APFS External Drive Not Mounting? Fixes on Mac

Are you having trouble installing or seeing the apfs external drive not mounting in Sequoia? This issue can be easily resolved with a few fixes. Continue reading!

When your APFS external drive won't mount on your Mac, it can be frustrating, especially if you need urgent access to your files. This issue may arise due to file system corruption, connection errors, or macOS glitches. While some are simple to fix, others need quick action to protect your data.

Below, we'll guide you through three proven solutions to fix an unmountable APFS external drive while ensuring your data remains safe.

Recover Data from an Unmountable APFS Drive Using Software

Reformatting the external hard drive may be your option. However, it removes all disk data. Before proceeding, restore essential files on your Mac using reliable data recovery software. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac can help recover files before attempting repairs. 

Its defining characteristics are its strength in restoring deleted files on Macs and ease of use. It retrieves data from disks that have been formatted, damaged, or rendered inaccessible. It can recover images, videos, documents, and more, and supports the APFS, HFS+, exFAT, and FAT32 file systems. Before starting the recovery process, you may see recovered files. You can confidently reformat the drive once your data has been recovered.

Steps to Recover Data from an Unmountable APFS Drive:

Step 1. Select the drive to be scanned

In the main EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard window, there will be a list of the drives connected to your Mac. Select the drive you need to recover lost/deleted files from, and click the "Search for lost files" button.

Step 2. Select your lost data/files

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac will immediately scan your selected disk volume and display the scanning results on the left pane. You can sort the results to find the wanted files if you are looking for certain files.

Step 3. Recover lost/deleted data

Once you have found the desired files, preview the files and then click "Recover" to begin the recovery of your deleted/lost Mac files.

Many Mac users have proven the efficacy of the tool. If you are interested in resolving the Mac files recovery issue, share it on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media platforms!

3 Fixes for APFS External Drive Not Mounting on Mac

Since we have files with the assistance of EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac, now we can concentrate on the methods to repair the unmounted APFS container.

Solution 1. Restart Your Mac and Reconnect the Drive

Sometimes, a simple "restart" can resolve temporary macOS glitches preventing the drive from mounting.

• 1. Unplug the external drive.
• 2. Click "Apple Menu" > "Restart".
• 3. Reconnect the drive after reboot - check if it mounts.

Solution 2. Run First Aid in Disk Utility

macOS includes "First Aid", a built-in tool to repair disk errors.

• 1. Go to "Finder" > "Applications" > "Utilities" > "Disk Utility".
• 2. Select the "unmounted APFS drive" (if not visible, click "View" > "Show All Devices").
• 3. Click "First Aid" > "Run" and wait for repairs.

Solution 3. Reformat the APFS Drive

If the drive remains unmountable due to "severe corruption", reformatting may be necessary, but this erases all data.

1. Open "Disk Utility" and select the unmounted APFS drive.
2. Click "Erase", choose "APFS" as the new format, then confirm.
3. "Reinstall macOS" if needed.

Conclusion

If your APFS external drive won't mount, try:

• ✅ Restarting your Mac & reconnecting the drive
• ✅ Running First Aid in Disk Utility
• ✅ Reformatting (after data recovery, if necessary)

For critical data recovery, use EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard before attempting fixes.

FAQs: APFS Drive Not Mounting on Mac

Here are questions people also ask when they search for how to fix an internal hard drive not mounting problem; take a look.

1. How do I force an APFS drive to mount on Mac?

• Open "Disk Utility" > Select the drive > Click "Mount".
• If the drive isn't visible, enable "Show All Devices" in Disk Utility.

2. Why is my Mac not detecting my APFS external drive?

Possible causes:

• Corrupted file system
• Faulty USB cable/port
• Incompatible formatting (e.g., NTFS)
• Physical drive failure

3. Can I recover data from an unmountable APFS drive?

Use data recovery software (like EaseUS) before attempting repairs to avoid permanent data loss.

By following these steps, you can fix an unmountable APFS drive and recover your files safely. Let us know if you need further assistance!