My Toshiba External Hard Drive Not Recognized on Mac ? Here’s What to Do!
Toshiba external hard drives have become a crucial tool for storing and moving massive amounts of data in our digital age. However, experiencing issues with your Toshiba external hard drive not showing up on your Mac can be frustrating. Whether it’s your first time using the drive or you’ve encountered this problem before, finding a quick and effective solution is essential. In this in-depth article, we will provide insights into potential reasons and go through some troubleshooting techniques to assist you figure out why your Mac isn’t detecting the Toshiba external hard disk. Let’s dive in!
Why My Toshiba External Hard Drive Is Not Recognized On Mac?
The reasons behind your Toshiba external hard drive not showing up are diverse. Therefore, it is essential to understand these reasons to determine the appropriate steps needed to fix the problem.
- Outdated macOS or Drivers.
- The connection between the external hard drive and the Mac might be loose or faulty.
- USB ports on Macs may not provide enough power.
- The external hard drive might be formatted in a file system that is not compatible with macOS.
- There might be hardware issues with the external hard drive itself.
- The external drive might not be compatible with the macOS version running on your Mac.
- Disk errors or corruption on the external hard drive
Recover Data If Your Toshiba External Hard Drive Not Showing Up
Many Mac users ask questions like “My Toshiba external hard drive is not recognized on mac” or “Toshiba external hard drive not working ” in Apple Support Communities. The most common response they received was to use data recovery software as a basic safeguard when trying to fix the problem. There softwafe can fix file system errors, recover accidentally deleted or lost data, and is applicable to various data loss scenarios.
4DDiG Mac Data Recovery is the reliable assistant you can count on when encountering the “Toshiba external hard drive not showing up” issue. It not only supports Mac and all Mac-based devices but also has a high success rate. Users don’t need to disable SIP and can recover lost or inaccessible data in three steps. Here is how to use it:
Step 1:Begin by downloading and installing the 4DDiG software on your system. Once installed, launch the application. Connect your Toshiba hard drive, which is currently not recognized by your Mac. The 4DDiG software will automatically detect the Toshiba hard drive, allowing you to select it for scanning.
Step 2: Click on “Scan,” and the Tenorshare 4DDiG will initiate the scanning process, searching for all files from the selected location. Once the scanning is complete, you can preview the recovered files by clicking on any document type and exploring further details.
Step 3:Select the desired files you wish to recover and click the “Recover” button. Then, choose a destination to save the recovered files. It is advisable not to save the retrieved files to their original location to prevent overwriting or potential data loss.
7 Ways to Fix My Toshiba External Hard Drive is Not Recognized on Mac
Here are some of the most prevalent ways how to recover a Toshiba hard drive not showing up.
Method 1: Connect Your Toshiba Drive to Other Computer
Just Connect your Toshiba hard drive to another computer to identify why my Toshiba external drive is not recognized. If it connects, the problem lies with the computer you initially connected it to.
Method 2: Examine Your USB Cable
In fact, a fraying wire could be to blame. if you face the “Toshiba external hard drive not working” problem, you should check the USB connection. If necessary, purchase a replacement.
- Check that your USB is properly connected to your Mac – this appears to be an impossible mistake, but it affects a large number of users.
- Replace the USB cable – Your cable could have been damaged recently. And some internal errors cannot be detected visually. Therefore, if your external disk is not functioning on the device, you should attempt a different cable.
Method 3: Connect Your Toshiba Drive to another computer
In some cases, the issue may not be with the Toshiba hard drive itself, but rather with your Mac. Just Connect your Toshiba hard drive to another computer to identify why my Toshiba external drive is not recognized.
If the drive works on the other computer, it indicates a problem specific to your Mac. In such situations, you may want to consider seeking assistance from Apple Support to further investigate and resolve the issue.
Method 4: Modify Your Personal Preferences
If you are using a Toshiba external hard drive on Mac for the first time, it is not surprising to encounter the “My Toshiba external hard drive is not recognized” issue. You need to check the settings to avoid your Mac is set not displaying external hard drives in Finder and on the desktop.
Step 1: Click on “Finder” at the top-left corner of the screen, and then select “Preferences.”
