My Passport not shown in Windows 11 File Explorer while WD Drive Utility does

WD External Drives WD Portable Drives
1

My Passport not shown on File Explorer of Windows 11 on my PC, while WD Drive Utility does show and even pass SMART status and Quick Drive Test. Also, Disk Drives on Device Manager shows My Passport.

Strange enough, My Passport works well on my ThinkPad with Windows 11.

2

Hi @ChrisHong,

Have you opened a Support Case? If not opened, for more information, please contact the WD Technical Support team for the best assistance and troubleshooting:
https://support-en.wd.com/app/ask

3

Your WD My Passport drive isn’t appearing in Windows 11 File Explorer on your PC, despite being recognized by the WD Drive Utility and Device Manager. This issue can be resolved through several troubleshooting steps.
First, it’s worth checking if the drive has been assigned a drive letter in Disk Management. If not, you can assign one to it, which may make it visible in File Explorer. Another possibility is that the drive’s file system isn’t compatible with Windows 11, in which case reformatting the drive to NTFS might be necessary, though this will erase its data.
Ensure your USB controller drivers are up-to-date, as outdated or incompatible drivers can lead to recognition issues. Disconnect and reconnect the drive to different USB ports and consider running the WD Drive Utility or File Explorer in compatibility mode. Testing the drive on another Windows 11 PC can also help pinpoint the issue.
Lastly, make sure your Windows 11 installation is up-to-date and consider contacting WD support for further assistance if none of these steps resolve the problem. Remember to back up any crucial data before making significant changes.