If your external drive won’t show up or behaves erratically, the cause is often one of a few common hardware, software or power issues — and most are fixable without losing data. The problem described here is External hard drive doesn’t work in Windows 10. This article explains typical causes and walks you through 12 practical fixes so you can get your drive recognized and your files accessible.
You’ll learn why Windows 10 may not detect a drive (bad cable, power, drivers, file system, corruption, enclosure failure, etc.) and exactly where to click or what commands to run to diagnose and repair each situation.
Key Takeaway
Most “drive not working” issues are caused by connection/power problems, driver or disk configuration issues, or filesystem corruption — start with cables and ports, then check Disk Management and Device Manager; use chkdsk, driver updates/reinstalls, or assign a drive letter before attempting destructive fixes like diskpart clean or reformatting.
Quick Fix Guide
| Reason for the Problem | Quick Solution |
|---|---|
| Faulty USB cable or port | Try a different known-good cable and a different USB port. |
| Insufficient power to the drive | Use a powered USB hub or connect both USB plugs / external PSU. |
| Drive not initialized or offline | Open Disk Management and initialize/bring disk online. |
| Missing or conflicting drive letter | Assign a new drive letter in Disk Management. |
| Outdated or corrupt drivers | Update or uninstall/reinstall drivers in Device Manager. |
| USB power management turns off device | Disable power-saving for USB Root Hubs in Device Manager. |
| Unsupported file system (macOS/Linux) | Mount in appropriate OS or reformat to NTFS/exFAT after backup. |
| Corrupted filesystem / bad sectors | Run chkdsk X: /f /r (replace X with drive letter). |
| Drive appears as RAW | Recover data with recovery tools; then reformat. |
| Faulty enclosure or SATA–USB bridge | Remove drive and connect directly to SATA or try another enclosure. |
| BitLocker or encryption locks drive | Unlock in Control Panel > BitLocker Drive Encryption or use password/key. |
| Physical drive failure | Stop using the drive and consult data recovery specialists. |
Detailed Fixes for “tu mets ici le problème du 12 reasons why External hard drive doesn’t work in Windows 10 (and how to fix it)”
1. Faulty USB cable or USB port
Why it causes the problem
- A damaged cable, loose connector, or faulty USB port prevents reliable data/power transfer so Windows cannot detect the drive or it disconnects intermittently.
Step-by-step fix
- Unplug the drive and inspect the cable and connectors for bends, frays, or exposed wires.
- Try a different cable (preferably the one that came with the drive or a high-quality replacement).
- Connect to a different USB port on the PC — prefer USB 3.0 ports (blue) for modern drives.
- Avoid connecting through unpowered hubs; try a direct port on the PC.
Notes: If a desktop has front and rear ports, use a rear port (directly on the motherboard) for more reliable power.
2. Insufficient power to the drive
Why it causes the problem
- Some external drives (especially older 2.5″ drives or 3.5″ desktop drives) need more power than a single USB port supplies; insufficient power leads to the drive spinning up partially or not at all.
Step-by-step fix
- If the drive has an external power adapter, make sure it’s connected and the adapter works.
- For bus-powered drives, use a USB Y-cable (two USB plugs) or a powered USB hub to supply extra current.
- Try connecting the drive to a desktop USB port (rear ports supply more current than front panels).
Tip: If the drive spins briefly and stops, suspect power; a steady spin and recognition indicate adequate power.
Why it causes the problem
- A new or corrupted disk may not be initialized or could be offline; Windows will not assign a letter or show it in File Explorer until configured.
Step-by-step fix
- Right-click Start and choose Disk Management.
- Look for a disk labeled Unknown, Not Initialized, Offline, or showing unallocated space.
- To initialize: right-click the disk and select Initialize Disk, choose MBR or GPT (GPT for drives >2TB or modern systems).
- To bring online: right-click the disk and choose Online.
- To create a volume: right-click the unallocated space → New Simple Volume → follow the wizard and format as NTFS or exFAT.
Warning: Initializing/creating volumes may erase existing data — recover data first if necessary.
4. Missing or conflicting drive letter
Why it causes the problem
- If Windows cannot assign a drive letter (or a letter is in use), the drive will not appear in File Explorer even though it’s functioning.
Step-by-step fix
- Open Disk Management.
- Right-click the partition on the external drive and select Change Drive Letter and Paths…
- Click Add (if none assigned) or Change to pick a new unused letter, then OK.
- Refresh This PC to see the drive.
Tip: Avoid using letters A or B; choose a letter near the end of the alphabet to avoid conflicts.
5. Outdated or corrupt USB/storage drivers
Why it causes the problem
- Faulty or incompatible drivers prevent Windows from communicating with the drive correctly.
Step-by-step fix
- Press Win + X, select Device Manager.
- Expand Disk drives and Universal Serial Bus controllers.
- Right-click the external drive entry under Disk drives → Update driver → Search automatically.
- If update fails, right-click and choose Uninstall device, then disconnect the drive and reboot; reconnect to let Windows reinstall drivers.
- For stubborn USB issues, uninstall all entries under Universal Serial Bus controllers (right-click → Uninstall device) and reboot to force Windows to re-detect USB controllers.
Tip: Use the disk vendor’s website for specific driver packages if available.
6. USB power management turning off the device
Why it causes the problem
- Windows may power down USB ports to save energy, causing the drive to disappear until reconnected.
Step-by-step fix
- Open Device Manager.
- Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers, right-click each USB Root Hub or Generic USB Hub → Properties.
- On the Power Management tab, uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power and click OK.
- Also, go to Control Panel > Power Options > Change plan settings > Change advanced power settings → expand USB settings > USB selective suspend setting → set to Disabled, then Apply.
