What is an external hard drive password?
An external hard drive password is a security measure that protects access to the data on an external hard drive. It requires users to enter a password to unlock and access the drive contents once it is connected to a computer or device.
The purpose of passwords on external hard drives is mainly to provide security and privacy. Passwords prevent unauthorized access if the drive is lost or stolen. They also stop others from seeing personal or confidential data if sharing the same computer. Encrypting the entire drive with a password encodes the data so only those with the correct password can access it.
Common uses for password protected external hard drives include:
- Storing sensitive documents like tax returns or financial records
- Backing up personal photos, videos, and other media
- Transferring work files containing private customer data
- Keeping irreplaceable data safe from ransomware attacks
In summary, external hard drive passwords provide a way to restrict visibility and protect valuable or private information from unauthorized access.
Reasons to Remove the Password
There are several common reasons why you may want to remove password protection from your external hard drive:
Forgotten Password
If you have forgotten the password to your external hard drive, removing the password completely may be the only way to regain access to the data. Trying different password combinations is very difficult given the encryption methods used.
Want to Access Drive from Multiple Devices
Password protection limits the external hard drive to being accessed only from devices where the password is input. Removing password protection allows the drive to be accessed freely from any device.
No Longer Need the Security
If you no longer have sensitive data stored on the external drive, you may decide the extra security of a password is unnecessary. Removing password protection makes the drive faster and easier to access and use.
Want to Reset/Change Password
Sometimes it can be easier to completely remove password protection and then set a new password, rather than trying to change an existing password.
Selling or Gifting the Drive
You’ll need to remove password protection from an external hard drive before selling or gifting it to someone else. This allows the new owner to use the drive freely.
Before Removing Password Protection
Before deciding to remove password protection from your external hard drive, it’s important to understand the potential security risks associated with doing so. Removing password protection essentially makes the data on the drive more vulnerable, as anyone with physical access could plug it in and access the contents without authentication (1). This exposes your sensitive files, photos, financial information etc. to unauthorized access if the drive gets lost or stolen.
To mitigate risks, it’s highly recommended you back up any important data on the drive before removing password protection (2). This ensures you have copies stored securely elsewhere. You may also want to take note of the current password, in case you decide to re-enable protection later on the same drive.
Overall, proceed with caution when disabling password protection on an external hard drive. While it may provide some convenience, it also removes a layer of security from your data.
(1) https://www.computerworld.com/article/2481347/the-down-side-of-hard-drive-passwords.html
(2) https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/RisksOfPortableDevices.pdf
Using manufacturer tools
Many external hard drive manufacturers provide their own software tools to manage passwords and encryption on their drives. This is often the easiest way to remove password protection if you know the current password.
For Western Digital (WD) drives, you can use the WD Security tool. This can be downloaded from the official WD website. Once installed, open WD Security, select your locked drive, and click “Unlock Drive.” You will be prompted to enter the current password. After unlocking, go to “Settings” then “Security” and select “Remove Password.” Enter the current password again and click “Update Security Settings” to remove the password.
Seagate drives use the Seagate Dashboard software. You can download it from Seagate. Once open, click on your locked drive, select “Manage Drive” and enter your password to unlock it. Then select “Remove Drive Lock” and confirm to remove password protection.
Always download manufacturer software directly from the company website and avoid third party sites to ensure you get the official utility.
Using disk utility options
Disk utilities built into Windows and Mac operating systems provide a way to erase and reformat password-protected external hard drives, removing the password in the process.
On Windows, you can use the Disk Management utility. Connect the password-protected drive, right-click on it and select Format. Choose your desired file system, check “Quick Format”, and start the process. This will delete all data but remove the password lock.
On Mac, open Disk Utility, select the locked drive, click Erase, choose a format like APFS or ExFAT, name it if desired, then click Erase to wipe the drive. This will factory reset the drive and disable password protection according to instructions from Apple.
The limitation is that this method will erase all data on the drive. So if you need to recover files, you’ll want to try other password removal options first. Overall, disk utilities provide a quick and integrated way to reset external drives in the cost of data loss.
Using third party software
There are a few third party software options that can be used to remove a password from an external hard drive. One popular option is Hiren’s BootCD (https://www.hirensbootcd.org/). This is a bootable CD that contains various password recovery and disk unlocking tools.
