{"id":60914,"date":"2026-07-29T15:12:49","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T15:12:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/?p=60914"},"modified":"2026-07-29T15:12:49","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T15:12:49","slug":"how-to-fix-external-hard-drive-detected-but-not-opening-recover-data","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/external-hard-drive-detected-not-opening.html","title":{"rendered":"How to Fix External Hard Drive Detected but Not Opening &#038; Recover Data"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Your external hard drive is detected but not opening. Windows can see it, and it may even appear in File Explorer, but when you try to access it, nothing happens, or you\u2019re met with an error. The good news is that a drive Windows still detects (with the correct capacity) is usually fixable, and your files are often still there. This guide shows you how to check what is really wrong, get your data back safely, and make the drive open again, all in the right order. We\u2019ve been helping people recover data from drives exactly like yours, so every step here is written to protect your files first.<\/p>\r\n<h2 id=\"check-disk-management\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_tell_if_windows_detects_your_external_hard_drive\"><\/span>How to Tell If Windows Detects Your External Hard Drive<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>Before trying any fixes, find out whether Windows detects the drive at a basic level. The place to look is <a href=\"https:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/en-US\/Windows\/Experience\/Storage-FileManagement\/disk-management-in-windows\">Disk Management<\/a>, a built-in tool that shows every disk connected to your PC, including ones that never appear in File Explorer.<\/p>\r\n<p>To open it, right-click <b>Start<\/b> and click <b>Disk Management<\/b>. Alternatively, you can press <kbd>Windows key<\/kbd> + <kbd>R<\/kbd>, type <b>diskmgmt.msc<\/b>, and press <kbd>Enter<\/kbd>.<\/p>\r\n<p><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-60917 size-full border-blue border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/disk-management-open.jpg\" alt=\"Disk Management on Windows 11.\" width=\"1661\" height=\"965\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/disk-management-open.jpg 1661w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/disk-management-open-300x174.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/disk-management-open-500x290.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/disk-management-open-768x446.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/disk-management-open-1536x892.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1661px) 100vw, 1661px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p>Look at five things:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><b>Does the drive appear?<\/b> Find your external drive in the list of devices.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Is the capacity correct?<\/b> A 2 TB drive should show close to 2 TB. A much smaller size, or 0 bytes, is a warning sign.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Does it have a partition, file system, and drive letter?<\/b> A healthy volume will read as healthy with its own drive letter and file system.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>What state is the drive in?<\/b> The common labels are Healthy (working), <a href=\"\/howto\/raw-drive-recovery.html\">RAW<\/a> (missing or damaged file system), Unallocated (no partition), and Not Initialized (no partition table).<\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Are there any health warnings?<\/b> Every modern drive keeps an internal health report that can be read with tools like <a href=\"https:\/\/crystalmark.info\/en\/software\/crystaldiskinfo\/\">CrystalDiskInfo<\/a> and Disk Drill to show warnings, bad sectors, or signs of failure.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60918 border-blue border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/crystaldiskinfo-interface.jpg\" alt=\"The CrystalDIskInfo interface.\" width=\"1836\" height=\"962\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/crystaldiskinfo-interface.jpg 1836w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/crystaldiskinfo-interface-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/crystaldiskinfo-interface-500x262.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/crystaldiskinfo-interface-768x402.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/crystaldiskinfo-interface-1536x805.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1836px) 100vw, 1836px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p>Basically, it comes down to a simple rule. If the drive appears in Disk Management with the correct size, you can usually fix it yourself. Exercise more caution if the drive <a href=\"\/howto\/external-drive-not-recognized-windows.html\">doesn\u2019t appear at all<\/a>, shows the wrong size, <a href=\"https:\/\/learn.microsoft.com\/en-us\/answers\/questions\/3997465\/why-does-my-external-hard-drive-show-up-in-devices\">keeps disconnecting<\/a>, freezes Windows, or shows clear S.M.A.R.T. or physical warnings. In those cases, see our section on <a href=\"#when-diy-fixes-are-not-safe\">when DIY fixes aren\u2019t safe<\/a> instead.<\/p>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"why_is_an_external_hard_drive_detected_but_not_opening\"><\/span>Why is an External Hard Drive Detected but Not Opening?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>Now that you\u2019ve confirmed it\u2019s something you can fix, it\u2019s just about pinning down the issue. We\u2019ve compiled the most common cases below, so check if any match your situation.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"table_wrapper table_heading\"><p><\/p>\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><b>What\u2019s in Disk Management<\/b><\/td>\r\n<td><b>What it usually means<\/b><\/td>\r\n<td><b>What to do next<\/b><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Shows in Disk Management with no drive letter, but missing from File Explorer<\/td>\r\n<td>Missing or conflicting drive letter<\/td>\r\n<td><a href=\"#assign-drive-letter\">Assign a drive letter<\/a> to restore access<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Shows as RAW<\/td>\r\n<td>The file system is damaged<\/td>\r\n<td><a href=\"#recover-data\">Recover the data<\/a>, then try <a href=\"#run-chkdsk\">running CHKDSK<\/a> to repair it. Otherwise, <a href=\"#format-drive\">format it<\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Shows as Unallocated<\/td>\r\n<td>The partition was lost or deleted<\/td>\r\n<td><a href=\"#recover-partition\">Recover the partition<\/a> or <a href=\"#format-drive\">format it<\/a> if the data is recovered or unnecessary<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Shows as Not Initialized<\/td>\r\n<td>Partition table damage, or a genuinely new blank drive<\/td>\r\n<td><a href=\"#recover-data\">Recover the data<\/a> if the drive had files, then <a href=\"#initialize-drive\">initialize<\/a> and <a href=\"#format-drive\">format<\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Shows the correct capacity but disconnects or takes a long time to load<\/td>\r\n<td>A cable, port, or power problem<\/td>\r\n<td>Try a <a href=\"#usb-port-or-cable\">different USB port or cable<\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Shows normally, but Windows asks you to format it<\/td>\r\n<td>File system corruption, or a file system Windows cannot read<\/td>\r\n<td><a href=\"#recover-data\">Recover the data<\/a>, then <a href=\"#format-drive\">format the drive<\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<p><\/div>\r\n<p><b>One important warning before you go further.