These are Windows volume formats, but they can be read by Mac OS X. If your flash drive states that it was formatted with one of these volume types, you should be able to plug it into your Mac and use it without a problem. If you plug in your drive and your Mac won't read it, you need to format it. Well, to fix USB drive read only in Windows 7/8/10, you can reformat it completely to make it back into read/write mode. Here I recommend a free disk formatting utility-AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard. With it, you can reformat the read-only USB drive to NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, or Ext2/3/4 in Windows 10/8/7/XP/Vista free.
Sep 28, 2020 • Filed to: USB Recovery • Proven solutions
'My computer won't read my flash drive even after connecting it several times. Is there any feasible solution to fix the flash drive not reading issue on Mac?'
If you are also trying to resolve the flash drive unreadable problem, then you have come to the right place. While USB drives certainly come with tons of advantages, they also cause a few unwanted issues as well. For instance, your system might not read the connected USB drive even after several attempts. To fix this, you need to identify the cause and work on different solutions. Hop on as this guide on how to fix a flash drive that won't read has covered it all.
'My computer won't read my flash drive even after connecting it several times. Is there any feasible solution to fix the flash drive not reading the issue on Mac?'
If you are also trying to resolve the flash drive unreadable problem, then you have come to the right place. While USB drives certainly come with tons of advantages, they also cause a few unwanted issues as well. For instance, your system might not read the connected USB drive even after several attempts. To fix this, you need to identify the cause and work on different solutions. Hop on as this guide on how to fix a flash drive that won't read has covered it all.
Part 1: Reasons for the Error 'The Disk You Inserted Was Not Readable by This Computer'
While a USB drive might become unreadable on both Windows and Mac, the issue is certainly more common in macOS. Before we dive in and learn how to read a flash drive and move past this, let's get to know what could have caused the problem in the first place.
- The file system on the USB drive might not be supported by your Mac/Windows.
- The USB drive storage can be corrupted or have bad sectors.
- If the flash drive has been damaged physically, then it can also cause numerous issues like this.
- The firmware or a security component on your system can also block the USB drive.
- A third-party application might be responsible for blocking the USB drive.
- The conflict between the internal settings or file systems with the USB settings.
Part 2: How to Fix Unreadable USB Flash Drive on Mac
Since there could be several reasons for a computer not reading the flash drive, it is important to follow a stepwise approach. Ideally, you can start from the easiest solutions and move ahead to the last resort listed here.
1. Restart and Reconnect
This is the easiest and one of the tested solutions to fix all kinds of issues with a computer. Firstly, check that you have inserted the USB drive correctly to your Mac and that there is no physical damage. Subsequently, launch Finder and from its sidebar, click on the eject symbol adjacent to the USB drive (if it is detected). If the drive is not detected, then simply remove it from Mac. Afterward, restart your system and try connecting the flash drive again.
2. Repair the Connected USB Drive
One of the best things about Mac is that it lets us perform a thorough diagnostic of any internal or external storage source via Disk Utility. Therefore, one of the easiest ways to fix a flash drive not reading issue is by using its Disk Utility Application. Here's how to fix a flash drive that won't read by using Mac's native utility tool.
1. Firstly, try to connect your USB drive to your Mac the usual way. If you get the following 'The disk you inserted was not readable by your computer' prompt, then click on the 'Initialize' button instead of closing it.
2. This will open the Disk Utility application on your Mac. Otherwise, you can also go to Finder > Applications > Utility to launch the same application as well. Go to its 'View' section and click on 'Show All Devices'. This will let you view details of the connected USB drive even if it can't be read by the computer.
3. On the sidebar, you can see a list of all the connected (and the internal) data sources available on Mac. Select the flash drive option that was unreadable on Mac and the right, click on the 'First Aid' button to diagnose the issue.
4. Confirm your choice to fix the pen drive not reading and click on the 'Repair Disk' button. Wait for a while for Mac to troubleshoot the issue and let you notify once it is done.
3. Format the Flash Drive
Most likely, the USB device not reading problem would be fixed by running the first-aid diagnostic on it. Though, if it is corrupted or has an incompatible file system, then you might have to format it all together. To learn how to fix a flash drive that won't read, you can quickly format it in the following manner.
1. Before you start, make sure that the USB drive is connected properly to the system and that there is no debris in the port.
2. Now, go to Finder > Applications > Utilities and launch the Disk Utility application on your Mac. From the sidebar, select the connected USB drive. If you can't see it, then go to the View option and choose to show all devices.
3. On the right, you can see different options for the disk. Just click on the 'Erase' button here to format the USB drive.
