Hard drive not being detected

Hello, My name is Jesse. I'm an Independent Advisor and a member of the Microsoft community and I'd love to assist you today.

- Open Windows 10 File Explorer (Windows + E), locate and right-click on the USB drive, select "Format".

- Set the NTFS as the target file system, tick "Quick Format" and click "Start" to start the formatting.

- When the process completes, click "OK" to confirm.

Afterwards try to use it again.

Hi

When I added an external hard drive to my console the drive format was pretty quick.

If you have run through all of the steps listed below reference the external hard drive nor being detected and it is still not being detected then I would try to obtain a replacement external hard drive and hopefully this one should work correctly.

https://support.xbox.com/games/troubleshooting/console-doesnt-detect-external-storage

Hi!

As you have already been told, the HDD must be USB 3.0 (possibly formatted in NTFS). If you try to connect it to your PC, does the HDD work properly? Have you tried connecting it to different USB ports on the console?

Is your hard drive a usb 3.0 ?

Hi Sam,

Exactly what Xbox console are you experiencing this issue on - Xbox One or Series X|S?

First restart your console. Be sure to wait at least 10-15 seconds before reconnecting the power to completely reset the power supply then see if the hard drive is detected on startup.

Try a different USB cable. These external hard drives use a standard USB 3.0 Type A to Micro B cable, and replacements can be purchased from retailers such as Amazon.

Try another USB port on the console as the port could’ve been damaged when the device was disconnected, and confirm it’s securely connected. Xbox consoles have three USB 3.0 ports.

Using the USB ports on your Xbox console | Xbox Support

As the Seagate 8TB external storage device also requires an external power supply, try another power cable and plug this directly into the wall outlet if able to.

Refer to:

Power Adapter Specifications for Seagate Products | Seagate Support

Do you happen to have a PC to see if the hard drive is detected there? If it’s a Windows PC, you'll need to search in Disk Management for the drive as it won't appear in File Explorer because it’s formatted for use on an Xbox console. If the hard drive is recognised without problems on a PC, then you’ll most likely need to format the drive I’m afraid.

Having a PC would be ideal to identify and pinpoint the issue on the storage device, hopefully resolving any errors. If you don’t have a PC, perhaps ask a friend or family member to use their PC or go to somewhere with access to one if possible.

You mentioned this is a Seagate storage device, so if you do have access to a PC, then I’d recommend installing SeaTools to troubleshoot the drive and perform diagnostic tests. There are app alternatives for Mac and Linux, but I believe the official SeaTools app works best on Windows.

How to use SeaTools for Windows | Seagate Support

Seagate Software Downloads | Seagate Support

If the issue persists and the above troubleshooting hasn’t resolved this, then it’s possible there’s a fault with the hard drive. If this is the case, then it would need to be replaced. Depending on where you purchased the device from, you may be able to get a repair or replacement through the warranty from the retailer. It would be best to request a replacement directly through Seagate though.

Warranty and Replacements | Seagate Support

Verify Warranty and Submit Return | Seagate Support

Warranty can vary depending on your country/region.

If you format the drive, or decide to order a replacement, or purchase a new one, then unfortunately you’ll need to install all the games again. Your game saves and progress won’t be affected though and will still be there. Game saves are synced to your Xbox profile over the cloud, a regular connection to Xbox Live is required to keep your data in sync. This is confirmed here:

Xbox cloud game saves FAQ | Xbox Support

I had the same problem with a Seagate external storage device on my Xbox One. I only had the drive for about a year and it failed so I had to order a replacement from Seagate. In my experience, the drives aren’t the most reliable, and I’ve seen many reports and complaints on this. I’d consider purchasing a drive from another brand such as WD, Toshiba, or Samsung. There’s a recently updated guide with all the recommended external hard drives for Xbox here

Hopefully this helps!