You don’t need to know exactly what system your computer is running, you don’t need to risk downloading and installing the wrong driver, and you don’t need to worry about making a mistake when installing. Quick Tip: When assigning a drive letter manually, it's good practice to use the last letter available to avoid future conflicts with automatic assignments. If the USB and power cables are working, you'll hear the hard drive spinning, and you'll notice a light indicator. You may just have a try and see if they are helping. Relax, we’ve got you covered. We hope you will never take the last one. A bad physical connection is among the most common problems that could block Windows 10 from detecting the external drive. When the drive isn't available on your computer, it could also be a driver issue. Disconnect the removable drive from your device. Restarting is perhaps the most natural solution to … Thus, plug in your hard drive into another Port to identify the exact cause and confirm whether a problem e… Under "Volume label," select a name for the drive. If that's the case, check out our picks for the best portable drives available in the market. Immediately after assigning the new letter the external drive should appear in File Explorer. On Windows 10, you usually only need to connect an external drive to your computer and wait until it appears automatically in File Explorer to start using it. To format a drive with a supported file system, use these steps: Right-click the drive with the unsupported file system, and select the Format option. Follow the methods listed below and easily access data on the hard drive without formatting. First, run Hardware Troubleshooting and check if it helps.1) Type “troubleshooting” in the search box and open it.2) Click on “Configure a device“.3) In a pop up window, click Next and follow the instruction to finish the process.If it hasn’t solved the problem yet, try to update and fix the driver issues via Device Manager. Right-click the external hard drive, and choose Change Drive Letter and Paths…. If you're still having issues, sometimes removing and reinstalling the driver could help to detect the external drive on your computer. Boot PC/Laptop into Safe Mode and check the hard drive issue. Here are a few easy ways to get a disc out of a stuck drive. And it supports many storage devices like external hard drive, internal hard drive, NAS, cloud drive. First, unplug the EHD, unplug it from the mains and unplug and straighten the data cable. The cable could be damaged, or you're probably trying to use the wrong cable. In this Windows 10 guide, we walk you through the steps to fix most issues when your computer won't detect an external hard drive. If you have difficulty updating the drivers manually, you can do it automatically with Driver Easy. It can also be the case that the problem is a dead USB port on your computer. You can easily schedule an incremental backup with this software too. Click the Next button. Although most small drives and pretty much every flash drive don't require a dedicated power connection, if you're connecting a large external hard drive, you need to make sure that it's plugged into a working power outlet. Click the Search automatically for updated driver software option. A DVD or CD drive that won't open doesn't necessarily mean a lost disc or dead drive. Everything from computers hardware problems, Windows issues, gaming and internet network topics. Sometimes, your Seagate external hard drive might not get recognized, when you are using Fast Startup. On small and large drives, sometimes the problem can be the USB cable. A drive letter conflict is a common problem with removable devices, and you can fix this issue with these steps: If the drive is trying to use an existing drive letter, right-click the volume and select the Change Drive Letter and Paths option. To install the latest driver, use these steps: Right-click the external drive with the problem and click the Update driver option. 2) Click on “ Configure a device “. If this is the case, you can quickly initialize the drive using these steps: If the drive appears "Unknown" and "Not Initialized," right-click it, and select the Initialize Disk option. Update the driver. So, these kinds of issues aren’t a good deal for a computer user as it is daily task to attach external media to the computer for file transferring process. Let’s take into consideration one by one.Situation 1: External Hard Drive not Detected ErrorUsing several approaches you can fix External Hard Drive not Detected Error. As a technical writer for Driver Easy, I like writing guides and tutorials to help people resolve whatever tech problems they're having. There are 2 ways for you to update the driver. However, the Windows 10 Backup failed issue always happens, for example, Windows 10 Backup not backing up all files, Windows 10 backup 0 bytes, Windows 10 won't back up to external drive, Windows Backup did not complete successfully, etc. Sign up now to get the latest news, deals & more from Windows Central! in directly to see if Windows 10 detects it. If you're trying to set up a new external hard drive, or you want to use a storage device previously connected to another computer, but it won't show up, there are a number of troubleshooting steps you can follow to resolve most common problems. Nothing happens and no new drive is displayed in the File Explorer window. Sometimes the problem can be the USB hub as these devices can introduce compatibility and power management issues. If your external hard drive is not working properly nor recognized in Windows 10 but was fine in the previous OS, then it’s most likely because the driver software is outdated or broken. Unless you're mounting the drive as a folder, it'll require a letter to be accessible from File Explorer. A lawsuit from Intel accuses a former employee of taking