{"id":8725,"date":"2024-11-25T22:19:19","date_gmt":"2024-11-25T22:19:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/?p=8725"},"modified":"2024-11-25T22:19:19","modified_gmt":"2024-11-25T22:19:19","slug":"external-ssd-not-showing-up-on-mac","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/external-ssd-not-showing-up-on-mac\/","title":{"rendered":"External SSD Not Showing Up on a Mac? Try These Fixes"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_69_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-transparent ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/external-ssd-not-showing-up-on-mac\/#where_exactly_is_your_ssd_not_showing_up_on_your_mac\" title=\"Where Exactly Is Your SSD Not Showing Up on Your Mac?\">Where Exactly Is Your SSD Not Showing Up on Your Mac?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/external-ssd-not-showing-up-on-mac\/#how_to_fix_an_external_ssd_not_showing_up_in_disk_utility\" title=\"How to Fix an External SSD Not Showing Up in Disk Utility\">How to Fix an External SSD Not Showing Up in Disk Utility<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/external-ssd-not-showing-up-on-mac\/#check_the_physical_connection\" title=\"Check the Physical Connection\">Check the Physical Connection<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/external-ssd-not-showing-up-on-mac\/#reset_nvram_and_smc\" title=\"Reset NVRAM and SMC\">Reset NVRAM and SMC<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/external-ssd-not-showing-up-on-mac\/#how_to_fix_an_ssd_not_showing_up_in_finder\" title=\"How to Fix an SSD Not Showing Up in Finder\">How to Fix an SSD Not Showing Up in Finder<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/external-ssd-not-showing-up-on-mac\/#step_1_check_finder_preferences\" title=\"Step 1 Check Finder Preferences\">Step 1 Check Finder Preferences<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/external-ssd-not-showing-up-on-mac\/#step_2_mount_the_ssd_in_disk_utility_and_check_for_errors\" title=\"Step 2 Mount the SSD in Disk Utility and Check For Errors\">Step 2 Mount the SSD in Disk Utility and Check For Errors<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/external-ssd-not-showing-up-on-mac\/#step_3_use_testdisk_to_fix_ssd\" title=\"Step 3 Use TestDisk to Fix SSD\">Step 3 Use TestDisk to Fix SSD<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/external-ssd-not-showing-up-on-mac\/#step_4_reformat_your_drive_if_necessary\" title=\"Step 4 Reformat Your Drive if Necessary\">Step 4 Reformat Your Drive if Necessary<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/external-ssd-not-showing-up-on-mac\/#how_to_fix_an_ssd_not_showing_up_on_the_desktop\" title=\"How to Fix an SSD Not Showing Up on the Desktop\">How to Fix an SSD Not Showing Up on the Desktop<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/external-ssd-not-showing-up-on-mac\/#how_to_retrieve_files_from_an_external_ssd_thats_not_showing_up_on_mac\" title=\"How to Retrieve Files from an External SSD That\u2019s Not Showing Up on Mac\">How to Retrieve Files from an External SSD That\u2019s Not Showing Up on Mac<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/external-ssd-not-showing-up-on-mac\/#the_bottom_line\" title=\"The Bottom Line\">The Bottom Line<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/external-ssd-not-showing-up-on-mac\/#faq\" title=\"FAQ\">FAQ<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/external-ssd-not-showing-up-on-mac\/#how_to_find_an_ssd_on_a_mac\" title=\"How to find an SSD on a Mac?\">How to find an SSD on a Mac?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/external-ssd-not-showing-up-on-mac\/#why_is_my_ssd_not_mounting_on_my_mac\" title=\"Why is my SSD not mounting on my Mac?\">Why is my SSD not mounting on my Mac?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/external-ssd-not-showing-up-on-mac\/#how_to_fix_an_ssd_not_showing_up_on_mac_with_terminal\" title=\"How to fix an SSD not showing up on Mac with Terminal?\">How to fix an SSD not showing up on Mac with Terminal?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>Why isn\u2019t my external SSD showing up on my Mac? This is a question we\u2019ve heard countless times from many people. Our team has dealt with this problem in all kinds of scenarios\u2014new SSDs, old ones, corrupt file systems, and even cases with faulty hardware. We\u2019ve helped many people resolve it, and the good news is that most fixes aren\u2019t complicated. If you follow this guide step by step, there\u2019s a high chance you\u2019ll get your SSD back in action without much hassle. Let\u2019s get started.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"where_exactly_is_your_ssd_not_showing_up_on_your_mac\"><\/span>Where Exactly Is Your SSD Not Showing Up on Your Mac?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>First, you need to figure out exactly where your external SSD isn\u2019t showing up on your Mac. This will guide us toward the right solution. From what we\u2019ve seen, the problem happens in one of three spots: Finder, the Desktop, or Disk Utility. Let\u2019s break it down:<\/p>\n<div class=\"table_wrapper\"><p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Scenario<\/td>\n<td>Possible Cause<\/td>\n<td>Possible Solution<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#finder\">SSD doesn\u2019t appear in Finder<\/a><\/td>\n<td>&#8211; The disk volume is unmounted.