WD External disk not showing up anymore even in Disk Utility

If your **WD external disk is not showing up even in Disk Utility (Mac)**, it’s a serious sign — but recovery might still be possible depending on the cause. Here's how to troubleshoot it step by step:

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## 🔍 STEP 1: **Basic Checks**

### ✅ Confirm the Basics:

* Try a **different USB port**

* Try a **different USB cable** (especially if it's a USB-C or micro-B)

* Try **another Mac or Windows PC**

* Plug the drive **directly into the Mac**, not via a hub

> If it shows on another computer, it’s a **Mac-specific issue**. If not, continue below.

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## 🧭 STEP 2: **Does It Power On?**

### 🔦 Check for:

* **Power LED activity** (is it blinking/solid?)

* **Drive spin-up sound** (any whirring or vibration?)

* **Clicking noises** (bad sign: indicates mechanical failure)

If there's **no power or spin**, the issue may be:

* A **dead USB enclosure/controller**

* A **failed drive**

* A **bad cable or port**

> In some WD drives, **the USB-SATA bridge is proprietary**, meaning removing the drive won’t help unless decrypted.

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## 🧰 STEP 3: **Check System Report (Mac Only)**

* Go to **Apple Menu > About This Mac > System Report > USB**

* Look for your drive under “USB Device Tree”

> 🔎 **If it's listed** but not in Disk Utility: likely a **file system or partition table issue**

> ❌ **If it’s not listed at all**: likely a **hardware-level failure**

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## 🛠️ STEP 4: **Try Disk Recovery Tools**

If it shows up in **System Report** or **Windows Device Manager**, but not in Disk Utility:

1. **Use Terminal (Mac):**

```bash

diskutil list

```

If your disk appears (like `/dev/disk2`), try:

```bash

sudo diskutil mountDisk /dev/disk2

```

2. **Use Recovery Software:**

* **PhotoRec** (free, powerful)

* **Disk Drill for Mac**

* **Stellar Data Recovery for Mac**

* **R-Studio**

> These can recover data even if the partition is gone or corrupted — **as long as the drive is physically readable**.

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## 🧯 STEP 5: **If the Drive Isn’t Detected at All**

If it doesn’t appear in **Disk Utility**, **System Report**, or **any other computer**, then:

### Possible causes:

* **Dead WD USB enclosure/controller board**

* **Dead drive**

* **Encrypted firmware – can’t remove the disk and plug it into a dock**

### Options:

* Try a **data recovery service** (if the data is valuable)

* If it’s an older **non-encrypted SATA drive**, try removing the disk and plugging into a **SATA-to-USB adapter**

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## 💡 Final Tip: Check for Hidden WD Software

Some WD drives use **WD Security or WD SmartWare**, which encrypts the drive. If the drive isn’t unlocked, it may not mount or show up.

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Would you like help checking [how to verify the drive shows in System Report](f), [how to use diskutil or recovery tools](f), or [whether your drive has built-in encryption preventing access](f)?