Can't find external drive I just plugged in

[dapork]

I just got a new MBP complete with Sierra. I updated from an old 2009 MacBook so a lot's different.

First of all, no Macintosh HD on the desktop. I finally found it in the "Go" menu.

More importantly I can't figure out how to access an external drive I plugged in. It used to show up on the desktop.

Would appreciate it if someone can help get a little oriented.

 

[Weaselboy]

Click on your Desktop then hit command-comma to bring up the Finder preferences window then check the two boxes I marked.

 

[dapork]

Click on your Desktop then hit command-comma to bring up the Finder preferences window then check the two boxes I marked.

View attachment 685290

Hey thanks for the quick reply.

The external drive still isn't showing up though. It's a 1 terabyte Toshiba drive, plugged in through a USB adaptor.

I used it with Time Machine to back up my old computer.

 

[Weaselboy]

Hey thanks for the quick reply.

The external drive still isn't showing up though. It's a 1 terabyte Toshiba drive, plugged in through a USB adaptor.

I used it with Time Machine to back up my old computer.

If you start Disk Utility can you see the drive there in the left column?

If not, what kind of adaptor are you using? Does that adaptor work with anything else you could test with like maybe and old mouse or something.

 

[dapork]

I restarted the computer and the drive was there. All good I guess.

 

[jlc1978]

I restarted the computer and the drive was there. All good I guess.

There is some sort of bug with Sierra and USB drives. For example, if the Mac sleeps the drives won't reappear but must be disconnected or the Mac restarted to get them to rrappear in Finder.

 

[JohnDS]

Also check "Connected Servers".

Then go the SideBar tab and check all the boxes there.

 

[dapork]

I no longer had the problem. After that initial restart it's been showing up every time I plugged it in. It never showed up in the sidebar btw.