trade secrets. Then you should … You can download the 32 or 64-bit WD SES driverhere. Connect the external hard drive to your Windows 10 system and download Remo Recovery software; Install the software and launch it to go to the main screen; In the main screen, select Recover Drives from the 3 options provided and click Next Haben Sie eine externe Festplatte an Ihren PC angeschlossen, erkennt sie Ihr PC jedoch nicht? There are two ways to access the external hard drive that is given below. How to Fix External Hard Disk Detected But Not Opening? Read the step by step guides to know more. folder on the ext. If your Seagate external hard drive is not showing up in Windows 10, 8 or 7, the problem may be as simple as a USB port. This driver enables special communication between your PC and Windows and enables some extra features on the hard disk. Virus and Malware infection or corrupt file (Virus or Malware). If Windows 10 doesn't detect the drive correctly, and it appears in Disk Management with the Unreadable status, you're experiencing read and write errors, corruption, or hardware failure. I would like to receive news and offers from other Future brands. External Hard Drive Not Showing Up in Windows 10 [Solved], [Gelöst] Externe Festplatte wird nicht erkannt unter Windows 10. External hard drive failure. Sometimes, when connecting an external drive that has never been initialized and formatted, or you're using it on another computer, Windows 10 may not detect the drive correctly. If you have any data that you want to keep, make sure to connect it to a supported device, extract the data, and only then continue with the steps below. However, it is possible that the external hard drive not showing up in Windows 10 File Explorer or “This PC”. Above are the top 10 situations as well as the solutions for new hard drive not showing up/external hard drive not showing up. As a computer savvy, I have been immersed in technology for years and have written articles, detailed tutorials and explainers on a wide variety of technical subjects. The FlexiSpot E6 features FexiSpot's excellent quiet dual-motor design, with height levels ranging from 60cm to 123cm, slightly lower than the E5’s 62cm-125cm range. Select the drive (if it's not already selected). You can try resetting the connection by shutting down your computer and unplugging the external drive, then after one minute, turn on your computer and reconnect the drive. The reason being, there are equal chances of USB Port damage. How to recover data from external hard drive that says ‘not responding’ using Remo Recover. Therefore, reinstalling the drivers, as well as updating them, can solve the “external hard drive not responding” … There are multiple reasons for corruption. With the E6, you also get a tweaked leg design that’s much sturdier, and a new anti-collision system that will automatically stop the desk from raising or lowering when it detects any kind of notable restriction. You can quickly find out if there's a port problem by unplugging the drive and using a different port on the same or another computer. 1] Uninstall & reconnect the external hard drive. If you've already tried the above recommendations, and you're still unable to use the drive. If the USB device not recognized problem is solved, it is the USB port that should be blamed. In the case that no newer updates are available, you can also check your storage manufacturer support website to find out if they have a newer driver available for download. Also, it'll show up in Disk Management as "Unknown" and "Not Initialized." Click the top result to open the experience. 2) Find your external device from the list, (If you see a yellow/red sign appear, probably because the driver has compatibility issues.) If you are unable to open your hard drive then there is a chance of hard drive corruption. Open Windows 10 Control Panel You can update your drivers automatically with either the FREE or the Pro version of Driver Easy. If you have any questions or better suggestions, let us know by tying them in the comment section below. Solution 2. Copyright © 2009-2021 Easeware Technology Limited. After completing the steps, you should be able to start using the storage as usual. So, you can try turning Fast Startup off in Windows 10 (it is turned on by default). Fix external hard drive not working issue in Windows 10/8/7 (3 Methods) Method 1. Many Windows 10 users have reported experiencing this problem. It is able to recover lost data from external hard drives in various situations, such as external hard drive inaccessible, corrupted, unreadable, formatted/not formatted, unallocated, RAW, etc. Fix 1: Disable Fast Startup. Seagate Portable Drive Windows 10. Although there are a lot of factors that could prevent an external drive from being detected, these solutions should help fix the most common problems. When I search (the field to the right of the Start button) for anything that I know is in that docs. Under "Volume label," enter a descriptive name for the drive. You can troubleshoot and fix this problem in at least two ways. Like always, I will start with simple steps first & then step by step move on to more technical solutions. A hard drive malfunction may be caused by faulty wiring or damaged ports. Then, you won’t be able to open it to use the files stored on it. Typically, this problem will happen more often when installing an internal hard drive originally from another computer, but it can happen to portable hard drives. To create a volume with a new partition and file system, use these steps: If the external drive doesn't have a partition, right-click the "Unallocated" space, and select the New Simple Volume option. The suit states that the former employee took the trade secrets and utilized them while in a new role at Microsoft. When the external hard drive is detected but not open on Windows PC, the