PS5 External Hard Drive to Windows 11 Not Showing up? FIXED!

Part 1: Why My PS5 External Hard Drive Is Not Showing Up in Windows 11?

First, we need to know why your PS5 external hard drive not showing up after a Windows 11 update. There are a few reasons that could be behind this disappearing act. It could be:

1. A loose cable (I can't tell you how many times I've facepalmed after realizing that was the issue).
2. Driver issues.
3. Partition errors.
4. Outdated Windows.
5. File system compatibility problems.
6. Hardware malfunction.

Fortunately, do not worry, as you are in the right place. We will walk you through all the methods we have tried, from the quick and easy fixes to the more advanced stuff. By the time we're done, you'll be a pro at troubleshooting this issue. And who knows? You might save a fellow gamer in the future.

So, grab a drink, relax, and let's dive in. Ready to get started? Let's roll.

Part 2: How to Fix PS5 External Hard Drive Not Showing Up in File Explorer

In most cases, your PS5 external hard drive may be detected but not show up in Windows 11 File Explorer. Here are some methods to resolve this issue:

• Method 1: Connect to Another USB Port or Replace the USB Cable
• Method 2: Run Hardware and Devices Troubleshoot
• Method 3: Initialize the PS5 External Hard Drive
• Method 4: Assign a Letter to the PS5 External Hard Drive
• Method 5: Configure a New Partition for the PS5 External Hard Drive
• Method 6: Format the PS5 External Hard Drive as NTFS or exFAT

Method 1: Connect to Another USB Port or Replace the USB Cable

If your PS5 external hard drive is not showing up on your PC, a simple fix might be to try a different USB port or cable:

1. Unplug your external hard drive.

2. Connect your drive to a different USB port.

3. If possible, try using a different USB cable to rule out cable issues.

4. Check if the drive appears in File Explorer.

Method 2: Run Hardware and Devices Troubleshoot

Windows has built-in troubleshooters that can help identify and fix common issues:

1. Press Win + I to open Settings.

2. Go to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.

3. Find Hardware and Devices and click Run.

4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the troubleshooting process.

Method 3: Initialize the PS5 External Hard Drive

If your drive isn't initialized, it won't show up in File Explorer as it cannot be recognized by Disk Management. Here are steps to initialize the PS5 external hard drive.

1. Right-click on the Start button and select Disk Management.

2. Locate your PS5 external hard drive (it may show as Unknown or Not Initialized).

3. Right-click on the drive and select Initialize Disk.

4. Choose GPT (GUID Partition Table) for drives larger than 2TB or MBR (Master Boot Record) for smaller drives.

5. Click OK to initialize the disk.

Method 4: Assign a Letter to the PS5 External Hard Drive

Sometimes, Windows might not assign a drive letter automatically, resulting in the PS5 external hard drive to Windows 11 not showing up:

1. Open Disk Management as described in Method 3.

2. Right-click on your PS5 external hard drive's volume.

3. Select Change Drive Letter and Paths.

4. Click Add and assign an available drive letter.

5. Click OK to confirm.

Method 5: Configure a New Partition for the PS5 External Hard Drive

If your drive lacks a partition, you must create one. Otherwise, even if initialized, the PS5 external hard drive may still not showing up in Windows 11.

1. In Disk Management, right-click on the unallocated space of your PS5 external hard drive.

2. Select New Simple Volume.

3. Follow the wizard to specify volume size, assign a drive letter, and format the partition.

Method 6: Format the PS5 External Hard Drive as NTFS or exFAT

If you’ve exhausted all methods above, but the PS5 external hard drive still be invisible, consider formatting your drive will resolve the issue:

1. Proceed to your File Explorer and right-click on your PS5 external hard drive.

2. Select Format.

3. Choose NTFS for use with Windows only or exFAT for compatibility with both Windows and PS5.

4. Click Start to begin formatting (Note: This will erase all data on the drive).

Part 3: How to Fix PS5 External Hard Drive Not Showing Up in the Disk Management

PS5 external hard drive is not showing up in Disk Management but in the File Explorer? This is a more unusual situation because Disk Management usually detects all connected external devices. Possible reasons for this situation include system anomalies, hard disk driver problems, etc. The following are five solutions to address the issue:

• Method 1: Restart the PC
• Method 2: Update or Reinstall Windows 11 Drivers
• Method 3: Repair System Files via SFC Command
• Method 4: Run Disk Check Tool
• Method 5: Check Disk Problem from Windows Safe Mode

Method 1: Restart the PC

A simple restart can often resolve detection issues:

1. Click the Start button and select Power.

2. Choose Restart.

3. Once your PC has restarted, check if the PS5 external hard drive appears in Disk Management.

Method 2: Update or Reinstall Windows 11 Drivers

The disk driver may be corrupt or incompatible, causing Disk Management to fail to detect the device.

1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.

2. Expand Disk drives and Universal Serial Bus controllers.

3. Right-click on each item and select Update driver.

4. If the issue of PS5 external hard drive not showing up on PC persists after updating, try uninstalling and reinstalling the drivers.

Method 3: Repair System Files via SFC Command

In addition, corrupted system files can interfere with hard drive detection, causing the PS5 external hard drive to not show up in Disk Management. Try running the SFC utility to repair the system files.

1. Press Win + X and select Windows Terminal (Admin).

2. Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.

3. Wait for the process to complete and restart your PC.

Method 4: Run Disk Check Tool

The Disk Check tool can identify and fix disk-related issues and there is a chance that the PS5 external hard drive will appear in Disk Management.

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.

2. Type chkdsk /r and press Enter.

3. If you are prompted to schedule a check on the next restart, type Y and restart your PC.

Method 5: Check Disk Problem from Windows Safe Mode

Safe mode can help isolate driver or software conflicts. Use this method as a last resort to fix a PS5 external hard drive that doesn’t show up on PC, as it requires a bit of skill.

1. Press Win + I, go to System > Recovery.

2. Under Advanced startup, click Restart now.

3. Click on Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.

4. Press 4 to start in Safe Mode.

5. Check if the drive is detected in Safe Mode.

Part 4: FAQs on PS5 External Hard Drive Not Showing Up in Windows 11

Q1: Why is the PS5 external hard drive light on but not showing up?

A: This could be due to power issues, driver problems, or a faulty USB connection. Try checking with different USB ports and cables.

Q2: Why is PS5 not recognizing an external hard drive?

A: The PS5 might only recognize the drive if it's formatted correctly or if it is within the supported capacity. Ensure your drive is formatted as exFAT and doesn't exceed 8TB.

Q3: Why is my PS5 extended storage not showing up?

A: This may be due to improper formatting, connection issues, or the drive not meeting PS5 requirements. Try reconnecting the drive and formatting it using the PS5 system.

Q4: Why is Seagate external hard drive PS5 not working?

A: Seagate drives may only work if they are compatible with PS5 or if they are formatted correctly. Ensure your Seagate drive meets PS5 requirements, and try formatting it through the PS5 system.

Bonus: How to bypass Admin password on Windows 11

For the bonus now, you have probably lost your admin password on Windows 11s, and I can’t imagine the hustle you went through to recover it. Well, you are not alone. I once encountered a brawl, and it was hectic. However, I managed to bypass the Admin password with PassFab 4Winkey dedicated software solution designed to help users reset the window login. With this tool, you will be able to regain your Windows 11 access without losing data or even reinstalling the operating system.

Conclusion

Dealing with a PS5 external hard drive to Windows 11 not showing up can be frustrating, but with these methods, you should be able to resolve the issue. Remember to always back up your data before attempting any formatting or partitioning operations. If none of these solutions work, your drive may have hardware issues, and you might need to consider professional data recovery services or replacing the drive.

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