<\/b> If the data matters to you, recover your files before you run CHKDSK, format the drive, create a new volume, or initialize the disk. These are all destructive processes, making recovery much harder if not impossible.<\/p>\r\n<h2 id=\"recover-data\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_recover_data_from_an_external_hard_drive_that_is_detected_but_not_opening\"><\/span>How to Recover Data From an External Hard Drive That Is Detected but Not Opening<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>When your external hard drive is recognized but not accessible, the safest first move is to get your files off it before any repairs. A data recovery tool reads the drive at a low level and pulls out files, even when Windows can\u2019t open the drive. We will use <a href=\"\/data-recovery-software.html\">Disk Drill<\/a>. The only requirement is that the drive is visible in Disk Management with its correct, normal capacity.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-warning\" role=\"alert\"><b>If the health check showed warnings, image the drive first.<\/b> Flagged bad sectors, a Caution status, or an unstable drive all warrant the creation of a <a href=\"\/help\/dmg-iso-backup.html\">byte-to-byte drive image<\/a>. Scanning the drive directly adds additional strain and risk of failure, so create an image and scan that instead of the disk itself.<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60919 border-blue border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/backup-disk-drill.gif\" alt=\"Creating a drive image with Disk Drill.\" width=\"800\" height=\"433\" \/><\/div>\r\n<p>Once you\u2019ve decided to scan the drive or image, follow these recovery steps:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li><a href=\"\/download.html\">Download<\/a>, install, and open Disk Drill.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Select your external hard disk from the list of devices, or click <b>Assign disk image<\/b> to add the disk image. Click <b>Search for lost data<\/b>.<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60923 border-blue border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/scan-detected-external-hdd.jpg\" alt=\"Scanning the detected external HDD.\" width=\"1938\" height=\"1048\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/scan-detected-external-hdd.jpg 1938w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/scan-detected-external-hdd-300x162.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/scan-detected-external-hdd-500x270.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/scan-detected-external-hdd-768x415.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/scan-detected-external-hdd-1536x831.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1938px) 100vw, 1938px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Click <b>Universal Scan<\/b> when prompted to choose a scan type.<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60924 border-blue border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/begin-universal-scan.jpg\" alt=\"Starting a Universal Scan.\" width=\"1907\" height=\"1030\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/begin-universal-scan.jpg 1907w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/begin-universal-scan-300x162.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/begin-universal-scan-500x270.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/begin-universal-scan-768x415.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/begin-universal-scan-1536x830.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1907px) 100vw, 1907px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Click <b>Review found items<\/b> to see what Disk Drill found. Filter the results by clicking one of the colored file icons if you want.<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60922 border-blue border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/review-external-data.jpg\" alt=\"Reviewing external HDD data.\" width=\"1940\" height=\"1054\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/review-external-data.jpg 1940w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/review-external-data-300x163.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/review-external-data-500x272.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/review-external-data-768x417.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/review-external-data-1536x835.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1940px) 100vw, 1940px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Preview and select the data you want. If there are too many files, you can refine the results using filters or search for data by file name or extension. Any files with a preview can be recovered. When ready, click <b>Recover<\/b>.<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60921 border-blue border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/recover-external-files.jpg\" alt=\"Recovering external HDD files.\" width=\"1887\" height=\"1019\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/recover-external-files.jpg 1887w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/recover-external-files-300x162.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/recover-external-files-500x270.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/recover-external-files-768x415.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/recover-external-files-1536x829.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1887px) 100vw, 1887px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Choose where the recovered files will be saved. Don\u2019t choose anywhere on the external drive they\u2019re being recovered from, instead it must be on a separate physical drive. Click <b>Next<\/b> to finish recovery.<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60920 border-blue border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/confirm-external-hdd-recovery.jpg\" alt=\"Confirming external HDD recovery.\" width=\"1882\" height=\"1021\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/confirm-external-hdd-recovery.jpg 1882w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/confirm-external-hdd-recovery-300x163.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/confirm-external-hdd-recovery-500x271.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/confirm-external-hdd-recovery-768x417.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/confirm-external-hdd-recovery-1536x833.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1882px) 100vw, 1882px\" \/><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-info\" role=\"alert\">There are <a href=\"\/howto\/top-5-data-recovery-software-windows.html\">other data recovery tools<\/a> available if you prefer. One thing to check first: not every recovery app can open and scan a disk image, so if you plan to work from a byte-to-byte image, make sure the tool supports it.