Fix 'the disk you inserted was not readable by this computer' issue

Mac prompts "The inserted disk cannot be read on this computer"? Don't worry, this article will guide you in fixing a corrupt hard drive, reading an incompatible file system, and preventing such errors.

Mac repeatedly prompts "Disk cannot be read"? Use Disk Drill, an efficient backup and recovery tool, to easily recover lost files and prevent future errors. Available on Setapp.

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Quick solution to "Connected disk cannot be read on this computer"

What's the problem?	How to solve it?
Hardware issues	Test or replace the USB port on another computer
Disk encryption	Decrypt the disk with a password
Incompatible file system	Using iBoysoft NTFS for Mac
Malware	Scan and clean your Mac with CleanMyMac
Disk corrupted	Run Disk Drill to recover data

Note: Before trying these solutions, be sure to back up all accessible data to prevent data loss.

What is the "Disk Unable to Read" Error?

The "Disk Unreadable" error on a Mac means that macOS cannot access or recognize external hard disks or other storage devices. This problem may be caused by incompatible file system, disk corruption, or hardware issues such as cable or connector failure.

This error prevents disk mounts and makes it impossible to access data unless further troubleshooting or repairing is done.

Reasons why Mac cannot read external hard drives

Want to know why this happens? It is not easy to understand the reason for the Mac's "Disk Not Read" error and varies from situation to situation. Anyway, here are the main reasons why Macs can't read external hard drives:

• Disk failure: A sudden failure may cause the drive to be unreadable.
• Hardware issues: A faulty hardware component or connection may prevent your Mac from recognizing the disk.
• Malware: Viruses or malware may interfere with the normal operation of external drives.
• File system compatibility: The drive may be formatted using a file system that macOS cannot read.
• Incorrect shutdown: Incorrect shutdown may damage the connected external drive.

How to fix the problem that Mac cannot read external hard drives

Now that you understand the reasons, you can try the following solution to fix the "Connected Disk Cannot Read on this Computer" error. But before we get started, let me introduce you to Setapp.

Setapp is a subscription-based service that provides access to featured applications designed to simplify and resolve various issues on Apple devices. Whether you are dealing with hard disk errors, file management, data recovery, or other system maintenance tasks, Setapp's tool suite makes these processes easier to manage. Best of all, you can try all 240+ apps for seven days for free, giving you the opportunity to find the right tool for your needs without immediate commitment.

Now, let's figure out how to fix the problem that the Mac disk cannot be read.

Step 1. Perform basic checks and troubleshooting

Showing error messages that cannot be read by disk provides three options: initialization, pop-up, and ignore. Before clicking on any of these options, it will be helpful to do some basic troubleshooting. If you can resolve the issue with basic troubleshooting, there is no need to repair or format the disk, which can lead to data loss.

Check if the drive is the problem

The first thing you need to do is to know if the drive you are trying to connect to is the problem. Try unplugging the drive that cannot be read and insert another external drive, USB or SD card. If it works, start investigating the problem with the first drive. If it doesn't work, look for hardware issues or other issues with your Mac.

Make sure the disk is not encrypted

If there is a problem with the disk, check disk encryption. Encryption means that data on disk is protected. If the disk is encrypted, it cannot be accessed until it is decrypted first.

To check if the drive is encrypted on your Mac:

1. Connect the external drive to your Mac.
2. Find Disk Utility in the Utility folder in the application, or find it using Spotlight (Command Space).
3. Select your external drive from the sidebar of Disk Utility.
4. Check the encryption status. View the displayed drive information. If encrypted, you will see it here.
5. If the disk is encrypted, you will need to decrypt the password to access its contents.

Check the file system

The most common reason why a Mac cannot read a drive is that it is formatted as NTFS. Since macOS does not have native read/write support, you need to convert NTFS to another compatible format.

Remember the Setapp I mentioned? This is when you need it. On Setapp, you can find a tool called iBoysoft NTFS for Mac. This is a simple assistant with full read/write support for NTFS drives.

You connect the NTFS external drive to your Mac, and that's basically it. The rest is very simple – access to the drive is in the menu bar.

Check disk on another computer

To further diagnose the "Disk Not Read" error, try connecting the drive to another Mac to see if it works there. Alternatively, you can try the drive on your Windows PC, which helps determine if the problem is related to the format of the drive. If the drive works on another computer, the problem may be related to the settings or hardware of the Mac.

Replace USB cable and USB port

To make sure the problem is not related to USB connection, first replace the current USB cable with one you know is working properly. Then, disconnect the drive from the current USB port and try to connect it to another port on your Mac. This process can help you determine if the problem is in the cable or the port itself.

Step 2. Use Disk Utility to repair the drive

If you are sure there is a problem with the disk and basic troubleshooting is not helpful, the next step is to try to fix the disk.

