Issue Description
External drives may not appear in File Explorer even when connected.
Common Causes
- USB power issues
- Drive letter conflicts
- Uninitialized disks
Step-by-Step Solution
Step 1: Check Disk Management
- Right-click Start → Disk Management
- Look for the external disk
Step 2: Assign Drive Letter
- Right-click the disk → Change Drive Letter and Paths
- Click Add → Choose a letter → OK
Step 3: Initialize Disk (If Needed)
- Right-click disk → Initialize
- Choose GPT (recommended)
⚠️ Initializing erases data
Step 4: Test Hardware
- Try a different USB port and cable
- Test on another PC
Explore Further
- Use manufacturer diagnostics
- Run disk repair tools
Prevention & Best Practices
Always safely eject drives.