<\/div>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_fix_an_external_hard_drive_detected_but_not_opening_on_windows\"><\/span>How to Fix an External Hard Drive Detected but Not Opening on Windows<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>With the files safely recovered, the next methods will focus on making the external hard drive open in Windows again. Each one is demonstrated in Windows 11, but the steps are almost identical if you\u2019re still running Windows 10.<\/p>\r\n<h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"method_1_try_a_different_usb_port_or_cable\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Method 1.<\/span> <span id=\"usb-port-or-cable\">Try a Different USB Port or Cable<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>A drive can show up in Windows and still fail to open because of something simple. A worn USB cable, a loose connector, or a port that cannot supply enough power will all do it. A weak USB hub, dock, adapter, or front-panel port is a common cause because they share power with other devices. Work through these in order:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Plug the drive straight into the computer, not through a USB hub or dock.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Use a different USB port. On a desktop PC, use one of the ports on the back, which connect directly to the motherboard.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Swap the USB cable, especially on portable drives that use a detachable cable. A cheap or damaged cable is a frequent culprit.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Test the drive on another Windows computer if you have one. That quickly tells you whether the fault is the drive or the PC.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>For a 3.5-inch desktop drive with its own power brick, check the power adapter and power cable too. These drives need more power than a USB port alone can provide.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>If the drive beeps, clicks, or grinds at any point, stop. Those sounds point to a physical fault inside the drive, and you should <a href=\"#when-diy-fixes-are-not-safe\">skip ahead<\/a> rather than try any more of these methods.<\/p>\r\n<h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"method_2_assign_or_change_the_drive_letter\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Method 2.<\/span> <span id=\"assign-drive-letter\">Assign or Change the Drive Letter<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>A quick fix for when Disk Management shows your drive with a normal, healthy partition but no drive letter. Without a letter, Windows won\u2019t show the drive in File Explorer, even though nothing is actually wrong with it. This is one of the most common reasons an external hard drive is detected but not showing up. However, it will not help if the drive shows as RAW, Unallocated, or the wrong capacity, which need a different fix.<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Right-click <b>Start<\/b> and click <b>Disk Management<\/b>.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Right-click the partition of your external hard drive, then click <b>Change Drive Letter and Paths<\/b>.<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60927 border-blue border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/change-drive-letter-option.jpg\" alt=\"Choosing a drive letter.\" width=\"1710\" height=\"994\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/change-drive-letter-option.jpg 1710w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/change-drive-letter-option-300x174.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/change-drive-letter-option-500x291.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/change-drive-letter-option-768x446.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/change-drive-letter-option-1536x893.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1710px) 100vw, 1710px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Click <b>Add<\/b> (or <b>Change<\/b> if there is a drive letter there already).<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60926 border-blue border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/add-drive-letter.jpg\" alt=\"Adding the drive letter.\" width=\"1604\" height=\"932\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/add-drive-letter.jpg 1604w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/add-drive-letter-300x174.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/add-drive-letter-500x291.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/add-drive-letter-768x446.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/add-drive-letter-1536x892.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1604px) 100vw, 1604px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Choose a drive letter from the list, then click <b>OK<\/b>.<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60925 border-blue border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/confirm-drive-letter.jpg\" alt=\"Confirming the drive letter.\" width=\"1660\" height=\"961\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/confirm-drive-letter.jpg 1660w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/confirm-drive-letter-300x174.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/confirm-drive-letter-500x289.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/confirm-drive-letter-768x445.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/confirm-drive-letter-1536x889.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1660px) 100vw, 1660px\" \/><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"method_3_initialize_the_external_hard_drive\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Method 3.<\/span> <span id=\"initialize-drive\">Initialize the External Hard Drive<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>You should only have to initialize a disk if it\u2019s showing as Not Initialized in Disk Management. However, this should only be done in specific cases, so read the whole method before doing anything. For a brand-new, blank drive, this is fine and expected. But if your drive held data before and now reads as Not Initialized, it usually means the partition table is damaged.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-danger\" role=\"alert\">Initializing a disk writes a new, empty partition table over the old one. On a drive that once held files, it\u2019s basically like deleting the map to where all your data is, making recovery much harder. If your drive ever stored important files, <b>always<\/b> <a href=\"#recover-data\">recover them first<\/a>, and then initialize the drive after confirming they\u2019re recovered.<\/div>\r\n<p>These steps will show you how to initialize a drive:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Right-click <b>Start<\/b> and click <b>Disk Management<\/b>.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Right-click on your disk, then click <b>Initialize Disk<\/b>.<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60929 border-blue border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/initialize-disk.jpg\" alt=\"Initializing the disk.