4. As the pop-up window will open, give it a name, and select a compatible file system (like exFAT or HFS+). Make sure that the file system is compatible with your Mac before clicking on the 'Erase' button.
Although this would get rid of all the stored data on your USB drive, it will also make it compatible with your Mac, resolving the flash drive not reading issue. Checkbook 2 6 3 – manage personal checking accounts without.
Part 3: Recover Lost Data after Fixing the USB Flash Drive Unreadable Error
While fixing the flash drive not reading issue, a lot of users end up formatting their USB drives. Though, this might lead to the loss of their important files in the process. If this is the case, then consider using a reliable data recovery tool like Wondershare Recoverit. By following a simple click-through process, you can get back all kinds of data from your USB drive.
Video Tutorial on How to Recover Lost USB Files
It supports every major file system like HFS+, NTFS, exFAT, APFS, etc. as well as numerous data types like photos, videos, audios, documents, and so much more. There is no prior technical knowledge needed to use Recoverit. All you got to do is follow these three simple steps:
Step 1: Connect your USB drive
Connect your flash drive to the system and wait for a while as it would be detected by it. Now, launch Wondershare Recoverit Data Recovery on your system and pick a location to scan from its home. In this case, you need to pick the connected USB drive under the External Devices option.
Step 2: Wait for the scan to be over
Once the process is started, you can simply wait for a few minutes. Although Recoverit 8.0 also lets us pause or stop the scanning in between, it is recommended to let is complete. You can also preview the extracted results while the data recovery process is going on in the background.
Step 3: Restore your data
That's it! Now, all the extracted data will be listed under different file types and categories. Switch between them from the left panel and preview your files on the right. For instance, you can preview your videos, photos, and documents like Word files, PDFs, etc. In the end, just select the files (or folders) you wish to get back and click on the 'Recover' button. It is recommended to save your files to another secure location and not to the same USB drive that has been formatted.
After reading this informative post on how to read a flash drive or fix the flash drive unreadable problem, you would certainly be able to fix this issue. Though, if you had to format your USB drive unwillingly, then use Recoverit Data Recovery right away. The sooner you use it, the easier it would be to recover lost data from a USB drive. Since it offers a free version for Mac and Windows, you can give it a try without spending a single dime.
Part 1: Reasons for the Error 'The Disk You Inserted Was Not Readable by This Computer'
While a USB drive might become unreadable on both Windows and Mac, the issue is certainly more common in macOS. Before we dive in and learn how to read a flash drive and move past this, let's get to know what could have caused the problem at the first place.
- The file system on the USB drive might not be supported by your Mac/Windows.
- The USB drive storage can be corrupted or have bad sectors.
- If the flash drive has been damaged physically, then it can also cause numerous issues like this.
- The firmware or a security component on your system can also block the USB drive.
- A third-party application might be responsible for blocking the USB drive.
- Conflict between the internal settings or file systems with the USB settings.
Part 2: How to Fix Unreadable USB Flash Drive on Mac
Since there could be several reasons for a computer not reading the flash drive, it is important to follow a stepwise approach. Ideally, you can start from the easiest solutions and move ahead to the last resort listed here.
1. Restart and Reconnect
This is the easiest and one of the tested solutions to fix all kinds of issues with a computer. Firstly, check that you have inserted the USB drive correctly to your Mac and that there is no physical damage. Subsequently, launch Finder and from its sidebar, click on the eject symbol adjacent to the USB drive (if it is detected). If the drive is not detected, then simply remove it from Mac. Afterward, restart your system and try connecting the flash drive again. 1 2 line segments and distance.
2. Repair the Connected USB Drive
One of the best things about Mac is that it lets us perform a thorough diagnostic of any internal or external storage source via Disk Utility. Therefore, one of the easiest ways to fix a flash drive not reading issue is by using its Disk Utility Application. Here's how to fix a flash drive that won't read by using the Mac's native utility tool.
1. Firstly, try to connect your USB drive to your Mac the usual way. If you get the following 'The disk you inserted was not readable by your computer' prompt, then click on the 'Initialize' button instead of closing it.
2. This will open the Disk Utility application on your Mac. Otherwise, you can also go to Finder > Applications > Utility to launch the same application as well. Go to its 'View' section and click on 'Show All Devices'. This will let you view details of the connected USB drive even if it can't be read by the computer.
Flash Drive Read Only
3. On the sidebar, you can see a list of all the connected (and the internal) data sources available on Mac. Select the flash drive option that was unreadable on Mac and on the right, click on the 'First Aid' button to diagnose the issue.
