How to Fix Seagate External Hard Drive Not Working in Windows & macOS

Applies to: Solves issues like Seagate external hard drive not appearing, not being detected, hard drive light blinking but not functioning, not recognized in Windows 10, USB drive not showing up, and more.

Is your Seagate external hard drive not being recognized? This page provides comprehensive solutions to address issues with Seagate and other brand external hard drives that are not working, not detected, or not showing up, enabling you to restore your hard drive functionality without data loss. Browse through the methods outlined in the table below:

How to Recover Data from Undetected Seagate External Drive First?

As some effective methods to fix external disk issues will inevitably result in data loss, such as disk formatting, we highly recommend restoring and backing up your data from the Seagate external hard drive first.

To effectively retrieve data from non-functional Seagate external hard drives, you need to utilize a powerful hard drive data recovery software like tools Data Recovery Wizard, which can restore data from inaccessible, corrupted, and RAW external hard drives.

Tools Data Recovery Software boasts the following highlights and features.

• ?Recover data from external hard drives, including documents, photos, videos, audio files, music, and emails.
• ?Recover corrupted USB drives, emptied Recycle Bin, memory cards, SD cards, digital cameras, etc.
• ?️Support external hard drive data recovery for unexpected deletion, formatting, drive corruption, virus attacks, etc.

How to recover data from a functioning external hard drive using Data Recovery tools? Here's a step-by-step guide:

Step 1. Make sure your Seagate external hard drive is properly connected and scan it using data recovery software.

Step 2. After the scan is complete, all lost data will appear, and you can also filter the files during the scanning process. You can preview the lost files on the Seagate external hard drive.

Step 3. Select all the files you wish to recover from the Seagate external hard drive, click "Recover," and choose a new location to save them.

Here's a video that can assist you in learning more about external hard drive data recovery. You can download the software mentioned in the video for free, and we assure you of its safety.

• 00:00 Overview of external hard drive data loss
• 01:00 Downloading the tool - Data Recovery Wizard
• 01:19 How to recover data using the tool

Don't forget to share this helpful Seagate external hard drive data recovery method with more readers!

Mac用户应下载Mac版本来恢复丢失的文件。要在Mac上恢复Seagate外部硬盘数据，请点击此链接：

Sure, please provide the text that needs to be translated.

Recover Data from External Hard Drive on Mac [2023]

Mac users can recover data from an external hard drive through trash restoration, using Time Machine/Cloud backup, or with data recovery software. Read more >>

当然，我很乐意帮助你。请提供你想要翻译的内容。

Seagate External Hard Drive Repair Services (Recommended)

在尝试使用一些复杂方法之前，您可以先试一些快速解决方案来修复希捷外部硬盘无法正常工作的问题：

• Try using a different USB port on the computer.
• Switch to a new cable if the current one is damaged.
• Try connecting the drive to another computer.
• Check if the drive's light is on (a turned-off light suggests the power adapter is not connected to power).
• Try plugging the drive into a different power outlet (for Desktop Drives).

Following these tips, if your Seagate external hard drive still isn't detected, proceed to try the additional solutions provided below. If you prefer a professional data recovery and external hard drive repair service, we highly recommend utilizing data recovery services. Our experts specialize in repairing crashed, mechanically failed, and physically damaged hard drives, USBs, and SSDs. Contact the experts now to repair your Seagate external hard drive.

当然，我很乐意帮助你。请提供你想要翻译的语言内容。

Tools Data Recovery Services

Click here to contact our experts for a free evaluation

Consult with Tools data recovery specialists for personalized manual recovery assistance. We can provide the following services following a FREE diagnosis:

• Repair damaged RAID configuration, unbootable Windows operating system, and corrupted virtual disk files
• Recover or repair lost partitions and reformatted drives
• Undo hard drive formatting and fix RAW drives (BitLocker encrypted drives)
• Resolve disks converted to GPT-protected partitions

How to Solve Seagate External Hard Drive Not Working Issue in Windows

First, open Disk Management and inspect the status of your external hard drive. Proceed to apply the relevant solutions provided below.

