Fixed: PS5 Not Recognizing The External Hard Drive [2023]

Hey there, gamer! Are you having trouble with your PS5 recognizing your external hard drive? Trust me, I know how frustrating it can be when your gaming experience comes to a halt due to technical difficulties. But don’t worry, we’re here to help!

Picture this: You’re in the middle of an intense gaming session and suddenly, your PS5 stops recognizing your external hard drive. You try everything you can think of – unplugging and replugging the drive, restarting the PS5, and even sacrificing a few snacks to the gaming gods, but nothing seems to work.

Well, fear not my friend, because we’ve got you covered. As you probably already know, the PS5 has limited storage, and an external hard drive is essential for saving your precious game data. So, if your PS5 is failing to recognize your external hard drive, it can throw a major wrench in your gaming plans.

But fear not! In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about this pesky issue and provide you with possible solutions to get your gaming experience back on track. So, grab a snack (or sacrifice it to the gaming gods) and let’s dive in!

Key Takeaways

• Make sure to restart your PS5 if it doesn’t recognize an external hard drive.
• Rebuild the PS5 database to fix multiple issues.
• Update the PS5 software if none of the steps work.
• Contact PlayStation Support if you are unable to resolve the issue.

What Are The Causes Of Ps5 Not Recognizing The External Hard Drive?

Now that we’ve established the annoyance of the PS5 not recognizing your external hard drive, let’s dive into the root of the issue. There are a few culprits that may be causing this headache-inducing problem. There may be a fault in the connection between the PS5 and the external drive. Also, your external drive may be damaged. So, here are the most common causes of PS5 not recognizing the external hard drive.

Broken External Hard Drive

The PS5 not recognizing external hard drive error can occur if the external hard drive malfunctions. The hard drive may be damaged if it is old. Otherwise, you might have brought a defective piece. If this is the cause of the issue, it can only be fixed by repairing the external hard drive or purchasing a new one. 

A Faulty Connection Between USB And Ps5

A faulty connection between USB and PS5 can also cause the “PS5 not recognizing the external hard drive” error. There are several reasons for a faulty connection between USB and PS5. 

Firstly, your PS5’s USB server may be damaged. It can also malfunction due to exposure to dust. Thus, if any external device tries to connect with your PS5 through the USB server, it will not work. 

Secondly, the USB cable that connects the external hard drive and the PS5 may be damaged. The USB-SATA adapter cable may also be defective. Lastly, some corruption in your PC can also disrupt the connection between your PS5 and the USB. 

Motherboard Issue

Finally, you might face the “PS5 not recognizing external hard drive” issue due to a damaged motherboard. Though rare, there can be a hardware breakdown in the motherboard. And if that is the case, your only option will be to repair the motherboard. Otherwise, you might have to let go of your PS5.

How To Fix Ps5 Not Recognizing The External Hard Drive? 

Okay, now it’s time to get down to the nitty-gritty and fix this pesky problem! There are numerous ways to fix the “PS5 not recognizing the external hard drive” issue. All the steps are easy, and the issue would get fixed in no time. We know that you’re itching to get back to your game, so let’s dive into the solutions to the “PS5 not recognizing the external hard drive” issue.

Scan The External Hard Drive

Before you move on to solutions to fix the “PS5 not recognizing external hard drive” issue, there is one thing you need to do first. Scan the external hard drive to see if it is working or not. It is an important step because if the external hard drive is defective, you would need to repair or change it. 

So, you can check the external hard drive by scanning your hard drive with any third-party app like HDDScan or GSmartControl. After scanning, if the external hard drive is working, connect your PS5 to your PC to check the health of your PS5’s hard disk. If the hard disk is not recognized by your PC in the “My PC” section, there is something wrong with your PS5’s hard disk. However, if the hard disk gets recognized, move on to the next step.

Check USB Cable

The external hard drive connects to your PS5 through a USB cable. So, you need to check your USB cable if everything is fine with the external hard drive and the PS5’s hard disk. 

You should be able to connect the external hard drive to the PS5 if you are using the recommended USB port. However, the external hard drive won’t connect if you are using a different USB port. For example, if you use USB-B instead of the recommended USB-A to connect the external hard drive, it will not work. Thus, always check the USB cable’s compatibility with the external hard drive.

In addition, you also cannot use a third-party USB docking station instead of a USB cable. It is because the external hard drive is not compatible with a USB docking station. If the USB cable checks out, go to the next step.

Install The Hard Drive Correctly

Installing the external hard drive correctly is another simple yet important step you should focus on. It is necessary to be swift while installing the external hard drive in the PS5. Thus, follow these instructions to install the external hard drive quickly. 

1. The first step is to insert the USB port on your PS5. Make sure to press the USB port tightly while inserting. 

2.  After inserting the USB port, quickly shift to your PS5 monitor. You will receive a notification on the monitor screen.

3. Lastly, open the notification and format the external hard drive. The PS5 should recognize the external hard drive after this step. However, if it still fails to recognize the external hard drive, shift to the next step.

Restart PS5

If the issue is still not fixed after performing the aforementioned steps,  restart your PS5. It is easy to restart your PS5. You just need to follow these simple instructions.

1. Firstly, check whether your PS5 console is connected to a PS5 controller. After you are sure they are connected, click the PlayStation button on the controller. The Control Center will appear on the screen. 

2.  In the Control Center, click on the Power icon. A list of three options will pop up on the screen.

3.  Select Restart from the list. Your PS5 will automatically restart after this step. Check if the “PS5 not recognizing the external hard drive” issue persists. Move on to the next step if the issue still exists

Rebuild The PS5 Database

You can also rebuild your PS5 database if the “PS5 not recognizing the external hard drive” issue persists. Once you use the Rebuild Database feature, a complete scan of your PS5 internal storage will take place, and a new database will be built after the scan. This rebuild of the database can fix multiple issues, including the PS5 not recognizing the external hard drive.  

So, here are the instructions to rebuild your PS5 database.

1.  The first step is to press the power button of your PS5. If you keep pressing the power button for at least seven seconds, the PS5 will beep twice and will get switched off.

2.  After the PS5 is switched off, connect a DualSense controller to your PS5 with the help of a USB cable. Once connected, press the “PS” button on the controller.

3.  Your PS5 will enter safe mode after you press the “PS” button. Click the “Rebuild Database ” option from the screen once your PS5 enters safe mode. Your PS5 database will be rebuilt after this step.

Update The Software Of Your Ps5

If none of the steps have worked, your PS5 system might be outdated. So, your last option is to update the PS5 software. You can update the software by following these simple instructions.

1.  Firstly, connect your PS5 to the internet. Once the connection is established, go to the PS5 home screen.

2. Go to Settings by clicking the briefcase-like option on the home screen. Find System Software Update in the Settings menu and click on it. 

3.  If there are any updates available, click Next. You will get the “Update” option after clicking Next. Select the “Update” option to download the new system file.

4.  Finally, go to the Downloads section and find the “update” file. Open the file and install the updated software. 

Restart your PS5 after you have updated the software. Once the PS5 turns back on, install the external hard drive again. This time the PS5 not recognizing the external hard drive issue should be fixed.

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