A USB drive does not show up
What to try when you plug in a drive and nothing happens.
- Try a different USB port, without a hub or extension cable.
- Open File Explorer and look under This PC. Some drives take a few seconds to appear.
- Try the drive on another computer, to find out whether the drive or your computer has the problem.
- Restart the computer with the drive plugged in.
To remove a drive safely, right-click it in File Explorer and choose Eject, then unplug it.
Good to know
Some businesses block USB storage to protect their data. If you see a message about blocked devices or policy, do not try to get around it. Ask us.