External hard drives don't show up in El Capitan: UNRESOLVED

[Ebenezum]

Just to rule out issue within the drive itself: Have you tested the drive with another Mac that has older OS installed?

I believe the problem is within EL Capitan USB drivers and to my knowledge there is little choice but hope Apple fixes it.

You can however report it to Apple, if enough people complain they might fix it quicker...

This problem is one of the reasons I downgraded to Mavericks, all external drives work again without problems!

 

[viasavannah]

I have found a solution (or at least, a solution for me).

After doing an online backup, a complete harddrive wipe, and taking my mid-2009 macbook pro back to Snow Leopard, my external HD was still not recognized. I updated to El Capitan, still nothing. I bought an external powered USB hub, still nothing. Then I found https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3510032 and in looking through that thread, saw the micro usb fix.

Plugged in my (Toshiba Canovio Slim II) hd using a micro usb from my kindle instead of a regular usb cord, and there it was! No promises that this is a fix for everything, or a long-term fix, but it is working for me for now.

 

[WeeJavaDude]

Interesting solution that totally does not make any sense. My drive has been connected for at least two years and two separate systems. Don't have another MAC, so I will have to see how it works on our PC (Depending ofcourse on the type of formatting it originally had).

 

[xlaplex]

We need more info to help.

Is Finder > Preferences > General > Show Items on the Desktop > External disks checked?

If it IS then check that the drive is being mounted. In the terminal:

ls /Volumes/

or

diskutil info -all

(And look for "Mounted Yes" under your volume

If its NOT listed there then check it is being recognised. In the terminal:

diskutil list

[doublepost=1458119131][/doublepost]Hey thanks it work well the finder section thats what i try big up!!!!!!!

 

[M10461]

I think the issue may have to do with USB power. My portable drive without an external power source can not mount (though it shows in system report and the light flashes). A drive with external power and the same formatting mounts without issue.

 

[Fishrrman]

M10461 wrote:
"My portable drive without an external power source can not mount (though it shows in system report and the light flashes). A drive with external power and the same formatting mounts without issue."

That's probably the case.
Sometimes an external drive that relies on bus power can get "half started" -- the platters may spin, but it will never get "all the way mounted" on the desktop.

Connecting through a USB3 hub WITH built-in power may help.
But it seems that with El Capitan, USB3 hubs can be problematical, as well!

 

[gerarddezeeuw]

yes, the issue with USB devices.

[doublepost=1459513726][/doublepost]In my experience the issue could be resolved by an SMC reset.

 

[hkbrone]

I have found a solution (or at least, a solution for me).

After doing an online backup, a complete harddrive wipe, and taking my mid-2009 macbook pro back to Snow Leopard, my external HD was still not recognized. I updated to El Capitan, still nothing. I bought an external powered USB hub, still nothing. Then I found https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3510032 and in looking through that thread, saw the micro usb fix.

Plugged in my (Toshiba Canovio Slim II) hd using a micro usb from my kindle instead of a regular usb cord, and there it was! No promises that this is a fix for everything, or a long-term fix, but it is working for me for now.

I can confirm the above fixed the issue for me. I have a an external seagate drive usb 3. it uses the double ended tip for usb 3. i switched to a normal usb to micro usb cable and the drive loaded up with out a hitch. This is a on a 2015 MBpro. Next step I will try to use a nother usb 3.0 cable.

 

[fair winds]

We need more info to help.

Is Finder > Preferences > General > Show Items on the Desktop > External disks checked?

If it IS then check that the drive is being mounted. In the terminal:

ls /Volumes/

or

diskutil info -all

(And look for "Mounted Yes" under your volume

If its NOT listed there then check it is being recognised. In the terminal:

diskutil list

Just backed up important files from an older MBP (Yosemite) to carry over to my new MBP with factory installed El Cap. I was _not_ happy when I couldn't mount the disk (not after the internal tussle over going back to Windows w/a $1000 PC or a $2300 15" MCP). I tried a bunch of things from this thread to get my, prom refresh, unlocking the external drive (on MB running Yosemite) then, the last thing I did was follow this suggestion in terminal - still nothing, but a restart w/ the disk attached. It showed up! Which one item fixed it - I can't say, but I'm happy to have the disk mounted and working.
I have another identical USB disk. If it does the same thing I'll try a more systematic approach and see if I have have anything useful to report back. Thanks to everyone who takes the time to read these threads and offer useful suggestions!

