My Passport drive not recognised by iMac 2024

[Paul S4]

I have a 2024 iMac, which runs Tahoe 26.5.2

I have used a My Passport backup drive for years with my last MacMini and until recently, this current iMac 2024.

I recently bought a brand new WD my Passport for mac 2.0TB.

This seemed to work fine until a couple of weeks ago. The My Passport was not recognised by the iMac.

I then took the drive back to Currys, who replaced it under warranty for a new one.

This new one is not recognised either.

I am not a 'techie' as I know most of you are on this forum...

Does anyone know what the issue may be...?

PS I also experience my iMac screen going off at regular intervals, but it comes back immediately I hit the space bar...?

Could these issues be related ?

[Cloudy147]

Does the disk need formatting to be recognised by the Mac? I had to do this for one that I bought recently. It won’t read my old windows ones.

Screen going off will be the power saver mode. You’ll be able to turn that off in settings somewhere.

[megaphone]

When you say 'back-up drive' are you trying to use it for a Time Machine back-up? Or just as an external drive to store stuff on?

Have you opened up Disk Utility to see if it showing in there?

I use a WD Elements drive for my Time Machine back up, it's formatted as an APFS Volume, which is Mac specific.

I do find my Mac sometimes won't see a drive that has previously been connected, I find a reboot fixes this.

Edited by megaphone on Monday 6th July 09:19

Edited by megaphone on Monday 6th July 09:20

[Paul S4]

I am trying to use the My Passport as a daily Backup Drive in Time Machine....but the"My Passport for Mac " is Not Available according to the computer...

[megaphone]

Paul S4 said:

I am trying to use the My Passport as a daily Backup Drive in Time Machine....but the"My Passport for Mac " is Not Available according to the computer...

Have you formatted it as APFS?

Is it showing up in the Disk Utility app? Here is mine

Edited by megaphone on Tuesday 7th July 17:06

Also you don't need to buy a 'Mac specific' drive, any external drive will work as long as it is formatted correctly.

Edited by megaphone on Tuesday 7th July 17:08

Edited by megaphone on Tuesday 7th July 17:08