How to Repair an External Hard Drive in Windows 10

If your external hard drive is not functioning properly due to errors, you can try repairing it using the built-in tools in Windows 10. Here’s how to do it:

Run Disk Error Checking

Plug in your external hard disk.
Open File Explorer by pressing the Windows keys button E.
Go to This PC.
Right-click your external hard disk under Devices and drives.
Select Properties.
Go to the Tools tab.
Under Error checking, click Check.
If prompted, click Yes or enter the administrator password.
Click Scan drive > Repair drive.
Wait for the process to finish. The scanning process may take a while depending on the size of your external hard disk and the specifications of your PC.

Run the CHKDSK tool

Plug in your external hard disk.
Click the Start button.
Type Command Prompt.
Right-click Command Prompt and then select Run as administrator.
On the Command Prompt screen, type the command below:
chkdsk : /f
would be the letter assigned to your external hard disk.
For example: chkdsk E: /f
Do take note of the spaces between the command.
Again, the scanning process duration depends on the size of the external hard disk and your PC’s specifications.

If the above methods don’t work, you can try using a third-party disk repair tool like Seagate DiscWizard or Western Digital Data Lifeguard Diagnostics, depending on your external hard drive’s manufacturer.

If the errors persist or your external hard drive is physically damaged, it’s best to contact the manufacturer for further assistance or consider replacing the drive.