If you're using Western Digital’s Memory Zone app and it’s not detecting your My Passport SSD, the issue could be due to a variety of hardware, software, or compatibility problems. Understanding the root cause can help you troubleshoot and resolve it more effectively.
1. Drive Format Incompatibility
One common reason for detection failure is the file system format of the SSD. Memory Zone is designed for Android devices, and it supports specific file formats like exFAT, FAT32, or NTFS (read-only on some devices). If the SSD is formatted in a less common or unsupported file system like APFS or ext4, it may not be recognized.
Solution: Connect your SSD to a computer and reformat it using exFAT, which is widely supported by Android and Memory Zone.
2. Inadequate Power Supply
Some Android devices cannot provide enough power to run external SSDs through a direct USB connection, especially high-speed SSDs like the My Passport.
Solution: Use a powered USB OTG hub. This will allow your Android device to communicate with the SSD without draining its battery or failing due to lack of power.
3. Cable or Adapter Issues
The USB-C to USB-A or USB-C to USB-C adapter you're using may be faulty, incompatible, or not supporting data transfer (only charging).
Solution: Try a different OTG-compatible cable or adapter. Make sure the cable supports USB 3.0 or higher for SSD data transfer.
4. App Permissions or Outdated App
If Memory Zone lacks storage permissions or is out of date, it may not access external drives.
Solution:
Go to Settings > Apps > Memory Zone > Permissions, and ensure Files and Media access is granted.
Open the Google Play Store and check for updates to Memory Zone.
5. Android OS Limitations
Older Android versions may not fully support external SSDs or file management apps like Memory Zone. Some Android skins (like MIUI, EMUI, etc.) may also restrict file access for third-party apps.
Solution:
Ensure your Android OS is updated.
Try accessing the SSD using the default Files app or another file manager to confirm it's not an OS-level issue.
6. SSD Health or Partition Errors
If the SSD has partition errors or a corrupt file system, it might not be recognized by any device or app.
Solution: Connect the SSD to a PC or Mac and run a diagnostic tool like WD Dashboard or chkdsk (on Windows) to check for issues. Reformatting the drive can help, but back up your data first.
7. App Limitation or Bug
Memory Zone might simply not support certain external drives or has a bug with the latest version.
Solution: As a workaround, use other apps like Total Commander or Solid Explorer, which often have better USB drive compatibility.
Final Tip
If none of the above work, try connecting a different external drive to your Android device. If that works, the issue is likely with the SSD itself. If no external drive is detected, then your phone or tablet may not support OTG properly.