<br \/>\n&#8211; Missing, damaged, or incompatible file system.<br \/>\n&#8211; The disk is uninitialized (common with new SSDs).<\/td>\n<td>&#8211; Open Disk Utility and manually mount the SSD.<br \/>\n&#8211; Check the file system in Disk Utility; reformat to a compatible file system (e.g., APFS, exFAT) if necessary.<br \/>\n&#8211; Initialize the disk in Disk Utility if prompted.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#desktop\">SSD doesn\u2019t appear on Desktop<\/a><\/td>\n<td>&#8211; The disk volume is unmounted.<br \/>\n&#8211; The disk is uninitialized.<br \/>\n&#8211; Corrupt, missing, or unsupported file system.<br \/>\n&#8211; Finder settings hide it.<\/td>\n<td>&#8211; Enable \u201cExternal disks\u201d in Finder Preferences under the <strong>General<\/strong> tab.<br \/>\n&#8211; Open Disk Utility and mount or initialize the SSD.<br \/>\n&#8211; Reformat the SSD to a compatible file system if necessary.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#disk_util\">SSD doesn\u2019t appear in Disk Utility<\/a><\/td>\n<td>&#8211; Physical connection issues (damaged cable, broken port, loose connector).<br \/>\n&#8211; Outdated SSD firmware.<br \/>\n&#8211; Faulty SSD.<br \/>\n&#8211; Insufficient power.<\/td>\n<td>&#8211; Replace the cable or adapter; try a different port.<br \/>\n&#8211; Check the SSD manufacturer\u2019s website for firmware updates and apply if needed.<br \/>\n&#8211; Test the SSD on another device to rule out failure.<br \/>\n&#8211; Use a powered USB hub.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p>If your SSD doesn\u2019t show up in Disk Utility, it\u2019s not going to appear in Finder or on the Desktop either. Disk Utility is where your Mac recognizes the drive at the hardware level. Let\u2019s start troubleshooting at this foundational level.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"disk_util\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_fix_an_external_ssd_not_showing_up_in_disk_utility\"><\/span>How to Fix an External SSD Not Showing Up in Disk Utility<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Disk Utility has been the go-to app for drive management on macOS for as long as we can remember. If your SSD suddenly ghosts you, this is the first place to look.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How to open Disk Utility:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Press <strong>Command + Space<\/strong> to open Spotlight, type \u201cDisk Utility,\u201d and hit Enter.<\/li>\n<li>Or, if you prefer the scenic route, go to <strong>Applications<\/strong> &gt; <strong>Utilities<\/strong> &gt; <strong>Disk Utility.<img fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-7578 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/disk-utility-app.jpg\" alt=\"Open Disk Utility\" width=\"1796\" height=\"1350\" \/><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Once you\u2019re in Disk Utility, check the left-hand sidebar under \u201cExternal.\u201d If it doesn&#8217;t show up at all, something is interfering with your Mac&#8217;s ability to detect the drive. This could point to hardware issues, faulty connections, or even power supply problems.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"check_the_physical_connection\"><\/span>Check the Physical Connection<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>This might seem obvious, but don\u2019t skip it. Most issues with an SSD not showing up on a Mac start with something as simple as a bad connection. Make sure the physical setup isn\u2019t the problem.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-8748 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/ssd-external.jpg\" alt=\"Check the cable\" width=\"1458\" height=\"974\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Check the cable for damage like frayed wires, bent connectors, or loose ends. Even a small issue can cause the SSD to stop working. If you\u2019re using an adapter, make sure it\u2019s the right one for your Mac and the SSD.<\/li>\n<li>Try using a different cable. Cables fail more often than you\u2019d think, so swap it out. Also, plug the SSD into another port on your Mac. Ports can wear out or fail.<\/li>\n<li>If your SSD is in an external enclosure, test the enclosure itself. Hook it up to another drive to see if it works. If it doesn\u2019t, the enclosure might be the problem instead of the SSD.<\/li>\n<li>Make sure your SSD is getting enough power. Some SSDs\u2014especially larger ones\u2014need more power than a regular USB port can provide. Try to plug it into a high-power USB-C or Thunderbolt port, or use a powered USB hub to give it the extra boost.<\/li>\n<li>Skip extensions, hubs, or docking stations for now. These can cause interference or limit power to the SSD. Connect the SSD directly to your Mac to keep things simple while you troubleshoot.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It\u2019s also a good idea to test the SSD on another computer if you can. This helps rule out whether the issue is with the SSD itself or your Mac\u2019s hardware or software. If the SSD works on another machine, you know where to concentrate your efforts.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"reset_nvram_and_smc\"><\/span>Reset NVRAM and SMC<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If your SSD still isn\u2019t showing up in Disk Utility, resetting your Mac\u2019s NVRAM and SMC might do the trick. These manage some hardware settings and power controls, and a quick reset can fix detection issues without much trouble.