{"id":"finder-location.my-external-drive-is-not-in-finders-sidebar","url":"/faq/finder-location/my-external-drive-is-not-in-finders-sidebar","category":{"id":"finder-location","title":"Finding things in Finder"},"subcategory":{"id":"drive-disconnected","title":"When the drive isn't connected"},"question":"My external drive is connected but doesn't appear in Finder's sidebar or on the Desktop — why?","alt_questions":["External SSD not showing in Finder","Show external disks in Finder sidebar","external drive not on desktop Mac","Where is my external drive in Finder?","Finder doesn't list my fast drive"],"short_answer":"Usually a Finder setting: in Finder → Settings, tick External disks on the Sidebar tab (and on the General tab for the Desktop). If it's still missing, check Disk Utility, try another cable, or click Remount fast drive.","answer_markdown":"Usually it's a Finder setting. Open Finder, choose **Finder → Settings**, then:\n\n- **Sidebar** tab: tick **External disks** under Locations.\n- **General** tab: tick **External disks** to show it on the Desktop.\n\nIf it's still missing, the drive may not be mounted. Open **Disk Utility** to see whether macOS recognises it, try another cable or port, or click **Remount fast drive** in Storage Studio's popover. **Inspect fast drive** confirms whether Storage Studio sees it as your prepared drive.\n\nYou can always reach it from Storage Studio with **Show in Finder** once it's mounted.","answer_html":"

Usually it's a Finder setting. Open Finder, choose Finder → Settings, then:

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If it's still missing, the drive may not be mounted. Open Disk Utility to see whether macOS recognises it, try another cable or port, or click Remount fast drive in Storage Studio's popover. Inspect fast drive confirms whether Storage Studio sees it as your prepared drive.

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You can always reach it from Storage Studio with Show in Finder once it's mounted.

","answer_text":"Usually it's a Finder setting. Open Finder, choose Finder → Settings, then:\n\n- Sidebar tab: tick External disks under Locations.\n- General tab: tick External disks to show it on the Desktop.\n\nIf it's still missing, the drive may not be mounted. Open Disk Utility to see whether macOS recognises it, try another cable or port, or click Remount fast drive in Storage Studio's popover. Inspect fast drive confirms whether Storage Studio sees it as your prepared drive.\n\nYou can always reach it from Storage Studio with Show in Finder once it's mounted.","tags":["finder settings","external drive","sidebar"],"related":[{"id":"finder-location.why-is-show-in-finder-greyed-out","question":"Why is Show in Finder greyed out in Storage Studio?","url":"/faq/finder-location/why-is-show-in-finder-greyed-out"},{"id":"finder-location.what-happens-to-shortcuts-when-the-drive-is-unplugged","question":"What do moved files look like in Finder when my external drive is unplugged?","url":"/faq/finder-location/what-happens-to-shortcuts-when-the-drive-is-unplugged"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"My external drive is connected but doesn't appear in Finder's sidebar or on the Desktop — why? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Usually a Finder setting: in Finder → Settings, tick External disks on the Sidebar tab (and on the General tab for the Desktop). If it's still missing, check Disk Utility, try another cable, or click Remount fast drive.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Finding things in Finder","path":"/faq/finder-location/"},{"name":"My external drive is connected but doesn't appear in Finder's sidebar or on the Desktop — why?","path":"/faq/finder-location/my-external-drive-is-not-in-finders-sidebar"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/my-external-drive-is-not-in-finders-sidebar","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"My external drive is connected but doesn't appear in Finder's sidebar or on the Desktop — why?","alternateName":["External SSD not showing in Finder","Show external disks in Finder sidebar","external drive not on desktop Mac","Where is my external drive in Finder?","Finder doesn't list my fast drive"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Usually it's a Finder setting. Open Finder, choose Finder → Settings, then:\n\n- Sidebar tab: tick External disks under Locations.\n- General tab: tick External disks to show it on the Desktop.\n\nIf it's still missing, the drive may not be mounted. Open Disk Utility to see whether macOS recognises it, try another cable or port, or click Remount fast drive in Storage Studio's popover. Inspect fast drive confirms whether Storage Studio sees it as your prepared drive.\n\nYou can always reach it from Storage Studio with Show in Finder once it's mounted.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/finder-location/my-external-drive-is-not-in-finders-sidebar"}}]},"fragment":"
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Finding things in Finder · When the drive isn't connected

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My external drive is connected but doesn't appear in Finder's sidebar or on the Desktop — why?

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Short answer: Usually a Finder setting: in Finder → Settings, tick External disks on the Sidebar tab (and on the General tab for the Desktop). If it's still missing, check Disk Utility, try another cable, or click Remount fast drive.

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Usually it's a Finder setting. Open Finder, choose Finder → Settings, then:

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  • Sidebar tab: tick External disks under Locations.
  • General tab: tick External disks to show it on the Desktop.
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If it's still missing, the drive may not be mounted. Open Disk Utility to see whether macOS recognises it, try another cable or port, or click Remount fast drive in Storage Studio's popover. Inspect fast drive confirms whether Storage Studio sees it as your prepared drive.

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You can always reach it from Storage Studio with Show in Finder once it's mounted.

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Last reviewed

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Related questions

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