- Download All Documents On External Hard Drive Mac Os
- Download All Documents On External Hard Drive Macbook Pro
Many users have reported the issue that their local or external hard drive is not showing files though they still exist. When they open their device, they can't see files on their hard drive. If you are troubled by this same issue, follow to learn how to fix the hard drive that is not showing files and recover data from the device with EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard when necessary.
Files Not Showing in External Hard Drive Though They Still Exist
- External hard drives are almost exactly the same as the one inside your computer. The difference is that external hard drives are stand-alone peripherals that are easily used with multiple computers. This feature makes the devices ideal for both storing files and transferring them between multiple computers.
- Transferring Data From a Mac to PC via an External Hard Drive. Mac OS X and Windows can both read and write to disks in the FAT or ExFat format. Because Mac OS X Mountain Lion does not natively support writing to an external NTFS drive, you must erase your hard disk and format it.
- Just plug the external drive’s USB cable into your PC and copy your files to the drive. After everything is copied, shut down Windows, unplug the hard drive’s data cable from the PC, and plug the cable into your Mac. The drive’s letter or name should appear on your Mac’s desktop. Double-click it. You can then copy everything to the Mac.
Once all of your files have finished copying, the Exported Files folder should look like this, without any progress bars. Click the Eject icon next to the external drive.
'Why can't I see files and folders saved to my external HDD in Windows 10? They should be there because I didn't press the deletion button or format the disk. So annoying. Where have they gone? How to make them show up again?'
Quite a lot of Windows users have encountered the issue that their local hard drive, external HDD, USB flash drive, Pendrive or the memory card was showing up in Windows Explorer. Can i download netflix films to my mac. However, they couldn't see the files and folders there when they opened the device.
Why can't you see files on the (external) hard drive in Windows when they still exist on your computer? 'Hard drive not showing files though they still exist' is an issue occurs frequently. There are many factors would cause your storage drive contents to disappear without being noticed, such as:
- File system errors that make the entries to your files inaccessible
- Your hard drive is infected by a virus or attacked by malware that hides, deletes or encrypts the files on your hard drive
- The power supply is not stable
- The files and folders are hidden and you disable 'show hidden files'
- Others including hardware issues, hard drive getting corrupted, and more
In addition to the four common causes, an external hard drive may also result from other unexpected reasons. The corresponding solutions are detailed below.
How to Fix Files Not Showing Up on External Hard Drive
If you can't identify what the specific reason is, follow the solutions one by one to fix the error 'can't see files on the external hard drive'.
Method 1. Recover Missing Files and Reformat External/Internal Hard Drive
Applies to: restore not showing files due to file system error, hidden, or not removed by virus.
It's an all-in-one solution to recover hidden, not showing up or missing files that can't be seen on an internal or external hard drive in Windows 10/8/7. This method can also be applied to the situation when a hard drive is not showing up files though they still exist due to virus attack.
#1. Recover Missing, Hidden, Not Showing Files
Download All Documents On External Hard Drive Mac Os
Advanced hard drive recovery software like EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard can assist you in recovering files and folders that are hidden or removed by a virus/malware, retrieving data from an inaccessible storage device that has a file system error (like becoming RAW) with ease.
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is able to restore files that you can't see on an external hard drive or USB drive in Windows 10 in 3 steps:
Step 1. Choose the external hard drive
Since you're going to recover data from the external hard drive, run EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard and under the External Devices tab, choose the exact drive where you lost data. Click Scan.
Step 2. Scan for lost data
The software will start immediately to scan all over the selected drive for all lost data. During the scan, you could see more and more data showing up in the results.
Step 3. Preview and recover data
After the scan is over, check the scan results for the desired data. You can preview the file by double-clicking on it. Click Recover and choose another location to save the recovered data.
#2. Format or Reformat Hard Drive/External Hard Drive
To make the hard drive or external hard drive work again, without any file system error, we recommend you to format your hard drive in Windows 10/8/7. Refer the steps here to make your device usable again:
Remember to connect the external hard drive to your PC in advance if you need to format it.
Step 1. Right-click this PC > Select 'Manage' > 'Disk Management'.