<\/p>\n<div class=\"frame_bg frame_bg--primary\"><div class=\"frame_bg--title\"><\/div><strong>What Are NVRAM and SMC?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.techtarget.com\/searchstorage\/definition\/NVRAM-non-volatile-random-access-memory\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NVRAM<\/a> (Non-Volatile Random Access Memory) <\/strong>holds quick-access settings like sound volume, display preferences, and details about connected hardware. If these settings get messed up, your Mac might have trouble with external drive detection.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/System_Management_Controller\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SMC<\/a> (System Management Controller) <\/strong>controls hardware-level functions like USB ports, power delivery, and even thermal management. Resetting it can solve issues with ports\/power that stop your SSD from showing up on Mac.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>How to reset NVRAM:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Shut down your Mac completely.<\/li>\n<li>Turn it back on while holding <strong>Option + Command + P + R<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Keep holding the keys for about 20 seconds. If your Mac plays a startup chime, wait until you hear it twice before letting go.<\/li>\n<li>Let your Mac restart and check Disk Utility again to see if the SSD appears.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>How to reset SMC<\/strong> (the steps to reset SMC depend on your Mac model):<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Apple Silicon Macs:<\/strong> Shut down your Mac, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on. The SMC resets automatically.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Intel Macs with a T2 \u0441hip:<\/strong> Shut down your Mac. Hold the <strong>Power<\/strong> button for 10 seconds, then release it and turn your Mac back on.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Other Intel Macs:<\/strong> Shut down your Mac. Press and hold <strong>Shift + Control + Option<\/strong> (on the left side of your keyboard) and the <strong>Power<\/strong> button at the same time for 10 seconds. Let go, then turn your Mac back on.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If your external SSD still refuses to be detected after everything you\u2019ve tried, it\u2019s likely a physical issue. Problems like a failed controller or damaged internal components aren\u2019t something you can fix at home. In this case, if the drive holds important data, consider reaching out to a professional recovery service.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"finder\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_fix_an_ssd_not_showing_up_in_finder\"><\/span>How to Fix an SSD Not Showing Up in Finder<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>One of the most common scenarios is that your SSD appears in Disk Utility but refuses to show up in Finder. Here\u2019s what you can do to fix this. Let\u2019s start with the simplest steps first.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"step_1_check_finder_preferences\"><\/span>Step 1: Check Finder Preferences<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Sometimes, your SSD doesn\u2019t appear in Finder simply because Finder isn\u2019t set to display external drives. This is one of the easiest fixes to try first.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Open <strong>Finder<\/strong> and click <strong>Settings<\/strong> in the Finder menu at the top-left of your screen.<img class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-6931 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/open-finder-settings.jpg\" alt=\"Open Finder Settings\" width=\"1424\" height=\"611\" \/><\/li>\n<li>Go to the <strong>Sidebar<\/strong> section.<\/li>\n<li>Make sure \u201cExternal disks\u201d is checked under \u201cLocations.\u201d<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-8289 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/finder-side.jpg\" alt=\"Check the box next to External disks\" width=\"1884\" height=\"1646\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div class=\"frame_bg frame_bg--default\"><div class=\"frame_bg--title\"><\/div>\u270d\ud83c\udffb <strong>Note. <\/strong>On older macOS versions, <strong>Settings<\/strong> is called <strong>Preferences.<\/strong> The steps are the same, just the name is different.<\/div>\n<p>Once you\u2019ve made these changes, check Finder\u2019s sidebar and your desktop to see if the SSD appears. If not, the drive might not be mounted.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"step_2_mount_the_ssd_in_disk_utility_and_check_for_errors\"><\/span>Step 2: Mount the SSD in Disk Utility and Check For Errors<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Another common reason your SSD doesn\u2019t show up in Finder is that it\u2019s unmounted. macOS usually mounts external drives automatically, but sometimes this doesn\u2019t happen due to a system hiccup or an issue with the drive itself. The good news is you can manually mount it in just a few steps.