How Do You Mount an External Hard Drive on a Mac?

AvatarByHarold Trujillo Apple Devices & MacOS

In today’s digital world, managing and expanding your Mac’s storage is essential, and external hard drives offer a reliable solution. Whether you’re backing up important files, transferring large amounts of data, or simply freeing up space on your internal drive, knowing how to properly mount an external hard drive on a Mac is a fundamental skill. But for many users, the process can seem daunting or confusing at first glance.

Mounting an external hard drive on a Mac involves more than just plugging it in; it’s about ensuring your system recognizes the drive correctly so you can access your files seamlessly. Various factors, such as file system compatibility, connection types, and system preferences, play a role in how your Mac interacts with external storage devices. Understanding these basics can help you avoid common pitfalls and make the most out of your external drive.

This article will guide you through the essentials of mounting an external hard drive on a Mac, providing clarity and confidence whether you’re a beginner or looking to troubleshoot connection issues. By the end, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge to effortlessly connect, access, and manage your external storage, enhancing your Mac experience.

Accessing and Mounting the External Hard Drive on macOS

Once you have physically connected your external hard drive to your Mac, the system usually attempts to mount it automatically. If this does not happen, or if the drive is not showing up on the desktop or Finder, there are several steps you can take to manually mount and access the drive.

First, verify that the drive is recognized by the system:

  • Open **Finder** and look for the drive under the **Locations** section in the sidebar.
  • If the drive does not appear, open **Disk Utility** (found in Applications > Utilities).
  • In Disk Utility, check the left sidebar for your external hard drive. It may be listed as an unmounted disk.

If the drive appears but is not mounted, you can manually mount it:

  • Select the external hard drive in Disk Utility.
  • Click the Mount button at the top of the window.
  • If the mount is successful, the drive should now appear on your desktop and in Finder.

In cases where the drive does not mount automatically or manually, consider these troubleshooting steps:

  • Try a different USB or Thunderbolt port.
  • Use a different cable to rule out a faulty connection.
  • Check the drive for physical damage or power issues.
  • Restart your Mac and reconnect the drive.

If the drive is still not mounting, it may be formatted in a file system that macOS does not recognize, such as NTFS (common on Windows systems). In such cases, macOS can read but not write to NTFS volumes, and may require third-party software for full compatibility.

Using Terminal Commands to Mount Drives

For advanced users, the Terminal provides commands to diagnose and mount external drives. The command-line interface allows more control and can reveal system-level details.

To list all connected disks, use:

“`bash
diskutil list
“`

This command outputs a list of all drives and their partitions. Identify your external hard drive by its size and partition scheme. For example, it might appear as `/dev/disk2`.

To mount a specific volume, use:

“`bash
diskutil mount /dev/disk2s1
“`

Replace `/dev/disk2s1` with the appropriate identifier for your external hard drive’s partition. If the drive is unmounted, this command attempts to mount it.

If the volume is formatted with a macOS-compatible file system (HFS+, APFS, FAT32, exFAT), this should mount the drive successfully. For unsupported file systems, you might need additional drivers or software.

If you want to force mount a volume, you can try:

“`bash
sudo mount -t [filesystem] /dev/disk2s1 /Volumes/[MountPoint]
“`

Where `[filesystem]` is the type of file system (e.g., `exfat`, `msdos` for FAT32), and `[MountPoint]` is a directory you create in `/Volumes` to serve as the mount point.

Formatting the External Hard Drive for macOS Compatibility

If your external hard drive is not mounting due to incompatible formatting, reformatting the drive to a macOS-compatible format is often necessary. Be aware that formatting erases all data on the drive, so back up any important files before proceeding.

You can format your drive via Disk Utility with the following steps:

  • Open Disk Utility.
  • Select the external hard drive from the sidebar.
  • Click Erase at the top.
  • Choose a suitable format from the dropdown menu.
  • Provide a name for the drive.
  • Click Erase to start the formatting process.