\" width=\"1650\" height=\"958\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/initialize-disk.jpg 1650w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/initialize-disk-300x174.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/initialize-disk-500x290.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/initialize-disk-768x446.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/initialize-disk-1536x892.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1650px) 100vw, 1650px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Choose a partition style and click <b>OK<\/b>.<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60928 border-blue border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/confirm-initialization.jpg\" alt=\"Confirming initialization.\" width=\"1708\" height=\"989\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/confirm-initialization.jpg 1708w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/confirm-initialization-300x174.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/confirm-initialization-500x290.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/confirm-initialization-768x445.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/confirm-initialization-1536x889.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1708px) 100vw, 1708px\" \/><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p>Once the drive is initialized, it will show as Unallocated, meaning you will need to <a href=\"#format-drive\">format it<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"method_4_run_chkdsk_on_the_external_hard_drive\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Method 4.<\/span> <span  id=\"run-chkdsk\">Run CHKDSK on the External Hard Drive<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>CHKDSK is a file system repair tool on Windows. It\u2019s important to note that in many \u201cdetected but not opening\u201d cases, CHKDSK may not be useful as it requires an intact file system to run. However, there is one particular case where it\u2019s useful, and that\u2019s if you had an NTFS drive that lost its main boot sector and now appears as RAW. CHKDSK can rebuild the boot sector from a backup copy kept on the drive.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-danger\" role=\"alert\">CHKDSK changes the file system and can <a href=\"\/howto\/recover-files-deleted-by-chkdsk.html\">delete files while it repairs<\/a>. If your files matter and you have not recovered them yet, go back to the recovery section first.<\/div>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Right-click <b>Start<\/b> and click <b>Terminal (Admin)<\/b>. Windows 10 users will click <b>Windows PowerShell (Admin)<\/b> instead.<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60930 border-blue border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/open-admin-terminal.jpg\" alt=\"Opening Terminal (Admin).\" width=\"1569\" height=\"929\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/open-admin-terminal.jpg 1569w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/open-admin-terminal-300x178.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/open-admin-terminal-500x296.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/open-admin-terminal-768x455.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/open-admin-terminal-1536x909.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1569px) 100vw, 1569px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Type <b>chkdsk *: \/r<\/b> (replacing * with your external drive\u2019s letter) and press <kbd>Enter<\/kbd>. This fixes any issues it finds and maps out bad sectors.<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60931 border-blue border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/chkdsk-r-command.jpg\" alt=\"Running CHKDSK.\" width=\"1862\" height=\"974\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/chkdsk-r-command.jpg 1862w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/chkdsk-r-command-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/chkdsk-r-command-500x262.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/chkdsk-r-command-768x402.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/chkdsk-r-command-1536x803.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1862px) 100vw, 1862px\" \/><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p>If CHKDSK says something like \u201cThe type of the file system is RAW. CHKDSK is not available for RAW drives,\u201d move on to the next methods.<\/p>\r\n<h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"method_5_recover_the_lost_partition\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Method 5.<\/span> <span id=\"recover-partition\">Recover the Lost Partition<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>When your drive is reading the correct capacity, but the partition is missing, deleted, or shown as Unallocated, TestDisk may be able to recover it in its entirety. Don\u2019t remember the state of your drive? <a href=\"#check-disk-management\">Check it<\/a> in Disk Management.<\/p>\r\n<p><a href=\"\/howto\/testdisk-review.html\">TestDisk<\/a> is a free and open-source partition recovery tool that can rebuild the NTFS boot sector and repair the file table that lists your files, restoring the partition and your data back in place.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-warning\" role=\"alert\">TestDisk is a very capable tool, but not the most user-friendly. It uses a plain text menu, asks you to select the right disk and partition carefully, and it writes changes straight to the drive. If you\u2019ve already recovered the files you need, it\u2019s usually easier to <a href=\"#format-drive\">skip straight ahead<\/a> to creating a fresh, usable volume.<\/div>\r\n<p>Follow these steps to restore a partition with TestDisk:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Download and extract the contents of TestDisk. Open <b>testdisk_win.exe<\/b>.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Press <kbd>Enter<\/kbd> to set up a log file.<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60934 border-blue border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/create-new-log.jpg\" alt=\"Creating a new log.\" width=\"1427\" height=\"828\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/create-new-log.jpg 1427w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/create-new-log-300x174.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/create-new-log-500x290.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/create-new-log-768x446.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1427px) 100vw, 1427px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Highlight your external drive using the up and down arrows, then press <kbd>Enter<\/kbd>.<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60937 border-blue border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/select-external-hdd.jpg\" alt=\"Selecting the external HDD.\" width=\"1548\" height=\"899\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/select-external-hdd.jpg 1548w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/select-external-hdd-300x174.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/select-external-hdd-500x290.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/select-external-hdd-768x446.