If your WD My Passport external drive is not mounting on macOS Ventura, you're not alone—this is a relatively common issue for Mac users. Here’s a comprehensive guide to understanding the problem, identifying causes, and resolving it.
Why Your WD My Passport Isn’t Mounting on macOS Ventura
When your My Passport drive fails to mount, it means macOS recognizes the hardware but can’t make the file system accessible to you. This can result from various causes:
File System Incompatibility
My Passport drives often come preformatted in NTFS (Windows format), which macOS can read but not write to. Sometimes, if the NTFS driver is outdated or corrupted, the system might not mount the drive properly.
Corrupted Drive or Partition Table
If the drive was removed unsafely or has suffered physical damage, the partition table or file system may be corrupted, preventing it from mounting.
macOS Software Conflicts or Bugs
macOS Ventura introduced some changes that may cause compatibility issues, especially if third-party drivers or software (like WD Discovery or NTFS for Mac tools) are involved.
Insufficient Power Supply
If you're using a USB hub or an older MacBook, your drive may not be receiving enough power to mount properly.
Security & Privacy Settings or Disk Utility Errors
Ventura’s enhanced privacy and system integrity settings might block some drives from mounting automatically.
Step-by-Step Fixes
1. Check Disk Utility
Go to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility. If your My Passport drive appears but is greyed out, it means it’s recognized but not mounted.
Click the drive and try clicking the “Mount” button.
If that fails, try First Aid to repair the disk.
If Disk Utility fails:
Open Terminal.
Type diskutil list to find the identifier (e.g., /dev/disk2s1).
Then run sudo diskutil mount /dev/disk2s1.
3. Check System Information
Open Apple Menu > About This Mac > System Report > USB to ensure the Mac detects the hardware.
4. Update or Remove Third-Party Drivers
Uninstall outdated WD or NTFS drivers that may conflict with Ventura. You can download updated versions from Western Digital’s website.
5. Try a Different Port or Cable
Sometimes the issue is physical. Try:
A different USB port.
A new USB cable.
Direct connection (avoid hubs).
6. Reset NVRAM and SMC
Resetting your Mac’s NVRAM and SMC can fix hardware-related issues including mounting problems.
7. Reformat the Drive (Last Resort)
In Disk Utility, select the drive and choose “Erase.”
Format as ExFAT or Mac OS Extended (Journaled) if you’ll use it with a Mac.
Use APFS for better performance on newer Macs.
Data Recovery Option
If the drive is visible but won’t mount and you have important data, consider using data recovery software like:
Disk Drill
EaseUS Data Recovery
These can often recover files even when a drive isn’t mounting properly.
Final Thoughts
If none of the above steps work, the issue may be hardware failure. Contact WD Support or consult a professional data recovery service.
To avoid future issues, always eject external drives properly, keep macOS and drivers updated, and use compatible file formats like ExFAT for cross-platform use.