Wrongly Assigned HDD as a SanDisk Drive

Legacy SanDisk Products iXpand™ Base
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hello
I have an issue using the SanDisk Memory Zone app for macOS. The app asks, ( optionally) noted in retrospect, to assign names to drives connected to it every time I open it. I accidentally name one of my HDDs as an iExpand drive thinking it was my already named iExpand device which the program did not recognize. Consequently, the HDD in question is now recognized in the SanDisk app as an iExpand drive. How do I remove that recognition without re-formatting the HDD without losing its data? Do I remove the app and re-install it after re-boot of my Macmini? TIA. Edit added: I tried deleting the app then re-booted Mac and re-installed Memory Zone app. Still assigns the HDD in question as a SanDisk device in app.

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Step-by-Step Solutions

1. Delete App Configuration Files

SanDisk Memory Zone stores device associations in hidden system files. Uninstalling the app alone does not remove these.

Steps:

Open Finder, press Command + Shift + G, and enter these paths one by one:

~/Library/Application Support/
~/Library/Preferences/
~/Library/Caches/

  • Locate and delete all SanDisk-related files/folders (e.g., SanDisk, MemoryZone, com.sandisk.MemoryZone.plist).
  • Empty the Trash.
  • Reboot your Mac.
  • Reinstall SanDisk Memory Zone and check if the issue persists.

2. Rename the HDD Volume Label

The app may bind devices by their volume name. Changing the name in macOS can break the incorrect association.

Steps:

  • Open Disk Utility (Applications > Utilities).
  • Select the misidentified volume (not the physical disk) in the left panel.
  • Click the Rename button in the toolbar.
  • Assign a new name (e.g., MyDataHDD).
  • Relaunch SanDisk Memory Zone to test.

3. Reset the App Database

  • Some apps include a built-in reset option:
  • Open SanDisk Memory Zone.
  • Check settings for options like “Clear Device History” or “Reset Database”.

4. Check for UUID-Based Binding

If the app uses the drive’s UUID for identification, manually remove the UUID reference:

Steps:

Open Terminal and run:

bash
diskutil info /Volumes/YourDriveName | grep “Volume UUID”
(Replace YourDriveName with the HDD’s current name.)

Note the UUID value (e.g., ABCD-1234).

Search for this UUID in:

~/Library/Application Support/

~/Library/Preferences/

Delete any files containing the UUID.

5. Contact SanDisk Support

If the issue persists, it may be a bug in the app. Reach out via:

SanDisk Support Portal: https://support.sandisk.com

Include details: macOS version, app version, and steps you’ve tried.

Key Notes

  • Backup your data before modifying system files or renaming drives.
  • Ensure the HDD is connected directly to the Mac (not via a hub) during testing.
  • Update macOS and SanDisk Memory Zone to the latest versions.
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To remove the incorrect iExpand recognition without formatting the HDD, delete the app’s config files. In Finder, press Command + Shift + G and go to these folders one by one: ~/Library/Application Support/, ~/Library/Preferences/, and ~/Library/Caches/.

Delete any files or folders related to SanDisk or MemoryZone. Empty the Trash and restart your Mac. Also, open Disk Utility, select the HDD volume, and rename it—this may break the app’s association. If the issue remains, check the app settings for any reset option. If nothing works, contact SanDisk Support with your macOS version, app version, and what steps you’ve tried.