4. Confirm your choice to fix pen drive not reading and click on the 'Repair Disk' button. Wait for a while for Mac to troubleshoot the issue and let you notify once it is done.
3. Format the Flash Drive
Most likely, the USB device not reading problem would be fixed by running a first-aid diagnostic on it. Though, if it is corrupted or has an incompatible file system, then you might have to format it altogether. To learn how to fix a flash drive that won't read, you can quickly format it in the following manner.
1. Before you start, make sure that the USB drive is connected properly to the system and that there is no debris in the port.
2. Now, go to Finder > Applications > Utilities and launch the Disk Utility application on your Mac. From the sidebar, select the connected USB drive. If you can't see it, then go to the View option and choose to show all devices.
Vuescan 9 5 45 – scanner software with advanced features. 3. On the right, you can see different options for the disk. Just click on the 'Erase' button here to format the USB drive.
4. As the pop-up window will open, give it a name and select a compatible file system (like exFAT or HFS+). Make sure that the file system is compatible with your Mac before clicking on the 'Erase' button.
Although this would get rid of all the stored data on your USB drive, it will also make it compatible with your Mac, resolving the flash drive not reading issue.
Part 3: Recover Lost Data after Fixing the USB Flash Drive Unreadable Error
While fixing the flash drive not reading issue, a lot of users end up formatting their USB drives. Though, this might lead to the loss of their important files in the process. If this is the case, then consider using a reliable data recovery tool like Wondershare Recoverit. By following a simple click-through process, you can get back all kinds of data from your USB drive.
![Can Can](https://www.imore.com/sites/imore.com/files/styles/large/public/field/image/2016/10/2016-macbook-pro-lite-ports.jpg?itok=S368Tn3z)
Video Tutorial on How to Recover Lost USB Files
It supports every major file system like HFS+, NTFS, exFAT, APFS, etc. as well as numerous data types like photos, videos, audios, documents, and so much more. There is no prior technical knowledge needed to use Recoverit. All you got to do is follow these three simple steps:
Step 1: Connect your USB drive
Connect your flash drive to the system and wait for a while as it would be detected by it. Now, launch Wondershare Recoverit Data Recovery on your system and pick a location to scan from its home. In this case, you need to pick the connected USB drive under the External Devices option.
Step 2: Wait for the scan to be over
Once the process is started, you can simply wait for a few minutes. Although, Recoverit 8.0 also lets us pause or stop the scanning in between, it is recommended to let is complete. You can also preview the extracted results while the data recovery process is going on in the background.
Step 3: Restore your data
That's it! Now, all the extracted data will be listed under different file types and categories. Switch between them from the left panel and preview your files on the right. For instance, you can preview your videos, photos, and documents like Word files, PDFs, etc. In the end, just select the files (or folders) you wish to get back and click on the 'Recover' button. It is recommended to save your files to another secure location and not to the same USB drive that has been formatted.
After reading this informative post on how to read a flash drive or fix the flash drive unreadable problem, you would certainly be able to fix this issue. Though, if you had to format your USB drive unwillingly, then use Recoverit Data Recovery right away. The sooner you use it, the easier it would be to recover lost data from a USB drive. Since it offers a free version for Mac and Windows, you can give it a try without spending a single dime.
USB Solution
- Recover USB Drive
- Format USB Drive
- Fix/Repair USB Drive
- Know USB Drive
There are plenty of annoying things that can happen while using your Macbook, one of which is plugging in a USB hard drive and finding out that you cannot write to it, or copy to and from the external drive.
There isn’t a single solution to all these woes, but here’s a quick guide to addressing these bugbears that involve external hard drive performance and connection to Mac.
File systems: An overview
A file system is a handy tool that allows an OS to read data on any USB drive or hard drive. There are quite a few file systems out there, and the reality is that not every operating system works fine with each one of those systems.
Apple computers use HFS+ file system by default. Windows, on the other hand, uses New Technology File System (NTFS).
Mac users are likely to find FAT32 and exFAT as their best options, and for a good reason. If you’ve ever tried to format a hard drive as NTFS, you have probably come across a handful of trouble in getting it to work with your Mac or Linux. macOS is able to recognize as well as read NTFS drives, but it cannot write to them. NTFS works flawlessly with Windows, but leaves much to be desired with everything else.
Meanwhile, FAT32 and exFAT work with all operating systems just fine. File Allocation Table (FAT) is the oldest of the file systems, hence it can be recognized by every OS out there. Personal computers have seen its evolution from FAT12 to FAT16 to the current FAT32, and then the arrival of exFAT, created with USB drives and external drives in mind.
