# Plex not recognizing external HD files **URL:** \ **Category:** Plex Media Server\ **Tags:** server-mac\ **Created:** [March 15, 2022, 3:38pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-not-recognizing-external-hd-files/780726 "2022-03-15T15:38:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![George\_Hood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b77776/32.png) [@George\_Hood](https://forums.plex.tv/u/George_Hood)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2022, 3:38pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-not-recognizing-external-hd-files/780726/1 "2022-03-15T15:38:59Z")
I am a Plex pass member. Yesterday I updated my 2017 iMac i7 to MacOS Monterey 12.3. Ever since Plex will not recognize my Seagate external hard drive. The TV, Movie files are recognized by the computer as they play on the computer. When accessing files thru Plex they are unavailable and the Playback error says Please check the permissions for this file. Hope this is an easy fix. Please help. ---
**Author:** ![tom80H](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/tom80h/32/19753_2.png) [@tom80H](https://forums.plex.tv/u/tom80H)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2022, 3:40pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-not-recognizing-external-hd-files/780726/2 "2022-03-15T15:40:32Z")
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**Author:** ![tom80H](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/tom80h/32/19753_2.png) [@tom80H](https://forums.plex.tv/u/tom80H)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2022, 3:43pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-not-recognizing-external-hd-files/780726/3 "2022-03-15T15:43:02Z")
You might need to configure macOS to grant Plex access to your external / network drives. See `System Settings` \> `Security` \> `Data Protection` – this should be in the `Files and Folders` section. ---
**Author:** ![George\_Hood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b77776/32.png) [@George\_Hood](https://forums.plex.tv/u/George_Hood)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2022, 3:47pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-not-recognizing-external-hd-files/780726/4 "2022-03-15T15:47:51Z")
I already looked into that, under PLEX Media Server, Removable Volumes is checked. Is that what you were referring to? ---
**Author:** ![tom80H](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/tom80h/32/19753_2.png) [@tom80H](https://forums.plex.tv/u/tom80H)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2022, 3:50pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-not-recognizing-external-hd-files/780726/5 "2022-03-15T15:50:25Z")
That’s the one. Does the issue persist if you disable and re-enable access to removable volumes? Do you see the drive (and its content) when you use the `Add Folder` dialog in the library options? ---
**Author:** ![George\_Hood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b77776/32.png) [@George\_Hood](https://forums.plex.tv/u/George_Hood)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2022, 4:00pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-not-recognizing-external-hd-files/780726/6 "2022-03-15T16:00:55Z")
The issues persist after disable and re-enable access. I see the listed files and receive the same error when trying to play. ---
**Author:** ![George\_Hood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b77776/32.png) [@George\_Hood](https://forums.plex.tv/u/George_Hood)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2022, 4:09pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-not-recognizing-external-hd-files/780726/7 "2022-03-15T16:09:44Z")
Went to Add Folder in the library option and the external HD did not show up. ---
**Author:** ![tom80H](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/tom80h/32/19753_2.png) [@tom80H](https://forums.plex.tv/u/tom80H)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2022, 4:23pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-not-recognizing-external-hd-files/780726/8 "2022-03-15T16:23:52Z")
Are you running the Plex Media Server under your regular account from which you can access the HDD through Finder? ---
**Author:** ![George\_Hood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b77776/32.png) [@George\_Hood](https://forums.plex.tv/u/George_Hood)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2022, 4:53pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-not-recognizing-external-hd-files/780726/9 "2022-03-15T16:53:42Z")
The external HD resides on my desktop. Thru Finder, Go, desktop, the external HD does not show up. ---
**Author:** ![tom80H](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/tom80h/32/19753_2.png) [@tom80H](https://forums.plex.tv/u/tom80H)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2022, 5:17pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-not-recognizing-external-hd-files/780726/10 "2022-03-15T17:17:25Z")
macOS might display external drives on your desktop but they should all be mounted in `/Volumes/`. ---
