How To Fix Samsung SSD Not Detected Mac Air 

Thank you so much for taking the time to make this video!!! Super helpful, thoughtful, and refreshingly straightforward! Funny story, I was watching the video on my Mac, following along, and then when you shut down I shut down my system also! You can imagine my shock and embarrassment when the video seemed to abruptly end and I face palmed myself, lol 🤦‍♂️. Either way, thanks again so much for the video.

You saved my life. Thank you so much Tom!

This might be the GOAT of all technology troubleshooting videos. You deserve an award and much more. Thank you.

I wasn't even thinking about securing my ssd. I just wanted to set up my drive. This was great! Thank you Tom!

For those who couldn't find the "Enable System Extensions", don't install it at the beginning or uninstall the software. Start with recovery mode instructions shown in the video and THEN install the Samsung software. It should then have a pop up/props asking to allow the software to be unblocked. Hope this helps!

Thank you, Tom! It felt really scary to do, especially that particular shutdown and reboot, yet it worked out well in the end!

I was very close to smashing my brand new Samsung T7 in to pieces after being misled by an abundance of misinformation and I even made an unnecessary purchase, which did not resolve my issue. I followed this video, on my phone not on my Mac, step by step, and each and every step was dead on. My next step was to return the Samsung T7 to Best Buy for a refund. No need for that now.

I had to wade through so many videos and google searches that were either not clear, confusing, or down right not helpful. Then I found this! Thank you so much for making a well made and easy to understand video. I just wish I had found it a lot sooner.

I've been struggling with this problem for a few days, but thanks to you, it's been solved well. Thank you so much. :)

A year later, I'm using the new MacBook Pro with the M3 chip and this fix STILL works! Thank you SO much!

Thank you so much for making this video! Really appreciate it 🙌

I would like to thank you for the video which solved my issue with T7 and Macbook Air 2022 too 👍 I would like to add that if you had already installed the software, you need to reinstall it after doing all the steps in the video.

I urgently needed space on my computer in order to work and when I stumbled in this issue I was about to cry. Thanks to your tutorial, with your clear and straight to the point explanations I was able to fix it at the first attempt. Thank you SO much! 🙏🏻

Bought Samsung SSD T7 a day ago and this video has been a god send. Thanks for the instructions and very helpful in resolving the issue.

Thank you so much! 🤩 I just bought the new 2024 MacBook (First Mac ever) and T5 was not connecting. I was panicking. Then I followed every step in this video and it worked!! I’m really grateful your for video. 🤩👍🏼

Thanks 🙏🏽 Tom I just bought a new 💻 MacBook Pro & T9 and was lost on why the drivers wasn’t working on it, this video helped out a lot & saved my hair!! Keep up the great work sir

I was not willing to give extensions access to my kernel. It seemed like a weird requirement. Skipped that part of the directions and it still fixed the issue for me.

Thank you so much!! One question, will this going to effect my Macbook M1 security?

Dude! Thanks man. Just spared me all the research and troubleshooting with Google and saved me so much time. Easy peasy with your video. Awesome!

Thanks Tom! I have a question. I used this fix a few months ago but now I'm unable to get the system to recognize the SSD again. I noticed in my startup security settings was not at reduced security anymore and changed it (possibly happened after a Mac update like you mentioned you also had to do). I've rebooted, shut down, etc. but it still won't recognize it. I have a MacBook Pro 14" M2. Any suggestions?

Thank you very much Tom, I spent six hours on the phone with Samsung and they could not fix this problem. It took you three minutes to solve the issue and fix it. Thank you very much.

I am using an MBP M2 Max, and the way to get into the recovery mode was holding: shift + Ctrl + Option + Power Button (AT THE SAME TIME, this is important). Holding the power button only didn't work for me. Thanks for the video! Saved me a lot of time. Kudos! 👏

Just did it after desperately following hundred of tips from the apple and samsung forums - thank you so much!!!

This was extremely helpful thank you!. I was about to give up. I didn't get exactly what you showed at the end in the settings but it worked.

Does enabling system extensions have any potential drawbacks and/or pose any security threats to the computer? I know very little about computers so thank you for entertaining this question 😅

This was so so helpful!!! Thanks a ton Tom ✨

I stumbled across your video setting up my new MacBook Air. Thank you so much for the tips, it helped me with my Samsung SSD.

Hi Tom thanks for the video! Once installed do we need to revert security settings!

Hi Tom! Thanks for your video! Unfortunately, it is still not working on our macbooks. Do you have any tips?

Hi thanks for the amazing instructions! I'm concerned this might reduce the security of my MacBook and make it more prone to viruses? it might be silly but I have no idea haha what do you think??

