How to fix disappearing external disk icons and file copy freezes after macOS update?

hello everyone, I recently updated my mini M2 to sequoia 15.4 (and then also to 15.4.1) and since the update if I right-click on any external hd (even usb stick) and camera card all the desktop icons disappear (even those of the disks) for a few seconds and then reappear immediately... if for example you were performing a file copy it freezes and you have to repeat the operation. If I right-click on the files inside the external disk the problem does not occur. Of course I can be careful not to right-click but it still seems like a major problem that could corrupt the files on the disks...

ps only right-clicking on the mac hd does not create problems. I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT BEFORE THE UPDATE EVERYTHING WAS WORKING CORRECTLY AND I HAVE HAD THE EXTERNAL HDDS FOR A LONG TIME AND THEY ARE IN PERFECT WORKING ORDER, and in any case the problem persists even with anything other than the boot disk, for example even with the sdd disk used for time cache it creates the problem. Does anyone know how to help me?



[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Mac mini, macOS 15.4

Posted on May 14, 2025 8:19 AM

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May 20, 2025 8:45 AM in response to carlofromverdello

See if the same thing happens in Safe Mode…


For Apple Silicon Macs: 

  1. Shut down your Mac: Choose Apple menu > Shut Down. 
  2. Press and hold the power button: Continue holding it until "Loading startup options" appears. 
  3. Select a volume: Choose the volume you want to boot from. 
  4. Hold Shift and click "Continue in Safe Mode": The computer will restart automatically. 
  5. Check Safe Boot: When you log in, you should see "Safe Boot" in the menu bar. 


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May 15, 2025 12:46 AM in response to Ian R. Brown

all the settings are already active, then the disks are visible and usable, the problem is only by right clicking on one of them (external disk) that the desktop disappears and reappears immediately, I repeat they are still functional but the thing can block for example if a copy of files is in progress...

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May 20, 2025 9:09 AM in response to carlofromverdello

Using Third Party Software to Manage External Drives

I would start there


The Operating System is well equipped to manage external drives without the Interference of these softwares



[Running] com.wdc.WD-Discovery.plist (Western Digital Corporation Branded Products Group - installed 2025-04-12)

Command: /Applications/WD Discovery/WD Discovery.app/Contents/MacOS/WD Discovery --autolaunch


[Running] com.wdc.WDTrashObserver.plist (Western Digital Corporation Branded Products Group - installed 2025-04-12)

Executable: /Applications/WD Discovery/WD Discovery.app/Contents/WDTrashObserver

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May 21, 2025 1:44 AM in response to carlofromverdello

Guessing something related to what is plugged into the Ports of the computer


As many ports there are on the computer and the Power required to power each of the various devices attached


Running a M4 Mac Mini with nothing attached except a USB Powered USB DVD Reader/Writer


Sometime I get a warning this " device is drawing too much power "


As mentioned, guess work is the best I can offer



USB:

USB 3.1 bus

VIA Labs, Inc. - USB2.0 Hub

American Power Conversion - Back-UPS ES 650G2 FW:937.a2 .I USB FW:a2

VIA Labs, Inc. - USB Billboard Device


USB 3.1 bus

VIA Labs, Inc. - USB2.0 Hub

Loupedeck - Loupedeck+

VIA Labs, Inc. - USB Billboard Device


USB 3.1 bus

<Empty>


USB 3.1 bus

SANDISK - SDDR-409


USB 3.1 bus

asmedia - ASMT1153e


USB 3.0 bus

LaCie - RaidConfig

WD - USB Hub 0A20

WD - ASM107x

Western Digital - My Book Duo 0A10


USB 3.0 bus

Realtek - USB3.1 Card Reader



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How to fix disappearing external disk icons and file copy freezes after macOS update?

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