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6 Tips to Fix External Hard Drive that Keeps Disconnecting
Find out what to fo if the external hard drive disconnects randomly
8 min. read
Updated onMay 15, 2024
updated onMay 15, 2024
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Windows is a great OS, but annoying Windows 10 and 11 issues carry on, andexternal hard driveowners are affected. We report the problems and try to bring some solutions, as well.
We have just finished talking about theWiFi that is getting disconnected frequently in Windows, and now users have been reporting problems related to their external hard drives:
So, I installed Windows 8.1 x64 from the Windows Store yesterday and now my QB-35US3 Hard-drives keep randomly disconnecting and connecting again. I had no problems before the upgrade. The bay is connected via USB 3.0.
This is what one frustrated user is saying. Also, the problem seems to be similar with USB hubs – from what we’ve read; the errors are the same as with external hard drives.
Why does my external hard drive malfunctioning?
Many factors may trigger malfunctions in your USB. Some of them include:
While this is not an exhaustive list, it makes up the chuck of triggers for USB malfunctions.
Why does my external drive keep disconnecting?
Many problems can occur with your external hard drive, and in this article, we will address why your external drive keeps disconnecting. While there could be many triggers, users have experienced this error in the following variations:
Without further ado, let’s just jump right in!
How do I fix my external hard drive connection?
1. Connect your hard drive to a different USB port
Many users reported that the external hard drive keeps disconnecting on their Windows 10 PC. However, you might be able to fix this issue simply by connecting your drive to a different USB port.
According to users, this issue occurs when the drive is connected to a specific USB port. Therefore, the problem should be resolved after you connect it to a different USB port.
If you have both USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports, you might want to try connecting your hard drive to a USB 2.0 port and see if that helps.
Some devices have USB 3.0, but you can avoid most USB 3.0 problems by connecting your device to a USB 2.0port. Remember that you’ll experience a slower transfer speed while using USB 2.0, but your hard drive shouldn’t disconnect.
2. Turn off the USB selective suspend
The solution below describes you the method that will help you fix the disconnecting external hard drive. Follow the next steps to change your power-saving settings and disable the USB selective suspend feature.
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PressWindowsKey +S, typecontrol paneland select Control Panel from the results list.
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When Control Panel opens, go to Power Options.
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The powerOptionswindow will now open.
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Locate your power plan and click onChange plan settings.
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Click onChange advanced power settings.
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Navigate toUSB settings / USB selective suspend settingand set it toDisabled, then click onApplyandOKto save changes.
If your external hard drive keeps disconnecting, the problem might be thepower-savingfeature. For example, your PC might be configured to turn off USB devices after a while to save power.
After that, your PC won’t turn off your USB devices to save power, and problems with your external hard drive will be resolved. Many users reported that this solution worked for them, so we suggest you try it out.
3. Install USB 3.0 controller drivers
If your external hard drive keeps disconnecting, the problem might be related to your drivers. However, you can fix this problem simply by installing new drivers for your USB 3.0 controller.
The best way to do that is to visit your motherboard manufacturer’s website and download the latest chipset drivers for your motherboard. Alternatively, you can update this driver manually.
We also strongly recommend usingthird-party software to download all the outdated driverson your PC automatically. This tool will keep your system safe as you can manually download and install the wrong driver version.
4. Stop your PC from turning off Mass Storage Device
If your hard drive keeps disconnecting, you can fix the problem simply by preventing the PC from turning off Mass Storage Device. Instead, your PC will automatically turn off various devices to save power, and sometimes it can turn off your external hard drive.
To prevent this, you must change a few Device Manager settings. After that, your PC won’t turn off your external hard drive, and the problem won’t appear anymore.
5. Disable USB legacy support in BIOS
If you have USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports on your PC, you might be able to fix this problem by disabling USB legacy support in BIOS. To see how to do that, we strongly advise you to check your motherboard manual for detailed instructions.
Several users claim that you must perform a few extra steps to fix this problem. To fix the issue, you need to make several changes in Device Manager. After that, restart your PC, and the situation should be resolved entirely.
6. Use KeepAliveHD
Several users reported that their external hard drive keeps disconnecting due to inactivity. This is normal behavior for external hard drives, but if you want to stop this from happening, you might want to try using this tool.
KeepAliveHDis a small and freeware application that will write a small file to your external hard drive and prevent it from going to sleep. In addition, the application allows you to set a timer so it will write a small file to your hard drive periodically.
This is a simple solution, and if you don’t want to change your system’s configuration, be sure to try this tool.
How do I reconnect an external hard drive?
If it isn’t already connected, connect one end of the USB cable to the external hard drive. The opposite end of the USB cable should be inserted into a PC’s USB port. Your PC’s OS should detect the external hard disk after being connected.
That’s about it from us. So if your External hard drive keeps disconnecting, we hope you have been able to resolve this problem by now.
These solutions are not in any particular order, so you can pick and choose what works best for you. For more troubleshooting steps, check out what to do ifWindows 10 external hard drive keeps disconnecting.
If you have any other questions, feel free to drop them in the comments section below, and we’ll be sure to check them out.
More about the topics:Fix Hard Drive issues
Radu Tyrsina
Radu Tyrsina has been a Windows fan ever since he got his first PC, a Pentium III (a monster at that time).
For most of the kids of his age, the Internet was an amazing way to play and communicate with others, but he was deeply impressed by the flow of information and how easily you can find anything on the web.
Prior to founding Windows Report, this particular curiosity about digital content enabled him to grow a number of sites that helped hundreds of millions reach faster the answer they’re looking for.
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