I used SanDisk Extreme Portable like external storage for my Xbox series S but after one month it just died. I try to connect one to another usb posts but it still doesn’t work. Same situation with my macbook. nothing happening! I can’t see it even in DiskUtility app.
What should i do?
Hi @vovavfx,
Please refer to the instructions mentioned in the below articles:
Title: SSD drive is not detected
For Windows: USB Flash Drive or Memory Card Not Detected in Windows
For Mac: USB Flash Drive or Memory Card Not Detected in macOS
If further assistance is needed, please open a case with our support team at the following:
https://kb.sandisk.com/app/ask
You will need to plug your SanDisk Extreme Portable into a computer running Microsoft Windows 10 and use the Windows Disk Management Tool to format your drive under NTFS file format. After all, you are dealing with a Microsoft product here and Microsoft has used the NTFS file format on both hard drives and storage devices since Windows NT many years ago. Xbox One is no exception. Microsoft also requires NTFS file format on both USB Flash Drives and on the hard drive inside the Xbox unit anytime you have to do a recovery and restore of the hard drive. I’m not sure about your MacBook since I don’t use Apple products, but according to this article, you may be able to use the Disk Utility Manager to format your SanDisk Extreme Portable in NTFS file format also, but any drive you connect to Xbox One, whether internal or external, has to be formatted in NTFS file format or Xbox One will not recognize it. Also, when plugging in your drive to your Xbox One. Make sure you plug it into one of the two USB ports on the back and NOT the one USB port on the front. Here’s way. The two USB ports on back of the unit are USB Version 3.0, whilst the port on the front is USB Version 2.0. Hot swapping your external hard drive between USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 port can also be what caused your issue since there are huge differences in data transfer speed between the two USB versions. My brother also uses an external drive on his Xbox One S and I tell him the same thing also. I’ve had to replace two internal hard drives in his unit also, so that’s how I know this.
I’ve run into this problem with portable SSDs quite a few times. SanDisk Extreme is no different. There are a few common causes for your system not to recognize the SSD: outdated drivers, drive letter conflicts, and connection issues. The good news is that it can usually be fixed with little difficulty.
Initially, I always advise beginning with the fundamentals: if you’re using a Type-C connection, try a different cable or another USB port. Since these drives depend on high transfer speeds and not all cables can support them, a startlingly high percentage of cases can be resolved simply by changing the cable. Plugging the SSD into a different computer will help you determine whether the issue is with your system or the drive itself if it still doesn’t appear.
When an SSD is identified in Disk Management but not in File Explorer, it’s usually because the partition is not recognized or no drive letter has been assigned. If you don’t need the data, you can usually fix that by reformatting it or assigning a new drive letter. I would advise against formatting any important files and to use a trustworthy data recovery tool to extract the data before attempting repairs.
Drivers are another item that should be looked at. You can restore the SSD’s visibility by updating your storage and USB drivers via Device Manager or your system update settings. Rarely, the file system becomes corrupted; in this situation, recovery software can be helpful before a new format is applied.
To put it briefly, try a different cable or port, test on a different computer, look for drive letter conflicts in Disk Management, and update your drivers. For the majority of users, these easy fixes fix the problem. It’s probably a hardware issue if nothing works, and you might need to get in touch with SanDisk support to get a replacement. If still not working, then you can contact the best data recovery tool that can also help in this situation.
Based on your description, the drive is likely experiencing a hardware failure since it’s undetectable on both Xbox Series S and MacBook (even in Disk Utility). Here’s what you can do:
Stop Using It: To prevent further damage, avoid repeated connection attempts.
Try Basic Checks and some DIY fixes: Ensure you’re using the original cable and test different USB ports on both devices.
Warranty Claim: Since the drive is only one month old, it should be under warranty. Contact SanDisk Support immediately for a free replacement. Hardware failures do happen, and warranty is your primary recourse.
Data Recovery (If Needed): If you have critical data, consider professional data recovery services, as DIY software might not work if the drive isn’t recognized at all.
Given it’s dead on both devices, a hardware fault is confirmed. Your best bet is a warranty replacement.