当然，我很乐意帮助你。请提供你想要翻译的语言内容。

Fix 1: Uninstall and Reinstall Seagate Hard Drive Driver

If your hard drive is not detected in Device Manager or Disk Management, you need to uninstall and update the Seagate drive driver. Follow these detailed steps: 1. Press `Windows key + X` on your keyboard and select "Device Manager" from the menu. 2. In the Device Manager window, expand the "IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers" category by clicking on the arrow next to it. 3. Locate the Seagate drive controller, which might be named "Seagate SATA Controller" or something similar. Right-click on it and choose "Uninstall device." 4. A confirmation prompt may appear; click "Uninstall" to proceed. 5. After the driver is uninstalled, restart your computer. This will allow Windows to automatically reinstall the generic driver for the controller. 6. Once your computer has restarted, check if the hard drive is now detected in Device Manager and Disk Management. If it still isn't, proceed to the next step. 7. Visit the Seagate official website to download the latest driver for your specific hard drive model. 8. Download and install the driver following the on-screen instructions. 9. Restart your computer again to ensure that the new driver is properly installed and in use. 10. Finally, check Device Manager and Disk Management to confirm if the Seagate hard drive is now detected. If the issue persists after updating the driver, there could be hardware issues with the hard drive, and you may need professional assistance.

Step 1. Connect the non-functional Seagate external hard drive to your PC.

Step 2. Type device manager in the search bar and click on "Device Manager" from the menu.

Step 3. Expand the disk drives, right-click on your external hard drive, and then select "Update Driver".

Step 4. Choose "Search automatically for updated driver software" and restart your PC once the process is finished.

If this method successfully resolves the issues with your Seagate external hard drive, please don't hesitate to share it.

Solution 2: Format RAW Seagate External Hard Drive to NTFS

In Device Manager or Disk Management on your computer, if your external hard drive is displayed as RAW or Unallocated, it indicates that you need to format the hard drive.

Step 1. Connect the Seagate external hard drive to your PC and launch Disk Management.

Step 2. Right-click on the non-working RAW drive and select "Format."

Step 3. Assign a volume label, choose NTFS as the file system, and check "Quick Format." Click "OK" to begin formatting.

You can refer to the following passage to learn more methods to convert a RAW drive to NTFS:

当然，我很乐意帮助你。请提供你想要翻译的语言内容。

Convert RAW to NTFS Without Formatting [No Data Loss]

How to repair a RAW drive without formatting? You can convert RAW to NTFS using three methods. Read on for more details. Read more >>

Fix 3: Restore Partition or Create a New Partition on Unallocated Seagate External Disk

When your external hard drive appears as unallocated in Disk Management, you have two options: 1. Recover the partition, or 2. Create a new partition.

#1. Restore Lost Partition and Data from Seagate Unallocated Space

Your first option is to directly use a partition recovery software. This tool will scan and restore all lost partitions and data from the unallocated space.

Step 1. Run Partition Recovery on your PC.

Select the disk or device where you lost partition(s), and click "Scan" to continue.

Step 2. Wait for the scanning process to complete.

让程序扫描所选磁盘并找到丢失的分区。

Step 3. Preview and restore the lost partition(s).

Double-click on the partition that is labeled as "Lost" and has "Good" recoverability.

Preview the contents of the lost partition. Click "OK," then click "Proceed" to begin restoring the lost partition.

Step 4. Click "Recover Now" to complete the partition recovery process.

注意：如果程序警告存在冲突，请首先将包含重要数据的列出分区备份到外部硬盘。然后执行最后的操作来恢复丢失的分区。

#2. Create a New Partition on Unallocated Seagate External Drive

Note: This method can result in data loss. Make sure to recover your data first if you intend to use this approach.

Here's how to create a new partition using Disk Management:

Step 1. Connect the unallocated Seagate external hard drive to your PC and launch the Windows Disk Management tool.

Step 2. Right-click on the unallocated space and select "New Simple Volume...".