The main pros of using a third party tool like Hiren’s BootCD are that it gives you access to specialized password removal software, and since it runs outside of your main OS, it can unlock drives even if you don’t remember the password. The main con is that you have to reboot your computer to use it, which interrupts your normal workflow.
To use Hiren’s BootCD to remove a password:
- Download the ISO file from their website and create a bootable CD or USB drive.
- Boot your computer from the Hiren’s BootCD media.
- Navigate to the “Password Tools” section and launch the “HDD Unlock Wizard”.
- Select your locked external hard drive and click “Unlock Drive”.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to remove the password protection.
This will bypass the existing password and give you full access to the drive. Be sure to reset the password if you still need the protection after accessing the drive.
Forgotten password options
If you have forgotten the password for your external hard drive, there are a few options you can try to regain access:
First, try entering some common or easy-to-guess passwords like “password” or “123456.” Sometimes people set simple passwords and then forget them. You can also try variations of your name, birthday, anniversary, or other memorable dates.
If simple passwords don’t work, you can try using a password recovery tool like HDD Unlock Wizard or instructions for removing the HDD password from BIOS. These tools can bypass or reset the password on many external hard drives.
As a last resort, you may need to enlist professional data recovery services. They have specialized tools and techniques to access password protected drives. However this can be an expensive option.
Before proceeding, be sure to exhaust all options for remembering or resetting the password yourself. If the drive contains sensitive data, you may also need to weigh the risks of using third-party password recovery tools versus paying for professional recovery.
What to do after removing password
After removing the password from your external hard drive, there are a few best practices to follow to keep your data secure going forward:
If you still need some level of protection on the drive, consider setting a new password using the drive utility software. Make sure to store this password in a secure place in case you need it later.
If you plan on giving away or selling your external drive, it’s highly recommended to fully erase the drive after removing the password. This ensures no sensitive personal data remains on the device. Use a secure erase tool or format the drive before handing it over.
Going forward, make sure any sensitive or private data stored on external drives remains encrypted and password protected. Enable encryption settings available in hard drive tools, operating systems, or third party encryption software to keep your data secured.
Additionally, enable password protection at the BIOS level on your computer if you want to restrict full access. This provides an extra layer of protection in case your drive ends up in the wrong hands.
It’s also a good idea to regularly back up your external drive’s data to another location in case the drive gets damaged, lost or stolen. Maintaining recent backups ensures you won’t lose access to your important files.
FAQ
Here are some common questions and issues when removing a password from an external hard drive:
What if I forgot my password?
Unfortunately, if you forgot your password, it can be very difficult or impossible to regain access to your drive. Some options include trying common default passwords like “admin” or “password”, using password cracking software, or taking it to a data recovery service – but none of these are guaranteed to work (WD External Hard Drive – Password problems!). Your best bet is to always record passwords in a safe place for future reference.
I removed the password but can’t access my files
It’s possible the hard drive became corrupted when removing password protection. Try using disk repair software before attempting data recovery. Otherwise, a data recovery service may be able to help extract your data (How to Unlock Hard Drive Password and Restore Lost Data).
Password removal failed in Disk Utility
Third party tools like Passper for Windows can sometimes succeed where built-in utilities fail. Or try rebooting and rerunning Disk Utility, as this issue is often intermittent (External Hard Drive password not working).
I forgot the password on my WD external drive
Unfortunately WD drives store the password in hardware, so there’s no backdoor to regain access if forgotten. Your only options are trying brute force password cracking or professional data recovery services.
Summary
Removing password protection from an external hard drive is a common task for those wanting to regain access, transfer data between computers, or sell their drive without giving away personal information. While there are risks to removing drive security, the process can be straightforward by using manufacturer utilities, disk tools, or third party software.
The key steps covered were using the manufacturer’s password removal tool, disk utility options like diskpart or gparted, and password cracking software. Backing up data beforehand is highly recommended. Choosing strong passwords and enabling encryption like BitLocker remains the best defense against unauthorized access.
When the original password is forgotten, options like using password hint questions, trying common password lists, or initializing the drive should be weighed carefully. Initialization erases all data but allows resetting the password. Overall, removing password protection is possible but also bypasses an important security layer.