How to Access a USB Drive on Mac Terminal

Are you having trouble accessing your USB drive on your Mac using the terminal? This article will guide you through the process of connecting, mounting, and verifying your external drives using terminal commands.

Firstly, it is essential to note that some USB devices may not be recognized by your Mac due to various reasons such as loose connections, frayed cables, or compatibility issues. Therefore, before proceeding with the terminal commands, make sure your USB device is properly connected and powered.

To access your USB drive using the terminal, follow these steps:

1. Open the Terminal application on your Mac.

2. Type the command `diskutil list` to list all available disks, including your external drives.

This command will display a list of all connected disks, including their status and capacity. You can then use the disk number or name to run other commands.

3. Type the command `diskutil info disk` followed by the disk number or name to gather more information about the selected disk.

4. If your USB drive is not recognized, try running the `diskutil eject disk` command to eject the disk and then retry mounting it.

Alternatively, you can use the Disk Utility application to mount, verify, or repair drives. To do this:

1. Open the Applications/Utilities folder and locate the Disk Utility application.

2. Select your external drive from the list of available disks.

3. Click on the 'Mount' button to mount the disk.

4. If the disk is not recognized, click on the 'Verify' or 'Repair' buttons to troubleshoot any issues.

In addition to using terminal commands and Disk Utility, you can also update your Finder preferences to show external drives:

1. Open the Finder application.

2. Click on the 'Finder' menu and select 'Preferences'.

3. In the General tab, check the box next to 'External disks' to display them in the sidebar.

Finally, if you are still experiencing issues with your USB drive not being recognized or mounting correctly, try connecting it to its own power source, checking your USB connections for a snug fit or frayed cables, and ensuring that there are no missing pins. If you are using a hub, try using a different port on your Mac or plugging the external drive directly into the Mac.

By following these quick tips and troubleshooting steps, you should be able to get your Mac to recognize and mount your external drives using terminal commands and Disk Utility.

How to access usb drive on mac terminal