Step 2. Right-click on the target drive or partition and click on 'Format'.
Step 3. Select the file system and set the cluster size.
Step 4. Click 'OK' to format the drive.
Method 2. Run CHKDSK to Fix HDD/USB Pen Drive Not Showing Files
Applies to: Restore inaccessible files on hard drive, external or USB drive due to file system error.
If you can't see files or folders on the external hard drive or USB pen drive is not showing data files due to file system errors or hard drive corruption, use command prompt to fix the hard drive problems to prevent further data loss.
Step 1. Type cmd in the Windows search box, right-click on 'Command Prompt' and choose 'Run as administrator'.
Step 2. Type: chkdsk g: /f ('g' is the drive letter of your external hard drive, so please replace the drive letter with the corresponding drive letter of yours).
Step 3. Press 'Enter' and chkdsk will start checking your corrupted HDD and then fix any corruption on the drive.
If you don't have any technical know-how and want to minimize data risks, using third-party software could be a better choice. The Command line is suitable for computer professionals since wrong commands can cause severe problems. Therefore, we strongly recommend you try an automatic command line alternative.
Download All Documents On External Hard Drive Macbook Pro
EaseUS Tools M is a practical computer fixing tool that is safe and light-weighted. It's a perfect alternative to CHKDSK command. Use this one-click tool to solve your computer issues.
To fix file system error or disk error:
Step 1: DOWNLOAD EaseUS Tools M for Free and install it.
Step 2: Open the software and select the 'File showing' option.
Step 3: Choose the drive and wait for repairing. After the operation completes, click the 'View' button to check the drive.
Method 3. Reconnect Device, Change Power and USB Cable
Applies to: Fix Files not showing up on hard drive/external hard drive due to unstable power supply.
If you can't think of any serious issue that may result in 'can't see files on the external hard drive', the causes may be minor issues with the hardware connection. Unstable power supply or a broken USB connection cable may also disable you to access saved files on the hard drive. Don't bother trying the simple solution.
Step 1. Check if your hard drive or external hard drive is correctly connected to your PC.
If not, reconnect it to your PC.
Step 2. Check the power supply cable or the USB connection cable is good.
If the cables are not working fine, change a new cable and reconnect your hard drive or external hard drive to PC.
Step 3. Change another USB cable to connect your external hard drive.
Although there is no difference between the front USB ports and the rear ones technically, it's said that the rear USB ports are more stable since they are soldered to the motherboard directly. Thus, if you are using a desktop, change to a rear USB port to have a try.
This solution is also helpful in solving the common USB drive related issue 'Please insert a disk into removable disk'.
Method 4. Show Hidden Files/Folders
Applies to: Show hidden files and folder that you intentionally or mistakenly hide on PC.
If you can't see files on a hard drive or external hard drive because you have hidden them intentionally or mistakenly, the files and folders you can't see just now will appear again by setting Windows to show hidden files.
Here we will present to you the easiest steps:
Step 1. Go to 'This PC' and double-click to open your hard drive.
Step 2. Go to the 'View' Tab. In the Show/hide section, check 'Hidden items'.
After this, you will be able to check the hidden or missing files in your hard drive again. If you need other ways to show hidden files, refer to how to recover hidden files for help.
The Bottom Line
This page covers 4 practical solutions to help you recover and display not showing files on an internal or external hard drive. When you can't see files on hard drive in Windows 10, try reliable hard drive data recovery software, run CHKDSk command to fix device file system error, change power cable or USB cable, and show hidden files by changing Windows file explorer settings.
If the solutions above can't fix 'hard drive not showing files though they exist' for you, we recommend you get your hard drive serviced. Some physical damage can be fixed by manual repair. If you don't want to give up your hard drive, asking help from manual service is also a choice to make.
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FAQs about Files Not Showing in Hard Drive/External Hard Drive but Still Exist
This page answers the question of 'Why can't I see my hard drive in Windows 10' and 'How do I recover not showing files on an internal or external hard drive'. Some of you may have more concerns about the hard drive not showing files issues. Check questions and answers below, you may find desired answers here.
