If you want to leave your computer on and disconnect the drive, you will need to safely remove ('eject' on macOS) the drive before you unplug it. Both Windows and macOS computers will read and write data to the drive, even if you are not using your computer.For more information, please refer to Answer ID 3823: How to Access and Use the macOS Disk Utility. For macOS, verify your drive is visible in Disk Utility.For more information, please refer to Answer ID 18075: Access and Use Disk Management Tools on Windows. For Windows OS, verify your drive is visible in Disk Management.Upon connecting to the computer, the external hard drive should be recognized and ready for use. If your computer is on, the OS should detect and install the native OS drivers for your drive. The drive should then power on (you shouldn't need to use the power switch). Please note My Passport for Mac comes with a USB-Micro B cable to Type A end pre-mounted/assembled with a Type-C adaptor on the Type A end of the Micro-B to Type-A cable for out of box compatibility with new Mac systems, please refer to Answer ID 31975: My Passport for Mac: Cable and Adaptor.Ĭonnect the other end of the USB cable into the external portable drive. Whenever possible WD recommends using the USB cable that came with the external portable drive. This includes 'reel' cables and extension cables even if the total length is less than 18 inches.

Some third-party data cables may be able to transfer enough power to the drive. The drive may not get enough power to run if a USB cable longer than 18 inches is used. Make sure that the USB cable is no longer than 18 inches in length (22 inches for My Passport drives manufactured prior to 2007). Please refer to the section titled WD Discovery.Ĭonnect the USB cable directly into your computer (do not use a USB hub, please refer to Answer ID 30483: USB Hubs Not Recommended). WD Discovery comes preloaded on supported drives. No software is needed for external drives to function as storage devices. External Drives may also be referred to as USB Drives or Direct Attached Storage (DAS) devices.

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