Step 3. Specify the partition size, drive letter, and file system (e.g., NTFS), then click "OK" to confirm.

Step 4. Click "Finish" to complete the process.

Fix 4: Change Seagate Drive Letter

If your external hard drive has the same drive letter as your disk partition, Windows won't display the drive letter for your external device. It will appear as "New Volume" in Disk Management without an assigned drive letter.

This is likely the reason why your external hard drive isn't being recognized. To resolve this issue, you'll need to assign a new drive letter to your Seagate disk. Follow these steps to proceed:

Step 1. Connect the Seagate external drive to your computer and open Disk Management.

Step 2. Right-click the non-working Seagate disk partition and select "Change Drive Letter and Paths...".

Step 3. Assign a new drive letter to the Seagate disk and click "OK" to confirm.

Fix 5: Enable the USB Root Hub

Sometimes, USB external hard drive devices might stop working correctly if they're connected to the same USB hub with multiple devices, causing the hub to enter selective suspension mode.

您可以启用USB根集线器，让控制器从无响应状态恢复USB端口，从而使您的设备恢复正常工作：

Step 1. Connect the non-working Seagate external hard drive to the PC.

Step 2. Open Device Manager and expand "Universal Serial Bus controllers".

Step 3. Right-click on USB Root Hub, then click "Properties," and then "Power Management."

Step 4. Deselect "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" and restart your PC.

All the methods for Windows have been presented, and you can share these techniques with your friends to assist them!

How to Fix Seagate External Hard Drive Not Recognized on Mac

Follow these methods to repair Seagate hard drives and get them functioning normally on a Mac:

1. Solution 1: Repair Seagate External Hard Drive with First Aid
2. Solution 2: Format Seagate Disk to macOS Compatible File System
3. Solution 3: Remount and Reformat Unmountable Seagate External Hard Drive

在继续之前，请尝试快速修复：

• Seagate drive not appearing on the desktop: Check Disk Utility: Open Finder > Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility.
• Seagate disk not recognized in Disk Utility: Refer to the System Information/System Profiler section.
• In macOS 10.13 or later, click "View" in the top left corner and choose "Show All Devices."

If none of the above methods worked to show your Seagate external hard drive on Mac, try the following 3 methods.

Fix 1: Repair Non-Working Seagate External Hard Drive with First Aid

If the Seagate drive is unmountable or the mount icon is grayed out, it will prevent your Mac from properly recognizing or detecting the drive. You can fix the issue using the built-in First Aid utility:

Step 1. Open Finder and click on "Applications".

Step 2. Find Disk Utility in "Utilities," and double-click to open it.

Step 3. In the left sidebar, select the unmountable Seagate external hard drive and choose "First Aid" from the top menu.

Step 4. Click "Run" to repair the Seagate hard drive, then click "Done" to complete the process.

If Fix 1 doesn't work, you can try formatting the Seagate disk in Fix 2 or Fix 3.

Fix 2: Format Seagate Disk to macOS Supported File System

If you attempt to use an NTFS formatted Seagate external hard drive on a Mac computer, it will not function or appear on the Mac, as macOS only supports APFS, FAT32, and exFAT file systems.

To resolve the issue of a non-functional Seagate external hard disk, you need to format the drive to either FAT32 or exFAT. Follow this step-by-step guide: 1. Connect the Seagate external hard disk to your computer using a USB cable. 2. Wait for the computer to detect and initialize the drive. If it doesn't show up, check the connection and try another USB port. 3. Open "File Explorer" (Windows) or "Finder" (Mac). 4. Locate the Seagate external hard disk in the list of drives or devices. 5. Right-click on the drive and select "Format" from the context menu. On a Mac, click on the "Erase" button in the "Finder" window. 6. In the "Format" dropdown menu, choose "FAT32" for compatibility with most devices, or "exFAT" if you need to store larger files (over 4 GB). 7. Give the drive a new name if desired. 8. Ensure the "Quick Format" option is checked (Windows only). This will format the drive faster but erase all data. Make sure to backup any important files beforehand. 9. Click "Start" (Windows) or "Erase" (Mac) to begin the formatting process. 10. Wait for the formatting to complete. This may take a few minutes depending on the size of the hard disk. 11. Once done, the drive should be formatted and ready to use. Windows might prompt you to assign a new drive letter; follow the prompts if necessary. 12. Verify that the Seagate external hard disk is now working properly. Remember, formatting will erase all data on the drive. Always back up your important files before proceeding with the format.

