Fix WD My Passport Access Denied Error or Fix Unreadable WD My Passport Drive

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WD My Passport is one of the most popular external hard drives used for storing and backing up important files. However, many users face issues when trying to access their WD My Passport on Windows 11/10 or macOS. The drive may not show up in File Explorer, may appear as unallocated in Disk Management, or may throw an "Access Denied" or "unreadable" error.

If you are struggling with similar issues, don't worry! This guide will help you diagnose and fix the WD My Passport access denied problem so you can regain access to your WD My Passport.

Common Causes of WD My Passport Access Denied or Being Unreadable

Before jumping into solutions, it's essential to understand why your WD My Passport is not accessible on your Windows 11/10 or macOS system. Below are some common reasons:

• Faulty Connections – The USB port or cable may be damaged, causing connectivity issues.
• Outdated or Corrupt Drivers – If your system lacks the necessary drivers, the drive may not appear in File Explorer.
• File System Errors – The drive could get corrupted or formatted in an unsupported file system.
• Disk Not Recognized – If Windows cannot assign a drive letter, the drive may not appear.
• Permission Restrictions – The system may block access due to security settings.
• Malware or Virus Attacks – Some malicious programs can prevent access to external drives.

Now that we are aware of the potential causes, let's investigate practical fixes for the problem. If you have important data stored on the WD My Passport drive, just use a data recovery program to export the data to another drive.

Recover Inaccessible or Lost Data from Inaccessible/Unreadable WD My Passport Drive

Before fixing WD My Passport access denied error, you can use data recovery program - such as Donemax Data Recovery to export/recover files from the WD My Passport drive.

Step 1. Download and install Donemax Data Recovery on your computer, and connect the WD My Passport external hard drive to the computer.

Open Donemax Data Recovery, select the WD My Passport external hard drive to start data recovery.

Step 2. Click on Scan button to deeply scan the selected drive and find all recoverable files including existing files, inaccessible/hidden files, deleted files, formatted/lost files, etc.

Step 3. Once the deep scan gets finished, you can preview the recoverable files. Then select the wanted files, click on Recover button. Choose a location to save the files. Don't save the files to the WD My Passport external hard drive.

If the WD My Passport external hard drive gets corrupted, you can use Donemax Data Recovery to repair it. Just choose Disk Manager, select the WD My Passport drive, click on Repair button.

How to Fix Inaccessible or Unreadable WD My Passport External Hard Drive?

Fix 1. Check Hardware Connections of the WD My Passport

Sometimes, the problem is as simple as a loose or faulty connection.

Try the following:

• Disconnect the WD My Passport drive and reconnect it to a different USB port.
• To check for cable damage issue, use another USB cable.
• Connect the drive to another computer to determine if the issue is with your system.

If the drive is still not recognized, move on to the next step.

Fix 2. Check If the WD My Passport Drive Appears in Disk Management

Windows Disk Management is a tool that helps manage all connected storage devices.

How to Check the Drive in Disk Management:

1. Choose Disk Management by pressing Win + X.

2. Look for WD My Passport in the list.
3. If the drive appears as Unallocated, follow the next steps to create a new volume.

Solution If the Drive Shows as Unallocated:

1. To choose New Simple Volume, right-click the drive and choose it.

2. Format the drive as either NTFS or exFAT by following the wizard's instructions.
3. Give each person a drive letter.

If the drive is not showing in Disk Management, proceed to the next step.

💡 Note: If the WD My Passport drive is not mounted on your Mac, open Disk Utility, select the WD My Passport drive, click on Mount button.

Fix 3. Update or Reinstall WD My Passport Drivers

Outdated or corrupt drivers can prevent Windows from recognizing the drive.

Update Drivers Manually:

1. Choose Device Manager by pressing Win + X.

2. Locate WD My Passport by expanding the disk drives.
3. Use the right-click menu to choose Update driver.

4. Select Install updates if available and automatically search for drivers.

Reinstall WD My Passport Drivers:

1. In Device Manager, right-click WD My Passport and select Uninstall device.

2. Disconnect the drive, restart your computer, and reconnect it.
3. Windows will reinstall the necessary drivers automatically.

If the issue persists, try running the Windows troubleshooter.

Fix 4. Run Windows Troubleshooter

Windows has built-in troubleshooting tools to fix hardware and USB issues.

