Fix The Disk You Attached Was Not Readable by This Computer

Numerous Mac users are encountering the "The disk you attached was not readable by this computer" error when connecting external hard drives, SD cards, or USB flash drives to their Mac devices.

For some users, the issue occurs consistently with every external drive, while others experience the unreadable disk error only with a specific external drive. If you're facing this disk not readable error on Mac, you're in the right spot. In this article, we provide 7 practical methods to resolve the disk unreadable error on Mac. Keep reading for solutions.

Quick Takeaways:

Different Errors for The disk you attached was not readable by this computer

When your Mac operates on macOS Sonoma, Ventura, Monterey, or Big Sur and you plug in an external drive, SD card, or pen drive, an error message appears: The disk you attached was not readable by this computer. The pop-up presents only three options: Eject, Ignore, and Initialize.

If you're using a Mac computer with Catalina, Mojave, or High Sierra installed, the non-readable error message takes a slightly different form. It will showcase: The disk you inserted was not readable by this computer.

On older Mac OS X versions, encountering an unreadable disk on Mac prompts the message: "The disk is unreadable by this computer. Do you want to initialize the disk?"

Regardless of the specific error message you encounter, accessing files on this storage device becomes impossible. You can attempt the following solutions to repair the unreadable USB on Mac.

Recover data from the unreadable external drive

When macOS encounters difficulty reading the disk, if you've got a backup stored elsewhere, use it to access the data on the external storage device. In case you don't have a backup, consider using professional Mac data recovery software to recover your valuable data, such as iBoysoft Data Recovery for Mac.

As one of the leading Mac data recovery software, iBoysoft Data Recovery for Mac can recover files in different data loss scenarios, including data recovery from unreadable drives, with a high success rate. It can recognize and recover 1000+ file types including documents, videos, audio, emails, and many more from the disk that can't be read on Mac. Featuring a user-friendly interface, iBoysoft Data Recovery for Mac supports quick data recovery from HDDs, SSDs, SD cards, USB flash drives, and more. 

iBoysoft Data Recovery for Mac is fully compatible with the latest macOS 14 Sonoma and Mac computer with new Apple Silicons. 

Tutorial to recover data from the unreadable disk on Mac:

Have you recovered your data successfully from the unreadable disk? If you have, help others in the same situation.

Solved: The disk you attached is not readable by this computer

Here, we provide seven methods to resolve the issue of "The disk you attached is not readable by this computer" on your Mac. Feel free to try them one by one until the problem of unreadability is successfully addressed.

Start by checking out our video tutorial for a visual guide on fixing an unreadable disk on Mac. If the steps in the video are a bit tricky to catch, don't worry—just keep reading the next part of this article for detailed instructions.

Fix 1: Do a basic troubleshooting

There are six steps for conducting basic troubleshooting to assess whether the unreadable disk (external hard drive, SD card, USB drive, flash drive, etc.) is experiencing an issue.

1. Check if the disk is encrypted

If you come across the disk not readable error while using an encrypted drive, simply open the drive with the appropriate application.

For instance, if the disk is encrypted with BitLocker, macOS may show the error message "The disk you attached is not readable by this computer" unless you have the BitLocker for Mac tool installed. In this case, you can use iBoysoft BitLocker for Mac to easily access the BitLocker encrypted drive on your Mac.

2. Check if the file system is not supported by macOS

Verify the file system of the external drive to ensure it is supported by macOS. If the file system is incompatible with macOS, the inserted disk will not be readable by the Mac. For instance, the ReFS file system is not supported by macOS.

3. Check if the disk is a new hard drive

In the case of a new hard drive, simply click the "Initialize" button after encountering the unreadable disk error. Once initialized, the new hard drive will be operational.

4. Check the disk on another computer

Connect the unreadable disk to another computer, be it Windows or Mac, and verify if it becomes readable.

5. Change the USB cable and USB port

A faulty USB cable or USB port can result in the inserted disk being unreadable by the computer. In such situations, switch to another USB cable or USB port and attempt the process again.

6. Reset USB port

If you suspect that the USB port is causing the issue rather than the device itself, reset the System Management Controller (SMC). It's a simple process, with slight variations depending on your Mac hardware.

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Fix 2: Re-insert the external hard drive

You may want to start by reconnecting the external storage device to your Mac. Safely remove it and then plug it back in. Afterward, try accessing it again to check if the disk you attached is still not readable by this computer on Mac. If the error persists, you can proceed to explore the following solutions.

Fix 3: Update the drivers on your Mac

'The disk you attached is not readable by this computer' can also be caused due to an outdated driver on your Mac. You can check the drivers on your Mac and update them via the following steps:

Fix 4: Run First Aid to fix the unreadable disk

A number of Mac users have mentioned that the issue of 'the disk you attached is not readable by this computer on Mac' can potentially be resolved through Disk Utility First Aid. While it may not guarantee a 100% success rate, it's worth giving it a try.

Steps to fix the unreadable disk with First Aid:

Wait for the process to finish. If you receive a success message, restart your Mac and check if the disk is now readable. If First Aid repair failed on the external drive, try the next solutions.

If the “The disk you attached was not readable by this computer” issue continues on your Mac, you might need to initialize your disk to provide it with a fresh start. Keep in mind that initializing the disk will erase all data, so it's crucial to perform data recovery with iBoysoft Data Recovery for Mac. Once initialized, your disk will have a new, functional file system with empty storage space.

Steps to repair the unreadable disk by initializing:

After the formatting process is complete, you can access this disk as normal.

Fix 6: Ask a professional for Help

If you worry that their own improper operations will cause further damage to their hard drives. In this scenario, you'd better take it to a local professional. They can provide accurate guidance to help resolve this error.

Fix 7: Consider a replacement

If you don't require the data and the drive is still under warranty, consider getting the drive replaced or requesting a refund.

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Why does Mac say The disk you inserted was not readable by this computer

Many reasons could cause the disk you attached unreadable by your Mac computer. Namely, they're:

How to avoid the disk not readable error again

1. Eject the external drive properly

Ejecting the external drive improperly can lead to its corruption. If you remove an external drive from the computer while it's in use, it may also get corrupted. Therefore, it's essential to safely remove your external drive from the Mac by selecting the "Safely Remove Hardware" option.

2. Back up important data

Backing up data is the most effective way to prevent data loss. Time Machine is a built-in data backup software for macOS that can automatically back up all your files.

3. Use an advanced file system

For enhanced security control and a lower risk of file system corruption, consider using the APFS or HFS+ file system for your external hard drive, rather than the FAT32/exFAT file system. Additionally, opting for APFS or HFS+ increases the likelihood of successful data recovery in the event of drive corruption.

Conclusion

Don't worry when you come across the error prompt "The disk you attached/inserted was not readable by this computer." Utilize iBoysoft Data Recovery for Mac to safeguard your crucial data. After that, apply the suggested methods to resolve the issue and restore functionality to your external storage device. 

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