1. How do I view files on my hard drive?
First, open Windows File Explorer and check if your files are in the hard drive. If not, go to the View tab and tick 'Hidden files'. Recheck files in your hard drive again.
Next, if no files show up, run EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard to scan and find all missing files on your hard drive.
2. Why are my files not showing up?
Many reasons may cause your files not showing up. Commonly, storage file system error, virus infection, device connection error, and manually hide files on storage devices may are the main causes that stop your files from showing up on storage devices.
3. How do I show hidden files on my external hard drive in Windows 10?
- Open File Explorer and go to the Video tab.
- Click Options and choose Change folder and search options.
- On the View tab, look for the Advanced settings area.
- Check 'Show hidden files, folders, and drives' and click 'OK'.
4. How do I fix my external hard drive not recognized error?
When an external hard drive becomes unrecognizable, it may be caused by not working USB port, hard drive driver outdated, virus attack, or device failure error.
You can try the five ways to fix it:
- Try a different USB
- Uninstall and reinstall external hard drive driver
- Turn on USB Root Hub
- Show all hidden files
- Use Registry Editor
For a detailed guide, you may refer to Fix Seagate External Hard Drive Not Detected/Recognized for help.
Sep 18, 2020 • Filed to: Take Data Backup • Proven solutions
Q: How to sync OneDrive to an external hard drive?
'OneDrive has become an integral part of my storage needs. I use it to store both work and personal files. However, my OneDrive is now flooded with files and narrowing my storage limit. Can I sync it to an external hard drive?'
Being one of the most popular cloud storage platforms, Microsoft's OneDrive offers a huge convenience to users. It not just sync all your files and data across different devices, but also back them up on the internet. Nevertheless, the free service gives 5GB storage to users, which seems to be less if you have a large number of files. Thus, depending on your storage needs, the OneDrive folder may consume a significant amount of storage. So, it is wise to have an alternative second storage drive. You can arrange this storage right into your system, inside an external hard drive, or even in another partition.
When you sync OneDrive data to your computer, then by default, it will save all the data on your local drive. You can find it in the User Folder. So, it might take a lot of storage space if you have lots of data to sync. Anyway, if your computer has a hard drive with a large capacity, then it may not affect largely. But it can pose a problem if it has just 128-256 GB SSD.
Fortunately, you can choose the location where your OneDrive will save all synced files. In short, it will allow you to store all synced data on a large capacity internal or external hard drive. Here we will discuss two different methods to do so.
Part 1: Benefits of Syncing OneDrive to an External Hard Drive?
OneDrive is quite popular among users as it allows everyone to manage their work and personal files from anywhere. You need to install the OneDrive application on your device. After that, the files that you store in the cloud will sync to the local storage in real-time. You can also enjoy a couple of additional benefits that are mentioned below.
1. Work In the Absence of Internet Network
No matter which device or platform you use, OneDrive lets you manage and access files from anywhere. Once you install the OneDrive application, it will sync all the data stored in it to the local storage. The syncing takes place in real-time. Besides, the real benefit of this platform is that you can use it offline. All you have to do is sync your OneDrive folder with any removable storage device, especially hard drive.
2. You Can Avoid Accidental Data Loss
There is nothing as frustrating as accidental data loss. The files may corrupt online due to various reasons, particularly ransomware virus attacks. Therefore, you must prefer to take offsite backup OneDrive folder. Syncing your OneDrive to an external hard drive will place an extra layer of protection to it.
As you can see, OneDrive is very convenient and handy when you manage multiple devices. Syncing keeps your photos, videos, and work files secure both online and offline. Now, the question is - how to sync this cloud platform to your external hard drive? Well, you can do it by using any of the two methods given below.
Part 2: How to Sync OneDrive to an External Hard Drive?
In the first method, we recommend using the best sync tool - AOMEI Backupper. It is a reliable and secure folder sync tool that comes with a lot of other features. Not just OneDrive, but you can also use this tool with any other cloud platform such as Dropbox and Google drive. With this tool, you can sync a few selected or all files of your OneDrive folder to an external hard drive.
