Toshiba hard drive not showing up on brand new Mac

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Toshiba hard drive not showing up on brand new Mac

I just bought a brand new MacBook Pro (2020).

When I connect my Toshiba external hard drive to my new MacBook, the light on the hard drive turns on a solid blue, but doesn't show up on my Mac anywhere. It doesn't even show up in disk utility.

When I connect my Toshiba hard drive to my old MacBook Pro (2010) running on Yosemite, it works fine and I can do time machine backups.

I tried connecting someone else's Toshiba hard drive + cord of the same model to my new MacBook - it also doesn't show up.

I checked if the USB adapter I'm using to connect my hard drive to the new Mac is the problem - I tried using it with other USBs, my kindle, and it works fine.

I tried reformatting the hard drive on my old MacBook to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) as well as ExFat. It still didn't connect with my new MacBook.

Also external disks is checked in finder preferences, so it should show up if connected.

I'm not sure what else I can do. Can someone help with this issue?

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Sep 24, 2020 2:48 AM

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Answer 1

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chrisnewmac Author

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Sep 25, 2020 10:08 PM in response to chrisnewmac

I bought a new usb hub with multiple ports, and I was able to connect my external hard drive to the new MacBook. I guess there was an issue with the usb adapter I was using before, although it’s strange that it worked for all other devices, just not external hard drives.

Thanks for all your feedback Luis.

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Answer 2

chrisnewmac Author

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Sep 24, 2020 5:56 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

I did read on another similar thread on here that there might be a specific issue with Toshiba hard drives and MacBooks. They said something about not having enough power for the harddrive through normal connection, and you need a powered usb hub. But that thread was from 7 years ago so I'm not sure if it still applies here...

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4107705?page=2

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Answer 3

Sep 24, 2020 3:45 AM in response to chrisnewmac

How exactly are you connecting?

If this is using USB-C, you must know that not all cables are the same.

Some cables, like the one that came with your mac, are PD (power delivery) cables and are not adequate for connecting peripherals like a hard drive.

So check that you are connecting with a proper data cable.

If you are using some dock or adapter, please tell us exactly what it is.

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Answer 4

chrisnewmac Author

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9 points

Sep 24, 2020 4:27 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

The Toshiba hard drive has a USB A cord so I bought a simple adapter from a store.

It's from Nexi - model NX328

Female: USB A - 3.0

Male: USB C - 3.1

I'm not very knowledgeable about all the different usb types so maybe I'm using the wrong adapter?

I used this same adapter to connect other small USBs, my kindle and had no problem accessing the files on my new MacBook.

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Answer 5

Sep 24, 2020 5:42 AM in response to chrisnewmac

This looks like it should work...

I ise similar adapters with my mac. I wonder if you may have gotten an adapter that is defective. Also, make sure that in the connection between the cable and adapter, and between the adapter and your mac, everything is well plugged in. Maybe it just partly inserted and not fitted fully.

Another thing: I suppose not, but if the drive has a separate power supply, try plugging that in.

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Toshiba hard drive not showing up on brand new Mac

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