Transferring your important Mac data, like sales reports to external hard drives is pretty straightforward. But, you must ensure sufficient space in the storage medium before sharing the file. Otherwise, you may receive an error message while moving the data to another location.
You might need to learn the steps on how to transfer data from MacBook to a hard disk if you are unfamiliar with the Mac UI. You can easily share the data from your laptop to external hard disks like flash drives from Finder.
Additionally, you can transfer the required data using your Mac device’s Disk Utility tool. However, you must connect the external hard disk to the Mac laptop’s USB port. Ensure the storage device is compatible with your Intel-based or M2-powered MacBook Pro or MacBook Air.
Let’s learn the easy ways to transfer Mac data to an external hard disk:
How to Transfer Data from MacBook to Hard Disk using Finder?
The Finder application on MacBook with OS X Yosemite or later lets you transfer files to any external hard disk. When you connect the storage device to the Mac laptop, it will appear on the Finder menu. You can paste or move, drag and drop files onto hard drives from this Mac window.
Here are the quick steps on how to transfer data from MacBook to a hard disk:
Connect the External Hard Drive to the Laptop
Do you have an external hard drive with a USB-C cable? Connect the cable’s one end to your MacBook’s USB-C port and the other end to the drive’s port. Wait until the external drive icon appears in Dock and double-tap on it.
External hard disks compatible with Mac OS X can be used to restore Mac files as soon as you connect them. However, check your Mac laptop’s manual if you don’t see any hard disk icon in Dock. Follow the manual for setup instructions.
Open the Finder window
Tap the Finder icon from the Dock and go to the search bar. Go to “All My files” and locate the files you want to transfer from your MacBook to the hard disk.
Select the Right Hard Disk
Press the Command key to select multiple files from the Finder. Additionally, you can create a new folder using the Command and N keyboard combo and save the files there. Go to the “Devices” tab in the Finder window and choose your external hard drive name from the list.
Drag and drop the Important files
Drag and drop the files you want to transfer from your MacBook to the hard disk. A status bar will appear on your MacBook screen, indicating the file transmission progress. Wait until your Mac laptop transfers all the selected Mac data to your external hard drive.
Eject the Hard Drive
Open the external storage device window and check if the required files are there. If yes, head towards “Devices” and locate the Eject button beside the hard disk name. Tap on it to safely remove the external hard drive from your MacBook. Alternatively, you can drag the hard drive icon to the Trash icon.
How to Transfer Data from MacBook to Hard Disk with Disk Utility?
The Disk Utility tool lets you manage your MacBook Pro or Air’s internal and external peripherals. With this built-in tool, you can also share important business data from the MacBook to the hard disk.
Here are the easy steps to transfer Mac data to external storage devices via Disk Utility:
Connect the Hard Disk to your MacBook
Ensure your MacBook has a USB port before inserting the external hard drive. Besides, the USB-C port should be dirt, dust and grime free. Otherwise, your Mac device will fail to detect the connected external storage device.
Connect the external hard drive to the Mac laptop using a compatible USB-C cable. Your MacBook Pro or Air will display a hard disk icon on the menu bar. Does your Mac laptop run macOS X or later? Restart your computer from the Apple menu after connecting the hard disk.
Access the Disk Utility window
Press the C key to start the Mac system from the disc. Choose your preferred language and navigate to “Disk Utilities”, when the Utilities window appears. Choose the external hard disk connected to the MacBook from the side panel.
Check for Hard drive problems
Click “Verify Disk” to check if the connected hard disk has any problem before transferring the file. A corrupted or damaged hard drive can remove your data. Hence. You must always check whether the hard drive functions properly for hassle-free data transfer.
Repair the Hard Disk and Rename it
Your Mac laptop will show you a warning message if something is wrong with the external hard drive. Click “Repair Disk” in such instances to fix the corrupted hard disk. Once done, locate “New Image” and enter an easy-to-remember name.
Go to the encryption menu and choose “256-bit AES” or “128-bit” from the drop-down menu. It will also enhance the hard drive’s security and minimise the chances of data breaches. Your Mac laptop will then ask you to enter the security passcode.
Save the Recent Changes
Select “Save” when the new window opens, and enter the administrator password when prompted. Your Mac laptop will initiate the data transfer process within a minute. It might take at least 3-4 minutes to transfer 2 GB of data from your MacBook to an external hard drive.
Create a new backup
Head to the external drive’s pane, create a new backup and store the necessary data in one place. Go to “Images” and tap “Scan Image for Restore” to check if the shared images are corrupted.
Wait until your MacBook completes the scan, and press the Command and Q keys simultaneously to close the window. Hold the Command and Q keys again to force quit the Disk Utility page. Eject the external hard disks from the computer and restart your Mac laptop.
Can you move all files from MacBook to the External Hard Disk?
You can move all the stored Mac files on your connected external storage device without any external help. Connect the hard drive to your MacBook’s USB port and double-tap on the External hard disk icon in Dock.
Open the Finder window and check if all the files are in the list. Press the Command and A keys simultaneously to select all the files. Your MacBook will highlight the selected files afterwards.
Go to the “Edit” menu and select “Copy” from the drop-down list. Head towards “Devices” and click your external hard drive name. Right-click on the blank space when the next window appears and select “Paste”. You can delete all the files from your MacBook to free up its internal disk space.
Mac isn’t recognizing the External Hard Disk? Here is How to Fix
You will need an external storage device that your MacBook can read or write. Otherwise, your Mac laptop will fail to recognise it and show you error messages. Incorrect drive format is another reason behind this problem. But, you can change the hard drive format with Disk Utility.
Are you using a frayed USB cable to connect the hard disk to your MacBook? It can generate problems when establishing a secure connection between these devices. A damaged external hard drive can also cause this issue on the Mac laptop.
Here are some easy troubleshooting tips that you must try to fix this hard drive error:
Edit your MacBook’s Finder Preferences
You might modify the Finder preferences if your MacBook isn’t detecting the external hard drive. Let’s see how you can do it:
Click on the Finder icon and select “Preferences” when the new window opens.
Go to the General tab and ensure to click “External Disks” from the “Show these items on desktop” tab.
Head towards “Sidebar” and choose the folders and devices you want your MacBook to display in Finder’s left-side column.
Reconnect the external hard drive to your MacBook Pro or Air. Your laptop will display the external hard drive icon in seconds, and you can then transfer the file without glitches.
Reset your MacBook’s NVRAM
Resetting your Mac laptop’s NVRAM can help you to fix this problem. To proceed, you must first access the Apple menu and click “Restart” from the drop-down menu.
When your MacBook restarts, press the Option, Command, P and R keys simultaneously to reset its NVRAM. Release these Mac keys when you hear a startup chime. Your Mac device will now detect your external hard drive, and you can easily share the data.
Alternative Solutions to Fix MacBook isn’t detecting Hard Drive
The external hard drive won’t appear on the MacBook’s desktop if you have connected a faulty cable. Hence, try a different USB cable to connect these two devices and check if the error is solved.
Additionally, you must check whether the hard disk is visible in your MacBook’s Disk Utility. Tap on the disk name and select “Mount” to make it visible to your Mac laptop’s Finder menu and desktop. Contact MacBook Repair India experts if you fail to solve this complicated issue.