Just wow at this it worked! Wont my security settings be compromised though??

Thanks, Tom, much appreciated. It did work with my iMac, but I cannot make it work with my new MacMini M2.+ monitor. I'm puzzled.

Perfect. Simple instructions- followed them to a tee, and it worked. Subscribed… it’s the least I could do!

Thanks for the video! Nowadays I use Sonoma OS on my MB M 1 and program ''Samsung Magician"is it the same program/app as "Samsung Portable" ??

Hi Tom I do not get "Allow", nor do I even get "Enable System Extensions". It only has the option to choose App Store or App Store & identified developers, but nothing more than that. Any ideas?? I'm running Big Sur 11.7.1 on a 9 year old Air by the way. thanks for any help, Im simply awful at this stuff

I just bought a brand new T7 today and my Finder app wasn’t working at all, this video saved my life!

I knew the Samsung T7 Touch would have issues like this. What a pain. I had to have my new Mac and my old Mac going side by side just to watch the video and reboot and so on as I followed along. Mostly the same on new MacBook Pro M3 (December 2023). I would definitely not buy the Touch version of this drive again. I've been very happy with the regular Samsung T7 SSDs I've bought (two) and no issues. This was exactly as I figured it would be -- zero help from the Samsung site and a lot of wasted time. Thanks for the help. Samsung should pay you.

Lifesaver. I’ve been using Microsoft PCs for 40 years. Never had this problem with hard drives. And I’m talking pre Windows DoS. I’ve had a Mac Mini M2 for literally 2 days and I have to do this to install an external SSD. Apple should give you a large payment and Samsung include a link to your video with ever SSD sold. Hilarious that a Mac is supposed to be easier to use than MS! 😂

Thank you so much. This worked perfectly! I have a question though can we switch it back to full security? Will it work after that?

Thank you so much. Other people may have given up on their pricey SSD if it weren’t for you.

You have saved us all so much time. Thank you, Tom!!!

Thank you so much!!! This video helped me easily resolve this issue. I was ready to just buy a new one!

Thank you for sharing this video. I almost packed up the T9 and then saw your video. Glad I did. Thank u.

Finally was able to get my T7 to work on my Macbook Air M2. Tried the method from this video to no avail, just wouldn't work. My workaround was to turn off the security/encryption on the T7. To do this I downloaded the "Samsung portable ssd 1.0" (Samsung Magician) from the Google Play Store and installed on my android phone. I was then able to disable the security/encryption on the T7. Works like a charm now on the Macbook (Ventura 13.4), albeit no security. I'm just grateful to have access to the data on my T7, so for me an acceptable outcome.

Hi Mr. Tom, if my case is I don't have that option "allow" on the allows app downloaded from : Then how I should proceed this? Thanks!

Hey Tom, i tried the following steps however i never get the see the “enable system extensions” section under privacy and security. My screen just shows the allow applications downloaded from section. Any idea?

Hello Tom, thank you so much for the video this was so clear!! Unfortunetly I’ve done the hole procedure and it still doesn’t work for me :( Do you have any advices ? Please 🙏

Hey Tom I don’t get the enable Touch ID option, so do I shut it down manually and then do whatever you did ? Will that work ?

I know I’m adding to the flood of existing positive comments, but videos like this genuinely make the world a better place. Thank you a million times over!

It's UNACCEPTABLE that a normal consumer should be doing these things. Absolutely nuts SHAME on Samsung.

Thank you so much. Took me about 5 tries to finally try to find a video about it on RU-vid.

Thanks mate just set mine up with all your simple and easy to follow instructions

Dear Toms, thank you so much for this clear explanation that helps a lot. Just a little different path for the Os Ventura system on Macbook Pro but not to difficult to find thanks to your clear guidance. Thanks again.

Before any of this… are you using a high-speed data cable??? That fixed my problem!

Thanks for the video. I followed the steps and was able to change the security setting. However, the PSSD tool is still not able to recognize the Samsung T7 Touch. I’m am using Sonoma 14.1. What am I missing?

Thank you for this video. It doesn't work for me yet. But maybe you can help me further. When I go to Startup security Utility, I only get the option of setting a firmware password protection. There is no option to set the Security policy. It's on a macbook pro Retina. Any suggestions?

THANK YOU! Samsung customer service wouldnt help me, but this fixed it. thank you so much, saved all my data

Worked perfect, thank you. Just got the new Mac mini M2 and installed the software for the SSD and initially the software worked no problem, Then I noticed that the Samsung Drive name on my desktop changed from T7 to 46i which I thought was weird. I then tried to open the Samsung software and it didn't work, said couldn't find. Not sure what happened.