 

[fair winds]

Iomega ego 1TB USB Drive. 15" MBP OS 10.11.4
Checked my second USB drive and see that the simple solution for my system is to either start the computer with the drive attached or soft restart after attaching the drive. It mounts and it works normally. Every time I unmount/reattach an external drive I have to restart. USB thumb drive works normally.

 

[jkrukow]

I've tested this with 2 external hard drives I own, both drives do not show up when plugged in. One is USB and the other is Firewire 800. Anybody else seeing this?

Any change you are using Tuxera for NTFS.
I had/have the same problem. I can see my hard disk in Disk utilities but I can't maont them.
Then I tried to open Tuxera where they show and from Tuxera I can mount them.
It has to be done manually each time, but at least that is better than not being able to see them at all.
I think it's a problem in the latest OSX upgrade (don't remenber having that problem before), so I hope it's going to be solved with the next upgrade.

 

[poet4you]

I upgraded yesterday and found the message external disk was disconnected improperly. I did not disconnect it from the USB drive. The icon on my screen would disappear, then it would reappear. I was able to get it to do backup but this has been happening all day. What is the cure? I suspect the cure is the next upgrade. I checked my disk utility in Applications and my external drive is listed there.

[doublepost=1462125374][/doublepost]The problem is resolved. It had to do with the sleep setting in system preferences. Under Energy Saver in the power adapter tab change setting to never for computer sleep and uncheck box put hard disks to sleep when possible.

 

[Nicolene]

I've tested this with 2 external hard drives I own, both drives do not show up when plugged in. One is USB and the other is Firewire 800. Anybody else seeing this?

Yes, I have the same problem, and it has not yet been solved by Apple, despite the fact that users have been complaining since middle 2015. I was advised by the technicians at an iStore in Pretoria, South Africa to buy a new superdrive. They told me the superdrive had a problem. I bought a new one, and tested it. It did not work either. I then used my husband's Macbook and it worked. He had not yet upgraded to El Capitan.

 

[FraserB]

Just backed up important files from an older MBP (Yosemite) to carry over to my new MBP with factory installed El Cap. I was _not_ happy when I couldn't mount the disk (not after the internal tussle over going back to Windows w/a $1000 PC or a $2300 15" MCP). I tried a bunch of things from this thread to get my, prom refresh, unlocking the external drive (on MB running Yosemite) then, the last thing I did was follow this suggestion in terminal - still nothing, but a restart w/ the disk attached. It showed up! Which one item fixed it - I can't say, but I'm happy to have the disk mounted and working.
I have another identical USB disk. If it does the same thing I'll try a more systematic approach and see if I have have anything useful to report back. Thanks to everyone who takes the time to read these threads and offer useful suggestions!

[doublepost=1465531663][/doublepost]Weird thing that worked for me after updating to 10.11.5 was to go to Finder/Preferences and toggle the view External HD option OFF, and then back on again. Voila! the HD appeared on my desktop.

 

[RednBlue]

Solved the problem - ditched the Apple Superdrive and replaced it with the OWC equivalent. Works every time.

 

[florida33441]

I've tested this with 2 external hard drives I own, both drives do not show up when plugged in. One is USB and the other is Firewire 800. Anybody else seeing this?

[doublepost=1466095437][/doublepost]

I've tested this with 2 external hard drives I own, both drives do not show up when plugged in. One is USB and the other is Firewire 800. Anybody else seeing this?

same here, it's been driving me crazy. My Verbatim no longer is recognized. Any get a solution that works?

 

[MikeTheBike2010]

I've tested this with 2 external hard drives I own, both drives do not show up when plugged in. One is USB and the other is Firewire 800. Anybody else seeing this?

My Macbook Pro 2012 has just stopped showing my Samsung 1TB USB3 External Hard Drive as being connected.

It is connected as it has power and shows under system information.

A separate USB Memory stick works without issue in either port?

Assuming the Samsung HD is not at fault any suggestions as to what I can try please?

 

[chillg8r]

I Have had the same problem with my Toshiba external drive and, while I have no explanation as to why this works, I attached a USB extender and it mounts most of the time. If I don't use the extender it won't mount ever. Sometimes I still have to try a couple of times but it will always mount now. If you have an extender lying around its worth a shot.

I told this to a "Genius" and he had no explanation either......

 

[tomasc]

hello!! I have a problem here and i am going crazy I'll show what happens to me and the external hard drive i have (samsung)

View attachment 589045 View attachment 589046

I don't know what to do to be able to use it. Hopefully someone knows what is going on

thanks in advance

Hello,

I have the exactly same problem as you (saw your screenshot).