Below is a comparison of common file system formats for external drives on macOS:

File System Compatibility Use Case Limitations
APFS (Apple File System) macOS High Sierra and later Best for SSDs and modern Macs Not compatible with Windows/Linux without third-party tools
Mac OS Extended (HFS+) macOS Traditional macOS file system for mechanical drives Read-only on Windows without software
exFAT macOS and Windows Cross-platform compatibility for large files No journaling; less resilient to corruption
FAT32 macOS, Windows, Linux Universal compatibility for small drives Max file size 4GB; max volume size 2TB

Choose the format that best fits your usage scenario. For example, if you need to share the drive between Mac and Windows systems, exFAT is typically the optimal choice.

Enabling External Drives to Appear on the Desktop and Finder Sidebar

If your external hard drive mounts successfully but does not appear on the desktop or Finder sidebar, ensure your macOS settings allow these devices to be visible.

To show external drives on the desktop:

  • Open **Finder**.
  • Go to **Finder** > Preferences from the menu bar.
  • Click the General tab.
  • Check the box for External disks under “Show these items on the desktop.”

To display external drives in the Finder sidebar:

  • In Finder Preferences, click the Sidebar tab.
  • Check External disks under the “Locations” section.

These settings ensure that any mounted external drive will be easily accessible from both the desktop and Finder sidebar.

Using Third-Party Software for Non-Native File System

Connecting and Recognizing the External Hard Drive on Mac

To mount an external hard drive on a Mac, the initial step is ensuring the device is physically connected and properly recognized by the system. Most external drives connect via USB, Thunderbolt, or USB-C ports. Once connected, the Mac should automatically detect and mount the drive, making it accessible through Finder and Disk Utility.

  • Check Physical Connection: Confirm the external hard drive is securely plugged into the Mac’s port using the appropriate cable. If using a hub or adapter, verify it supports data transfer for external drives.
  • Power Supply: Some external hard drives require external power sources. Ensure the drive is powered on if applicable.
  • Verify Detection: Open Finder and look for the drive under the “Locations” section. If not visible, proceed to Disk Utility.
Connection Type Port on Mac Common Cables
USB USB-A or USB-C USB 3.0, USB-C
Thunderbolt Thunderbolt 2 or 3 (USB-C) Thunderbolt cable

If the drive does not appear in Finder, launch Disk Utility by navigating to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility. Check if the drive is listed on the left panel. If listed but not mounted, manual mounting is required.

Manually Mounting an External Hard Drive Using Disk Utility

When the external hard drive is detected but not mounted automatically, Disk Utility allows manual mounting.

  • Open Disk Utility.
  • Locate your external hard drive in the sidebar. It may be listed under its brand name or model number.
  • Select the drive, then click the Mount button in the toolbar or right-click and choose Mount.
  • If mounting is successful, the drive will appear in Finder under Locations.
  • If the drive fails to mount, note any error messages for troubleshooting.
Disk Utility Option Function
Mount Mounts the selected volume, making it accessible to macOS
First Aid Checks and repairs disk errors that may prevent mounting

If manual mounting fails, running First Aid in Disk Utility on the external drive may resolve filesystem issues preventing access.

Using Terminal Commands to Mount an External Hard Drive

For advanced users, Terminal provides command-line options to mount external drives, especially when Disk Utility is insufficient.

  • Open Terminal (Applications > Utilities > Terminal).
  • List all connected disks using the command: 
    diskutil list

    Identify your external drive by its size, format, or label (e.g., /dev/disk2).

  • Mount the drive with: 
    diskutil mount /dev/disk2

    Replace /dev/disk2 with your drive’s identifier.

  • To mount a specific volume on the drive, use: 
    diskutil mountDisk /dev/disk2
  • If the drive is unformatted or corrupted, Terminal may provide error messages for further diagnosis.
Command Description
diskutil list Lists all connected drives and partitions
diskutil mount /dev/diskX Mounts the specified volume
diskutil mountDisk /dev/diskX Mounts all volumes on the specified disk

Ensuring Proper File System Compatibility

An external hard drive must have a file system compatible with macOS to mount and function correctly. Common compatible formats include:

  • APFS (Apple File System) – Native to modern macOS versions.
  • HFS+ (Mac OS Extended) – Traditional Mac format.
  • exFAT – Cross-platform format compatible with Windows and Mac.
  • FAT32 – Older cross-platform format, limited file size support.Expert Insights on How To Mount An External Hard Drive on Mac

    Dr. Elena Martinez (Data Storage Specialist, TechStorage Solutions). When mounting an external hard drive on a Mac, it is crucial to first ensure the drive is formatted in a Mac-compatible file system such as APFS or HFS+. This guarantees seamless integration with macOS and prevents read/write errors. Additionally, using the Disk Utility app to manually mount or verify the drive can help resolve common mounting issues efficiently.