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/select-external-hdd-1536x892.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1548px) 100vw, 1548px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Choose your partition table type. TestDisk will try to automatically detect it. Press <kbd>Enter<\/kbd>.<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60936 border-blue border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/partition-table-type.jpg\" alt=\"Selecting a partition table type.\" width=\"1493\" height=\"869\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/partition-table-type.jpg 1493w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/partition-table-type-300x175.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/partition-table-type-500x291.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/partition-table-type-768x447.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1493px) 100vw, 1493px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Press <kbd>Enter<\/kbd> while over the <b>Analyse<\/b> option.<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60933 border-blue border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/analyse-disk.jpg\" alt=\"Analysing the disk.\" width=\"1548\" height=\"896\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/analyse-disk.jpg 1548w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/analyse-disk-300x174.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/analyse-disk-500x289.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/analyse-disk-768x445.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/analyse-disk-1536x889.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1548px) 100vw, 1548px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Press <kbd>Enter<\/kbd> to start the quick search.<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60938 border-blue border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/start-quick-search.jpg\" alt=\"Starting a quick search.\" width=\"1507\" height=\"871\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/start-quick-search.jpg 1507w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/start-quick-search-300x173.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/start-quick-search-500x289.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/start-quick-search-768x444.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1507px) 100vw, 1507px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Press <kbd>Enter<\/kbd> once the scan is complete.<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60935 border-blue border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/found-partition.jpg\" alt=\"The found partition.\" width=\"1495\" height=\"865\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/found-partition.jpg 1495w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/found-partition-300x174.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/found-partition-500x289.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/found-partition-768x444.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1495px) 100vw, 1495px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Highlight the <b>Write<\/b> option using the left and right arrows if the partition was found. If it wasn\u2019t found, you may need to perform a <b>Deeper Search<\/b> instead. Press <kbd>Enter<\/kbd>.<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60932 border-blue border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/writing-partition.jpg\" alt=\"Writing the partition.\" width=\"1587\" height=\"921\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/writing-partition.jpg 1587w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/writing-partition-300x174.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/writing-partition-500x290.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/writing-partition-768x446.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/writing-partition-1536x891.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1587px) 100vw, 1587px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Press <kbd>Y<\/kbd> to write the partition table.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p>Once finished, you\u2019ll need to restart your PC or safely reconnect the external hard drive to see the changes.<\/p>\r\n<h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"method_6_create_a_new_volume_or_format_the_external_hard_drive\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Method 6.<\/span> <span id=\"format-drive\">Create a New Volume or Format the External Hard Drive<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>Creating a new volume, deleting and recreating a partition, or formatting the drive erases your path to the data on it. Only use this method <b>after<\/b> you have recovered your files, or if you have decided you do not need them.<\/p>\r\n<p>There are two cases here. Match yours to what Disk Management shows.<\/p>\r\n<h4>Case A: The Drive Shows as Unallocated<\/h4>\r\n<p>When Windows can see the physical drive but it appears to have no usable partition for File Explorer to open, add a volume and format it to make it usable.<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Right-click <b>Start<\/b> and open <b>Disk Management<\/b>.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Right-click the unallocated space on your external hard drive, then click <b>New Simple Volume<\/b>.<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60940 border-blue border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/new-simple-volume.jpg\" alt=\"Creating a new simple volume.\" width=\"1501\" height=\"887\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/new-simple-volume.jpg 1501w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/new-simple-volume-300x177.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/new-simple-volume-500x295.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/new-simple-volume-768x454.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1501px) 100vw, 1501px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Click <b>Next<\/b>.<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60942 border-blue border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/skip-overview.jpg\" alt=\"Skipping the overview.\" width=\"1496\" height=\"884\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/skip-overview.jpg 1496w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/skip-overview-300x177.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/skip-overview-500x295.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/skip-overview-768x454.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1496px) 100vw, 1496px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Specify a volume size and click <b>Next<\/b>.<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60943 border-blue border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/specify-volume-size.jpg\" alt=\"Specifying the volume size.\" width=\"1491\" height=\"883\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/specify-volume-size.jpg 1491w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/specify-volume-size-300x178.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/specify-volume-size-500x296.