Macs have native disk repair features called Disk Utility. This is a completely secure process and you can run it at any time to try to fix any error behavior related to disk. Specifically, if you see the "Inserted Disk Cannot Read on this Computer" issue, Disk Utility can help you check or fix permissions—the most common reason why disks cannot read.

Solve any issues on your Mac

Download CleanMyMac to optimize your Mac. Use a single tool to clear cluttered files, repair disk permissions, detect malware, uninstall applications, and gain extra space. Available on Setapp.

Experience safe and reliable now Note: Be sure to run Disk Utility in recovery mode.

Here's how to fix external drives on your Mac:

1. Turn off the Mac.
2. When powering on, press and hold the Command R key.
3. Access Disk Utility from macOS Utility at startup.
4. Select your drive in the left pane.
5. Click First Aid > Run.

After the First Aid process is completed, if the problem is resolved, you will see a success message. Restart your Mac and try to reconnect the external drive or USB.

If First Aid cannot repair a damaged hard drive, you need to recover data stored on unreadable drives. See the next section.

Tip: External drives may be filled with junk files and unnecessary data very quickly. Additionally, disk permissions may sometimes be corrupted. My colleagues and I often use the convenient app CleanMyMac to solve these problems. This application contains a tool specifically designed to repair corrupted disk permissions, making it the preferred solution in our toolkit.

Repair disk permissions:

1. Install and open CleanMyMac.
2. Click Performance > Run on the left panel.
3. Click View All Tasks > Maintenance Tasks > Repair Disk Permissions > Run.

Please note that CleanMyMac can also delete system junk files, duplicate files and similar images, perform malware scans, and more.

Recover files from unreadable disk

I can imagine that when you see the "Mac external hard drive cannot be read" error, you will be frustrated, especially if important files are threatened. Fortunately, there is an easy solution – Disk Drill.

Disk Drill is a powerful data recovery tool that you can access through Setapp. It is designed to recover lost data from almost any storage device, regardless of format.

Here is how to recover files using Disk Drill:

1. Download and install Disk Drill from Setapp.
2. Connect unreadable disks to your Mac.
3. Open Disk Drill and select the disk in question to scan.
4. After the scan is completed, view the files that can be recovered.
5. Select the files you need and restore them to another drive to avoid overwriting them.

I can't count the number of times Disk Drill saves me by looking up files I think are missing forever. Try it!

Step 3. Format the drive

While the tool Disk Drill, I mentioned above, can recover files from drives that cannot be read, it won't help you access and use it in the future. To do this, you should format the drive. This process basically clears the drive and prepares it for initial use.

Here is how to format a drive that cannot be read:

1. In the error message, click "Initialize".
2. After opening Disk Utility, select Drive in the left pane
3. Click "Erase", select the correct file system, and then confirm that you want to format the drive.
4. Reconnect the drive. It should be readable now.

How to avoid this error in the future

Prevention is always better than treatment. Taking proactive measures to maintain your Mac and its peripherals can save you a lot of time and hassle later.

To avoid future "disk not read" errors on Mac, do the following:

• Maintain your external drives regularly. Use CleanMyMac to clean up junk files and repair disk permissions.
• Also, make sure the drive is ejected correctly after use and keep the Mac's software up to date to support newer file systems and improve compatibility.
• For advanced file system support, feel free to use iBoysoft NTFS for Mac, which provides reliable read and write access to NTFS formatted drives.

Please note that all the tools mentioned in this guide (CleanMyMac, Disk Drill, and iBoysoft NTFS for Mac) are available on Setapp, a platform that offers macOS and iOS applications under one subscription. Setapp offers you a seven-day free trial for all apps, no ads, no hidden fees.

FAQ

How to fix the "inserted disk cannot be read on this computer" error on Mac?

To fix the error that the inserted disk cannot be read, first try basic troubleshooting - disconnect and reconnect the disk. Check the USB cable and USB port. If this doesn't help, use the first aid feature of Disk Utility to repair the disk. For compatibility issues, try iBoysoft NTFS for Mac.

How to fix an unreadable external hard drive without losing data?

To fix unreadable external hard drives without losing data, make sure you back up your data as much as possible to prevent data loss in these cases. If you do not have a backup and need to recover data from a drive that cannot be read, use Disk Drill. This tool can scan the drive and restore files to a safe location before repairing or formatting the drive. Once your data is secure, you can safely diagnose and fix fundamental issues with your drive, such as fixing it with disk utilities, or reformatting it if needed.

How to fix SD cards that cannot be read on Mac?

To fix SD cards that cannot be read on your Mac, try using SD cards on other devices to troubleshoot specific issues related to the card. Use Disk Utility on your Mac to perform "first aid" on your SD card. If recovery is required, use Disk Drill to recover files before formatting the card for future use.

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