Mount External Hard Drive on Mac Using Terminal: Methods & Tips

Mounting an external hard drive on a Mac using the Terminal can be a real lifesaver, especially when the drive won’t mount through the usual means. This guide offers a detailed overview on how to do so, highlighting multiple methods for different scenarios. Whether you’re dealing with disk permission issues, file system errors, or other complications, you’ll find step-by-step instructions to get your external hard drive mounted successfully. Fix issues like an external hard drive won’t mount and learn the best practices for maintaining your external storage devices.

Common Scenarios:

Mounting Issues After macOS Update 📈

After updating macOS, you may notice that your external hard drive is no longer accessible.
This often occurs due to compatibility issues between the new macOS version and the external drive’s file system.
To resolve this problem, you often need to use Terminal commands to manually mount the drive.

External Drive Not Showing Up in Finder 🗂

Sometimes, your external hard drive may not appear in Finder despite being physically connected to your Mac.
This can be due to various reasons such as disk permissions errors or corrupted file system.
Using Terminal can help you identify and fix the root cause, enabling the drive to show up in Finder again.

Drive Ejects Unexpectedly 🔌

It’s frustrating when your external hard drive ejects itself unexpectedly.
Such occurrences can result from loose connections or power interruptions, but when hardware isn’t the issue, software fixes may involve using Terminal commands.
You can re-mount the drive and ensure it stays connected using various Terminal commands like ‘diskutil’ and ‘fsck’.

Step-by-Step Guide. How To Mount External Hard Drive Mac With Terminal:

Method 1: Using Diskutil Command 🌐

Open the Terminal application on your Mac.
Type ‘diskutil list’ and press Enter to view all connected drives.
Identify your external hard drive from the list, noting its identifier (e.g., /dev/disk2).
Type ‘diskutil mount /dev/disk2’ and press Enter to mount the drive.
If successful, you’ll see a message indicating the drive has been mounted.

Note: The identifier for your drive will differ; replace /dev/disk2 with your actual drive identifier.

Conclusion: Using the ‘diskutil’ command is one of the most straightforward ways to manually mount an external hard drive via Terminal.

Method 2: Repairing Disk Permissions with Disk Utility 🛠

Open Terminal and type ‘diskutil list’ to identify your hard drive.
Note the drive identifier, then type ‘diskutil repairPermissions /dev/disk2’ and press Enter.
Wait for the process to complete; it will check and repair any disk permission issues.
Once completed, type ‘diskutil mount /dev/disk2’ to mount the drive.
Check in Finder to confirm the drive is now accessible.

Note: This method can be particularly useful for drives that aren’t mounting due to permission errors.

Conclusion: Repairing disk permissions can often resolve issues preventing a drive from mounting, making this a particularly useful method.

Method 3: Using Fsck Command to Check and Repair Filesystem ⚙

Launch the Terminal application.
Type ‘diskutil list’ and find the identifier of your external drive.
Next, type ‘sudo fsck_hfs -fy /dev/disk2’ and press Enter (substitute /dev/disk2 with your drive’s identifier).
The ‘fsck’ command will check and attempt to repair any issues with the file system.
Once complete, type ‘diskutil mount /dev/disk2’ to mount the drive.

Note: The ‘fsck’ command is more advanced and should be used with caution, as it directly modifies the file system.

Conclusion: The ‘fsck’ command can be an effective solution to repair filesystem-related issues preventing a drive from mounting.

Method 4: Checking Disk Status with Diskutil Info 📝

Open Terminal and type ‘diskutil list’ to see all connected drives.
Identify your external hard drive from the list.
Type ‘diskutil info /dev/disk2’ (replace /dev/disk2 with your drive’s identifier) and press Enter.
This provides detailed information about the drive, including its status and any potential issues.
Use this information to troubleshoot and follow up with appropriate mount commands.

Note: This command doesn’t mount the drive but provides detailed status information that can be invaluable for troubleshooting.

Conclusion: ‘diskutil info’ can offer good insights into what might be causing your drive not to mount, aiding in more effective troubleshooting.

Method 5: Using Terminal to Force Mount 📦

Open Terminal.
Type ‘sudo mkdir /Volumes/External’ to create a mount point.
Next, type ‘sudo mount -t hfs /dev/disk2 /Volumes/External’ (replace /dev/disk2 with your drive’s identifier) and press Enter.
This forces the system to mount the drive at the specified mount point.
Check if the new mount point now appears in Finder.

Note: Forcing a mount can sometimes present risks if the file system is corrupted, so proceed with caution.

Conclusion: This method is a last-resort option when other methods don’t work but can be highly effective in certain scenarios.

