---
id: external-drives.drive-shows-in-disk-utility-but-not-finder
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/drive-shows-in-disk-utility-but-not-finder
category: "External drives"
subcategory: "Mounting and drive problems"
question: "Why does my external drive show in Disk Utility but not in Finder?"
alt_questions:
  - "Drive greyed out in Disk Utility"
  - "External drive not mounting Mac"
  - "Disk Utility sees drive but Finder doesn't"
  - "How do I mount an external drive manually?"
  - "volume greyed out disk utility mount button"
  - "drive detected but not mounted macos"
short_answer: "The drive is connected but its volume isn't mounted. In Disk Utility, select the greyed-out volume and click Mount. If that fails, enter the password for an encrypted drive, run First Aid, or check the drive uses a format a Mac can read."
tags: ["mount", "disk utility", "finder"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/my-external-drive-does-not-show-up-on-my-mac", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/how-do-i-run-first-aid-on-an-external-drive", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/my-external-drive-is-not-in-finders-sidebar"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# Why does my external drive show in Disk Utility but not in Finder?

If Disk Utility lists the drive but its volume is greyed out, the drive is connected but the volume isn't **mounted**. Select the greyed-out volume and click **Mount**. If it mounts, it appears in Finder straight away.

If Mount fails:

- **Encrypted volume** — macOS asks for the password; enter it to unlock and mount.
- **File-system errors** — run **First Aid** on the volume, then try Mount again.
- **A format macOS can't read** (for example a Linux drive) — the volume can't be mounted on a Mac at all.

If the volume mounts but still isn't in Finder's sidebar or on the desktop, it's a Finder display setting — see [how to show drives in Finder](https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/my-external-drive-is-not-in-finders-sidebar). For a drive that doesn't appear anywhere, see [my external drive doesn't show up](https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/my-external-drive-does-not-show-up-on-my-mac).