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How to mount the SSD:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Open <strong>Disk Utility<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Look in the left-hand list under <strong>External<\/strong> for your SSD. If it\u2019s listed but grayed out, it means it\u2019s unmounted.<\/li>\n<li>Select the SSD and click the <strong>Mount<\/strong> button at the top of the Disk Utility window.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-8297 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/disk-utility-mount.jpg\" alt=\"Click on the Mount button at the top\" width=\"2288\" height=\"1512\" \/><\/li>\n<li>Once the SSD is mounted, check Finder and your desktop to see if it shows up.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div class=\"frame_bg frame_bg--primary\"><div class=\"frame_bg--title\"><\/div><strong>\ud83d\udd34 What If It doesn\u2019t mount? <\/strong>If your SSD won\u2019t mount or Disk Utility gives you an error, there might be an issue with the file system. Use <strong>First Aid<\/strong> in Disk Utility. Just select your SSD in the list, then click <strong>First Aid<\/strong> at the top and let it run. This tool scans for errors and tries to fix them.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-8298 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/disk-utility-first-aid.jpg\" alt=\"Click on the First Aid button\" width=\"2272\" height=\"1478\" \/><\/div>\n<p>If First Aid fails, the SSD\u2019s file system might be too corrupted. You\u2019ll likely need to reformat the drive, which we\u2019ll cover next.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"step_3_use_testdisk_to_fix_ssd\"><\/span>Step 3: Use TestDisk to Fix SSD<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Before we cover formatting, we want to mention another possible solution: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cgsecurity.org\/wiki\/TestDisk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TestDisk<\/strong><\/a>. This free tool is designed to recover lost partitions and fix issues with drives that don\u2019t show up properly. While it requires some command-line knowledge, it\u2019s a powerful option to try before formatting.<\/p>\n<div class=\"frame_bg frame_bg--success\"><div class=\"frame_bg--title\"><\/div>\u2705 <strong>Why try TestDisk first?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Formatting erases all data, but TestDisk gives you a chance to recover or repair partitions without losing your files.<\/li>\n<li>It\u2019s free and highly effective for drives with corrupted partition tables.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Here\u2019s how to use TestDisk to repair an external SSD not showing up on a Mac:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Visit the official TestDisk website and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cgsecurity.org\/wiki\/TestDisk_Download\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">download the macOS version<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Unpack the downloaded file to access the TestDisk program.<\/li>\n<li>Open <strong>Terminal<\/strong> on your Mac (press Command + Space and search for &#8220;Terminal&#8221;).<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-8478 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Spotlight-terminal.jpg\" alt=\"Type \u201cTerminal\u201d and hit Enter\" width=\"1972\" height=\"1366\" \/><\/li>\n<li>Navigate to the folder where you unpacked TestDisk with cd command: <strong>cd \/path\/to\/TestDisk<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Launch TestDisk: <strong>.\/testdisk.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Select <strong>Create<\/strong> option and press the Enter button.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-7731 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/testdisk-log.jpg\" alt=\"Choose whether to create a new log file\" width=\"2376\" height=\"1618\" \/><\/li>\n<li>TestDisk will display all connected drives. Use the arrow keys to highlight your SSD and press Enter.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-7732 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/testdisk-list-1.jpg\" alt=\"Select the drive that had the deleted partition\" width=\"1930\" height=\"1396\" \/><\/li>\n<li>When prompted, choose the partition table type. TestDisk often detects this automatically, but if not, stick with the default option.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-7733 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/testdisk-efi.jpg\" alt=\"Confirm the partition table\" width=\"1930\" height=\"1396\" \/><\/li>\n<li>Select <strong>Analyze<\/strong> to scan the SSD for lost or damaged partitions.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-7734 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/testdisk-analyze.jpg\" alt=\"Select the Analyze option\" width=\"1930\" height=\"1396\" \/><\/li>\n<li>If TestDisk identifies partitions, highlight them and select <strong>Proceed<\/strong> to attempt recovery.<\/li>\n<li>If no partitions are found, use the <strong>Write<\/strong> option to rebuild the partition table. Confirm your changes when prompted.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Once TestDisk completes the process, restart your Mac and check Disk Utility or Finder to see if the SSD is now visible. If not, well, there\u2019s always formatting as a last resort.