**Author:** ![George\_Hood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b77776/32.png) [@George\_Hood](https://forums.plex.tv/u/George_Hood)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2022, 5:21pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-not-recognizing-external-hd-files/780726/11 "2022-03-15T17:21:17Z")
Internal and external HD show up in /volumes/ ---
**Author:** ![tom80H](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/tom80h/32/19753_2.png) [@tom80H](https://forums.plex.tv/u/tom80H)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2022, 5:29pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-not-recognizing-external-hd-files/780726/12 "2022-03-15T17:29:11Z")
I’m a bit confused but I suppose you can see the external Seagate drive under `/Volumes/` in Finder but you cannot see that path through Plex. Have you already tried rebooting your server? IIRC there can be some hiccups if macOS changes something about a mounted volume. ---
**Author:** ![George\_Hood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b77776/32.png) [@George\_Hood](https://forums.plex.tv/u/George_Hood)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2022, 5:32pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-not-recognizing-external-hd-files/780726/13 "2022-03-15T17:32:32Z")
Yes, I’ve rebooted the computer, external HD and router. Netflix, Disney, prime etc streams fine thru Roku. ---
**Author:** ![George\_Hood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b77776/32.png) [@George\_Hood](https://forums.plex.tv/u/George_Hood)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2022, 6:35pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-not-recognizing-external-hd-files/780726/14 "2022-03-15T18:35:50Z")
Any other suggestions? thanks ---
**Author:** ![SE56](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/se56/32/222425_2.png) [@SE56](https://forums.plex.tv/u/SE56)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2022, 9:27pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-not-recognizing-external-hd-files/780726/15 "2022-03-15T21:27:55Z")
Have you added your user account ![Screen Shot 2022-03-16 at 7.27.33 am](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/4X/8/8/a/88afa69410dead1185f42aa622f8c9306359423c.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![George\_Hood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b77776/32.png) [@George\_Hood](https://forums.plex.tv/u/George_Hood)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2022, 9:42pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-not-recognizing-external-hd-files/780726/16 "2022-03-15T21:42:33Z")
I’m not sure how to access the Add Folder. Can you walk me thru it? ---
**Author:** ![tom80H](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/tom80h/32/19753_2.png) [@tom80H](https://forums.plex.tv/u/tom80H)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2022, 9:45pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-not-recognizing-external-hd-files/780726/17 "2022-03-15T21:45:49Z")
1. Edit the library (`⋮` \> `Manage Library` \> `Edit...`) 2. Select the `Add Folder` tab 3. Click `Add Folder` ---
**Author:** ![George\_Hood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b77776/32.png) [@George\_Hood](https://forums.plex.tv/u/George_Hood)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2022, 9:53pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-not-recognizing-external-hd-files/780726/18 "2022-03-15T21:53:09Z")
The user name is there. ---
**Author:** ![SE56](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/se56/32/222425_2.png) [@SE56](https://forums.plex.tv/u/SE56)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2022, 10:06pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-not-recognizing-external-hd-files/780726/19 "2022-03-15T22:06:49Z")
A couple things you can try. 1. Use a different USB port 2. Dis connect and power down your Seagate drive. Reconnect Drive and restart Computer 3. If using a hub , remove it and connect directly to your Mac 4. Reset PRAM > **[Mac startup key combinations](https://support.apple.com/en-mide/HT201255)** > > Learn about the Mac features and tools that you can access by holding down one or more keys during startup.  [https://www.fireebok.com/resource/how-to-fix-usb-drive-can-not-connect-in-macos-monterey.html](https://www.fireebok.com/resource/how-to-fix-usb-drive-can-not-connect-in-macos-monterey.html) ---
**Author:** ![George\_Hood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b77776/32.png) [@George\_Hood](https://forums.plex.tv/u/George_Hood)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2022, 10:21pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-not-recognizing-external-hd-files/780726/20 "2022-03-15T22:21:42Z")
The external drive with TV and Movies files play on the computer using VLC. I have tried the 4 suggestions still not working. When accessing files thru Plex they are unavailable and the Playback error says Please check the permissions for this file. [Next page](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-not-recognizing-external-hd-files/780726.md?page=2)