This is a problem because portable hard drives are always helpful if you move big files or need to back up your files, and if they are not showing up, it becomes impossible. Our recommended solutions will come in handy.

Why is my computer not detecting my external hard drive?

There could be several reasons why your computer is not detecting your external hard drive, including the following:

USB connection issues – Ensure that the USB cable is correctly connected to the computer and the external hard drive and that it is not damaged. Power supply issues – If the external hard drive does not receive enough power from the computer, it may not be detected.  Driver issues – Ensure you have the latest drivers installed for your external hard drive. File system compatibility – If the external hard drive is formatted in a file system incompatible with your computer, it may not be detected. Try reformatting the drive to a compatible file system such as NTFS or FAT32. Hard drive malfunction – If none of the above solutions work, the external hard drive may malfunction and need to be repaired or replaced.

It’s also possible that a new hard drive won’t appear for other reasons, but luckily, this guide will help you with this issue.

What can I do if the external hard drive is not showing on Windows 10?

Before you try our recommended solutions, check the cable and test the hard drive on a different PC. If the same problem appears on another PC, the problem is most likely related to your portable hard drive.

1. Manually update your drivers

Windows will now search for a suitable driver online and install it automatically. After the driver is installed, check if the problem is still there. In addition, users are recommending updating the Universal Serial Bus Controller driver, so be sure to try that as well (also from the Disk drives menu). In addition, you might want to check the manufacturer’s website for the latest drivers. Alternatively, you can use third-party software to update all your drivers automatically. DriverFix is an excellent solution to keep all drivers up-to-date. DriversFix has a database of over 18 million driver files to update outdated drivers safely. A simple scan and your PC will be optimized within minutes to avoid these issues.

2. Change the portable hard drive letter and format it

2.1 Change the drive letter

If Disk Management shows that your portable hard drive is filled with unallocated space, you might want to format your portable hard drive.

2.2 Format the portable drive

If you want to automate the task a little bit and make this job easier, you can change your portable drive letter with a disk management tool.

4. Run the Hardware troubleshooter

Once the troubleshooting process is finished, check if the problem is still there. SPONSORED A dedicated third-party app can efficiently help you fix all potential problems affecting your PC’s optimal functioning. On this note, we recommend using Ashampoo WinOptimizer. The tool offers in-depth cleaning, system optimization, and diagnosis in an all-inclusive intuitive screen. Installation is easy and quick, and the optimization and diagnosis process is likewise. The interface brings an enhanced system details view, extensive details on installed hardware, plus dashboards for always up-to-date data and instant feature access. What you will need in this particular case is the One-Click Optimizer, which you can find under System Maintenance. The tool will help you find web browsing traces, hidden data junk, superfluous Registry entries, and system settings, such as your drivers, that need tuning. Further, you can use the task scheduler to perform these functions at custom intervals and fully automatically.

5. Uninstall problematic drivers

Some users recommend uninstalling all devices under Universal Serial Bus Controllers section, so be sure to try that as well.

6. Install Mass Store Device driver

After this driver is installed, check and see if the problem is resolved. We also have to mention that if your hard drive is formatted using Linux or Mac with ext4 or HFS Plus File system type, you won’t be able to access it on Windows 10 until you format it on Windows. If you have read through it, you should find success using one of the solutions we have provided. Use the comments section below if you have any information to share or questions.

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