Note: Disabling selective suspend increases power use but stabilizes external drives.
7. File system not recognized (macOS or Linux formats)
Why it causes the problem
- Windows does not natively read macOS (HFS+, APFS) or Linux (ext4) file systems, so the drive appears but contains unknown partitions.
Step-by-step fix
- Check the filesystem in Disk Management — it may show as an unknown partition type.
- To access data without reformatting:
- For macOS HFS+: use third-party drivers like Paragon HFS+ or MacDrive.
- For APFS: third-party APFS drivers are available (read/write support varies).
- For ext4: use Linux live USB or Windows tools like Ext2Fsd (read-only support recommended for safety).
- If you plan to use the drive in Windows only, backup the data using a compatible system, then format to NTFS or exFAT in Disk Management.
Warning: Reformatting erases all data.
8. Corrupted filesystem or bad sectors
Why it causes the problem
- File system corruption or bad sectors can make a drive unreadable or slow; Windows may prompt to scan the drive or fail to open folders.
Step-by-step fix
- Note the drive letter in This PC.
- Open Command Prompt as administrator (Win + X → Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin)).
- Run: chkdsk X: /f /r (replace X with the drive letter). This checks and repairs errors and attempts to recover bad sectors.
- Allow the scan to finish — it may take long on large drives.
- If chkdsk cannot run, consider data recovery software (Recuva, R-Studio, EaseUS) before reformatting.
Tip: Do not run write-heavy operations if the disk is failing; always try to recover important files first.
9. Drive shows as RAW
Why it causes the problem
- When Windows cannot recognize the filesystem, the partition may show as RAW; Windows will often offer to format it.
Step-by-step fix
- Do not format if you need the data; formatting will erase it.
- Use data recovery tools (TestDisk, PhotoRec, Recuva) to recover files:
- TestDisk can rebuild partition tables; PhotoRec can recover files by signature.
- After recovery, reformat the partition in Disk Management: right-click the volume → Format… → choose NTFS or exFAT.
Note: If the partition was RAW due to hardware failure, recovery may be incomplete.
10. Faulty enclosure or SATA–USB bridge
Why it causes the problem
- The USB-to-SATA bridge inside the enclosure may fail while the internal disk is fine; Windows sees nothing or odd behavior results.
Step-by-step fix
- Remove the drive from its enclosure (if comfortable and warranty allows).
- Connect the drive directly to a desktop SATA port or use a different USB-to-SATA adapter/enclosure.
- If the disk works when directly connected, the enclosure/adapter was the problem — replace the enclosure.
Warning: Opening some enclosures voids warranty; consider clinic replacement if under warranty.
11. BitLocker or other encryption
Why it causes the problem
- Encrypted drives will appear but cannot be opened without the correct key/password; they may report as locked or require unlocking.
Step-by-step fix
- Go to Control Panel > BitLocker Drive Encryption to see if the drive is listed as locked.
- Right-click the locked drive in This PC and choose Unlock drive, then enter the password or use the recovery key.
- If you don’t have the key, data access requires the recovery key from Microsoft account or administrator who enabled BitLocker.
Tip: Note that some third-party encryption solutions require their own unlocking software installed.
12. Physical drive failure
Why it causes the problem
- Mechanical wear (spinning/platter problems) or electronic board failure means the drive may no longer function or may intermittently connect.
Step-by-step fix
- If you hear clicking or grinding, power down immediately to avoid further damage.
- Try connecting to another computer or via a different enclosure just to confirm failure.
- If the disk contains critical data, stop DIY attempts and consult a professional data recovery service.
- If data is not critical, you may attempt cloning with tools like ddrescue (Linux) or consider rebuilding with manufacturer diagnostics.
Note: Data recovery services are expensive but offer the best chance for physical damage recovery.
Maintenance & Prevention
- Always eject safely: use Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media before unplugging.
- Keep regular backups: use File History, third‑party backup, or cloud sync to avoid a single point of failure.
- Use quality cables and a powered hub for multiple drives.
- Run periodic health checks: install vendor tools (Seagate SeaTools, Western Digital Data Lifeguard) and check SMART status.
- Avoid exposing drives to extreme temperature, shocks, or magnets.
FAQ
Q: Can I recover files from a drive that Windows cannot detect at all?
A: If nothing is detected by Disk Management or Device Manager, data recovery is difficult; try different cables, ports, or connecting directly via SATA — if still invisible, professional recovery may be necessary.
Q: Will formatting fix a problematic external drive?
A: Formatting will often fix filesystem-level issues (RAW or corrupted), but formatting erases data — recover important files first if possible.
Q: How can I test whether the drive or my PC is the problem?
A: Try the drive on another computer and try a different external drive on your PC. If the drive works elsewhere, the PC or port is at fault; if other drives fail on your PC, the PC is the issue.
Q: Should I use NTFS or exFAT for an external drive?
A: Use NTFS for Windows-only usage (better permissions and stability). Use exFAT for cross-platform compatibility (Windows/macOS) and large file support without NTFS restrictions.
Q: How do I tell if my drive is failing (SMART)?
A: Use tools like CrystalDiskInfo or vendor diagnostic utilities to read SMART attributes (reallocated sectors, current pending sector count). Rising bad-sector counts usually indicate impending failure.
Conclusion
Most problems where an External hard drive doesn’t work in Windows 10 can be fixed by checking cables and power, inspecting Disk Management and Device Manager, assigning drive letters, updating drivers, or repairing filesystems with chkdsk. If the disk has physical damage or persistent hardware errors, stop and seek professional data recovery to avoid further data loss.