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/specify-volume-size-768x455.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1491px) 100vw, 1491px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Click <b>Next<\/b> to confirm your drive letter.<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60939 border-blue border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/choose-drive-letter.jpg\" alt=\"Choosing a drive letter.\" width=\"1489\" height=\"882\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/choose-drive-letter.jpg 1489w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/choose-drive-letter-300x178.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/choose-drive-letter-500x296.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/choose-drive-letter-768x455.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1489px) 100vw, 1489px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Specify a file system, provide a volume label, and make sure <b>Perform a quick format<\/b> is ticked. Click <b>Next<\/b>.<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60941 border-blue border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/new-volume-settings.jpg\" alt=\"The new volume settings.\" width=\"1491\" height=\"884\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/new-volume-settings.jpg 1491w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/new-volume-settings-300x178.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/new-volume-settings-500x296.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/new-volume-settings-768x455.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1491px) 100vw, 1491px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Click <b>Finish<\/b>.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<h4>Case B: Format Existing Volume<\/h4>\r\n<p>When the drive shows as RAW, has a corrupted or unsupported file system, or Windows asks you to format it, then formatting the existing partition will be enough to restore the drive back to working order.<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Right-click <b>Start<\/b> and open <b>Disk Management<\/b>.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Right-click the partition on your external hard drive, then click <b>Format<\/b>.<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60945 border-blue border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/format-volume-option.jpg\" alt=\"Formatting the volume.\" width=\"1476\" height=\"877\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/format-volume-option.jpg 1476w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/format-volume-option-300x178.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/format-volume-option-500x297.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/format-volume-option-768x456.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1476px) 100vw, 1476px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Give the volume a label, choose its file system, and make sure <b>Perform a quick format<\/b> is ticked. Click <b>OK<\/b>.<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60944 border-blue border-radius-10\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/format-existing-volume.jpg\" alt=\"Formatting the existing partition.\" width=\"1493\" height=\"884\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/format-existing-volume.jpg 1493w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/format-existing-volume-300x178.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/format-existing-volume-500x296.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/format-existing-volume-768x455.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1493px) 100vw, 1493px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Click <b>OK<\/b> again.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p>In both format cases, you\u2019ll need to choose a file system. Which one you choose depends on what device the drive is being used with.<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Choose <b>NTFS<\/b> if the drive will mostly stay on Windows.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Choose <b>exFAT<\/b> if the drive will move between Windows, macOS, cameras, TVs, or consoles.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>If the format fails or Disk Management freezes partway through, the problem may be physical or firmware-related rather than just file-system damage. See the next section before you try again.<\/p>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"commonly_recommended_fixes_we_would_skip\"><\/span>Commonly Recommended Fixes We Would Skip<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>There are a lot of generic fixes offered up when you research this problem. In real cases where an external hard drive is detected but not opening, most rarely address the actual fault. Here is what we usually skip, and why.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"table_wrapper table_heading\"><p><\/p>\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><b>Common recommendation<\/b><\/td>\r\n<td><b>Why we usually skip it<\/b><\/td>\r\n<td><b>When it might still make sense<\/b><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Update the drivers<\/td>\r\n<td>Windows uses a standard USB storage driver for almost all external drives, and it is normally already doing its job.<\/td>\r\n<td>Only if the drive worked before and broke right after a bad driver update or a failed device install.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Change folder permissions<\/td>\r\n<td>Permissions only matter when Windows can already read the file system but blocks certain folders. They cannot repair a RAW, Unallocated, or unlettered drive.<\/td>\r\n<td>Only when the drive opens fine but one folder gives an \u201caccess denied\u201d error.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Scan for malware<\/td>\r\n<td>A scan will not fix a RAW partition, a missing volume, a damaged boot sector, or unallocated space.<\/td>\r\n<td>As a safety check, especially if your files turned into shortcuts or went hidden.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Change USB power settings<\/td>\r\n<td>If the drive is already detected, changing power-saving settings rarely makes a difference.<\/td>\r\n<td>Rarely, on a drive that keeps dropping off after it sits idle.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<p><\/div>\r\n<h2 id=\"when-diy-fixes-are-not-safe\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"when_diy_fixes_are_no_longer_safe\"><\/span>When DIY Fixes Are No Longer Safe<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>DIY is a reasonable choice when your drive shows in Disk Management with the correct capacity and no signs of physical failure. But some cases are risky because every extra scan, repair, or reconnect can push a dying drive further. Sometimes a drive looks alive but is not truly working. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/datarecovery\/comments\/1prsj9v\/external_hard_drive_working_but_not_showing_up\/\">It spins up, its light comes on, it may even vibrate in your hand<\/a>, yet it never appears in Disk Management.<\/p>\r\n<p>Stop DIY fixes and consider a professional if you notice any of these:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>The drive clicks, beeps, or grinds. Those are clear sounds of mechanical failure.