Disk Utility Volume Could Not Be Unmounted: Troubleshooting Tips for Mac Users

Are you experiencing issues with your external hard drive not showing up in the Disk Utility window on your Mac? If so, you're not alone. This problem can be frustrating and may prevent you from accessing important files or backing up your data. In this article, we'll explore some troubleshooting tips to help you resolve the issue.

One common reason for the disk utility volume could not be unmounted error is a locking of the USB port on your Mac system. To fix this issue, follow these steps:

1. Re-open Disk Utility and check if the drive is showing up in the sidebar.

2. If it's not showing up, go to Apple logo > Force Quit > Select Disk Utility > Force Quit.

3. Then, force close Disk Utility by pressing 'Command+Q' from your keyboard.

If these steps don't work, you may need to enable the side panel and force close Disk Utility again. To do this:

1. Open Finder on your Mac.

2. Go to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility.

3. Enable the side panel by clicking on the View button and selecting 'Show All Devices.'

4. In the window sidebar, look for all the internet and external drives connected to your Mac.

Another possible solution is to repair the disk using TestDisk Data Recovery tool. This tool can help fix issues with your hard drive and get it showing up in Disk Utility again.

In some cases, the problem may be due to a faulty drive or cable. If this is the case, you may need to contact Apple Support for assistance.

If none of these solutions work, you can try using Terminal to access and check your drive. To do this:

1. Open Terminal on your Mac.

2. Type 'diskutil list' and press Enter.

3. This will display a list of all the disks connected to your Mac.

4. Look for the external hard drive that's not showing up in Disk Utility and note its device name.

Using this information, you can try to repair or reformat the drive using Disk Utility. To do this:

1. Open Disk Utility on your Mac.

2. Select the external hard drive from the sidebar.

3. Click on the 'Erase' tab and select 'Quick Erase' or 'Secure Erase.'

4. Follow the prompts to erase the drive.

If you've tried all of these solutions and are still having trouble, it may be worth considering seeking help from a professional data recovery service.

In conclusion, resolving disk utility volume could not be unmounted errors on your Mac can take some time and effort. However, by following these troubleshooting tips, you should be able to get your external hard drive showing up in Disk Utility again and access your important files.

Disk utility volume could not be unmounted