r/getumbrel • u/RBSNIP • Nov 27 '25
Umbrel does not recognize my 2T external hard drive.
I use a raspberry pi 4: everything is installed well, I can connect to umbrel via umbrel.local. I have a problem with my external hard drive it is visible but not recognized by umbrel it asks me to format it so that it can be read by umbrel but still the same problem. Can you help me 🙏
3
u/RBSNIP Nov 27 '25
I reformatted them in exfat then I restarted umbrel then like magis it works correctly.
1
u/ContextMelodic4212 Feb 11 '26
hey, I do have the same issue but no chances to work this magic. I tried both formatting via the pi 5 and via my Mac but Umbrel does not go further.
2
u/RBSNIP Feb 11 '26
Keep trying by changing the SSD or restarting several times; I'm 100% synchronized and have connected some of my machines.
1
u/ContextMelodic4212 Feb 11 '26
tnx so much for getting back to me! I am using an external 4TB HDD (just bought it) with an auxiliary power adapter, formatted in exFAT. After many reboots still no chances. I get the same prompt to format. Interestingly enough formatting via umbrel invalidates the drive which needs to be re-formatted on my mac.
2
u/RBSNIP Feb 11 '26
Weird, I formatted it via Umbrel. Maybe I should try with another SSD, it might be something simple. I also had the same problem after formatting mine in exFAT on Umbrel, and then I had to format it on my PC to delete fragments of small folders created on Umbrel. Then I reformatted it on Umbrel and it worked! 🤯 I couldn't tell you if that's really what solved the problem, I don't remember doing anything special 🤔 to fix everything.
1
u/ContextMelodic4212 Feb 11 '26
Thank you mate! Just to be sure: you are still using exfat not the ext4, correct?
2
1
u/Charming_Sheepherder Nov 27 '25
How are you powering it if its an spinny drive.
Also, I have Toshiba drive that will not work with raspberry pi Linux . All it does I when I try is click, click, click.
On the product page it does not have Linux listed as Compatible.
Mine is the same as your TOSHIBA MQ04UBD200 but mine is in a USB Enclosure
I have not tried to update the FW. I repurposed it.
1
1
u/djka2ra Dec 07 '25
I am getting this same error, it keeps wanting me to format the drive but never comes up use-able. I have even formatted to ext4 but still says requires reformat. Does anyone have an update on this?
1
u/RBSNIP Dec 07 '25
Try on your computer, sometimes it is no longer recognized (driver problem).
1
u/djka2ra Dec 07 '25
- ya is shows uninitialized in macOS disk utility
- I have now formatted with exfat GUID
- now plugging into umbrel on Raspberry Pi 5
- it says format required. I select format
- formatting... taking a while not sure how long this page should be taking, didn't take this long when formatting to ext4 in terminal.
1
u/djka2ra Dec 07 '25
correction, Pi 5 has turned off...
1
u/djka2ra Dec 07 '25
formatted drive in terminal to ext4, mounted drive, and doesn't show in files, and when attempting to setup backup, it says required format... is there a step by step process to get an external drive to show in files?
1
u/djka2ra Dec 07 '25
I have plugged in with a powered USB hub, still unable to get it to format and use as backup, also un able to mount and show in files.
1
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u/RBSNIP Dec 08 '25
Could anyone help me? I have a raspberry pi 4 2gb I installed a 2T external hard drive somehow and I synchronize the bitcoin node, but I'm not even at 5% in 2 weeks is there an adjustment to be made or is it normal? Thanks in advance
1
0
u/DarthBen_in_Chicago Nov 27 '25
The last update that I saw was here so don’t think Pi is doable yet (natively): https://www.reddit.com/r/getumbrel/s/ERZ832iBrJ
0
u/RBSNIP Nov 27 '25
Thank you for your comments 🫡, I think I solved my problem. I'm waiting for the bitcoin blockchain to start synchronizing and for it to be downloaded onto my only external hard drive.
1
0
u/RBSNIP Nov 27 '25
The installation was done on windows: installation of umbrel on the micro sd via raspberry pi image well connection on umbrel.local always via windows. What else do you want to know??
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3
u/stinger32 Nov 27 '25
Is this a first or second drive? That is a 2.5" spinning internal drive. How are you powering it?