The MacBook Pro is the main choice for many users because it offers excellent storage speed, due to the use of the Solid State Drive (SSD) – which replaces the traditional hard disk with a flash drive.
However, a common problem for MacBook Pro users is the failure to recognize the integrated SSD – which can turn into a real headache.
If you are suffering from this problem, check out some of the possible causes and solutions in our article.
What makes an SSD unrecognizable on a MacBook Pro?
Some of the reasons below could be causing problems with your MacBook Pro’s integrated SSD. Analyze each case below to find out what might be happening with your device.
Defective SATA adapter
Some models require an additional SATA adapter to access the MacBook Pro SSD drive.
Therefore, one of the possible problems with the integrated SSD in the MacBook Pro is precisely the defects in the adapter or even problems with the SATA controller on the motherboard.
External SSD not booting
It is common for people to transfer or synchronize their files on an external SSD for system startup.
However, if not configured correctly, the external SSD will not be initialized with the MacBook’s file system, causing the laptop not to recognize it and not to start the operating system.
Corrupted SSD
SSD corruption is a very common problem with the MacBook Pro’s integrated SSD.
This usually happens when you abruptly turn off your computer and thereby corrupt the file system.
Blocking settings
Finally, settings that block the SSD from appearing in Disk Utility/Finder also contribute to the drive not being recognized.
How do I get my MacBook Pro to recognize my SSD?
You already know the possible causes of the problem with SSDs in your MacBook Pro. Now we will look at 3 alternatives you can use to reverse this problem.
Ensure the connection of the external SSD
- Method 1: First, confirm that the cable works normally. To do this, you should connect another cable – if the MacBook recognizes the SSD drive, the root of the problem has been identified.
- Method 2: It is also important to make sure that the SATA adapter or dock is compatible with the SSD drive. To do this, simply check whether it is SATA-I, SATA-II or SATA-III.
- Method 3: you can connect a different SATA SSD to the adapter and confirm that the system is up and running on another drive.
If none of these methods work, try the alternative below.
Search in disk utility
When the SSD drive for MacBook is not recognized, you need to check if it appears in Disk Utility.
Then you need to run a check to make sure the drive doesn’t have any problems in the hardwore.
If you can’t find it in Disk Utility, it may have been damaged, preventing the MacBook from recognizing it.
To run the check, follow the steps below:
- Step 1: click on “Go”;
- Step 2: select “Disk Utility” from the panel;
- Step 3: click on “View”;
- Step 4: select “Show all Devices” to check the external SSD.
Consider that:
- If you used your SSD drive in another system and your MacBook couldn’t recognize it, you should focus on the file system of that drive. It may be corrupted or have suffered physical damage;
- If you are using a new SSD, it will not be recognized because it has not been initialized. In this case, the error message will read “The disk was not read by this computer”. To resolve this problem, you must initialize the drive in Disk Utility.
Using first aid
It can happen that the SSD drive is in Disk Utility but is not mounted.
If this is the case, you can mount it and have it recognized in seconds by following the steps below:
- Step 1: go to “Disk Utility”
- Step 2: select the “Mount” option at the top of the window.
If the “Mount” option is deleted and you can’t mount it, use “First Aid” to repair disk errors. To do this, follow these steps:
- Step 1: Open “Disk Utility”;
- Step 2: Select the gray SSD, located in the left panel;
- Step 3: At the top of the window, click on “First Aid”.
How do I recover data from my MacBook’s integrated SSD or external SSD?
If your problem is recovering your data on your MacBook, you can solve it using one of the following two alternatives:
- Use data recovery software – only recommended for those with technical knowledge and previous experience of this type of process;
- Leave data recovery to a specialized company, such as Bot, which can recover data in complete safety.
Data recovery for MacBook Pro Touch Bar with integrated SSD
At Bot we specialize in recovering data from MacBooks Pro with a built-in SSD. It is possible to recover data from MacBooks Pro with Touch Bar 13 and 15 inches from the year 2016 and 2017 and this is only possible because we have all the necessary equipment for the direct extraction of the integrated SSD. This professional equipment is not available to the public and it is not available in service centers.
This means that we may be the only company offering data recovery for MacBook Pro with Touch Bar released in 2016 and 2017 that are damaged. The 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar have the SSD soldered to the motherboard, making data recovery possible only with extremely specialized tools. So if you have a MacBook Pro Touch Bar with an integrated SSD, please contact us if you need data recovery.
How do I format a new macbook Pro SSD?
If you need to format your new MacBook Pro SSD, the process is simple: just open the drive and click on the “Erase” button. Once you have chosen the format you want, your drive is ready for use.
Conclusion
Some of the main reasons for problems with the integrated SSD in the MacBook Pro are defects in the SSD, the drive not being initialized or even being corrupted. Another reason that can lead to failure is lock settings.
To reverse the problem, you can make sure the external SSD is connected, do a search in Disk Utility or even resort to the Mac’s First Aid feature.
If you have lost your files and documents while trying to get your MacBook Pro to recognize the SSD, the best alternative is to leave the data recovery to a reliable company specializing in data recovery – like us at Bot.
Here, we use the best equipment in the world when handling your SSD, ensuring that the electronic circuitry is handled without any risk of damaging it further.
Furthermore, you can receive your quote and have your data back within 48 hours!
Trust those with more than a decade of tradition and more than 100,000 solved cases: start your data recovery with Bot now!
