Unable to mount an external USB-C G Drive in Monterey. Unable to verify and repair fully in Disk Utility. Gives a problem with disk management when trying to mount/unmount or eject. Looks like a new software issue. Anyone else have this problem?
iMac Line (2012 and Later)
I've the same problem with my MBP 13" 2019 (Intel) and a G-DRIVE USB-C after I have updated to Monterey.
After some time spent with Apple support they suggested me to try with an other cable usb-c to usb-c and... surprise: with the original Apple cable (that I use to charge my MBP) the G-drive works perfectly!
I think it's caused by a bug and I hope Apple resolve it with next minor update.
I've the same problem with my MBP 13" 2019 (Intel) and a G-DRIVE USB-C after I have updated to Monterey.
After some time spent with Apple support they suggested me to try with an other cable usb-c to usb-c and... surprise: with the original Apple cable (that I use to charge my MBP) the G-drive works perfectly!
I think it's caused by a bug and I hope Apple resolve it with next minor update.
I've updated to 12.1, and it's sorted my issue with my 5Tb G drive and my 1Tb Sandisk SSD, both using the G drive USB-C cable and also using an apple Thunderbolt cable.
Hooray!
Same problem. New 14” MacBook Pro. Bought WD G-drive, supposed to be plug and play. 4 hours later with multiple calls with WD, their solution was to find another computer and try and connect the drive and reformat it to exFAT. Didn’t want to do that, old format, not sure other limitations. So then the tech wanted me to type some code in the command line which I refused (his typing was poor so I was concerned i would screw something up on my laptop), then he wanted to remote in to my computer (no way), so I asked for my money back and was told I would have to pay shipping etc. really poor customer service from WD.
So then I happened on this thread and thought, what the heck, order a USB-C to USB-C cable from Apple as suggested, and … voila!!! It recognized it, set it as backup drive, works terrific. So until or if Apple/WD fixes their incompatibility. Consider spending $20 for an Apple cable. thanks Leomaster!
I may be mixing apples and oranges here, but… I have the new MacBook Pro 14 inch with Monterey. I bought a brand new 4 TB G Drive. Could not see and mount the drive.
I ordered a Apple USB-C to USB-C cable -$19 - I don’t believe this is a charging cable. I plugged it in, the drive auto mounted, I was able to assign it as a time capsule back up drive, and it’s been heavily backing up sense. The whole process took me two minutes as opposed to the 4+ hours on the phone with western digital.
i’m not at all saying that my situation will work for everybody, but it definitely will work for some people. Wish I understood what configurations the Apple USB see cable above will work and what configurations it won’t, but at least for me, a brand new Apple MacBook Pro, and a brand new 4 TB G Dr., the Apple cable works great.
Just acquired an Apple Thunderbolt 0.8m data cable and have tried it with the G-Drive. However, it does not solve the issue. Worse, I am not shown the data partition G_DRIVE Mobile USB-C, I am only shown the G-Utilities partition in Finder and the same in Disk Utility where it is unable to be mounted. Thunderbolt cable works very well with iPad synch and backup to the iMac, much speedier than the charge cable. The Apple Store suggested I create a Support appointment and have the issue logged correctly, they also suggested contacting G-Drive to seek their advice and if they have a solution and also to look for a Firmware update for the drive that might be the problem. On the G-Drive Tech website there are no further or future Firmware updates (the drive is only made in China 04/2021). There is one thread that discusses similar issues with External drive compatibility with macOS 12 Monterey on Apple M1/M1X systems and iPads - External drive compatibility with macOS 12 Monterey on Apple M1/M1X systems and iPads - Answer ID31963. Symptoms mentioned are similar. They also state that - 'Apple has been notified of this issue and we look forward to a resolution soon'. So, for me, the USB-C 1m charge cable allows the G-Drive to work. That will have to do until we see if the next Monterey iteration has a 'fix'.
I had this problem with a fairly new 5 TB G-Drive on my M1 Macbook Pro Max.
Using the cable it came with I could sometimes see the Utilities Partition mount but the Main partition wouldn't. Ejecting the Utilities was unreliable as were other actions.
I was able to see the drive in utilities and run first aid on them without a problem - but main drive Mac OS Extended (Journaled) just wouldn't mount. This drive mounts and works correctly on my other Macbook pros (High Sierra).
In the suggestion here I tried the cable which came with my M1 iPad Pro - and the drive mounted. So It does seem that the cable is at least part of the issue. However the drive is unstable and if I click on the drive icon - finder quickly flashes then the drive dismounts. So I guess I am waiting for the 12.1
So, I went to the Apple Store and the Genius Bar dude told me to back up all the important files and re-install Mac OS and other programs. I've been backing up my MacBook since 2006, upgrading the hardware and transferring the backups. Apparently, this carries over "all the junky old system files." Once I re-installed the Mac OS (Monterey), then transferring my relevant documents separately, the MacBook pro seamlessly recognized all my hard drives.
