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Detecting Missing External Hard Drives on Mac

Issue Description 

External drives don’t appear in Finder or Desktop. 

Common Causes 

  • Incompatible file system 
  • USB power issues 
  • Disk errors 

Step-by-Step Solution 

Step 1: Check Disk Utility 

  • Open Disk Utility 
  • Look for drive under External 

 

Step 2: Mount the Drive 

  • Select drive → click Mount 

 

Step 3: Check Finder Settings 

  • Finder → Settings → General 
  • Enable External disks 

 

Step 4: Try Another Port or Cable 

  • Avoid USB hubs 
  • Use direct connection 

Explore Further 

  • Run First Aid 

Prevention & Best Practices 

Eject drives properly.