WD My Passport HDD with APFS partition failing

The WD My Passport external hard drive is a popular choice for Mac users due to its portability and large storage capacity. Many users format the drive with APFS (Apple File System), the default file system for macOS, to take advantage of faster performance, better encryption, and advanced features. However, if your WD My Passport HDD with an APFS partition is failing, it can be frustrating and risky since valuable data may be at stake. Understanding the causes, symptoms, and recovery options is essential to safeguard your files.

Common Causes of APFS Partition Failure on WD My Passport

Several factors can lead to problems with APFS-formatted WD drives:

Improper Ejection: Disconnecting the drive without properly ejecting it may corrupt the APFS structure.

File System Corruption: APFS partitions can become corrupted due to interrupted transfers, sudden power loss, or software crashes.

Physical Drive Damage: Drops, shocks, or normal wear and tear of the HDD can result in bad sectors.

Firmware or Driver Issues: Outdated macOS drivers or WD firmware conflicts can prevent proper recognition of the drive.

Overheating or Aging: Long-term use may lead to mechanical failures, and drives may fail prematurely if overheating occurs.

Symptoms of a Failing APFS Partition

When a WD My Passport HDD with an APFS partition begins to fail, you may encounter:

macOS prompts such as “The disk you inserted was not readable by this computer”.

The drive not mounting in Finder but appearing in Disk Utility.

Frequent slowdowns, beachball cursor delays, or freezing during file access.

SMART status warnings or unexpected clicking sounds.

Disk Utility reporting the partition as RAW or unformatted.

How to Troubleshoot the Issue

Use Disk Utility First

Open Disk Utility on your Mac and try First Aid on the drive. This may repair minor file system errors. However, do not attempt repeated repairs if the drive makes unusual noises, as this could worsen the damage.

Check with Terminal Commands

Using commands such as diskutil list in Terminal can confirm if the APFS partition is visible but corrupted. In some cases, running diskutil repairVolume may help.

Try Another Mac or Cable

Before assuming major failure, test the drive with another Mac system or a different USB cable. Sometimes connection issues mimic drive failure.

Data Recovery Options

If the WD My Passport HDD is still accessible but unstable, immediately back up your files to another storage device. If the APFS partition is corrupted beyond normal repair, specialized data recovery software such as Disk Drill, Stellar Data Recovery for Mac, or EaseUS can sometimes rebuild APFS partitions and recover lost data.

For drives with physical damage or severe corruption, professional data recovery services may be required. These services can be costly, but they are often the only option when important files are at risk.

Preventing Future Failures

Always safely eject your WD drive before disconnecting.

Maintain multiple backups, ideally with Time Machine or cloud storage.

Avoid using the drive in environments with high heat or humidity.

Periodically check the drive’s health using SMART monitoring tools.

Conclusion

A WD My Passport HDD with an APFS partition failing can be stressful, but acting quickly can make the difference between saving or losing your data. By identifying early warning signs, using built-in macOS tools, and relying on professional recovery when necessary, you can minimize risks and protect your valuable information.