How to Run the Troubleshooter

1. To access Settings, press Win + I.
2. Select Troubleshoot under Update & Security.
3. Select More Troubleshooters.
4. Click Run the troubleshooter after selecting Hardware and Devices.

If Windows detects any issues, follow the recommended fixes.

Fix 5. Check and Fix File System Errors on WD My Passport

Why Do File System Errors Occur?

File system errors can make WD My Passport inaccessible. Some common reasons include:

• Improper Ejection – The file system may get corrupted if the drive is unplugged without being safely ejected.
• Power Failures – An immediate power loss while writing data may cause corruption.
• Virus or Malware – Some malware can damage the drive’s structure.
• Bad Sectors – Physically damaged sectors can cause read/write errors.
• File System Incompatibility – If the drive is formatted in APFS/HFS+ (Mac-only) or EXT4 (Linux-only), Windows may not recognize it.

Now, let's explore how to fix these errors.

Method 1: Use CHKDSK to Repair the Drive

CHKDSK (Check Disk) is a built-in Windows utility that scans and fixes file system issues.

How to Run CHKDSK:

1. Click Run as administrator after typing cmd and pressing Win + S.
2. Enter the following command on the command prompt:

   chkdsk X: /f /r /x

(Replace X with the actual drive letter of WD My Passport.)

Wait for the process to finish after pressing Enter.

Method 2: Repair the Drive Using Windows Error Checking Tool

If you’re not comfortable with Command Prompt, use Windows’ graphical tool.

Steps to Use Error Checking Tool:

1. Open File Explorer (Win + E) and right-click WD My Passport.
2. Select Properties > Tools.
3. Under Error Checking, tap Check.

4. Click Scan and repair drive if errors are detected.

Method 3: Convert RAW Drive to NTFS Without Losing Data

If your WD My Passport shows as RAW in Disk Management, it means Windows can't read the file system.

Steps to Fix a RAW Drive Without Formatting:

1. Open Command Prompt (Admin).
2. Type:

   chkdsk X: /f

(Replace X with the drive letter.)

Wait for the scan to finish after pressing Enter.

If CHKDSK doesn't work, you can try third-party recovery tools like Donemax Data Recovery or MiniTool Partition Wizard to recover data before formatting.

Method 4: Format the Drive (If Necessary)

If none of the above methods work, formatting the drive is the last resort.

How to Format WD My Passport:

1. Open Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc).
2. Right-click WD My Passport and select Format.

3. Choose NTFS (for Windows) or exFAT (for both Windows and Mac).
4. Click OK and wait for the process to finish.

⚠️ Warning: Formatting erases all data. If you need to recover files, use a data recovery tool before formatting.

If you are a Mac user, open Disk Utility, select the WD My Passport drive. Click on First Aid button to repair it or click on Erase button to reformat it.

Fix 6. Change Drive Permissions

If you receive an "Access Denied" error, the issue might be related to permissions.

How to Take Ownership of the Drive:

1. Right-click on WD My Passport in File Explorer and select Properties.
2. Go to the Security tab and click Advanced.

3. Click Change next to the owner's name.

4. Enter your username and click Check Names, then click OK.

5. Click Apply > OK after choosing Replace owner for objects and subcontainers.

Now, try accessing the drive again.

Preventive Measures to Avoid WD My Passport Access Denied

To prevent similar problems, follow these best practices:

1. Keep Drivers Updated

Regularly update drivers via Device Manager or Windows Update.

2. Use Safe Ejection

Always eject WD My Passport properly using "Safely Remove Hardware" before unplugging.

3. Scan for Malware

Use Windows Defender or third-party antivirus software to scan for threats.

4. Keep a Backup

Maintain backups of important data to prevent loss in case of drive failure.

💡 Note: If you will sell or donate the WD My Passport drive, just use a disk wipe software - such as Donemax Data Eraser to wipe and repair the unreadable WD My Passport drive. It will securely and permanently erase all data from the WD My Passport, ensure no data is recoverable.

Conclusion

WD My Passport is a reliable external hard drive, but connectivity issues on Windows 11/10 or macOS can be frustrating. This guide covered various troubleshooting methods, from checking hardware connections and updating drivers to running CHKDSK or First Aid and adjusting permissions.

Before or after fixing unreadable/inaccessible WD My Passport drive on Windows/macOS, you can use data recovery software - such as Donemax Data Recovery to help you get the lost data back.