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Unable to access External Drives and Disk Utility after updating to macOS Sonoma.

Since I updated to macOS Sonoma, I've been experiencing issues with my external drives (in ExFAT). I can't access them, nor can I access Disk Utility (which continuously displays a "Loading disks" message). Only when I use the Disk Arbitrator app to prevent the drives from mounting, it allows me to run Disk Utility and "First Aid," enabling access to the external drive. However, the folder icon images are missing, and in the Sharing & Permissions info, it reads "You have custom access." Is anyone else experiencing similar problems, or does anyone know how to resolve this? Thank you very much.

[Re-Titled By Moderator]

Mac mini

Posted on Oct 8, 2023 4:06 AM

Top-ranking reply

Dr_William

Level 1

32 points

Posted on Dec 11, 2023 6:38 AM

I lost an 8TB hard drive just after the upgrade to Sonoma. It was formatted for Time Machine in APFS - you don't get an option to change format style on a new drive for Time Machine and also a 4TB Mac extended journaled disk, and a 2TB WD exFAT.

One after another they started to drop off and for no reason. Apple support - what support? - you may as well p@ss into the wind! No one wants to acknowledge this or do they? You get a case number and that's it. I tried recovery with various software programs.

You fork out thousands of €uro for the computer which they say will do everything you need, you find out then they no longer come with large amounts of memory. You buy ext. hdd's or ssd's more hundreds if not another thousand €uro for storage, not to mention extra cloud storage for emergency contingency.

My computer is less than 4 months and I wonder what next.... maybe the internal ssd or the M1 or M2 chip just as the computer passes the final days of its warranty cover.

A clear statement is needed from this company what is causing the problem and when it will be fixed, people do not have endless amounts of money to throw after bad.

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291 replies

Oct 9, 2023 7:37 AM in response to MRYFLYGUY

I understand. I was hoping not to have to do so since I use both Windows and Mac. However, from what I can tell, many people attribute the issue to the ExFAT format. What format could I use that would be compatible with both Windows and Mac and wouldn't cause these problems on Mac?

Thanks for answering!

MRYFLYGUY

Level 2

224 points

Oct 9, 2023 8:17 AM in response to BungalowBill92

There will come a time when you'll have to cut your ties with Windows to continue using Mac. You may be there. Are you using Boot Camp on your Mac or a Windows emulator - or a separate Windows machine sharing drives? I arrived when Ventura was installed on APFS.

Oct 9, 2023 8:24 AM in response to MRYFLYGUY

No, not really. I mainly use a Mac, but I find useful to have a format that's compatible with both for exchanging files with coworkers. I'm going to try formatting one of my external drives in APFS and see if that resolves the issues.

Thank you for your responses! I'll let you know

Oct 13, 2023 8:21 PM in response to MRYFLYGUY

Sometimes it's the workplace that forces us to still use Windows compatible drives with exfat formats as in my case. And sending files through the internet is a bit of a security issue if the files are sensitive. Of course, encrypting the files is an option. Just saying that the inability to read exfat drives closes one avenue of file transfer.

Barney-15E

Level 10

117,538 points

Oct 18, 2023 6:44 PM in response to Tsinoy Newbie

So it looks like ExFAT formats can't be read by Sonoma ? What a shame.

I have no problem reading/writing ExFAT on Sonoma.

I guess one must use USB Fobs now to transfer between Macs and Windows then.

How would you format that drive?

Oct 19, 2023 6:48 PM in response to BungalowBill92

I am running a Fortress secure external drive and having the same issue (since I upgraded the OS yesterday). If I try and open with the password (keypad on the drive casing) it doesn't unlock. If the drive is plugged in Disk Utility won't open. If I unplug the external drive Disc Utility opens instantly. If I then plug the external drive back in D/U doesn't see it.

However......I just plugged in a Western Digital (unprotected) external drive, formatted in ExFAT and it opened with no issue. It is allowing me to manipulate the files as normal?

I knew I should have waited...........

Oct 20, 2023 9:24 AM in response to BungalowBill92

Same experience here. My 10TB LaCie d2 drive with exFAT failed to mount. I blamed myself for not disconnecting it properly...leading to corrupt file. Had to use EaseUS to get into the unmounted drive and copy the files (that software did a beautiful job).

Copied the files to my 14TB LaCie d2 drive...also exFAT...which was healthy and has always mounted. Then ran First Aid on the 14TB drive, and First Aid said that drive is failing and I must copy all those files over asap. This time I'm blaming exFAT. I'm going through the process of converting all my mechanical external drives to APFS.

Has Apple said anything about a big problem with exFAT?

Barney-15E

Level 10

117,538 points

Oct 20, 2023 11:48 AM in response to tbirdvet

tbirdvet wrote:

Barney-15E, I just noticed that copying a large file to a ExFAT formatted drive takes 4x longer than if the drive is formatted to APFS. Have you seen this issue? Just started with Sonoma.

No, I haven’t tested it, but I would expect APFS to be incredibly faster than ExFAT

Oct 22, 2023 6:10 PM in response to NanieO

What I ended up doing: used EaseUS software ($100) on the drive that wouldn’t mount. It allowed me to go in and copy over the files. Just copying a recovered folder wasn’t enough, I had to dig deep and copy individual files (especially needed my video clips). I’ve ordered a new drive and will format that as APFS then move the files there. Then plan to reformat the problem drive, this time using APFS. Expensive buying a lot more drives so I can have 3 copies of essential video projects…original and 2 backups, each on separate drives.

MRYFLYGUY

Level 2

224 points

Oct 25, 2023 8:25 AM in response to Calebr928

I had some issues with one of the latter Ventura updates using MacOS Extended on external drives I use for Time Machine and Media storage. Support eventually recommended reformatting both drives to APFS and all has been well since, including the Sonoma update which snow running as it should. Unless you need exFAT, you might try APFS.

Oct 25, 2023 8:28 AM in response to MRYFLYGUY

exFat is nice because this raid is used as a mass storage device for active projects for a remote editing system. When the raid isnt in use it is backed up regularly to a Qnap server in the office. Having a universal format drive is crucial to the workflow.

dnar

Level 1

22 points

Oct 27, 2023 7:43 AM in response to tankerace

I have this issue also. Home directories on external drives formatted as HFS+ journaled. Slow, lots of spinning beach balls. Calendar alerts running Automator cannot be scheduled. Mdworker has been running for days. Submitted bug report with debug information while Calendar and Preview were spinning but they never answer.

Apple doesn’t call it bug reporting any longer. It’s now called Feedback. Here is my Feedback number FB13246120 if any one from Apple actually reads this.

Only solution that I know of is to go back to Ventura.

Oct 27, 2023 8:03 AM in response to dnar

Similar issue. Reinstalling Ventura seems to have at least returned me to a workable state. I am considering reformatting my external to AFPS. From what I have gleaned from others’ experiences, Sonoma only plays well with AFPS.

Oct 28, 2023 2:22 AM in response to Barney-15E

The issue was with the personalized folder icons not appearing and some problems when connecting the disks. I could access the files inside without any problem, but the functionality was limited. I've seen in other forums that it's a common problem for some Sonoma users, so if it's just an isolated issue, they should try to resolve it. Thanks for your comments!

Oct 28, 2023 3:32 AM in response to BungalowBill92

In my case, I have an external Samsung SSD connected via usb C, and is formatted as APFS, but after I updated to Sonoma, I noticed randomly that it no longer sees the external drive until I restart the computer

Unable to access External Drives and Disk Utility after updating to macOS Sonoma.