Thank you so much 😊 Finally it is working However when I use preview to look on my pictures I cannot delete them. It says I don’t have permissions an to open Finder. I don’t get it. On windows I simply press delete and job done. It starting to be frustrating. I was thinking that Mac OS is easy and “for people” To open drive special procedure. Then cannot delete files… ech…😢

This worked for my MacBook Pro M1 🎉 cheers and thank u for the step by step brotha!!

should I change back to normal settings in the recovery mode once I do this? Will that be okay?

Fantastic - thank you for posting this, it was spot-on and saved a lot of frustration.

Thank you for sharing this information, I was able to follow your instructions to a tee. Absolutely brilliant!!!

Fantastic. This helped with the same problem on my MacBook Pro and with a few other app issues as well.

The most reassuring video I have ever seen. I would have been too scared to do any of this on my own 😭

Thank you very much ! You saved my Samsung Portable SSD !

Hi Tom, For a while I am using Samsung 860 EVO 4TB 2.5inch SSD as an external hard drive using an external drive enclosure in my MacBook Pro(macOS Sonoma ). And all of sudden it is not being detected in my Mac or showing up in disk utilities, I only see internal hard drive details only. I need some inputs from you and any help will be really appreciated. Thank you

Worked like a charm. Thanks so much for this tutorial!

good day! i really need help. my macbook doesn't have "enable system extensions". i have the same problem with my disk. i really need help 🙏🏼

Thanks! Very helpful! This helped me with my new MacBook Pro m2.

You are definitely a god sent! I gave up on my ssd a long time ago a T5 thanks to this video im able yo use it again

Is there any problem with me keeping these settings made on the encrypted disk? I mean, allow "user management of kernel extensions from identified"? Should I undo the process after the SSD opens?

Thanks for such a simple fix for an intractable problem.

Thank u so much ! I can setup a password now ! Is there any option to „remember“ my Mac book so it doesn’t ask for a password every time ? And only asks for the password if connected to a new device ?

Very useful information thank you Tom

I’m on a MBP from 2017. Recently updated to Ventura 13.6.7 and my X5 stopped working. I downloaded the latest driver, tried different cables and all but nothing works. When I boot with command R pressed down I get to the same menu as you show but don’t have the same options. Do you have any idea what to do?

Any chance of doing a RU-vid clip on a solution for IPad Pro’s that wont recognise Samsung ssd T7?

Thank you for this. I was able to get the Samsung software to see the drive. Alas my next problem is that disc utility won’t erase it so I can reformat for Time Machine backups. Has anyone else had this issue? Thanks.

Thank you ever so much for this! I nearly tore my hair out before finding your excellent video. A bit of a scandal that it says that this drive works with Mac when you almost need to be a hacker to get it to work

Hi Tom great video however I have the ability to allow accessories to connect but my Mac will still not see the T7 any other thoughts

Thanks again mate, wouldnt know what to do without u 👍

Thank you so much, I was pulling my hair out, appreciate you taking time to record this!

Thanks this video helped the same issue I was having!

Thank you very much, sir! Managed to connect a T5 to my Macbook Pro M1. Cheers! 😊

This video eased a great frustration. Thank you good sir. You are much appreciated. Blessings.

Thank you for this fix. I was able to get MBP to recognize the SSD, but now there is an update and it's telling me "to turn off the Security Mode so the update can proceed." Can you please help me with this? I have iOS Ventura the latest update. Thanks.

Followed these steps exactly. ‚Allow‘ function is still not showing up. This stuff is sooo frustrating. Any tipps?

Tom you’re a legend, thanks for sharing this easy fix 🙏🏽💕

So glad I found your video when I searched that error message. Worked perfectly 👍🏻

It worked for me the first time i followed ur guide, but now it has happened again. When i try to follow your guide again, the steps has been done from the first time. What should i do now? i cant use my T7.... This is really annoying. Its the same macbook, and i've not done anything different... What is the solution if you know?

Worked for macbook air m2. Thanks

Thank you so much Tom, the only video that helped me!

Thank you a million times. Every other video was telling me to reformat.

Great video, so great forward!

I cant see the "enable system extensions" on the security section.. do u know what to do? Thanks!

Thank you Toms. But when I get to the part of "allow user management..." it appears "no administrator was found", so I can't change the startup security utility. Any ideas?

Thanks for the step by step procedure. It saved a computer and Ssd T9

Thanks! Tom this worked like a charm on my Macbook Pro 16 inch 2019. 🙂

Wait should we change the start up security back to full once we’ve allowed Samsung electronics?

Thank you looked at many videos. Lost hope but you helped me solve the problem.