USB-C adapter Issue? External Hard Drives Not Showing up on New MacBook Air

Just bought MacBook Air 2020 and the USB-C to A adapter to be able to plug in my external hard drive and when I plug it in, nothing shows up on the new computer - the drive doesn't connect but when I plug it in to my mid 2012 MacBook Air is registered perfectly with all data in tact.

Drive does not show up in disk utility either and cable is brand new.

help!