    Jason Liu (Senior Systems Engineer, MacOS Integration Team). The process of mounting an external hard drive on a Mac is typically straightforward, as macOS automatically detects and mounts compatible drives. However, if the drive does not appear, checking system preferences for external disk visibility and using terminal commands like ‘diskutil mount’ can provide advanced troubleshooting options for IT professionals and power users.

    Sophia Reynolds (Mac Support Specialist, Apple Certified Technician). For users unfamiliar with mounting external drives on a Mac, it is important to connect the drive using a reliable USB or Thunderbolt cable and wait for the Finder to recognize the device. If the drive fails to mount, resetting the NVRAM or SMC can often resolve hardware recognition issues, ensuring the external hard drive is accessible without data loss.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    How do I physically connect an external hard drive to a Mac?
    Use a compatible cable such as USB, Thunderbolt, or USB-C to connect the external hard drive to your Mac’s corresponding port. Ensure the drive has power if it requires an external power source.

    Why is my external hard drive not showing up on my Mac?
    The drive may not be mounted automatically due to format incompatibility, a faulty cable, or system settings. Check Finder preferences to enable external disks visibility and verify the drive’s format and connection.

    How can I manually mount an external hard drive on macOS?
    Open Disk Utility from Applications > Utilities, select the external drive, and click the “Mount” button. If the drive is recognized but unmounted, this will make it accessible in Finder.

    What file formats are compatible with macOS for external hard drives?
    macOS supports APFS, HFS+, exFAT, and FAT32 formats natively. Drives formatted with NTFS are read-only unless third-party software is installed.

    How do I troubleshoot mounting issues with an external hard drive on a Mac?
    Restart your Mac, try a different USB port or cable, verify the drive in Disk Utility for errors, and repair it if necessary. Also, ensure macOS is updated and check system logs for hardware errors.

    Can I mount multiple external hard drives simultaneously on a Mac?
    Yes, macOS supports multiple external drives connected at once, provided there are sufficient ports and power. Each drive will appear separately in Finder and Disk Utility.
    Mounting an external hard drive on a Mac is a straightforward process that primarily involves connecting the drive via a compatible port, such as USB, Thunderbolt, or USB-C. Once connected, macOS typically recognizes and mounts the drive automatically, making it accessible through Finder. In cases where the drive does not appear, users may need to check Disk Utility to manually mount the drive or troubleshoot potential issues related to formatting or hardware compatibility.

    It is essential to ensure that the external hard drive is formatted in a file system compatible with macOS, such as APFS, HFS+, or exFAT, to guarantee seamless mounting and data access. If the drive is formatted in a Windows-specific format like NTFS, additional software may be required to enable full read/write functionality on a Mac. Properly ejecting the drive before disconnecting is also crucial to prevent data corruption.

    Overall, understanding the mounting process and being aware of common obstacles can help users efficiently manage their external storage devices on a Mac. Regularly updating macOS and maintaining the health of the external hard drive will further enhance performance and reliability. By following these best practices, users can ensure smooth integration and optimal use of external hard drives with their Mac systems.

    Author Profile

    Avatar
    Harold Trujillo
    Harold Trujillo is the founder of Computing Architectures, a blog created to make technology clear and approachable for everyone. Raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Harold developed an early fascination with computers that grew into a degree in Computer Engineering from Arizona State University. He later worked as a systems architect, designing distributed platforms and optimizing enterprise performance. Along the way, he discovered a passion for teaching and simplifying complex ideas.

    Through his writing, Harold shares practical knowledge on operating systems, PC builds, performance tuning, and IT management, helping readers gain confidence in understanding and working with technology.