Sandisk Extreme SSD not detected with MacBook Pro M1 2021 - SOLUTION

hi Community,

I've just spent 3 hours swapping cables and fiddling around and wanted to post this, just so Google indexes it in case any of you have the same issue.

I bought a new Macbook 14" 2021 and was using a Macbook Pro 13" before (2017).

I used the Apple white USB-C to USB-C cable to plug one end into the Macbook 13", and it detected the Sandisk Extreme 1Tb SSD device no problem, and did a Time Machine backup perfectly.

When I plugged the white Apple USB cable out of the old Mac into the new one, it wouldn't detect the Sandisk Extreme SSD - weird. So the short answer is, after trying 3 different cables, I remembered the Sandisk comes with a small shorter black cable.

I plugged that in instead of the Apple USB-C one and it detected it the first time and I was able to restore my Time Machine backup to the new Macbook Pro 14 M1 - phew.

Hope this post helps someone if you're having a similar issue.

All the best,

Paul