Quick Answer
The reset button on Seagate external hard drives is typically located on the back of the drive near the interfaces. It is a small pinhole that needs to be pressed with a paperclip or similar object to trigger a reset. Pressing this button will restart the hard drive without losing data.
Detailed Steps to Locate the Reset Button
Here are the detailed steps to find the reset button on your Seagate external hard drive model:
For Seagate Backup Plus Desktop Drive
1. Turn the drive over so the back/bottom is facing up.
2. Locate the small circular hole next to the power port. This is the reset button.
3. Insert a straightened paperclip or similiar slender object into the hole.
4. Press gently until you feel it click.
5. The drive will restart itself. Do not power it off during this process.
For Seagate Expansion Portable Drive
1. Locate the interface/activity lights section on the side of the drive.
2. Just below the lights, you will see a tiny pinhole. This is the reset button.
3. Take a paperclip and straighten it out. Insert it into the pinhole.
4. Gently press until you feel it click.
5. The drive will reset and restart. Allow it to complete this process.
For Seagate Backup Plus Hub/Desktop Hub
1. Turn the drive over to access the underside.
2. Near the power port is a small circular indentation. This is the reset button.
3. Take a paperclip and unfold it. Insert the end into the hole.
4. Press gently until a click is felt.
5. The drive will restart itself – do not interrupt it.
For Seagate Backup Plus Ultra Touch/Slim/Portable
1. Locate the short end of the drive where the interface port is.
2. Just above the port is a tiny pinhole. This is the reset button.
3. Unfold a paperclip and insert the end into the pinhole.
4. Press gently until you feel a click.
5. Allow the drive to reset itself fully. Do not disconnect power during this process.
Why Reset Your Seagate Drive?
Resetting your Seagate external storage drive can be useful in several situations:
- The drive is not being detected or showing up
- You are experiencing performance issues or slow transfer speeds
- Errors like “parameter incorrect” are appearing
- Trouble accessing the data on the drive
- As a troubleshooting step before reformatting
Resetting the drive will restart it and recalibrate any internal components without losing the data stored on it. Often it can resolve minor glitches and connectivity issues.
Will Resetting Delete My Data?
No, resetting the Seagate drive just restarts it – your data will NOT be deleted or reformatted. It simply reboots the drive’s internal controller and electronics.
Think of it as restarting your computer versus a full factory reset. The former just reboots it while the latter wipes all data.
Best Practices When Resetting
Follow these best practices when resetting your Seagate external hard drive:
- Backup your data – always good to be safe
- Use a straightened-out paperclip, pen, or similiar slender object
- Gently press the reset button until a click is felt
- Never disconnect or power off the drive during a reset
- Wait for the reset process to fully complete before reconnecting
- Try your drive’s access again before attempting further troubleshooting
Resetting is a safe process that will not harm your data. But having backups provides peace of mind when performing maintenance on any storage device.
Helpful Video on Resetting Seagate Drives
Here is a short 1-minute video demonstrating the reset process on a Seagate Backup Plus drive:
Alternative Reset Options
If you cannot locate the physical reset button on your Seagate drive, there are a few other options to reset it:
Via Disk Management
1. Open Disk Management (press Windows key and type “diskmgmt.msc”)
2. Right-click on the disk and choose “Offline”
3. Right-click again and select “Online”. This will reset the drive.
Via Device Manager
1. Access Device Manager (press Windows key and type “devmgmt.msc”)
2. Expand the Disk Drives section
3. Right-click the Seagate drive and select “Disable”
4. Right-click it again and choose “Enable” to reset it
Via Command Prompt
1. Open an elevated Command Prompt as administrator
2. Type “diskpart” and press Enter
3. Type “list disk” to identify the Seagate drive’s disk number
4. Type “select disk X” (replace X with your disk number)
5. Type “offline disk” to take it offline
6. Type “online disk” to bring it online and reset
Conclusion
In summary, resetting your Seagate external drive is a handy troubleshooting step if you are having issues. It does not delete data but simply restarts the drive’s hardware and controller. The reset button itself is typically located on the exterior case – consult your drive’s manual for its exact position. With a paperclip, press gently until a click is felt. Wait for the process to finish before reconnecting the drive. Backups are always a good idea before maintaining storage devices.
