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User profile for user: blungas
blungas Author
User level: Level 1
25 points

My portable usb hard drive icons have become blank!

I have a macbook air running on Mojave 10.14.6

Today suddenly my external portable hard drive icons went blank...ie there is a blank white page instead of the usual orange/gold icon. The names of the drives are still present...please see screenshot below:

Posted on Jun 19, 2021 8:55 PM

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User profile for user: Axel Foley
Axel Foley
User level: Level 10
149,592 points

Posted on Jun 20, 2021 12:17 PM

Have you tried the following to address the issue?:

  1. Have you tried rebooting your MacBook Air?
  2. Have you tried ejecting your USB Drives and then Connecting them again?
  3. Can you still double click on those icons and display the drives' contents?


If you have tried all of the above and the issue still exists then-

  1. Reset SMC by following the directions applicable to your MacBook here ➔ How to Reset SMC. If that does not solve things then-
  2. Reset NVRAM/PRAM by following the directions applicable to your MacBook here ➔ How to Reset NVRAM/PRAM. If that does not solve things then-
  3. Enter ➔ Safe Mode and see if the issue still exists in Safe mode. Log out of Safe Mode and then reboot computer. If that does not solve things then-


Axel F.

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User profile for user: Axel Foley
Axel Foley
User level: Level 10
149,592 points

Jun 20, 2021 12:17 PM in response to blungas

Have you tried the following to address the issue?:

  1. Have you tried rebooting your MacBook Air?
  2. Have you tried ejecting your USB Drives and then Connecting them again?
  3. Can you still double click on those icons and display the drives' contents?


If you have tried all of the above and the issue still exists then-

  1. Reset SMC by following the directions applicable to your MacBook here ➔ How to Reset SMC. If that does not solve things then-
  2. Reset NVRAM/PRAM by following the directions applicable to your MacBook here ➔ How to Reset NVRAM/PRAM. If that does not solve things then-
  3. Enter ➔ Safe Mode and see if the issue still exists in Safe mode. Log out of Safe Mode and then reboot computer. If that does not solve things then-


Axel F.

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User profile for user: blungas
blungas Author
User level: Level 1
25 points

Jun 20, 2021 4:43 PM in response to Axel Foley

Hi Axel...cheers for your response.

Yes I have now tried all of the above except for safe mode.

I have even reinstalled macOS but the problem persists.

Yes I can double click on the blank icons and see the drives' contents.

They are functioning as normal except for the icon image.

I'm concerned that this could be an indication of things to come!!!

I will go to safe mode and get back to you if there are any changes.


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My portable usb hard drive icons have become blank!

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