Jan 15, 2024 • Filed to: USB Recovery • Proven solutions
As we are very much aware of the easiness to use removable disk drives like external hard drives or USB flash drives, but still in some situations, you may find difficulty in connecting your external drive to PS4. This may have ended up in the PS4 external hard drive not recognized or stopped working. In some cases, the user might get an alert message saying that "The USB storage device is not connected". In some cases, there won't be any messages when the PS4 system stops responding to the external HDD connected to it.
This article will help you in understanding the reasons why PS4 External Hard Drive isn't working, and how to fix ps4 external hard drive not recognized error. Also, you will learn how to recover the lost data from PS4 External Hard Drive after fixing the error.
Before we dive into the core reasons, it is better to review some basic aspects that could point to the real core issues.
If you want to find answers to the above questions, then you are in the right place.
In this case, initially, you need to confirm that it hasn't been defective. To understand it, simply connect it to a PC or another PS4. You can confirm that you need a replacement if it didn't show up on other devices too. If the issue is with your PS4, then the external derive will get recognized in other systems.
In this scenario, you need to perform the following steps first:
Step 1: You need to turn off the PS4.
Step 2: Now switch off the electricity for a minute.
Step 3: Unplug the external hard drive.
Step 4: Turn on the PS4 so that it runs without an external hard drive.
Step 5: Now turn off PS4 again.
Step 6: Then connect the external hard drive to it while it's in off mode.
Step 7: Now again turn on the PS4. (with the external HDD connected to it)
If the above steps didn't work for you, try out any of the below alternatives.
#Reduild the PS4 Database
Rebuilding the PS4 database simply means cleaning the disc drive by scanning the drive and creating a new database of all contents. Through the process, you're essentially organizing your database of content and maintaining your PS4 to ensure it performs at its best. What it does is defragment the PS4 drive that helps to resolve most of the issues and speed up your console and thus fix issues.
To rebuild the PS4 database, follow the below steps:
To kick off the process, you need to start with the Safe Mode. Safe Mode allows the user to boot up your PS4 and access a variety of options to troubleshoot issues with your console. You must be conscious that there are chances of losing game data if things go wrong. Make sure you stick with the below steps:
#Initialize PS4
The most important thing you need to know is that once you complete this process, it will wipe the console's hard drive and remove its system software. Therefore, it is advisable to backup any data such as images, videos, etc. either to an external device or to the cloud environment. You need to have a PlayStation Plus account if you are planning to perform the backup via a cloud environment. Also, make sure you download the full package of PS4 system software to an external storage device before starting the initializing process.
Step 1: Start with switching off the power button on the PS4 to make sure that you have access to the Safe Mode. You can see that the power indicator will blink a few times and then turns off.
Step 2: Press and hold the power button for 7-8 seconds until you hear two beep sounds
Step 3: With the provided USB, you must connect the DualShock4 controller and press the PS button
Step 4: To complete the process, you have to select option 7 [Initialize PS4 (Reinstall System Software)
Step 5: You have to update to the latest PS4 system software version as soon as the initialization process gets completed. Never try to install any other game/app currently.
Step 6: Now you can connect the external hard drive to PS4 and see whether it is working or not
Losing data has forever been a distressing matter. Recoverit Data Recovery for PC has turned out to be a one-point solution for the recovery of various types of data in various storage gadgets. If you have lost your valuable data from PS4 External Hard Drive, you don't have to fear that you are not going to see it ever again.
There is a way to restore the same. Use Recoverit Data Recovery, which is one of the most super cool and the safest data recovery tool available in the market right now. It is completely safe and reliable. Some of its prominent features are:
Now just follow these steps and retrieve all your lost data.
Step 1: Launch Recoverit on your PC.
Step 2: After the installation process, connect the PS4 External Hard Drive to the PC. You need to make sure that the PS4 External Hard Drive is properly recognized.
Step 3: Select the PS4 External Hard Drive. To retrieve lost or deleted files from the removable storage media, please select a target location and simply click the "Start" button to initiate the process.
Step 4: Once the scanning gets completed, you can preview the files from the scanning result. Click "Recover" and save them into another safe location.
That's how the lost data from PS4 External Hard Drive can be recovered. We expect you will perform all the above-outlined steps as per told and thus solves your concerns about PS4 External Hard Drive, USB storage issues, etc.
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Sue Wayne
staff Editor