5 Proven Tips to Resolve Files Disappeared from External Hard Drive

Part 1. Reasons Behind My Files Disappeared from External Hard Drive

Before troubleshooting the files disappearing from the external hard driveissue, let’s explore the common reasons why files vanish from your drive. Knowing the root causes can help you better resolve the problem.

There are several possible reasons why your files have disappeared from the external hard drive. Accidental deletion or formatting is a big reason for the data missing. In many cases, you just accidentally deleted files or formatted the drive without realizing it.

File system corruption is another big cause of the files not showing up on your external drive. Due to your improper ejection, sudden power outages, and other wrong operations, the file system gets corrupted. Your files stored in the external hard drive are missing.

Sometimes, you can’t access the external hard drive files due to a faulty USB cable, incompatible ports, or outdated drivers. In such cases, your computer can’t detect or load your portable drive properly. Some files and folders may seem missing because the drive isn’t being recognized fully. What’s more, malware or virus attacks, hidden files or folders, and physical damage will lead to external hard drive files not showing up.

Part 2. How to Fix the Files Disappeared from External Hard Drive Issue

To recover your disappeared files from an external hard drive, you should first check and ensure the drive is connected properly. You can test it on a different USB port or computer. Moreover, try restarting your computer and re-connecting the external drive to check if these disappeared files are back. If your files are still missing, take the five solutions below to resolve the issue.

Update Drivers to Fix Files Disappeared from External Hard Drive

To update USB drivers on a Windows computer, go to Device Manager and then start updating. To ensure all drivers on your Mac are up to date, you should go to System Preferences and update macOS to the latest version.

View Hidden Files on External Hard Drive

Open File Explorer on your PC and go to the external hard drive. Go to the top View tab and then tick the Hidden items checkbox. That will display your hidden files and folders.

To view hidden files on a Mac, you can open Finder, click the external drive on the left, and then press the Command + Shift + . keys at the same time. This keyboard shortcut will enable the visibility of hidden files and folders.

Repair File System Errors to Resolve Files Are Missing on External Hard Drive

If your files are not showing up after connecting the external hard drive to a Windows PC, you can run Command Prompt as administrator and use CHKDSK to fix system errors.

To scan and fix logical errors on your Mac, you can rely on the First Aid in Disk Utility. Highlight the external drive and click First Aid to repair related permissions and directory issues.

Restore Disappeared Files from Backup

If you have backed up your external drive data to another local device or a cloud storage Google Drive or Backblaze, you can try searching for these missing files from there.

Find Missing Files from External Hard Drive Using Data Recovery Software

If your files are accidentally deleted or the external hard drive is formatted, you can rely on specialized recovery software to scan your drive and recover lost data. Popular tools include Aiseesoft Data Recovery, Recuva, Disk Drill, PhotoRec, and EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard. Select a desired recovery tool, install it on a different drive, and then use it to search for these disappeared files from the external device.

You can use the reliable Aiseesoft Data Recovery to rescue your missing files from the external hard drive. It supports the recovery of all commonly used data, including photos, videos, emails, documents, and more. Better than other recovery tools, it allows you to recover lost files from corrupted drives.

Part 3. FAQs of Files Disappeared from External Hard Drive