Seagate External Hard Drive Not Showing Up Mac
Users may encounter a Seagate external hard drive not showing up on their Mac for several reasons. Here are the potential causes for this issue:
?Incorrect Formatting: The Seagate hard drive might be formatted in a file system incompatible with macOS, such as NTFS, without a driver to support read-write functionality.
??Driver Issues: If the hard drive uses a proprietary or specific driver to function on Mac, the absence or outdated version of this driver can prevent the drive from being recognized.
??Corrupt File System: The file system on the hard drive might be corrupted due to sudden power loss, improper ejection, or other system malfunctions.
??Hardware Failure: Physical damage to the hard drive, cable, or the connection port on the Mac can result in the drive not being detected.
To address these issues, users can try troubleshooting steps such as checking for hardware damage, using Disk Utility to repair or reformat the drive (if data is not critical), and ensuring that the Mac's operating system is up to date. Additionally, utilizing third-party data recovery software like EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard can assist in recovering data from a non-functioning hard drive if the issue is related to software rather than hardware failure.
Rescue Data from Not Showing Seagate External Hard Drive on Mac
Some of the connection failures of a Seagate external hard drive result in data loss. To the rescue, the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac allows users to back up all their important data. The data recovery software by EaseUS supports different kinds of recoveries, such as recovering formatted hard drive Mac, restoring from OS crash, raw disk, and more.
Mac users can recover more than 250 different types of files with the help of EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac. For recovering data from the Seagate external hard drive, users have to follow three simple steps, and the recovery process will begin.
Step 1. Search for lost files
Correctly connect your Seagate external hard drive to your Mac. Launch EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac, and select the Seagate external hard disk. Then, click "Search for lost files" to find lost/deleted files on your external devices.
Step 2. Filter and find lost files
After the scan, all file types will be presented in the left panel. Select the file type to find the files you want on your Seagate external devices.
Step 3. Preview and recover
Click the file and preview it. Then, select the files you want to recover and click the "Recover" button. You can save your data to local and cloud drives. Do not save the recovered files on the Seagate external hard drive.
How to Fix Seagate External Hard Drive Not Showing Up on Mac Quickly
When a Seagate external hard drive fails to appear on a Mac, several quick fixes can be attempted to resolve the issue:
1. Check Connections: Ensure the USB cable is securely connected to both the hard drive and the Mac. You can also try to use a different USB cable or a different USB port on your Mac.
2. Restart Your Mac: Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve communication issues between the drive and the computer.
3. Check File System Compatibility: The drive may be formatted in a way that is not natively supported by macOS (e.g., NTFS without a driver)
4. Check for Hardware Failure: Listen for any unusual noises coming from the hard drive, which could indicate physical damage.
5. Reboot in Safe Mode: Hold down the Shift key while booting up your Mac to enter Safe Mode. This can help bypass certain processes that might be causing conflicts with the drive.
If the quick fixes failed to solve the Seagate external hard drive not showing up on Mac, keep reading to find more solutions in this passage.
Here's a video can help you fix this Seagate issue on Mac:
Fix 1. Show Seagate External Hard Drive on Mac by Adjusting Finder Settings
To address the invisibility of your Seagate external hard drive on your Mac, you can modify the Finder's preferences. Follow these detailed instructions to adjust your settings accordingly:
领英推荐
Step 1. Access Finder Preferences by opening the Finder application. Proceed to the Preferences section and select the Sidebar option.
Step 2. Within the Sidebar preferences, locate and mark the checkbox next to 'External Disk'. This setting ensures that your Seagate external hard drive is displayed within the Finder window.
Step 3. Shift your focus to the General tab. Under 'Show These Items on the Desktop', ensure that 'External Disks' is checked. This step guarantees that your Seagate external hard drive will also be visible on the desktop upon connection.
Fix 2. Solve Seagate External Hard Drive Not Showing by Mounting It
Should your Seagate external hard drive be detectable within the Disk Utility, you can exhale with relief, knowing that your device isn't suffering from any critical issues. Typically, making the Seagate hard disk mountable suffices to regain accessibility. Ordinarily, the operating system takes care of mounting the hard drive promptly upon connecting the USB cable. Yet, should your Seagate hard drive remain unmounted, there are manual steps you can take to initiate the mounting process. Adhere to the outlined procedure below to forcefully mount an external hard drive:
Step 1. Plug your external hard drive into your Mac using the appropriate cable (usually USB or Thunderbolt). Make sure the connection is secure.
Step 2. Open Disk Utility. You can find Disk Utility in the Applications > Utilities folder or by searching for it in Spotlight (press Command + Space and type “Disk Utility”).
Step 3. Once Disk Utility is open, look for your Seagate external hard drive in the list of devices on the left-hand side.
Step 4. If the Seagate external hard drive is listed but not mounted, click on it to select it, and then click the “Mount” button at the top of the Disk Utility window. If the “Mount” button is grayed out, it means the drive is already mounted, or there’s an issue with the drive.
Fix 3. Run First Aid to Repair Not Showing Seagate External Hard Drive
Repairing the Seagate external hard drive on a Mac can be accomplished using the built-in Disk Utility feature, which includes a First Aid tool designed to diagnose and repair issues with volumes and their file systems. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use this feature:
Step 1. Ensure your external hard drive is securely connected to your Mac. Use the appropriate cable (usually USB or Thunderbolt) and make sure the connection is stable.
Step 2. Launch Disk Utility from your Mac. You can find Disk Utility in the Applications > Utilities folder or quickly access it by using Spotlight (Command + Space) and typing "Disk Utility".
Step 3. Once Disk Utility opens, you’ll see a list of drives on the left side of the window. Find and select your external hard drive from this list. Make sure you select the correct drive to avoid accidentally performing operations on the wrong volume.
Step 4. After selecting the external hard drive, click on the "First Aid" button at the top of the Disk Utility window. This will open a new window where you can initiate the repair process.
Step 5. In the First Aid window, click the "Run" button to start the repair process. Disk Utility will begin analyzing the drive for issues and will attempt to repair any found problems.
Fix 4. Fix Seagate External HDD Not Showing Up on Mac by Formatting
Formatting a Seagate external hard drive on a Mac can be achieved through the built-in Disk Utility application. This process allows you to change the file system of the drive, which can affect compatibility with other operating systems, and it also clears all existing data on the drive. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to format your Seagate external hard drive on a Mac:
Step 1. Once Disk Utility opens, you'll see a list of connected drives. Select your Seagate external hard drive from this list. Be careful to select the correct drive to avoid formatting the wrong one.
Step 2. After selecting the drive, click on the "Erase" button at the top of the Disk Utility window.
Step 3. Select the format that suits your needs. If you want the drive to be fully compatible with macOS, choose "APFS" or "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
Step 4. Name the volume and review the settings you've chosen. Once you're satisfied, click the "Erase" button at the bottom right corner of the window.
The formatting process will begin. Depending on the size of the drive, this could take a few minutes. Do not disconnect the drive or close Disk Utility during this process.
Conclusion
There exist several potential causes for a Seagate external hard disk to not be detected by Mac OS X. There are several solutions available to address the issue of connection failure. You can try any of the solutions in this post if your Seagate external hard drive is not detected by Mac. You can retrieve your crucial data using the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard if you lose it during the connection process.