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"step_4_reformat_your_drive_if_necessary\"><\/span>Step 4: Reformat Your Drive if Necessary<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>When the external SSD\u2019s file system is too far gone or not natively supported on macOS, formatting is your only option. Formatting repairs the file system, and allows your Mac to recognize and use the SSD again. However, keep in mind that formatting wipes everything on the drive.<\/p>\n<div class=\"frame_bg frame_bg--danger\"><div class=\"frame_bg--title\"><\/div>\u26a0\ufe0f If you have important files you don\u2019t want to lose, you can recover them first before formatting. Check out <a href=\"#recovery\"><strong>How to Retrieve Files from an External SSD That\u2019s Not Showing Up on Mac\u00a0<\/strong><\/a>for steps to save your data. Once your files are recovered, come back here to continue with formatting.<\/div>\n<p><strong>How to format the external SSD:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Open <strong>Disk Utility<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Select your SSD from the left-hand list.<\/li>\n<li>Click <strong>Erase<\/strong> at the top of the window.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-7545 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/disk-utility-erase.jpg\" alt=\"Click Erase\" width=\"2242\" height=\"1492\" \/><\/li>\n<li>Adjust the settings in the pop-up window:<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-8302 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/disk-utility-erase-format.jpg\" alt=\"Select the file format and click Erase\" width=\"2242\" height=\"1492\" \/>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Name:<\/strong> Enter a name for the SSD.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Format:<\/strong> Choose <strong>APFS<\/strong> for macOS-only use or <strong>exFAT<\/strong> for compatibility with macOS and Windows.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Scheme:<\/strong> Select <strong>GUID Partition Map<\/strong> (this is often set as the default).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Click <strong>Erase<\/strong> to begin. This process may take a few minutes.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>When the process is finished, click <strong>Done<\/strong> and check Finder to confirm the SSD is now accessible.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"desktop\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_fix_an_ssd_not_showing_up_on_the_desktop\"><\/span>How to Fix an SSD Not Showing Up on the Desktop<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If your external SSD shows up in Finder but doesn\u2019t appear on the Desktop, the problem is likely tied to your display settings. macOS usually shows connected drives on the Desktop by default, but this setting can sometimes get turned off. Let\u2019s go through how to fix it.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How to check Finder settings:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Open <strong>Finder<\/strong> and click <strong>Settings<\/strong> (or <strong>Preferences<\/strong>) in the Finder menu at the top-left corner of your screen.<\/li>\n<li>Go to the <strong>General<\/strong> tab.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-8288 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/finder-general.jpg\" alt=\"Check the box next to External Disks\" width=\"1118\" height=\"976\" \/><\/li>\n<li>Make sure \u201cExternal disks\u201d is checked under \u201cShow items on the desktop.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div class=\"frame_bg frame_bg--primary\"><div class=\"frame_bg--title\"><\/div>\u2630 <strong>Check Desktop sorting. <\/strong>Right-click on the Desktop and choose \u201cSort By\u201d or \u201cClean Up By.\u201d Select \u201cNone\u201d or \u201cName\u201d to make sure your SSD icon isn\u2019t hidden behind other items. This fix can help if the drive is being sorted out of view by your Desktop settings.<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"recovery\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_retrieve_files_from_an_external_ssd_thats_not_showing_up_on_mac\"><\/span>How to Retrieve Files from an External SSD That\u2019s Not Showing Up on Mac<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>We\u2019ve seen many cases where formatting was necessary to fix an external SSD that wasn\u2019t showing up on a Mac. The issue, as you know, is that formatting erases everything on the drive. If you\u2019ve got important files stored on the SSD, it&#8217;s better to try to recover them first. There are plenty of data recovery software options that can do just that. These tools are primarily designed to recover deleted\/lost files but can also retrieve existing files\u2014as long as the SSD is visible in Disk Utility. If the SSD isn\u2019t showing up in Disk Utility, recovery software won\u2019t be able to help here.<\/p>\n<div class=\"frame_bg frame_bg--success\"><div class=\"frame_bg--title\"><\/div>\u270d\ud83c\udffb <strong>Note<\/strong>. No recovery software can promise <strong>100% success<\/strong>, especially when it comes to SSDs. The TRIM function, which helps optimize SSD performance, makes <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/mac-ssd-data-recovery\/\">lost\/deleted SSD file recovery super difficult (if not impossible)<\/a>. That said, if you only need existing files and the SSD shows up in Disk Utility, you should have no trouble with the right app.