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Disk Management shows the wrong capacity, such as 0 bytes or a size much smaller than the real drive.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>The data is extremely important and you have no backup.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>In those cases, <a href=\"\/howto\/best-data-recovery-services.html\">professional data recovery services<\/a> are the safer choice. They work in controlled labs and can reach a drive that software cannot. Be aware that professional recovery carries a bigger price tag, so it makes the most sense for severe cases or for data you genuinely cannot afford to lose.<\/p>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>It can be intimidating at first figuring out what path to take, but with the right workflow, it\u2019s very simple. Open Disk Management first and confirm the drive\u2019s state: its capacity, drive letter, and status. In any instance where your files matter, <b>recover them first<\/b>. If the drive\u2019s looking unstable, make a backup and scan that instead. Then, after recovery, implement the fix:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>No drive letter? Assign one.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Correct size but disconnecting? Try another cable or port.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Brand new and showing as Not Initialized? Initialize and format.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Shows as RAW from a lost NTFS boot sector? Run CHKDSK.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Unallocated or lost partition? Recover the partition.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Want to reset it? Perform a format.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>In short, a hard drive that\u2019s detected but not showing up is easily fixed, but if you want to make sure your data is safe, always recover it first.<\/p>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"faq\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<div><section itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/FAQPage\">\r\n<div style=\"border-bottom: 0px solid rgb(213, 217, 217);\" class=\"panel panel-default faq-block\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" role=\"tablist\">\r\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"headingfaq1\">\r\n                <div class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\">\r\n                    <a class=\"toggle-link transition-all collapsed\" role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-item-faq1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-faq1\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"why_is_my_external_hard_drive_detected_but_not_showing_up_in_file_explorer\"><\/span>Why is my external hard drive detected but not showing up in File Explorer?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>                   \r\n                    \t<svg class=\"transition-all panel-toggle\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\r\n                            <g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\r\n                                <path d=\"M7,7 L7,0 L9,0 L9,7 L16,7 L16,9 L9,9 L9,16 L7,16 L7,9 L0,9 L0,7 L7,7 Z\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/path>\r\n                            <\/g>\r\n                        <\/svg>\r\n                   <\/a>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div id=\"collapse-item-faq1\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" style=\"\">\r\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n<div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                <p><\/p>\r\n<p>An external hard drive that\u2019s detected but not showing up in File Explorer is almost certainly because it has no drive letter or its file system is damaged. Start by checking Disk Management. If the drive shows a healthy partition with no letter, just assign one. If it shows as RAW, Unallocated, or Not Initialized, the file system or partition is the problem, and so you should recover your data before repairing it.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n              <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div style=\"border-bottom: 0px solid rgb(213, 217, 217);\" class=\"panel panel-default faq-block\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" role=\"tablist\">\r\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"headingfaq2\">\r\n                <div class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\">\r\n                    <a class=\"toggle-link transition-all collapsed\" role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-item-faq2\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-faq2\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"why_is_my_hard_drive_detected_but_not_showing_up_in_device_manager\"><\/span>Why is my hard drive detected but not showing up in Device Manager?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>                   \r\n                    \t<svg class=\"transition-all panel-toggle\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\r\n                            <g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\r\n                                <path d=\"M7,7 L7,0 L9,0 L9,7 L16,7 L16,9 L9,9 L9,16 L7,16 L7,9 L0,9 L0,7 L7,7 Z\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/path>\r\n                            <\/g>\r\n                        <\/svg>\r\n                   <\/a>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div id=\"collapse-item-faq2\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq2\" aria-expanded=\"false\" style=\"\">\r\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n<div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                <p><\/p>\r\n<p>If Windows sees the drive somewhere but it is missing from Device Manager, it usually points to an inconsistent connection or power supply rather than a file-system one. Try a different cable and port, and if it is a desktop drive, check its power supply. Reconnect the drive and rescan. If it still never appears, and especially if it makes any noise, treat it as a possible hardware fault.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n              <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div style=\"border-bottom: 0px solid rgb(213, 217, 217);\" class=\"panel panel-default faq-block\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" role=\"tablist\">\r\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"headingfaq3\">\r\n                <div class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\">\r\n                    <a class=\"toggle-link transition-all collapsed\" role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-item-faq3\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-faq3\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what_should_i_do_if_my_external_hard_drive_shows_up_but_i_cant_access_some_files\"><\/span>What should I do if my external hard drive shows up but I can\u2019t access some files?