How to Solve G-Drive Not Showing up on Mac

Did you encounter the G drive not showing up on Mac? Here we find several solutions to help you fix the problem of the Mac not recognizing a G drive, and you can rescue data from a G drive on a Mac.

External storage devices like G-Drives (typically referring to portable drives from brands like SanDisk, WD, or LaCie) are essential for expanding storage or backing up critical data. Additionally, G-Drives are susceptible to data loss when it is not showing on your Mac. This makes it very difficult to recover data from a G-Drive. This article describes resolving the G-Drive not showing up on Mac issues.

Why the G-Drive Not Showing Up on Mac

Several factors can cause a G-Drive to go undetected on macOS:

🔋Hardware Issues

• A damaged cable or malfunctioning USB/Thunderbolt port can prevent the drive from connecting.
• Some high-capacity drives require external power, which may not be adequately supplied via a Mac's port.

⚔️Software Conflicts

• Older macOS versions may lack compatibility with newer drives.
• G-Drives formatted for Windows are read-only on Mac by default.

💾Corrupted Partition or File System

• Improper ejection, sudden power loss, or malware can corrupt the drive's file system (e.g., APFS, exFAT).

👁️‍🗨️Hidden Visibility Settings

• macOS may not display external drives if Finder preferences are misconfigured.

How to Recover Data from G-Drive on Mac with Software

You may have formatted the G-Drive by following the instructions on your computer, so it is essential to use professional data recovery software to extract data, which can bypass macOS visibility limitations by directly accessing the drive's raw data.

Fortunately, there is a solution in the form of EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac, a specialized recovery program for Mac systems. The all-in-one solution can handle various issues, including formatting, partition losses, system crashes, virus attacks, unmounted drives on Mac, and even data loss due to hard drive failure.

Step 1. Search for lost files

Correctly connect your external hard drive to your Mac. Launch EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac, and select the external hard drive. Then, click "Search for lost files" to find lost/deleted files on your external devices.

Step 2. Filter and find lost files

After the scan, all file types will be presented in the left panel. Select the file type to find wanted files on your external devices.

Step 3. Preview and recover

Click the file and preview it. Then, select the files you want to recover and click the "Recover" button. You can save your data to local and cloud drives.

Many Mac users have proved the efficacy of the tool. If you are interested in resolving the Mac files recovery issue, share it on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media platforms!

How to Fix G-Drive Not Showing Up on Mac

Mac users often encounter issues where their G-Drive fails to appear on the desktop, in Finder, or in Disk Utility. This problem can disrupt workflows, especially when urgent file access is required. Below, we explore the steps to resolve the issue.

Fix 1. Check Connections and Hardware

• Try a different USB cable, port, or adapter.
• Test the drive on another Mac or Windows to rule out hardware failure.

Fix 2. Make the G-Drive Visible in Finder

The G-Drive shortcut only appears on your Mac screen if you activate the Finder settings to display external drives.

Step 1. Open "Finder" > "Settings" > "General".

Step 2. Check "External disks" under "Show these items on the desktop."

Step 3. Navigate to "Finder" > "Settings" > "Sidebar" and ensure "External disks" is selected.

Fix 3. Use Disk Utility to Mount or Repair the Drive

Mac Disk Utility is a professional utility that works similarly to Windows OS's Disk Management to assist fix the majority of disk management problems on Macs.

Step 1. Open "Applications" > "Utilities".

Step 2. Check if the G-Drive appears in the sidebar, even if grayed out.

Step 3. Select the drive and click "Mount" or "First Aid" to repair errors.

Fix 4. Reformat the Drive

Disk formatting is a straightforward yet efficient method of fixing most hard drive problems, typically including logical errors. Volume issues on an external hard drive with a corrupted file system or a file system incompatible with the current macOS would significantly contribute to the drive's inability to be recognized by the Mac.

Step 1. In Disk Utility, select the G-Drive and click "Erase."

Step 2. Choose a macOS-compatible format (APFS for SSDs, exFAT for cross-platform use).

Step 3. Click "Erase" to reformat (note. this deletes all data!).

Note that reformatting will erase data. To protect data, you need to use data recovery software to protect the data in advance.

Conclusion

A G-Drive not showing up on a Mac is often fixable through simple troubleshooting like checking connections, adjusting Finder settings, or repairing the drive with Disk Utility. Always prioritize data recovery before reformatting, and use reliable software like EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac to safeguard your files. For recurring issues, consider reformatting the drive to a macOS-friendly file system or replacing faulty hardware.

G-Drive Not Showing Up FAQs

If you still have some questions about Mac recovery, check the quick answers below to help yourself out:

1. Why does my G-Drive work on Windows but not Mac?

The drive may be formatted as NTFS, which macOS cannot write to. Reformat it to exFAT or APFS (back up data first).

2. Can I recover data if my G-Drive is physically damaged?

Yes, but avoid DIY repairs. Professional data recovery services can retrieve data from damaged drives in controlled environments.

3. How do I prevent this issue in the future?

Safely eject the drive, avoid abrupt disconnections, and use macOS-native formats (APFS/exFAT).