<\/div>\n<p>We\u2019ve used many recovery apps over the years, but if we had to recommend one, it would be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Disk Drill<\/strong><\/a>. <strong>Here\u2019s why it\u2019s a great option:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/disk-drill-review\/\">High success rate<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Works with all kinds of devices: SSDs (internal and external), HDDs, USB drives, SD cards, and more.<\/li>\n<li>Supports all commonly used file systems (<strong>APFS<\/strong>, <strong>HFS+<\/strong>, <strong>exFAT<\/strong>, <strong>NTFS<\/strong>, or older formats).<\/li>\n<li>The intuitive interface makes it easy for anyone to recover data, even with little to no technical experience. You can get back lost files in just a few clicks.<\/li>\n<li>It&#8217;s loaded with extra features, such as <strong>Byte-for-byte backup<\/strong>, <strong>S.M.A.R.T. monitoring<\/strong>, <strong>Data Protection,<\/strong> and <strong>Clean-Up Tools<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Has a Basic Version that can scan drives and preview files for free.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>To start with Disk Drill, go to its official <strong>CleverFiles<\/strong> site, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/download.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">download the Mac version of the app<\/a>, and install it on your computer. <strong>Once you\u2019re set up, follow these steps to recover your files:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Open Disk Drill from your Applications folder.<\/li>\n<li>Grant the necessary permissions, like Full Disk Access, so the app can scan your drives properly.<\/li>\n<li>On the main Disk Drill screen, locate your SSD in the list of available drives.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-8740 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/disk-drill-toshiba.jpg\" alt=\"Select the drive where the replaced files were located\" width=\"2356\" height=\"1658\" \/><\/li>\n<li>Highlight the SSD and click <strong>Search for Lost Data<\/strong> to start the scan.<\/li>\n<li>Disk Drill will start the scan, which looks for both existing and deleted\/lost files.<\/li>\n<li>As Disk Drill scans your SSD, you\u2019ll see categories like <strong>Pictures<\/strong>, <strong>Documents<\/strong>, <strong>Videos<\/strong>, <strong>Audio<\/strong>, and <strong>Archives<\/strong>. You can select any category to narrow down your search, or click <strong>Review found items<\/strong> to view all recoverable files at once.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-8741 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/disk-drill-toshiba-scanning.jpg\" alt=\"Click Review Found Items at the top to see all files\" width=\"2370\" height=\"1690\" \/><\/li>\n<li>As Disk Drill scans your SSD, you\u2019ll see files organized into sections: <strong>Existing<\/strong>\u00a0 (files currently accessible on the SSD), <strong>Deleted or Lost<\/strong> (files that were removed or lost due to corruption or accidental deletion), <strong>Reconstructed<\/strong> (files recovered from fragmented or raw data that don\u2019t have their original names or structure).<\/li>\n<li>Clicking on a file will show a thumbnail preview so you can quickly check its contents. For a closer look, click the <strong>eye icon \ud83d\udc41\ufe0f<\/strong> for a full preview.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-8742 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/disk-drill-toshiba-recover.jpg\" alt=\"An eye icon near the filename lets you preview the file\" width=\"2334\" height=\"1680\" \/><\/li>\n<li>Once you\u2019ve selected all the files you want to retrieve, click the <strong>Recover<\/strong> button at the bottom of the screen. Disk Drill will then prompt you to choose a location to save the files. Select a location on your Mac\u2019s internal drive or another external drive\u2014to save the files, you\u2019ll need the <strong>PRO version<\/strong> of Disk Drill.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-8743 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/disk-drill-toshiba-save.jpg\" alt=\"Choose a location to save the recovered files\" width=\"2348\" height=\"1672\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Once you\u2019ve recovered everything you need from the SSD, you can go back and format it.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\ud83d\udc9a Try Disk Drill\u2019s S.M.A.R.T. Monitoring. <\/strong>We mentioned earlier that Disk Drill comes with a lot of useful extra features, and we highly recommend you check out <strong>S.M.A.R.T. Monitoring<\/strong>. It\u2019s a handy tool that tracks your drive\u2019s health and warns you about potential issues before they become serious.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Here\u2019s how to use it:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Open Disk Drill and find the <strong>S.M.A.R.T. Monitoring<\/strong> feature, then turn it on.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray aligncenter wp-image-8303 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/disk-drill-smart.jpg\" alt=\"S.M.A.R.T. Monitoring\" width=\"2362\" height=\"1606\" \/><\/li>\n<li>From the list of drives, select your external SSD.<\/li>\n<li>Check the health status it reports.