proper reasons are permission, access denied, file system errors and device driver outdated. Access External Hard Drive In Windows 10. HD, it is not … Also if there’s any “unknown device” you should update it too.3) Select “Search automatically for updated driver software” and then follow the instruction to finish the process. Once you complete these steps, the drive should be accessible from File Explorer. Connect your hard drive to another SATA port on the PC's motherboard. In the case of the Western Digital My Book, I had to download and install the Windows SES Driver in order for Windows to boot up properly. If after doing this, the hard drive remains undiscoverable, the problem may be on the cables. Power/Data cable. But it's not always a straightforward process. Rollback the driver. Select the MBR (Master Boot Record) option. right click on the name of the device and select “Update Driver Software…”. When connection port is dead or damaged, you will not see WD hard drive in Windows 10. I would like to receive mail from Future partners. If the external drive still doesn't show up on your computer, you're probably dealing with a broken drive, and you should consider getting a new one. After completing these steps, the drive will be formatted with a supported file system, and it should be available through File Explorer. Or click Update All to automatically download and install the correct version of all the drivers that are missing or out of date on your system (this requires the Pro version – you’ll be prompted to upgrade when you click Update All). CONNECT THE HARD DRIVE IN ANOTHER PORT. The Documents folder in the C: drive has been redirected to that folder on the USB drive. Additionally, the USB drive not showing up Windows 10 may also occur when the power supply of a … After completing these steps, if Windows Update detects that your device is using an older version of the driver, it'll download and install the most up-to-date driver available. Fix Drive Connection. Warning: Using this process will erase everything on the drive. If your PC isn't detecting an external hard drive, use this guide to resolve the issue. For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources: Microsoft announced the Bulletins and Milestones apps for Microsoft Teams. Whenever they connect an external hard drive to a USB 3.0 port, the computer fails to read it. Right-click the external drive with the problem, click the Uninstall device option. Home Knowledge Base Technical Tips External Hard Drive Not Showing Up in Windows 10 [Solved]. My C: drive is on an SSD. It also seems to fix the issue of hanging Windows when booting up! As such, you should consider this as a reminder to keep an updated backup of your files. Once you complete the steps, the system will proceed to create a new volume with a partition and a drive letter. Method 2. You can install the most up-to-date driver available, or you can reinstall the same driver to see if it helps the computer detect the drive. Solution 1. My Documents folder is on an external USB drive. If your computer isn't recognizing the storage, make sure to use a good data cable. 1) Go to Device Manager by pressing Win+R together to open the “Run” dialog, enter devmgmt.msc. If you can't get the storage online, and it was recently available, that could mean the drive is corrupted, disconnected, or it's not getting power. Use for 20% OFF! A bad physical connection is among the most common problems that could block Windows 10 from detecting the external drive. In most case, external hard drive or second hard drive will present automatically after connected to your computer. You can unsubscribe at any time and we'll never share your details without your permission. Use the drop-down menu from the right and select any of the available letters. In the case that you already tried the recommendations to address connection, initialization, and formatting issues, it could mean hardware failure, in which case you should consider getting a new drive. To backup Windows 10 with AOMEI Backupper, you can create a disk backup which … If you're connecting a drive formatted using a different OS (macOS or Linux) with an unsupported file system, it won't appear on your computer. If the issue of external hard drive not recognized Windows 10 persists, you can keep reading to find more solutions. Below is the solution for external hard drive not recognized by Windows 10. In this case, the solution is to format the drive using a supported file system. How to Fix "Sabrent Hard drive Adapter Not Recognized Windows 10" Issue 1. If you're connecting a new drive, it'll probably look as if it wasn't detected, because it doesn't have a partition properly configured. Alternatively, you can try connecting the drive to a different computer, but if this isn't working, there's a good chance the drive or controller is dead. In this post, I am not going to explain the reasons. Once you've completed these steps, Windows 10 should detect and configure the drive automatically. Again, it looks too simple, but damaged and outdated driver can cause a lot of damage to an external hard drive. Also, make sure to follow their instructions to install the driver correctly. Fix 2: Update/Reinstall/Roll back the Device Driver Update/Reinstall the Device Driver An outdated device driver can also be the cause of an external hard drive not showing up on Windows 10. You should try to connect the hard drive via another USB port or on another computer. If Device Manager shows a yellow or red mark on the external drive, it's likely that this is a driver problem. What to Do When Your External Hard Drive Won't Show Up Make Sure It's Plugged In and Powered On Try Another USB Port (or Another PC) Update Your Drivers Enable and Format the Drive in Disk Management Clean the Disk and Start From Scratch Remove and … If you know that the drive is working correctly, but it won't show up in File Explorer, the drive could be trying to use a letter already in use by another device or the drive letter may be missing. External Hard Drive Not Showing Up in Windows 10 [Solved] 1) Type “ troubleshooting ” in the search box and open it. Readers' satisfaction is my motivation to go on. Driver Easy will then scan your computer and detect any problem drivers. Restart your PC:. The external hard drive becomes unreadable and corrupted due to carelessly disconnecting or powering down the industry without following the eject drive protocol. 