Disk Utility Not Loading? Effective Solutions to Fix Disk Utility Not Loading Issue

This post will introduce how to fix the 'Disk Utility not loading' issue on a Mac when you insert an external hard drive on your Mac. If you don't want to lose any data on your disk, install EaseUS Mac data recovery software to rescue your data ASAP!

Some Mac users may face a problem when launching Disk Utility; it gets stuck in the loading process and shows no available disks on the Mac. Have you ever encountered the Disk Utility stuck at the loading disk screen? Don't worry! This post will discuss why Disk Utility is not loading and how to fix it.

Before learning the effective solutions to fix the Disk Utility not loading error, we will discuss the possible reasons so you can avoid this issue next time after understanding why Disk Utility on your Mac is not loading.

Disk Utility Not Loading? Possible Causes Here

Common reasons for Disk Utility not loading on a Mac are macOS software glitches, corrupted system files, faulty settings, low storage space, conflicting programs, etc.

Don't worry too much if you're not entirely sure what's causing yours to glitch. The steps below will help you troubleshoot effectively, so let's get started.

How Can You Rescue Data from an Unrecognized Disk

Using professional Mac data recovery software can quickly rescue your data from the "Disk Utility not loading" error, especially when you plug in an external hard drive, USB flash drive, or SD card but no disk icon appears on your Mac.

This powerful data recovery tool helps you rescue data when the disk you inserted is not readable by this computer or doesn't show up in Disk Utility. You can only follow the three steps to rescue your essential data:

After saving your essential files correctly, you can follow the effective solutions below to fix the Disk Utility stuck in loading issue.

Fix 1. Quit Conflicting Software

Sometimes, Disk Utility fails because an unknown program causes a conflict running unknowingly in the background. In this case, you can see and check if any apps or programs are taking performance via Activity Monitor.

Step 1. Go to "Finder > Applications > Utilities" to open "Activity Monitor." You can also type activity monitor in the Spotlight Search box to launch it.

From within the CPU tab, see what's running on your device.

Step 2. Select various items from the list and click the "X" button to quit their processes immediately.

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Fix 2. Free Up Mac System Storage Space

Disk Utility not loading may be caused by no available storage on your Mac. Various functions, including Disk Utility loading disks or showing incorrect free space, will struggle to perform when your device is maxed out.

Here are methods to free up your Mac storage space:

1. 1. Empty the Mac Trash folder
2. 2. Move data to another device or external hard drive
3. 3. Delete system junk files and duplicate files
4. 4. Clear caches
5. 5. Remove unused applications and leftover Files
6. 6. Back up files to iCloud

However, if you delete files but still have no space on your Mac, this post may solve your problem.

Fix 3. Run Disk Utility in Recovery Mode

Running Disk Utility in macOS Recovery Mode may also solve this error. Here's how to boot Disk Utility in Recovery Mode:

For Apple Silicon Mac:

Step 1. Make sure your Mac is shut down. Hold the Mac power button until the Recovery Mode appears on the screen.

Step 2. Click the "Disk Utility," and your Mac will enter the Disk Utility successfully.

For Intel-based Mac:

Step 1. Make sure your Mac is shut down. Hold the Command and R keys and release them when you see the Recovery Mode.

Step 2. Click the "Disk Utility," and your Mac will enter the Disk Utility successfully.

Fix 4. Update or Resinatll Your macOS

Outdated software can be one of the possible reasons why the Disk Utility is stuck in the loading process. In this case, you should update or reinstall macOS. Here's how to update macOS:

Step 1. Open "System Settings" and navigate to "Software Update."

Step 2. Click on the "Check for Updates" button.

Step 3. If any updates are available, click "Upgrade Now." You can enable "Automatically keep my Mac up to date."

Enter macOS Recovery mode to reinstall macOS if you don't want to update.

Conclusion

This post discusses the possible causes for Disk Utility not loading and provides four effective fixes to solve this error, including quitting conflicting software, freeing up storage space, running Disk Utility in Recovery Mode, and updating/reinstalling software. If the files stored on the disk are in urgent need, you can try EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac to retrieve them.

Disk Utility Not Loading FAQs

Here are questions people frequently ask when their Disk Utility is not loading. Read to learn more information about the Mac Disk Utility not loading issue.

1. Why is my Disk Utility not loading on my Mac?

Common reasons for Disk Utility not loading on a Mac are macOS software glitches, corrupted system files, faulty settings, low storage space, conflicting programs, etc.

2. How do I force my Mac to Disk Utility?

Make sure your Mac is shut down. Hold the "Command + R" keys and release them when you see the Recovery Mode screen. Click the "Disk Utility," and your Mac will enter the Disk Utility successfully.

3. What to do when the Disk Utility fails?

Here are the steps you can refer to:

Step 1. Reboot from your install disk (holding down the C key).

Step 2. Once it opens, select your language, and then go to Disk Utility from the Utilities menu.

Step 3. Select your hard disk as before and click Repair.

Step 4. Once that is complete, reboot again from your usual start-up disk.