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>If the health level shows as <strong>Good<\/strong>, great! Your SSD doesn\u2019t have any major issues. However, if it flags problems, we don\u2019t recommend using this SSD for anything important. It wouldn&#8217;t be wise to keep critical data on a drive that might fail.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"the_bottom_line\"><\/span>The Bottom Line<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In our experience, most SSD issues can be resolved with the DIY methods we\u2019ve covered here. Once fixed, the SSD usually works as well as it did before.<\/p>\n<p>That said, there are some cases where the problems are more serious\u2014like hardware failures or severe corruption\u2014that can\u2019t be fixed at home. If the data on your SSD is critical, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.handyrecovery.com\/best-data-recovery-services\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">professional data recovery services<\/a> might be your best option.<\/p>\n<p>Keep in mind, though, that these services are expensive. The cost often runs several times higher than the price of a new SSD. If the files are truly irreplaceable, it\u2019s worth consideration, but for less important data, replacing the SSD might be the better choice.<\/p>\n<p>To avoid these situations in the future, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/restore-from-time-machine\/\">back up your data regularly<\/a> and use tools like <strong>S.M.A.R.T. monitoring<\/strong> to keep an eye on your drive\u2019s health. We hope this guide helped you get your SSD back on track!<\/p>\n<section itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/FAQPage\"><div class=\"panel-group sc_accordion_faq\" id=\"accordion\" role=\"tablist\" aria-multiselectable=\"true\"><h2 class=\"sc_accordion_faq--title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"faq\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"panel panel-default\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\">\r\n    <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"heading1\" aria-selected=\"true\">\r\n        <h3 class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_find_an_ssd_on_a_mac\"><\/span>\r\n            <a role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-controls=\"collapse1\">\r\n                How to find an SSD on a Mac?\r\n                <i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i>\r\n            <\/a>\r\n        <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div id=\"collapse1\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse in\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"heading1\">\r\n        <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n            <div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                If your SSD isn\u2019t showing up on your Mac or you\u2019re not sure where to locate it, follow these steps to find it on your Mac:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Open <strong>Finder<\/strong> and look under <strong>Locations<\/strong> in the sidebar for your SSD.<\/li>\n<li>Check<strong> Disk Utility. <\/strong>Look under <strong>External<\/strong> in the left-hand sidebar for your SSD. If it\u2019s grayed out, it\u2019s unmounted. Select the SSD and click <strong>Mount<\/strong> at the top.<\/li>\n<li>Open <strong>System Information<\/strong> (Option + Command + Space, then type \u201cSystem Information \u201d). Go to <strong>Storage<\/strong> or <strong>USB<\/strong>, and look for the SSD in the list of connected devices.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\r\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"panel panel-default\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\">\r\n    <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"heading2\" aria-selected=\"true\">\r\n        <h3 class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"why_is_my_ssd_not_mounting_on_my_mac\"><\/span>\r\n            <a role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse2\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-controls=\"collapse2\">\r\n                Why is my SSD not mounting on my Mac?\r\n                <i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i>\r\n            <\/a>\r\n        <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div id=\"collapse2\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse in\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"heading2\">\r\n        <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n            <div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                If your SSD isn\u2019t mounting on your Mac, it\u2019s likely due to a software or hardware issue. Here are the most common reasons and what you can do to fix them:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Your SSD might be uninitialized or unformatted. New SSDs often need to be formatted or initialized before macOS can recognize them. Drives in this state won\u2019t mount automatically. Open <strong>Disk Utility<\/strong>, select your SSD, and format it using a macOS-compatible file system like <strong>APFS<\/strong> or <strong>exFAT<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>The SSD could have an unsupported file system. If the SSD uses an incompatible format, it won\u2019t mount. To fix this, reformat the drive to a macOS-supported file system in <strong>Disk Utility<\/strong>. If you have important data on the SSD, consider data recovery software before reformatting.