II was able to update to 12.1 today - and after a cold boot it would then recognize and mount my G-Drive Partitions - using the cable the drive came with.
Hey leobatta, that is brilliant, great to hear that Apple gave a solution.
I saw many similar problem comments on the G-Technology community website and it appeared that WD G-Tech support did not have an answer.
Now, why didn't I think to do that? As soon as I connected the G-Technology G Drive with my Apple USB-C to USB-C cable, in fact I tried 2, the drive immediately mounts and is a quarter way through the back-up. Thanks
Now to await a software update so that I can use the drive's original cable.
That is OK Jono. Just adding what it says on the Apple website re cables for other users information. My 2 x 0.8m cables work with my 2 by 4TB G-Drives and Monterey 12.0.1 whereas my G-Drive cables do not. My cables are charging cables from iPads so not Thunderbolt 3 or 4 cables as they do not show the Thunderbolt lightning flash.
Whatever way, it is a Monterey software issue not allowing the G-Drives to be mounted and not a drive issue. It is nearly a month since Monterey so the first patch must be due soon.
Speckled James wrote:
Heads up regarding Maggot’s response. Not completely correct. Apple website states this for the 0.8m cable - link at the end
About the Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) Cable
Connect a device that has a Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) port to a device that has a Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) or USB-C port.
https://support.apple.com/library/content/dam/edam/applecare/images/en_US/macbookpro/apple-thunderbolt-3-usb-c-cable.jpg
The Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) Cable(0.8 m) connects a Mac that has a Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) port to a device that has a Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) or USB-C port.
Video
Use this cable to connect your Mac to a display that uses Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) or USB-C for video, such as the LG UltraFine 5K Display or LG UltraFine 4K Display. It supports DisplayPort High Bit Rate 3 (HBR3) video output.
Data transfer
Use this cable to connect your Mac to a device that uses Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) or USB-C for data transfer, such as an external hard drive or dock. It supports Thunderbolt 3 data-transfer speeds up to 40Gbps, and USB 3.1 Gen 2 data-transfer speeds up to 10Gbps. It also supports Target Disk Mode. Check the specifications of your device to determine which data-transfer standard it supports.
Charging
This cable also connects to Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) or USB-C devices for charging your Mac notebook computer or other device. It delivers a maximum of 100W power to any connected device.
Compared with Apple USB-C Charge Cable
The Apple USB-C Charge Cable is longer (2 m) and also supports charging, but data-transfer speed is limited to 480Mbps (USB 2.0) and it doesn't support video. The Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) cable has Thunderbolt
https://support.apple.com/library/content/dam/edam/applecare/images/en_US/il/thunderbolt-icon.png
logo on the sleeve of each connector. Either cable can be used with the Apple USB-C Power Adapter• .
Learn more
Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) allows six devices in a chain, so you can use this cable between your Mac and each device in the chain.
• Adapters for connecting to the Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) port on your Mac
https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT208368
Sorry Speckled, but you've made an erroneous assumption. The cable whose specs yu're quoting above is not the Apple USB-C charge cable, but rather their (more expensive, highest transfer rate) USB-C to USB-C cable. It does NOT work with any of the afflicted drives, as far as we all know.
The charge cable, with its slow transfer speed, does mount the external drives.
End of the tale - MacOS Monterey Ver 12.1 has resolved the issue for me. Hurrah!
Also have an issue with an external USB-C drive that keeps on disconnecting after updating to Monterey.
Works for a moment and then I get the disk not ejected properly error message.
Had no issues on Big Sur.
When I use it via a USB-C multi port dongle it works fine.
MBP M1 Monterey 12.0.1
I am also having this problem with an external NVME drive on an M1 Mini. When I plug it in with USB-C, it ejects improperly. Tried swapping cables, same problem. When I plug it into another Mac running Big Sur, it works fine. When I plug it in with a USB 3 cable it works fine. I tried plugging in another USB-C drive, same problem –ejects improperly. This problem started as soon as I upgraded to Monterey.
Hi There
The point about this 0.8 metre Thunderbolt cable is that as far as I'm aware it doesn't work with anyone's G-Drive connected to a Mac loaded with Monterey it certainly doesn't work either with my 5Tb G-Drive or my 2TB SanDisk -
whereas the 2m charge cable works (very slowly) for some drives (but not mine).
Unable to mount an external USB-C G Drive in Monterey.
