Western digital external hard drive won’t read​

The convenience and reliability of external hard drives have made them indispensable tools in the modern digital world. Whether you’re backing up family photos, storing work projects, or transporting large files, an external hard drive especially from trusted brands like Western Digital (WD) can be a lifesaver. But when that same drive suddenly refuses to read or mount, frustration and panic can quickly set in.

The issue of a Western Digital external hard drive not being recognized or read is more common than you might think. Whether it’s completely unresponsive, partially detected, or displaying odd behavior like asking to be formatted, the experience can be alarming especially if the drive holds critical or sentimental data.

Fortunately, this doesn’t always mean the drive is dead or the data is lost. A range of software, driver, firmware, file system, and even cable or port issues could be at play. With the right approach, many of these problems are fully fixable, and your data recoverable.

Part 1: Symptoms

When your WD external drive “won’t read,” the problem may manifest in different ways:

It doesn’t show up in File Explorer or Finder.

It’s detected in Device Manager or Disk Utility, but not accessible.

It prompts you to format the drive.

It shows RAW format or unallocated space.

The drive is completely unresponsive no lights or sounds.

It mounts, but accessing files is extremely slow or causes errors.

Recognizing which of these symptoms you’re facing helps narrow down the problem.

Part 2: Basic Hardware Checks

Before diving into software troubleshooting, start with the basics.

2.1 Check the USB Cable

Use a different USB cable.

Make sure it’s a data-transfer capable cable, not just for charging.

Inspect the connectors for bent pins or damage.

2.2 Try Another USB Port

Use different USB ports (especially USB 3.0 vs. 2.0).

Try both front and rear ports on desktops—rear ones are more reliable.

2.3 Try Another Computer

Connect the drive to a different computer:

If it works there, the problem is likely software/driver related on the original device.

If it still doesn’t work, the issue is likely with the drive itself.

2.4 Power Supply (For Desktop Drives)

If you’re using a desktop WD drive with external power:

Ensure the power adapter is connected properly.

Try another power outlet.

Listen for any spinning or clicking sounds from the drive.

Part 3: Troubleshooting on Windows

3.1 Check Disk Management

Press Windows + X > Disk Management.

Look for your WD drive:

Does it appear as Unallocated?

Is it listed but RAW or without a drive letter?

Fix:

If it’s missing a drive letter:

Right-click > Change Drive Letter and Paths.

Assign a new letter.

If it’s unallocated:

You may need to create a new partition (only if data loss isn’t a concern).

Use recovery tools first (see Part 6).

3.2 Update or Reinstall Drivers

Open Device Manager.

Expand Disk Drives.

Right-click the WD drive > Update Driver.

Or Uninstall device, then unplug and reconnect the drive to reinstall automatically.

Also check Universal Serial Bus controllers for unknown devices.

3.3 Use Command Prompt to Check Drive Health

bash

chkdsk E: /f /r /x

Replace E: with your drive’s letter. This checks for and repairs file system issues.

3.4 Scan for Hardware Changes

In Device Manager:

Click Action > Scan for hardware changes.

Helps if Windows didn’t automatically detect the newly connected drive.

Part 4: Troubleshooting on macOS

4.1 Open Disk Utility

Open Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility.

Locate your WD external drive.

If listed but grayed out:

Click Mount.

If it won’t mount:

Try First Aid to repair the disk.

4.2 Use Terminal to Check

bash

diskutil list

This shows all attached disks.

bash

diskutil mountDisk /dev/disk2

Replace /dev/disk2 with your actual disk identifier.

4.3 Reset SMC and PRAM

Sometimes a stuck system controller can cause mounting issues.

Reset SMC:

Shut down Mac.

Press Shift + Control + Option + Power button for 10 seconds.

Release and turn on.

Reset PRAM:

Restart and hold Option + Command + P + R.

Part 5: Troubleshooting on Linux

5.1 Use lsblk or fdisk

bash

lsblk

bash

sudo fdisk -l

This helps determine if the drive is being detected at a hardware level.

5.2 Mount Manually

bash

sudo mkdir /mnt/mydrive sudo mount /dev/sdX1 /mnt/mydrive

Replace /dev/sdX1 with your actual device name.

5.3 Check Logs

bash

dmesg | tail

This shows recent logs. Look for I/O errors or filesystem issues.

Part 6: When the File System Is Corrupted

6.1 Symptoms

The drive shows as RAW or prompts for formatting.

Files are inaccessible.

Windows or macOS gives a “drive is not accessible” message.

6.2 Don’t Format Yet!

Even if the system prompts for formatting—don’t do it unless you’re willing to lose data.

6.3 Use Data Recovery Software

Panda Assistant is a powerful, user-friendly software solution designed to help individuals and businesses recover lost, deleted, or corrupted data across a wide range of storage devices. Whether it’s a mistakenly deleted document, a corrupted SD card, or a formatted external hard drive, Panda Assistant provides a reliable and efficient way to retrieve your valuable files with just a few clicks.

What sets Panda Assistant apart is its intelligent scanning engine, which performs both quick and deep scans to locate data that other tools often miss. It supports recovery from hard drives, USB flash drives, SSDs, SD cards, memory sticks, and even devices affected by viruses or file system errors. Compatible with both Windows and macOS, the software is designed to be accessible to both beginners and advanced users.

Part 7: Physical Drive Problems

If your drive:

Makes clicking or grinding noises

Doesn’t spin up

Has a burnt smell

Is overheating

…then you may be dealing with hardware failure.

7.1 Steps You Can Try

Use a different enclosure or SATA-to-USB adapter if the drive is removable.

Freeze trick: This is controversial but has helped in rare cases. Place the drive in a sealed plastic bag in the freezer for a few hours, then plug it in and try accessing it. (Use as a last resort.)

7.2 Data Recovery Services

If the data is critical, stop using the drive and contact a professional recovery lab.

Top services:

WD’s own Data Recovery Partners

DriveSavers

Ontrack

Gillware

Part 8: Firmware or Software Compatibility Issues

8.1 WD Utilities

Download Western Digital Drive Utilities from WD’s website.

It can:

Check drive health

Update firmware

Reformat or scan the drive

8.2 Format Issues Between OS

Drives formatted as NTFS won’t write on macOS by default.

APFS or HFS+ drives won’t be read by Windows.

Use exFAT for cross-platform compatibility.

Part 9: Preventing This in the Future

9.1 Eject Properly

Always eject the drive safely before unplugging to avoid file system corruption.

9.2 Use Surge Protection

Power surges can damage external hard drives. Use a surge protector, especially with desktop models.

9.3 Regular Backups

Always back up important data to at least two locations.

Use cloud storage as an additional layer if possible.

9.4 Monitor Drive Health

Tools like CrystalDiskInfo (Windows) or SMART Utility (Mac) can warn of impending hardware failure.

Part 10: Reformatting the Drive (As Last Resort)

Only do this if data recovery is not needed or already completed.

10.1 On Windows

Go to Disk Management.

Right-click the partition > Format.

Choose exFAT or NTFS.

Give the drive a label and start formatting.

10.2 On Mac

Open Disk Utility.

Select the drive > Erase.

Choose exFAT (for Windows/macOS compatibility) or APFS (for macOS only).

Format the drive.

10.3 On Linux

bash

sudo mkfs.exfat /dev/sdX1

Replace /dev/sdX1 with your actual drive identifier.

When your Western Digital external hard drive won’t read, it doesn’t necessarily mean disaster. From faulty cables and power issues to partition table confusion and corrupted file systems, most causes are fixable with a bit of patience and the right tools.