Well, syncing can never be this easier. This tool lets you schedule a sync task as per your convenience. You can set it to sync your OneDrive folder on a daily, weekly, and even monthly basis. Besides, you can also try a real-time sync feature, which is available in the Professional version of this tool. In short, this tool is going to lessen a lot of hard work and time. So, let's find out how to use AOMEI Backupper to sync your OneDrive to an external hard drive.
Before we begin with the stepwise procedure, make sure that you have installed the desktop app of OneDrive, and it is properly configured. Once everything is well set in its place, you can go ahead with the steps below.
Step 1: Downloading the Software
You should first download the folder sync tool. For that, get the setup file of AOMEI Backupper software and install it.
Step 2: Go to File Sync
Once the software is installed, open it. You will see multiple options on the main console. From there, click on the 'Backup' tab, and then select 'File Sync' located on the right-hand side.
Step 3: Add OneDrive Folder
You will get an option to add the folder that you want to sync. Therefore, press the 'Add Folder' tab so that you can select the source folder, which is the OneDrive folder in this case.
Notes: You can further customize your folder selection process to only include a few selected subfolders.
Step 4: Select the Location
You selected a source folder in the third step. Now, you will need to choose a destination path i.e. a particular folder on your hard drive.
Step 5: Set the Sync Schedule and Start Syncing
As discussed earlier, this tool gives you an option to automate your syncing process. To do this, you can click on the 'Schedule' option at the bottom of the window and do the required settings. Once you complete setting up a schedule, click the 'Start Sync' button.
Now, let the software finish its task. The sync process will complete after some time. Thus, a sync tool comes in very handy when you want to sync OneDrive to external storage. Note that AOMEI Backupper can serve more beyond syncing. It will also help you clone the hard drive, do system backup, and many other tasks.
Part 3: How to Transfer OneDrive Folder to an External Hard Drive?
Users most often don't want to keep their OneDrive folder. In this case, they can change the location and their OneDrive folder will be redirected to another location. You will find the OneDrive folder placed in its default location i.e. C: drive of your computer. Thus, if your system drive corrupts, then it will also corrupt the files saved in your OneDrive folder.
Therefore, if you want to protect your important files and folders, then you must think of transferring the OneDrive folder to an external hard drive. Can you download someones messages from mac messages. You can transfer it manually by following the below steps.
Step 1: Go to the OneDrive settings by right-clicking the OneDrive icon located on your taskbar.
Step 2: Now, head over to the 'Account tab' to locate an option that reads 'Unlink OneDrive.' When you click this option, a new screen (OneDrive setup window) will pop-up.
Step 3: In the third step, open the File Explorer on your computer and go to the OneDrive folder. Now, you can see a 'Move to' option on your screen. Make sure you select a folder located in your external hard drive.
Step 4: Now, move all the files and data of your OneDrive to the folder located in an external hard drive. After that, go to the OneDrive setup screen that was popped-up in step 2. Write down your login credentials to enter the OneDrive account.
Step 5: You will get a 'This is your OneDrive folder' window. At the bottom of this window, you can find a link 'Change location.' Click on that link to choose a new location for your OneDrive folder.
Step 6: Lastly, you should press the 'Use this location' button.
In this way, you can modify the location of your OneDrive folder, which was previously set to C: drive. This default folder location is not safe, especially if you think your system drive may corrupt over time.
While transferring your OneDrive folder manually may sound like a trouble-free task, it may turn challenging when you have a large amount of data. Moreover, doing any task manually brings in errors such as missing a particular subfolder, duplicating any important file, or accidentally deleting it. Therefore, you should go for an automated process, which ensures accuracy and complete safety.
Conclusion
No one can predict the life of computers or any other electronic gadget. These devices can stop working or start malfunctioning over time. In either case, you may lose your important data. Therefore, it is wise to have two separate homes for your data. Besides safety, you also get a lot of other benefits when you sync OneDrive to an external hard drive. We have already discussed all those benefits in this guide.
When it comes to syncing your OneDrive in real-time or schedule the entire task according to your preferences, then AOMEI Backupper should be your first choice. This amazing sync tool will ease your syncing task to a great extent.
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