Step 1. Connect the Seagate external hard drive to your Mac.

Step 2. Go to the Apple menu, click "Go", and select "Applications".

Step 3. Double-click to open "Utilities," locate "Disk Utility," and double-click to open it.

Step 4. Select the Seagate disk and click "Erase".

Step 5. In the Format popup window, select a new format such as "MS-DOS (FAT)" and click "Erase".

Once the formatting is complete, you can view and access the Seagate external disk on your Mac again.

Fix 3: Remount and Reformat Unmounted Seagate External Drive

If the file system on your Seagate hard disk is corrupted and it's not mounted properly on your Mac, it won't function or be recognized. In such a scenario, remounting and reformating the Seagate drive is the quickest method to restore its functionality.

Follow the steps carefully below to get your Seagate external hard drive working on a Mac again:

< strong > Step 1. < /strong> Go to Applications > "Utilities" > Double-click and open "Disk Utility".

Step 2. Select the "Untitled" Seagate drive and click "Mount."

Once the mounting is complete, you'll see the Seagate drive appear on the left pane.

Step 3. Select your Seagate external hard drive from the sidebar, and choose "Erase".

Step 4. Rename the drive, and select the format as MS-DOS (FAT). Then click "Erase".

After attempting the above methods, you should be able to use Seagate external hard drives on both your Windows and Mac computers.

Why Isn't My Seagate External Hard Drive Working?

Typically, "Not Working" refers to a situation where a hard disk or external hard drive is malfunctioning. The issue of a Seagate hard drive not working or not being detected is a concern for Seagate users worldwide.

So, what causes your Seagate external hard drive to stop working or malfunction? Both software and hardware issues can lead to a hard drive not functioning normally. Here's a list of common reasons behind this problem:

• Incompatible file system
• File system corruption, Invalid file system, RAW
• External hard drive unallocated
• Disk drive letter conflict
• The hard drive driver is corrupted or outdated
• USB port not functioning
• The hard drive has numerous bad sectors
• The hard drive is damaged, dead, or not spinning up

Fixing a Non-Working Seagate Drive is Possible. It's Your Turn.

This guide provides 8 solutions to fix a non-functional Seagate external hard drive on both Windows and Mac computers. If any of the fixes result in file loss, you can recover all valuable data using the external hard drive recovery solution tool.

Additionally, we discussed why your Seagate external hard drive might suddenly stop working or become undetected by Windows or Mac computers. Since your data is important, regularly backing up your external drive's data is advisable. Resolving the Seagate hard drive not working issue is feasible; follow the steps outlined above to get your drive functioning again.

"Seagate Hard Disk Not Detected FAQs"

以下是关于希捷硬盘未被检测到的常见问题及简要答案。请查看：

How do I resolve the issue of my Seagate external hard drive not responding?

尝试这些基本的故障排除技巧：

Connect your external hard drive to a different port on the computer. Try using a different cable or USB port. Try plugging into another power outlet. Change the drive letter assigned to the external hard disk. The Seagate portable hard drive is hidden.

Why has my external hard drive stopped functioning?

• The USB port is defective
• The USB port is loose
• Connection problem with the USB cable
• Outdated driver for your external hard drive
• The file system of the Seagate external hard drive is corrupted
• The drive letter of the Seagate disk is in conflict

How do I resolve the issue of my Seagate external hard drive not functioning with no light indicator?

Translate the following text into English:
• Try a different USB port, cable, or computer
• Change the drive letter of your Seagate external hard drive
• Repair the corrupted file system of the external hard drive
• Format the RAW Seagate hard drive
• Uninstall or reinstall disk drivers