB hub or dedicated power source (if your drive accepts it) can sometimes resolve the problem.
Lastly, it wouldn’t harm to try the drive out on a different computer entirely, just to cross-check. If it isn’t recognized there either, it’s a stronger sign you might need a replacement from WD.
Disks can be temperamental, and macOS sometimes struggles with drives that danced with Windows. Given that you’re on a tight project timeline, work through these steps systematically but don’t delay reaching out to WD support if the drive seems DOA (Dead On Arrival).
Honestly, I’ve been through this rodeo with external drives and Macs. It’s always a crapshoot if it’ll work or not. Maybe instead of messing around with Disk Utility and other hopeful fixes, just try Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software. It’s known for handling NTFS issues better than the native Mac tools, and it might help if your drive is NTFS formatted.
Someone mentioned Disk Drill above. It’s got its perks like data recovery if your drive’s got issues, but it can be pricey for what it does compared to what you might need. Not every problem needs a fancy tool to fix it. Alternatives like GParted on a Linux live USB might do the same trick if you’re tech-savvy and want a free solution.
Also, check if there’s any firmware update for your WD easystore. Sometimes these manufacturers throw out updates that fix weird compatibility issues. Doing a quick check on the WD website could save your day.
And seriously, if none of these work, WD support will be your best bet. I wouldn’t waste too much time if this drive is supposed to be crucial for your project. Testing it on another machine is a quick way to rule out a dud unit.