Method 6: Using Gpt Command to Manipulate Partition Tables 🗄

Launch Terminal.
Type ‘diskutil list’ and identify your external hard drive’s identifier.
Next, type ‘sudo gpt recover /dev/disk2’ and press Enter (replace /dev/disk2 with your drive’s identifier).
This command attempts to recover the partition table, which could resolve mounting issues.
Afterward, use ‘diskutil mount /dev/disk2’ to mount the drive.

Note: Be cautious, as manipulating partition tables carries potential risks.

Conclusion: The ‘gpt’ command is useful for recovering corrupted partition tables, thus enabling the drive to be mounted.

Method 7: Booting into Recovery Mode and Using Terminal 🚀

Restart your Mac and hold Command + R to boot into Recovery Mode.
From the Recovery menu, open Terminal.
Type ‘diskutil list’ to identify your external hard drive.
Use ‘diskutil mount /dev/disk2’ (replace /dev/disk2 with your drive’s identifier) to attempt to mount the drive in Recovery Mode.
Restart your Mac normally and check if the drive is accessible.

Note: This method can be particularly effective for issues caused by system-level problems, allowing you to fix things from a recovery environment.

Conclusion: Recovery Mode provides a powerful environment to fix drive mounting issues that may not resolve within the standard macOS environment.

Precautions and Tips:

Pro Tips for Smooth External Hard Drive Usage 🖥

Always ensure your external hard drive is properly ejected before unplugging to avoid file system corruption.
Regularly update your macOS to benefit from the latest security and compatibility updates.
Consider using external drives with journaling enabled for better data integrity.
Invest in a high-quality USB or Thunderbolt cable to avoid connectivity issues.
Regularly back up your data to avoid potential data loss.

Additional FAQ

When dealing with external drives, it’s common to face issues that require deeper understanding and additional resources. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions that might help:

Why isn’t my external hard drive showing up on my Mac? This can happen for various reasons such as connection issues, corrupted file systems, or improper ejection of the drive. It’s crucial to follow steps methodically for accurate diagnosis and fix. You can find additional troubleshooting tips at Apple Support.

Can Terminal commands cause data loss? Generally, Terminal commands that only mount or check the drive shouldn’t result in data loss. However, commands that modify the file system or partition tables should be used cautiously. Always back up your data before performing such operations. Read more about safe practices at HowToGeek.

What if my external drive only mounts in read-only mode? This could be due to file system incompatibility or permissions issues. You might need to reformat the drive to a compatible file system, or adjust permissions using Terminal commands. More details can be found at MacWorld.

How can I prevent my external drive from ejecting unexpectedly? Ensure that you use high-quality cables and avoid using USB hubs that could be underpowered. Additionally, ensure the drive isn’t set to sleep mode when not in use. Full guidelines can be accessed at Apple Discussions.

Conclusion:

Mounting an external hard drive on a Mac using Terminal may initially seem daunting, but the steps outlined above can make the process straightforward. Whether you’re addressing disk permission issues, file system errors, or seeking to force mount a drive, this guide provides multiple methods to tackle these problems effectively. For ongoing issues, refer to Apple Support and other high-authority sources to ensure you’re using the most up-to-date methods and precautions. Remember, regular maintenance and proper ejection practices can go a long way in preventing external drive issues.

FAQ

How can you identify a connected external hard drive on a Mac using Terminal?

Open Terminal and type diskutil list. This command will display a list of all connected drives, including their identifiers and partitions.

What is the command to mount an external hard drive using Terminal?

Use the command diskutil mount /dev/diskX, replacing diskX with the identifier of your external hard drive.

How do you find out if an external hard drive is already mounted?

Type diskutil info /dev/diskX in Terminal, replacing diskX with your drive's identifier. It provides details including mount status.

Can you use Terminal to unmount an external hard drive?

Yes, use diskutil unmount /dev/diskX, replacing diskX with the identifier of your external hard drive.

How do you mount an external hard drive by its volume name using Terminal?

Use the command diskutil mountVolume VolumeName, replacing VolumeName with your drive's volume name.

What should you do if the external hard drive is not mounting automatically?

First, try the command sudo diskutil mountDisk /dev/diskX, replacing diskX with your drive identifier. This could require an administrator password.

How do you mount an external drive with specific file system options via Terminal?

Use the command mount -t FILESYSTEM /dev/diskX /PATH/TO/MOUNT, replacing Filesystem, diskX, and /path/to/mount with respective details.

What's a quick way to verify the mount point of an external drive?

Type df -h in Terminal. This command shows mounted volumes and their respective mount points.

How do you modify permissions for an external hard drive in Terminal?

Change permissions using sudo chmod -R 755 /Volumes/VolumeName, replacing VolumeName with the name of your drive.

Can you use Terminal to repair a problematic external drive?

Yes, use diskutil repairDisk /dev/diskX, replacing diskX with your drive identifier. It will attempt to fix any issues with the drive.