Did you solve this??

Thanks.

 

[bigdolph88]

My Blu-Ray external drive wasn't seeing the media even though it showed as mounted in util. I tried this technique from an earlier post and it worked:

"I asked Apple. They suggested an 'smc reset'. Switch off your computer. Remove all peripherals, including keyboard, screens and power cable. Push the power button for 5 seconds (note: when there is no power!). Switch on: my hard disks appeared!"

 

[rjjacobson]

My Blu-Ray external drive wasn't seeing the media even though it showed as mounted in util. I tried this technique from an earlier post and it worked:

"I asked Apple. They suggested an 'smc reset'. Switch off your computer. Remove all peripherals, including keyboard, screens and power cable. Push the power button for 5 seconds (note: when there is no power!). Switch on: my hard disks appeared!"

I had just gotten a new early 2015 12 Macbook for my wife. It has of course the USB-c port. She is not a touch pad user so wanted her wired USB mouse and I was hoping to find way to have both. I got a powered USB external hub now attached into the apple hub that gives you one USB-3 plus the USB-c for charging.

Her old HD worked but I found a deal on a larger 1TB Segate Backup Plus Slim and it would power on the powered hub but not seen. It was fine on my 15 inch Macbook Pro where I had formatted it as a Mac drive but not seen

Well after reading lots of sites and then finally your comment I tried this SMC reset and dang it it did work. Now backing up to the new Segate Backup Plus Slim HD. thanks for info

Russ Jacobson

 

[Bossdrums]

HI,

I' have the exact same issue with my macbook pro retina (early 2015) running 10.11.6....the only way I can get the drive to appear in, including in disk util etc is by rebooting the laptop...I was hoping to get away from rebooting to fix a problem, hence why moved from windows to mac....hope there's a fix for this issue soon.

 

[sellamiam]

External Hard Drive (WD My Passport ) not recognized by MacBook Pro (retina 13” 2015 model) after installing EL Capitan 10.11.6 update



I called apple care, this is how we fixed it:


Finder=>Preferences=> External disk (uncheck)


Restart


Finder=>Preferences=> External disk (check)


Restart


I hope it will work for you as well
[doublepost=1473382410][/doublepost]

I think the issue may have to do with USB power. My portable drive without an external power source can not mount (though it shows in system report and the light flashes). A drive with external power and the same formatting mounts without issue.

External Hard Drive not recognized by MacBook Pro (retina 13” 2015 model) after installing EL Capitan 10.11.6 update




I called apple care, this is how we fixed it:


Finder=>Preferences=> External disk (uncheck)


Restart


Finder=>Preferences=> External disk (check)


Restart


I hope it will work for you as well
[doublepost=1473382445][/doublepost]

HI,

I' have the exact same issue with my macbook pro retina (early 2015) running 10.11.6....the only way I can get the drive to appear in, including in disk util etc is by rebooting the laptop...I was hoping to get away from rebooting to fix a problem, hence why moved from windows to mac....hope there's a fix for this issue soon.

External Hard Drive not recognized by MacBook Pro (retina 13” 2015 model) after installing EL Capitan 10.11.6 update




I called apple care, this is how we fixed it:


Finder=>Preferences=> External disk (uncheck)


Restart


Finder=>Preferences=> External disk (check)


Restart


I hope it will work for you as well
[doublepost=1473382487][/doublepost]

Hello,

I have the exactly same problem as you (saw your screenshot).

Did you solve this??

Thanks.

External Hard Drive not recognized by MacBook Pro (retina 13” 2015 model) after installing EL Capitan 10.11.6 update




I called apple care, this is how we fixed it:


Finder=>Preferences=> External disk (uncheck)


Restart


Finder=>Preferences=> External disk (check)


Restart


I hope it will work for you as well

 

[Charkles]

I asked Apple. They suggested an 'smc reset'. Switch off your computer. Remove all peripherals, including keyboard, screens and power cable. Push the power button for 5 seconds (note: when there is no power!). Switch on: my hard disks appeared!

Thank you! This solution worked! Hopefully Apple will fix this glitch soon with the El Capitan OSX operating system.

 

[Ebenezum]

Thank you! This solution worked! Hopefully Apple will fix this glitch soon with the El Capitan OSX operating system.

Since Sierra is released I'm not holding my breath, Apple tends to release only security updates for older OS...