How To Open External Hard Drive On Windows 10

External difficult bulldoze not showing upwardly on Windows ten/eleven [Solved]

Passionate well-nigh all elements related to Windows and combined with his innate marvel, Ivan has delved deep into understanding this operating arrangement, with a specialization in drivers and driver troubleshooting. When he's not tackling... Read more than

Updated: Mar 3, 2022

Posted: July 2020

Co-ordinate to users, Windows ten sometimes doesn't recognize the portable difficult bulldoze.
It is a common error, but we've got only the right steps that you can follow to fix this problem, then go along reading.
To be prepared for anything, you can cheque out more than mutual errors with a hard bulldoze in our split up Hard Drive Troubleshooting page.
Fifty-fifty more articles on the aforementioned topic can be establish in the Peripherals Troubleshooting section.

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Portable difficult drives are always useful if yous're moving large files, or if you lot just need to back up your files.

However, it seems that some users are complaining that Windows 10 does not recognize the portable hard drive, so let's see if in that location'southward a way to fix that.

What can I do if my external hard drive is not showing upwards Windows 11?

Many users reported that Windows 11 is not recognizing USB devices, and this can include storage devices such as your external hard drive.

This isn't the only issue that users experienced, and many claim that hard drive is missing after Windows 11 update, and then brand certain to check if your bulldoze is properly configured.

Information technology's also possible that a new hard drive won't show upwardly for other reasons, but luckily for you lot, this guide will be able to assistance you out with this upshot.

What to practice if Windows x does not recognize portable hard bulldoze?

Portable hard drives are great for file backup, but sometimes your device might not be recognized. Speaking of problems, here are some common hard drive problems reported by users:

External difficult drive not showing up in D isk M anagement – This tin can be a big problem, and if yous encounter information technology, be sure that your hard bulldoze is properly connected to your PC.
Tin can't access external hard drive Windows 10 – Many users reported that they can't access their hard drive on Windows 10. If that's the case, brand sure that you assign a different letter to your hard drive. Also, be sure to bank check if your difficult drive is formatted.
External hd non detected in D isk M anagement – Sometimes your hd might non show upward in Disk Management at all. That can be due to your drivers, and so be sure to keep them up to appointment.
Windows doesn't recognize the USB device/ drive/ stick – This trouble can occur with almost whatever USB storage device, and fifty-fifty if y'all don't utilise an external hard drive, you should exist able to use most of our solutions with other devices.

i. Manually update your drivers

Printing Windows Key + 10 to open Win + Ten menu and choose Device Managing director from the listing.
Locate Disk drives section and expand it.
Bank check if any of the listed devices accept a yellow exclamation marking next to it. If there is an assertion mark adjacent to your device this means that at that place might be a driver upshot. Correct-click the device and choose Update Commuter.
Select Search automatically for driver software.

Windows will now search for a suitable driver online and install it automatically. Afterward the driver is installed, check if the problem is still at that place.

In addition, users are recommending updating Universal Serial Passenger vehicle Controller driver, so be certain to try that besides (also from the Disk drives bill of fare).

In addition, you might desire to check the manufacturer's website for the latest drivers.

2. Change portable hard drive letter / Format your portable hard drive

Press Windows Primal + 10 and choose Disk Management from the menu.
Locate your portable difficult drive in Disk Management and right-click information technology. Cull Modify Drive Letter and Paths.
A new window volition appear showing you the current letter of your portable hard drive.
Click Alter and choose a new alphabetic character for it. Make sure that you lot choose the letter that you won't assign to some other drive.
You'll exist presented with a dialog confirming that you wish to modify the letter of the bulldoze. Select Yeah to change the drive letter.

If Deejay Management shows your portable hard drive filled with unallocated infinite you might want to format your portable hard bulldoze.

Formatting a drive will delete all files from it, and so make sure that yous backup important files first.

To format the portable difficult drive do the following:

Open Deejay Direction.
Right-click your portable hard drive and cull Format from the menu.
Enter the label for your hard drive, choose File organization type.
Press OK and expect until your portable difficult drive is formatted.