Step 2: Click on the “Sidebar” tab. Under the “Locations” section, check the box next to “External Disks.” This will ensure that external drives are displayed in the Finder sidebar.
If the checkmark was already present, the external drive would be visible. If the problem persists, continue reading to discover additional solutions.
Following that, you will be able to recover your Toshiba external hard drive not showing up.
Method 5. Refomat your Toshiba hard drive
An incompatible file system could be the reason behind Toshiba external hard drive not showing up. Macs generally support drives formatted in HFS+ (Mac OS Extended) or APFS (Apple File System). If your Toshiba drive is formatted in a different file system, like NTFS (commonly used on Windows), macOS may not recognize it. Here is how:
Step 1:Go to “Applications” > “Utilities” > “Disk Utility” and locate your Toshiba external hard drive in the list.
Step 2.Selet your hard drive and check its format. If it is formatted in a non-compatible format, click on “Erase.”
Step 3.Choose a compatible format like “Mac OS Extended (Journaled)” or “APFS,” click on “Erase” again.
Method 6:Run First Aid to Fix the Drive
Fixing Toshiba external hard drive not showing up is often achievable by running First Aid. This process checks for and repairs disk errors and file system issues that might be causing the problem. Here is how you do it:
Step 1:Connect your Toshiba external hard drive to your Mac. Then, you can launch “Disk Utility” in “Applications” > “Utilities.”
Step 2:Locate your Toshiba external hard drive in the list of devices on the left-hand side.
Step 3:Select the drive by clicking on it. Next, Click on the “First Aid” button at the top of the Disk Utility window.
Step 4:Click on the “Run” or “Repair Disk” button.
If the “toshiba external hard drive not working” issue persists after running First Aid, there may be other underlying reasons for the problem, and further troubleshooting may be necessary.
Method 6: Keep you Mac Up to Date
Updating your macOS can potentially fix the issue of Toshiba’s external hard drive not showing up. macOS updates often include improvements, bug fixes, and driver updates that can enhance compatibility with external devices, including external hard drives. Here is how:
Step 1: Right-click the Apple logo in the top right corner to open System Preferences.
Step 2: Locate and launch Software Update to look for system updates.
Step 3: Back up your important files and follow the prompts to reinstall your operating system.
How to Stop Toshiba’s External Hard Drive Not Working in the Future?
To prevent future issues with Toshiba’s external hard drive not working, you can follow these tips and best practices:
- Always use high-quality USB or Thunderbolt cables to connect the external hard drive to your computer.
- Always eject the external hard drive properly.
- Regularly update your operating system, drivers, and firmware.
- Regularly back up your important files on multiple storage devices or cloud services.
- Run regular antivirus scans on your computer.
- Treat the external hard drive with care and avoid dropping it or subjecting it to physical shocks.
The best way to address the issue of “Toshiba external hard drive not showing up” is to prevent it from occurring in the first place.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a small amount of vigilance goes a long way toward assuring the reason behind Toshiba external hard drive not showing up. Respect its compatibility, update the parts that need to be updated, and treat it carefully. Remember to keep an eye out for any potential red flags and to seek assistance immediately if problems persist. You can cultivate a long-lasting and trustworthy relationship with your Toshiba external hard drive and your Mac if you are proactive and attentive.
FAQs about My Toshiba External Hard Drive is Not Recognized on Mac
Q:Why my Toshiba external hard drive is not recognized?
A:There may be several causes, including incompatible file system or drivers, connection issues, hardware failure, power supply problems and more.
Q:How do I get my Toshiba external hard drive to work on my Mac?
A:To get your Toshiba external hard drive to work on your Mac:
1.Securely plug the cable.
2.Ensure the drive is powered on.
3.Verify file system compatibility.
4.Update macOS.
5.Restart your Mac.
6.Try a different port or cable.
7.Run First Aid in Disk Utility to check for errors.
8.Contact Toshiba support if needed.
Q:How do I make my external hard drive compatible with my Mac?
A:Here is how to make your external hard drive compatible with your Mac:
1.Open “Disk Utility” on your Mac.
2.Select the drive and look for the “Format” information.
3.If the current file system is not compatible with macOS, click “Erase.”
4.Choose a macOS-compatible format.