3) Click the Update button next to all flagged devices to automatically download and install the correct version of this driver (you can do this with the FREE version). Now, we have to assign a drive letter to the HDD to make Windows recognize it. In the case that you're out of ports, disconnect the USB hub and plug the removable drive This page includes solutions on how to resolve external hard dive not detected but not opening issue without losing data by the help of EaseUS file recovery software. Sometimes, for unknown reasons that could be related to your connection, driver, settings, or hardware issues, Windows 10 will just refuse to detect the external drive, or it'll detect the device, but it won't appear in File Explorer. You can easily access to the external hard drive or USB drive with these two methods. Reinstallation of drivers. Get affordable, reliable Windows keys at ! Though the article is specifically for Windows 10 hard drive issue, but, the solutions can also be used for other versions of Windows. Surface Pro 7 deal! Driver Easy will automatically recognize your system and find the correct drivers for it. Click the Next button again. Instant computer, just add a screen! Wir haben Lösungen für Sie. If your drive is external, unplug and plug back in both the data cable and the power cable. 3) In a pop up window, click Next and follow the instruction to finish the process. Run a disk checkup and fix internal errors on external hard drive. Here is the procedure to turn off Fast Startup in Windows 10. If the External Hard Drive if it is not recognized, showing up, detected, working or accessible even after plugging it to Windows 10/8/7, see this fix. As we know, once the drive letter is missing, Windows cannot recognize this drive but we can see it in Computer Management window. If the disk is initialized but it appears with "Unallocated" space, use these steps to create a volume, format, and assign a drive letter: Right-click the "Unallocated" space, and select the New Simple Volume option. Save big at Amazon right now. … ... Open File Explorer if you're using Windows 10 or Windows 8. The instructions outlined below should help to overcome most problems, whether you're trying to connect a traditional rotating platter hard drive, solid-state drive (SSD), or flash drive using a USB interface. The apps aim to improve productivity and communication and can be easily customized by organizations. Upgrading to Windows 10 is sure exciting, but it also comes along with problems like broken drivers or devices not being recognized. According to others, rebooting the system with an external USB device attached causes a failure and doesn’t recognize the device. If you're connecting multiple peripherals using a hub, connect the drive directly into one of the other ports available on your computer. To check whether the USB port is OK, you can unplug WD hard drive and connect it to another USB port to see if it is able to be recognized by Windows 10. Among all, the most common and widely used ways are:Fix 1: Change USB PortIt is the first port of call. 2. That’s the general idea of the ultra-portable PC Compute Sticks, but it can be hard to know which one you want. If the drive works after trying these instructions, that's good but remember that drives fail quite often. Fixing drive with an unsupported file system, Windows 10 on Windows Central – All you need to know, Microsoft announces two new apps for Teams, Bulletins and Milestones, Intel accuses former employee of taking trade secrets to Microsoft, Review: The FlexiSpot E6 is a standing desk that knows when to stop, These are the best PC sticks for when you're on the move, If you receive a warning message, click the. To do this, type ‘Device Manager’ in the Start Search box click the icon. How to Fix Hard Drive Not Recognized issue on Windows 10. If the letter is missing from the drive, you can assign a new one using these steps: If the drive doesn't have a drive letter next to the name, right-click the volume and select the Change Drive Letter and Paths option. If the disk is initialized but it appears with "Unallocated" space, use these steps to create a volume, format, and assign a drive letter: Right-click the "Unallocated" space, and select the New Simple Volume option. 1. If your drive won't show up in File Explorer, and it appears as "Offline" in Disk Management, you can use the following steps to fix the issue: If the drive appears "Offline," right-click it, and select the Online option. No spam, we promise. Windows 10 only recognizes drives using a supported file system (NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, or ReFS). Check the External Hardware:. VPN Deals: Lifetime license for $16, monthly plans at $1 & more. You can select the one that works for your more easily. It is the most common situation for a USB port to not work properly. Check Hardware connections But with the Pro version it takes just 2 clicks (and you get full support and a 30-day money back guarantee): 2) Run Driver Easy and click Scan Now button. (You can always use OneDrive or File History to back up your data.). All rights reserved. After completing these steps, the storage should be accessible in File Explorer. Go ahead and install it and see if that fixes your problem.