If you desire to automate the chore a little bit and make this job easier, you tin alter your portable drive letter with a disk direction tool.

iii. Employ a third-party app to optimize your PC

It is possible that some PC settings are non correct and need optimization, hence your difficult drive is non recognized. A defended 3rd-party app can efficiently assistance you to set all potential problems that bear upon the optimal functioning of your PC.

Expert Tip: Some PC issues are hard to tackle, especially when it comes to corrupted repositories or missing Windows files. If you lot are having troubles fixing an error, your organization may be partially broken. We recommend installing Restoro, a tool that will scan your machine and place what the fault is.
Click here to download and start repairing.

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 extremely easy and quick, and the optimization and diagnosis process also. The interface brings enhanced system details view, extensive details on installed hardware, plus dashboards for always upwardly-to-date data and instant feature admission.

What yous will need in this particular case is the I-Click Optimizer that yous tin can find under Arrangement Maintenance. The tool will help you discover web browsing traces, hidden data junk, superfluous Registry entries, and arrangement settings, such as your drivers, that need tuning.

Farther on, you tin can use the task scheduler to perform whatever of these functions at custom intervals and fully automatically.

four. Run the Hardware troubleshooter

Press Windows Cardinal + I to open up the Settings app.
Go to the Update & Security department.
Select Troubleshoot from the carte du jour on the left and in the right pane choose Hardware and Devices. Now click Run the troubleshooter push.
Follow the instructions on the screen to consummate the troubleshooter.

In one case the troubleshooting process is finished, check if the problem is still there.

5. Uninstall problematic drivers

Open up Device Manager as shown higher up, in solution no.2.
Locate your portable hard drive, right-click information technology and choose Uninstall device from the carte.
Click Uninstall to remove the driver.
At present click Scan for hardware changes icon. Windows will install the default drivers for your portable hard drive.

Some users are recommending uninstalling all devices under Universal Serial Motorbus Controllers section, then be sure to try that also.

vi. Check the cable and effort the hard drive on a different PC

If your Windows doesn't recognize the portable hard drive, information technology's possible that in that location's an outcome with its cable.

Exist sure to audit your cable, and if your cable is cleaved, you'll need to supercede it. In addition, you tin try the portable hard drive on a dissimilar PC.

If the same problem appears on some other PC, the problem is most likely related to your portable hard drive.

Most likely the difficult drive isn't properly configured or formatted, and then you lot'll need to configure it properly before yous can utilise it.

seven. Install Mass Shop Device driver

Open Device Manager as mentioned in a higher place in the second solution.
Locate your portable hard bulldoze, right-click information technology and cull Update commuter.
Select Browse my computer for driver software.
Select Permit me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer.
Now select the Mass Storage Device driver and install it.

After this driver is installed, check and see if the problem is resolved.

viii. Inspect your portable difficult drive

If Windows 10 can't recognize your hard drive, you might have to check a few things earlier using it. Y'all need to check the following:

Brand sure that your difficult bulldoze is turned on. Sometimes you lot might have problems with your difficult drive merely because it'due south non turned on. To fix the problem, check your drive for the power switch and printing it. If your hard drive has a power cable, be certain that you connect information technology.
Connect the drive to a different port. In some rare cases, it might happen that your USB port isn't working properly. Your USB port might be damaged, or it might not be fully compatible with your hard drive.
Connect the difficult drive directly to your PC. Many users tend to apply USB hubs in order to connect multiple USB devices to a single port. Even though USB hubs are quite useful, your hard drive might not work if you connect it to the USB hub. To fix the problem, connect the difficult drive directly to your PC and check if that helps.

We too take to mention that if your difficult drive is formatted using Linux or Mac with ext4 or HFS Plus File system blazon you won't be able to access it on Windows ten until you format it on Windows.

If you accept any comments or questions, only attain to the comments section below.

Frequently Asked Questions

How exercise I fix an unresponsive external hard drive?
What are the disadvantages of a portable hard drive?

The advantages of using a portable HDD are more numerous than the disadvantages. However, equally whatever slice of hardware, HDDs have a lifespan and nearly functionality errors you encounter tin can be stock-still.
How can I recover data from a dead hard bulldoze?