Resolving ‘The disk you inserted was not readable by this computer’ Error on MacOS: Proven Solutions

‘The disk you inserted was not readable by this computer’ error on MacOS: Causes and Solutions

If you’re a Mac user, chances are you’ve encountered the error message “The disk you inserted was not readable by this computer”. This error message can be frustrating, especially when you have important data on an external drive that you can’t access.

Fortunately, there are several ways to fix this issue and prevent it from happening in the future.

Prevention is key when it comes to the “The disk you inserted was not readable by this computer” error on MacOS.

One way to prevent this issue is to properly eject external drives before unplugging them. This ensures that all files have been safely written to the drive and that it won’t become corrupted. Additionally, it’s important to use high-quality external drives and keep them updated with the latest firmware.

If you do encounter the “The disk you inserted was not readable by this computer” error, there are several solutions you can try.

One solution is to use the Disk Utility tool to repair the drive. Another solution is to use the Terminal app to manually copy files from the drive. In some cases, resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) can also fix this issue. By following these prevention and solution methods, you can ensure that your external drives remain readable and accessible on your Mac.

Understanding the Error ‘the disk you inserted was not readable by this computer’

In this section, we’ll provide an overview of the error, including its causes and implications.

Causes of the Error

There are several possible causes of the “The disk you inserted was not readable by this computer” error. Some of the most common include:

• File system issues: If the file system on the disk is damaged or corrupted, it may not be readable by your computer.
• Incompatible file system: If the disk is formatted in a file system that is not compatible with MacOS, it may not be readable.
• Hardware issues: If the disk is physically damaged, or if there is a problem with the USB cable or port, it may not be readable.
• Virus attacks: If the disk has been infected with a virus or malware, it may not be readable.

Error Implications

The “The disk you inserted was not readable by this computer” error can have a number of implications, depending on the cause of the error. Some of the most common implications include:

• Data loss: If the disk is not readable, you may not be able to access the data stored on it.
• Disk failure: If the disk is physically damaged, it may be irreparable and need to be replaced.
• Corrupted file system: If the file system on the disk is damaged or corrupted, it may need to be repaired or reformatted.
• Incompatible file: If the file you’re trying to access is not compatible with MacOS, you may need to find a different way to access it.

In the next section, we’ll provide some basic checks and troubleshooting steps you can take to try and resolve the error.

Solving the Error

If you encounter the “The disk you inserted was not readable by this computer” error on your MacOS, don’t worry, we have got you covered.

In this section, we will guide you through some initial troubleshooting steps and advanced solutions that can help you fix the error.

Initial Troubleshooting Steps

Before we dive into the advanced solutions, let’s go through some basic checks and troubleshooting steps that can help you fix the error.

• Firstly, make sure that the drive is properly connected to your Mac. Try unplugging and re-plugging the drive to see if it resolves the issue.
• Check if the drive is formatted correctly. If it’s an unformatted drive, you need to format the drive to a compatible file system like exFAT or FAT32.
• Check if your MacOS is up-to-date. If not, update your MacOS to the latest version as it might resolve any known issues or bugs.
• Run a malware scan on your Mac using reputable software like CleanMyMac X to ensure that the error is not caused by any malware or virus.

If the error persists, you can try the following advanced solutions.

Advanced Solutions

Use First Aid

First Aid is a built-in tool in MacOS that can fix errors on your drive. Here’s how to use First Aid:

1. Open Disk Utility from the Applications folder or by searching it in Spotlight.
2. Select the drive that’s giving you the error message.
3. Click on the First Aid button and then click on Run.
4. Wait for the process to complete and check if the error is resolved.

Format the Drive

If First Aid didn’t help, you can try formatting the drive. However, formatting the drive will erase all the data on it, so make sure to back up your data before proceeding. Here’s how to format the drive:

1. Open Disk Utility and select the drive that’s giving you the error message.
2. Click on the Erase button and then select the file system you want to use.
3. Give the drive a new name and click on the Erase button to format the drive.

Use Terminal App

If the error persists, you can try using the Terminal app to fix the issue. Here’s how to use the Terminal app:

1. Open the Terminal app from the Applications folder or by searching it in Spotlight.
2. Type in the following command: diskutil list
3. Locate the drive that’s giving you the error message and note its identifier (e.g., disk2).
4. Type in the following command: diskutil unmountDisk /dev/disk2
5. Type in the following command: sudo fsck_exfat -y /dev/disk2
6. Wait for the process to complete and check if the error is resolved.

Use Data Recovery Software

If none of the above solutions work, you can try using data recovery software like Stellar or MiniTool to recover your data from the unreadable drive. These software can perform a deep scan of your drive and recover the data that’s still accessible.

In conclusion, the “The disk you inserted was not readable by this computer” error can be frustrating, but with the above solutions, you can fix the error and retrieve your data.