Mac Hard Drive Not Showing Up in Disk Utility

Are you experiencing issues with your external hard drive not showing up in Disk Utility on your Mac? Don't worry, we've got you covered. In this article, we'll walk you through some troubleshooting steps to help resolve the problem.

Before we begin, it's essential to know that resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) might also prove useful in resolving the issue. To reset SMC, press and hold Control + Option + Shift on your keyboard for about 7 seconds. This action will reset both NVRAM and PRAM.

Another step you can take is to reset NVRAM, which saves the settings of your computer while power is turned off. Resetting NVRAM might help your Mac recognize external drives. To do this, press and hold Option + Command + P + R on your keyboard for about 20 seconds before you hear Mac's startup sound.

If the issue persists, try updating to the latest version of macOS. Sometimes, updating the operating system can resolve connectivity problems. You can check for updates by going to the Apple menu and clicking on About This Mac, then selecting Software Update.

Another possible solution is to enable the 'Hard disks and External disks' options under the 'Show these items in the sidebar' setting. To do this, go to Finder > Preferences > Show these items on the desktop, and make sure both options are enabled.

If you're still having trouble detecting your external drive, try checking the Finder's settings. One of the reasons your Mac might not display your external drive is due to the Finder's settings. You can enable the Finder to detect the external drives by going to Finder > Preferences > Sidebar, and making sure both options are enabled under 'Show these items on the desktop'.

Another troubleshooting step you can take is to check if your Mac's USB port is faulty or not working properly. You can do this by plugging in other drives or computer peripherals to see if they're recognized by your Mac.

If none of these steps resolve the issue, it may be worth trying a different USB port or even attaching the external hard drive to another laptop to rule out any issues with the drive itself.

By following these troubleshooting steps, you should be able to identify and resolve the issue causing your external hard drive not to show up in Disk Utility on your Mac.

Mac hard drive not showing up in disk utility