How to Access an External Hard Drive on Windows 10 (2024)

> Microsoft

This article teaches you how to use an external hard drive on Windows 10 and what to do if the system doesn't recognize the hard drive.

How Do I Use an External Hard Drive With Windows 10?

Using an external hard drive with Windows 10 is typically a very straightforward process. Here's how to do it.

1. Plug your external hard drive into your desktop or laptop PC.

   You may need to look for where the USB port is on your system. Typically, on a desktop, these are on the front or back of the case. On a laptop, they're usually on the sides.

2. In the Windows 10 search bar, type This PC.

   

3. Click This PC.

   

4. Double-click the external hard drive listed.

   

   The C drive is the one that houses the Windows OS. The external drive should be next to it.

5. Access any files on the hard drive like you would with an ordinary internal hard drive.

How Do I Find My External Hard Drive on Windows 10?

There are other ways to find your external hard drive on Windows 10. Here's another option that may be more convenient for some users.

1. Click the folder icon on the Windows 10 taskbar.

   

2. Click the arrow to the left of Quick Access.

   

3. Click the external hard drive name to access it.

Why Does Windows 10 Not Recognize My External Hard Drive?

If Windows 10 won't recognize you have an external hard drive plugged in, there are numerous reasons why this might be the case. Here's a look at some of the main reasons why.

• There's an issue with the USB connection. Try moving the external hard drive to a different USB port. The issue may have been with the USB connection.
• Try a different USB cable. If your external hard drive has a detachable USB cable, try a different one in case the cable has failed.
• Check the power. If your external hard drive is powered by an AC outlet (rather than just the USB port), confirm it's receiving power.
• Try a different PC. You'll know if the problem lies with your computer if you try using the external hard drive on another PC.
• Check if the hard drive is detected in Disk Management. Press Win+R and enter diskmgmt.msc to bring up Disk Management. Check that the hard drive is listed here.
• The hard drive can't be read. If the hard drive is listed in Disk Management but can't be viewed, try formatting the disk. You'll lose all stored files but the hard drive should be viewable again.
• The hard drive has failed. In some cases, the problem might be as simple as a failing hard drive. If you've tried all other solutions, this is likely the case.