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Using an external hard drive is one of the most reasonable ways to store your data. Many users use an external hard drive and the internal hard drive to keep a backup of their data. There’s nothing to worry about if you use an external hard drive to store your data, but the problem comes when it is not recognized by your Windows 11 PC. If your PC does not recognize your external hard drive, it may probably be due to hardware issues (like a faulty hard drive) or software issues (like an outdated driver, unassigned drive letter, etc.). This article discusses troubleshooting steps to fix Windows 11 won’t recognize an external hard drive. Also Read- Touchpad Not Working in Windows 11 Contents:
You may face this issue on your PC due to hardware and software-related reasons. Following the steps given below, you will be able to fix Windows 11 won’t recognize an external hard drive. 1. Ensure Hard Drive is Properly Connected To Your PCThe first thing you should do is check whether your external hard drive is properly connected to your PC. You should check if there is any problem with the cable. Ensure the connection is not loose and the cable is not worn off, as this might as well cause the problem. 2. Update Hard Drive DriverThe most common reason behind facing this issue can be outdated drivers. You should try updating the Hard Drive driver and then check if you still face the issue or not. To update the hard drive driver, follow the steps given below-
3. Initialize External Hard DriveThis works for new hard drives only. If you just bought an external hard drive and it is not recognized by Windows 11, you will have to initialize it first. Given below are the steps to initialize the external hard drive-
4. Assign Drive LetterIf the drive letter is not assigned to the External Hard Drive, you may also face the issue. You should try assigning the drive letter to the disk and then check if you still face the issue or not. You can assign a drive letter by following the steps given below-
Final WordsIf Windows 11 doesn’t recognize the external hard drive, this article will help you solve it. We have discussed some working troubleshooting steps to help fix the external hard drive not recognized by Windows 11. How do I get Windows 11 to read my external hard drive?Open Disk Management tool, go to Search, type diskmgmt. msc, and press Enter. If the external drive is found listed in the Disk Management window, format it properly so that it shows up next time you connect it to your PC.
How do I fix hard drive not detected Windows 11?FAQs About Missing Drive Windows 11/10. Fix 1. Connect hard drive to another USB port or change another USB cable.. Fix 2. Update or reinstall disk driver.. Fix 3. Re-assign the drive letter.. Fix 4. Run hardware and devices troubleshooter.. Fix 5. Format the hard drive.. Will external hard drives work with Windows 11?Rest assured Windows 11 is compatible with a 2TB external drive, all drives that worked in Windows 10 will also work in Windows 11.
Why my computer is not recognizing an external hard drive?More often than not, it could simply be a bad USB port. Try connecting the hard drive to another USB port. If that fails and you still can't access the external hard drive, try connecting it to another computer. Lastly, you can try using a different cable to connect the drive to your computer.
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