<\/li>\n<li>The file system on your SSD might be corrupted. Run <strong>First Aid<\/strong> in <strong>Disk Utility<\/strong>. If it doesn\u2019t work, reformat the SSD to restore functionality.<\/li>\n<li>The SSD might not be properly connected. Loose or damaged cables, faulty adapters, or bad ports can prevent your Mac from mounting the SSD. Double-check the connection, try a different cable or port, or test the SSD on another computer to rule out hardware issues.<\/li>\n<li>Power delivery might be the issue. Some SSDs require more power than a standard USB port can provide, especially portable or bus-powered models. If the SSD doesn\u2019t mount, try a powered USB hub or a high-power USB-C or Thunderbolt port.<\/li>\n<li>It could be a temporary glitch. Sometimes, macOS may fail to detect or mount drives due to system issues. Restart your Mac, and if that doesn\u2019t help, reset the <strong>NVRAM<\/strong> and <strong>SMC<\/strong> to resolve hardware communication problems.<\/li>\n<li>The SSD could be faulty. Physical damage or a failed controller can stop the SSD from functioning altogether.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\r\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"panel panel-default\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\">\r\n    <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"heading3\" aria-selected=\"true\">\r\n        <h3 class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_fix_an_ssd_not_showing_up_on_mac_with_terminal\"><\/span>\r\n            <a role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse3\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-controls=\"collapse3\">\r\n                How to fix an SSD not showing up on Mac with Terminal?\r\n                <i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i>\r\n            <\/a>\r\n        <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div id=\"collapse3\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse in\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"heading3\">\r\n        <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n            <div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                If your SSD isn\u2019t showing up on your Mac, Terminal can help you troubleshoot and resolve the issue. Follow these steps:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Open <strong>Terminal<\/strong> and type <strong>diskutil list<\/strong> to check for connected drives. Look for your SSD in the list and note its identifier, such as <strong>disk2<\/strong>. If the SSD doesn\u2019t appear, check the physical connection, test a different cable or port.<\/li>\n<li>Type <strong>diskutil info diskX<\/strong> (replace <strong>diskX<\/strong> with your SSD\u2019s identifier). This command will display information about the SSD, including its file system and mount status. Use this to determine if the SSD is unmounted, corrupted, or has an incompatible file system.<\/li>\n<li>If the SSD appears unmounted, type <strong>diskutil mount diskX<\/strong> to manually mount it. After this command, check Finder to see if the SSD is now accessible. If mounting fails, the SSD\u2019s file system may be damaged or unsupported.<\/li>\n<li>To repair the SSD, type <strong>diskutil repairDisk diskX<\/strong> to check and fix errors in the file system. If the drive has multiple volumes, you can target a specific one with <strong>diskutil repairVolume diskXsX<\/strong> (replace <strong>diskXsX<\/strong> with the volume identifier).<\/li>\n<li>If repairs fail and you\u2019ve recovered any important data, reformatting the SSD may resolve the issue. Type <strong>disk util eraseDisk APFS &#8220;SSD Name&#8221; diskX<\/strong>. Replace <strong>diskX<\/strong> with the identifier and <strong>&#8220;SSD Name&#8221;<\/strong> with the name you want for the SSD. Choose APFS for macOS-only use or exFAT for compatibility with Windows.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Always double-check the disk identifier before you run a command to avoid accidentally affecting the wrong drive.\r\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Why isn\u2019t my external SSD showing up on my Mac? This is a question we\u2019ve heard countless times from many people. Our team has dealt with this problem in all kinds of scenarios\u2014new SSDs, old ones, corrupt file systems, and even cases with faulty hardware. We\u2019ve helped many people resolve it, and the good news [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":560,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"yes","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[],"slider-tags":[],"class_list":["post-8725","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-how-to"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>External SSD Not Showing Up on a Mac? Try These Fixes - InsanelyMac Blog - Mac and iOS Reviews<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Fix an SSD not showing up on your Mac with easy solutions, Terminal commands, and recovery tools for troubleshooting and repair.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/external-ssd-not-showing-up-on-mac\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"External SSD Not Showing Up on a Mac? 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