How to Fix a USB Drive Not Showing Up on Mac: Step-by-Step Guide
It’s frustrating when you plug a USB drive into your Mac, only to find that it’s not showing up.
It’s frustrating when you plug a USB drive into your Mac, only to find that it’s not showing up. Whether it's a flash drive with important documents or an external hard drive filled with photos, the inability to access your data can cause concern. Fortunately, there are several effective methods to fix this issue. In this article, we’ll guide you through troubleshooting steps and introduce a powerful tool for recovering files if necessary—free file recovery software for Mac.
Why a USB Drive May Not Show Up on Mac
Before diving into solutions, it's helpful to understand why your USB drive might not appear:
Faulty USB ports or cables
Outdated macOS or driver issues
File system incompatibility
Drive corruption or formatting errors
Improper ejection from a previous session
Now let’s go through each solution to resolve this.
1. Check Physical Connections
Start with the basics:
Try a different USB port: Sometimes, a specific port may not function.
Try another cable or adapter (if using a USB-C to USB-A converter).
Test the USB on another computer to verify if the issue is with the Mac or the drive itself.
2. Check Finder and Desktop Preferences
Your Mac might recognize the drive, but it’s not showing it:
Open Finder > Settings > General, and make sure External disks is checked under "Show these items on the desktop."
Go to Finder > Settings > Sidebar and ensure "External disks" is also selected under "Locations."
3. Use Disk Utility
If the USB drive is not appearing in Finder, open Disk Utility:
Go to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility.
Look for your drive on the left panel. If it's there but grayed out, click it and select Mount.
If the mount option is unavailable, click First Aid to check and repair the disk.
This can help fix minor disk errors and may bring your drive back to life.
4. Reset NVRAM and SMC
Resetting your Mac’s NVRAM (non-volatile random-access memory) and SMC (system management controller) can resolve hardware recognition issues.
To reset NVRAM:
Turn off your Mac.
Turn it on and immediately press and hold Option + Command + P + R for about 20 seconds.
To reset SMC:
For MacBooks with the T2 chip, shut down, then press and hold Control + Option + Shift (right side) for 7 seconds, then press and hold the Power button too. Hold all keys for another 7 seconds, then release and restart.
5. Reformat the USB Drive (Last Resort)
If none of the above methods work, your USB drive might be corrupted beyond repair and may need to be reformatted. Warning: this will erase all data.
Steps:
Go to Disk Utility.
Select the problematic USB.
Click Erase.
Choose a compatible format like ExFAT (works with Mac and Windows) or Mac OS Extended (Journaled) if you only use Mac.
If you need to recover data before formatting, don't panic—read on.
6. Recover Data Using Free File Recovery Software for Mac
If your USB is unreadable and you haven’t backed up your files, use free file recovery software for Mac. These tools can scan your unrecognized or corrupted USB drive and recover files before formatting.
Recommended Tool: iBeesoft Data Recovery for Mac (Free Version Available)
Supports recovery from USB, SD cards, external HDDs, and more.
Works with formatted, unmountable, or corrupted drives.
Supports various file types—documents, photos, videos, and more.
Simple user interface, ideal for beginners.
How to use it:
Download and install iBeesoft or any other trusted free file recovery software for Mac.
Launch the software and select the problematic USB drive.
Click Scan to find recoverable files.
Preview the files and recover the ones you need.
This is especially useful if you’re trying to unformat flash drive and get back lost data without deep technical skills.
7. Prevent Future Issues
To avoid similar problems in the future:
Always eject your USB safely before removing it.
Keep your macOS and software updated.
Regularly back up your data using Time Machine or cloud services.
Conclusion
A USB drive not showing up on a Mac can be alarming, but with the right steps, most issues can be resolved without data loss. From checking physical connections to using free file recovery software for Mac, the solutions are effective and often simple. If you must unformat flash drive or recover files before erasing, don’t hesitate to try a trusted recovery tool.
By staying informed and prepared, you can troubleshoot USB issues confidently and protect your important files.