Your operating system’s primary hard drive should be the best match for that OS, while USB drives and external hard drives should use either FAT32 or exFAT.
FAT32 vs. exFAT
Here are some points of comparison to help you decide on which one to go with:
- Devices supported – FAT32 is the most widely compatible file system, working on any OS as well as media players, devices, and video game consoles. exFAT, in contrast, will work fine on 99 percent of devices, but may encounter an issue on certain media players. Xbox One, for instance, usually runs into issues with exFAT USB drives formatted on a Mac.
- Sizes supported – FAT32 can support files with up to 4 GB in size and can be used as the file system on hard drives that are 8 TB at a maximum. exFAT, however, has no limitations on file sizes as well as hard drive sizes, making it the better option for those who are using a portable drive that stores massive files, such as 3D projects.
- Speed – Generally, exFAT drives are quicker at writing and reading data compared to FAT32 drives. As a rule of thumb, format your drive as exFAT if you are fairly sure that you won’t have a file smaller than 4 GB.
You can easily format a USB drive or external hard drive as exFAT instead of FAT32. macOS users can follow these steps:
- Open Spotlight (Command + Space). Run Disk Utility.
- Select the USB drive in the menu found on the left.
- Click Erase, and then choose exFAT in Format.
External hard drive ‘read only’ issue? Here’s a quick fix
Once you plug in your drive and open Disk Utility, highlight your drive in the sidebar and click Erase, as shown in the instructions above. Your next step, however, can vary depending on what you want to do with the blank drive:
- Portable drive – Are you keen on making a portable drive to use with your Mac and Mac computers alone? Format your drive to HFS with the Mac OS Extended option.
- Time Machine backup – Are you using the drive to back up your Mac with Time Machine? Then format the drive to HFS+, which shows up as Mac OS Extended in the Disk Utility GIU.
- For older devices – In the off chance that you’re using the disk with another device that doesn’t support for exFAT, then select the older FAT option. Usually you should veer away from this option because it limits drive sizes to less than 32 GB.
Now, let’s get to a one-time fix of enabling macOS built in experimental NTFS support. Take note: this method can have serious consequences and result in loss of data on target drive, so skip this fix if you’re writing to important volumes or eyeing a long-term solution.
This fix is based on the fact that sometimes we need to write some files to a drive once, in which case nothing needs to be installed. Mac has built-in support for reading NTFS by default, with the write capability hiding behind a Terminal hack.
Follow these steps:
- Open Terminal. In your editor of choice, open /etc/fstab. If you have no preference, use Nano and type:
nano etc/fstab
- Copy this line into the file:
LABEL=DRIVENAME none ntfs rw,auto,nobrowse
- Replace DRIVENAME with the name of the drive you’d like to access. Save the file by hitting control+o, and then control+x to quit Nano.
- Disconnect and reconnect your drive in order to remount it. Now it’s available in /Volumes. Get here via Finder: in the menu bar, click Go and choose Go to Folder. Enter /Volumes and then click Go.
fstab is a hidden file setting preferences for disks, and can be useful for preventing disk partitions from mounting. In this particular case, it allows you to read-write on a disk that is not writable on default.
If you’re hardly comfortable with Terminal, you can choose a paid option for a pain-free way of working with files. A paid option likely entails less work and, as we mentioned earlier, experimental support isn’t reliable in the long term.
Conclusion
![Mac Usb You Can Only Read Mac Usb You Can Only Read](https://n4.sdlcdn.com/imgs/a/3/j/Apple-Lightning-To-USB-Sync-SDL051998707-1-0491e.jpg)
To summarize, a Mac can read from an NTFS disk, but it cannot write to it without a little work and help from third-party NTFS software. You need to format the drive for use on a Mac.
exFat outperforms Fat32 in most aspects. NTFS is better in nearly all aspects compared to exFAT, but only if you are using a USB drive on Windows computers. If you’re a Mac user, NTFS isn’t good news for you.
Mac Usb You Can Only Read One
Once you’ve solved “read only” external hard drive problems on your Mac, get into the habit of cleaning and optimizing your Mac for top performance using a reliable tool such as Outbyte MacRepair.
Mac External Drive Read Only
Mac users, tell us about your own experience!
If you’re running into errors and your system is suspiciously slow, your computer needs some maintenance work. Download Outbyte PC Repair for Windows, Outbyte Antivirus for Windows, or Outbyte MacRepair for macOS to resolve common computer performance issues. Fix computer troubles by downloading the compatible tool for your device.
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See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy Policy.