How to shuck a WD My Cloud Home HDD and extract the data from it?

The WD My Cloud Home is a popular personal cloud storage device, but it comes with limitations such as proprietary firmware, restricted third-party app support, and eventual hardware failure risks. If your My Cloud Home has stopped working or you're looking to recover or repurpose the drive, shucking the drive (removing it from its enclosure) may be necessary to access the data directly.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to shuck a WD My Cloud Home and retrieve your data.

⚠️ Important Disclaimer

Shucking your WD My Cloud Home:

Voids the warranty

Can result in data loss if not done carefully

May require Linux or special software to read the drive, especially if it uses RAID or Linux file systems (e.g., ext4)

Proceed only if you understand the risks.

🔧 What You'll Need

Plastic prying tool or guitar pick

Small Phillips-head screwdriver

SATA-to-USB adapter or docking station

A computer (preferably with Linux support or third-party file system tools)

🛠️ Step 1: Remove the Enclosure (Shuck the Drive)

Power off the WD My Cloud Home and disconnect all cables.

Use a plastic prying tool to carefully open the seam between the front and back plastic shell. Start at the top and work your way around.

Once the case is open, slide the internal frame out of the enclosure.

Unscrew the drive from the metal mounting bracket.

Detach the drive carefully from the small SATA bridge board.

You now have access to the bare 3.5” WD Red (or White label) hard drive.

💻 Step 2: Connect the HDD to Your Computer

Use a SATA-to-USB adapter, external hard drive dock, or connect directly via SATA cable if using a desktop.

Plug the drive into your computer.

Note: Most WD My Cloud Home drives use Linux-based filesystems, so Windows users may not see the data.

🧩 Step 3: Access the Data

If You're Using Windows:

Use tools like DiskInternals Linux Reader, Ext2Fsd, or UFS Explorer to read the ext4 partitions.

These tools allow read-only access to extract files from the Linux-formatted partitions.

If You're Using Linux:

Open a terminal and type lsblk to identify the drive.

Mount the ext4 partition manually:

Navigate to the mounted folder and copy the files to your local machine.

✅ Final Tips

If the drive was configured with RAID (in Duo models), you may need special tools like mdadm or RAID recovery software.

Back up your data immediately once accessible.

You can reuse the drive in a PC or NAS enclosure after formatting.

Conclusion

Shucking a WD My Cloud Home allows you to bypass failed hardware or restrictive firmware and recover your data directly. With basic tools and caution, it’s a straightforward process—but be prepared for Linux filesystems and potential data recovery steps. Always handle drives carefully to avoid permanent damage or loss.