Why Is My Flash Drive Not Showing Up On Mac & How To Fix It?

Flash Drives help with data transfer and can be used to transfer software to help you recover deleted files on Mac. They should, therefore, be able to immediately show up on Mac computers when inserted into the USB port. However, it may not be the case when you insert some of your flash drives into the USB port of your Mac computer.

You may need to transfer data in files or folders between your Mac computers through a USB drive as a computer user. Also, you may have lost data from your flash drive and want to insert it into your Mac computer to attempt data recovery. However, this may not be very easy if your Mac’s USB port becomes irresponsive as the computer will not be in a position to recover data from flash drive if it cannot read it in the first place.

Faulty System Configuration

This is one of the vast causes of USB port failures in Mac. You will need to perform system components reset to restore proper operation. Here are some of the fixes to try:

Reset The System Management Controller (SMC)

Step 1: Shut down the machine.

Step 2: Disconnect the power cord.

Step 3: Press down and hold the power button for 5 seconds.

Step 4: Reconnect the power cord and turn on the Mac.

If you are using a MacBook, follow the steps below to reset the System Management Controller.

Step 1: Shut down the MacBook.

Step 2: Connect the power cord.

Step 3: Simultaneously hold down “Shift” plus “Control” plus “Option” and the power button.

Step 4: Release the keys at the same time.

Step 5: Start the MacBook.

If you happen to lose some data during this process, you can install and use Disk Drill developed by Cleverfiles to recover all the types of data loss. It is a versatile software that people use to restore lost data from nearly all devices, including flash drives. 

Physical Connectivity Issues

The first culprit to your flash drive connectivity is physical connectivity. Check the ports of your Mac, especially the particular USB port that you intend to use.

You can quickly establish if your port has problems by testing the device on an alternative USB port on the same machine or on another computer.

If the device works well in the second port, it becomes a clear indication that the first port has physical connectivity issues that may need the attention of a technician. You can also check that the flash drive itself is not ruined by trying it on another Mac computer.

Insufficient Power

Power may become an issue with Mac, especially when you are using the bus-powered USB hub on the computer and you have connected multiple devices on the port simultaneously. When you do this, Mac may not supply adequate power to drive all the devices. As a result, it may not recognize or read the USB device.

To correct the problem, connect the flash drive directly to the USB port or a self-powered hub free from power drain.

Outdated OS And Firmware

Firmware updates resolve a number of hardware issues and the functionality of the USB ports and flash drive recovery are some of them if you want to learn ways to recover files from a virus infected drive. If your Mac’s OS and firmware have not been updated, the computer may fail to read or recognize the flash drive or other device connected to the USB port.

If this is the issue, check for available updates and perform quick software updates on your Mac to restore their functionality. Once this is done, try using the USB drive again to check if the issue is resolved.

Failure To Eject A Drive Properly

It is recommended that you properly eject drives connected to your Mac computer from the device. Failure to properly remove drives from the machine can cause identity issues. Therefore, if you do not eject a USB drive before pulling it out of the USB port, the Mac’s OS may view the port’s status incorrectly and may hide its correct identity and even the ability to be read.

If this is the issue, restart the computer and reconnect the drive. Also, ensure that drives are ejected before they are pulled out anytime you need to remove them from the Mac.

 

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