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>                   \r\n                    \t<svg class=\"transition-all panel-toggle\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\r\n                            <g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\r\n                                <path d=\"M7,7 L7,0 L9,0 L9,7 L16,7 L16,9 L9,9 L9,16 L7,16 L7,9 L0,9 L0,7 L7,7 Z\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/path>\r\n                            <\/g>\r\n                        <\/svg>\r\n                   <\/a>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div id=\"collapse-item-faq3\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq3\" aria-expanded=\"false\" style=\"\">\r\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n<div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                <p><\/p>\r\n<p>When the drive opens but certain files or folders will not, the file system is often starting to fail, or those files sit on bad sectors. Do not keep retrying, which only stresses the drive. Copy off everything you can right away, then run a recovery scan with Disk Drill to rescue the files you cannot reach. If just one folder gives an \u201caccess denied\u201d message and the rest is fine, it may be a permissions issue instead.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n              <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div style=\"border-bottom: 01px solid rgb(213, 217, 217);\" class=\"panel panel-default faq-block\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" role=\"tablist\">\r\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"headingfaq4\">\r\n                <div class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\">\r\n                    <a class=\"toggle-link transition-all collapsed\" role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-item-faq4\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-faq4\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what_to_do_if_my_external_hard_drive_is_detected_but_shows_wrong_size\"><\/span>What to do if my external hard drive is detected but shows wrong size?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>                   \r\n                    \t<svg class=\"transition-all panel-toggle\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\r\n                            <g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\r\n                                <path d=\"M7,7 L7,0 L9,0 L9,7 L16,7 L16,9 L9,9 L9,16 L7,16 L7,9 L0,9 L0,7 L7,7 Z\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/path>\r\n                            <\/g>\r\n                        <\/svg>\r\n                   <\/a>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div id=\"collapse-item-faq4\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq4\" aria-expanded=\"false\" style=\"\">\r\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n<div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                <p><\/p>\r\n<p>A wrong capacity in Disk Management, such as 0 bytes or far less than the real size, is a warning sign. It points to file-system corruption or a firmware or physical fault, not a simple fix. Do not initialize or format the drive, because that can destroy your data. Recover your files first if you can, and if the drive seems to be failing or the data is valuable, use a professional recovery service instead.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n              <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/section><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Your external hard drive is detected but not opening. Windows can see it, and it may even appear in File Explorer, but when you try to access it, nothing happens, or you\u2019re met with an error. The good news is&#8230;","protected":false},"author":7884,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1753],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-60914","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-hard-drive-data-recovery-tips"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>External Hard Drive Detected but Not Opening? Here\u2019s How to Fix It<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Struggling with an external hard drive that&#039;s detected but not opening? We&#039;ll guide you through how to fix it and access your data again.\" \/>\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.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/external-hard-drive-detected-not-opening.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"External Hard Drive Detected but Not Opening? Here\u2019s How to Fix It\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Struggling with an external hard drive that&#039;s detected but not opening? We&#039;ll guide you through how to fix it and access your data again.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/external-hard-drive-detected-not-opening.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Data recovery tips. 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Recover deleted files on Mac, Windows.","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":630,"url":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/og-cleverfiles.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Jordan Jamieson-Mane","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_title":"External Hard Drive Detected but Not Opening? Here\u2019s How to Fix It","twitter_description":"Struggling with an external hard drive that's detected but not opening? 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Starting from a young age, this interest gradually turned into a career, with Jordan studying in the field of IT and moving into a technical role right out of tertiary education. After gaining valuable first-hand experience in the field, he started his journey as a technology content writer. As a tech enthusiast, his interests within the realm of technology include hardware, networking, smart technology, and consumer electronics. He also creates his own websites with a keen understanding of what it takes to grow and manage a website. Jordan is motivated by creating content that will benefit others. He has a strong work ethic and loves working with others that are just as enthusiastic as he is. During his time as a content writer, Jordan has written dozens of articles across many different niches with the intention of educating others in a way that's easy to understand. When he's not researching and writing articles, Jordan spends his free time reading, traveling the world, getting hands-on in his garden, or absorbing anything and everything he can about self-development to get the most out of his life.","sameAs":["jordanjamiesonmane"],"url":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/author\/jordan-jamieson-mane\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60914","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7884"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=60914"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60914\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":61259,"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60914\/revisions\/61259"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=60914"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=60914"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=60914"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}