it is locked and I've tried every thing to open it. I have high sierra and it mounts but I cannot save any thing on it. It has been Mac formatted and it works but just cannot save to it.
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
Original Title: external 2TB usb drive
MacBook, macOS 10.13
Based on what you posted, it appears you're running into a permissions issue on your 2TB USB drive. If the drive mounts and you can open it but not write to it, it's likely either locked via permissions or there's an issue with its format or disk flags.
Let's start by verifying how this drive is formatted: either as Mac OS Extended (Journaled) or APFS. To do so:
Next, let's double-check the drive's permissions.
sudo diskutil disableOwnership /Volumes/YourDriveName
Thanks 4 all your help. It IS a permissiona issue with high sierra because my other external drives function flawlessly. I'm trying to back up all my data b4 the logic board goes out. I need my data on my new Mac. I've done every thing u've written and all of that is done. I can even unlock the lock. I did 1 last info check and I see the issue. It reports that only 6.1MB is used by the app and that there's 0 space on this 2tB drive. This is why I'm getting the block icon on the smallest things I'm test copying. It's Mac extended formatted but the app got stuk when formatting or erasing the drive and now it reports there's zeero space on the drive. That explains why I can copy any thing there. I just need about 400GB for all my stuff to b copied. Please help, aid and advise.
Given you’re running a flaky macOS 10.13 configuration, best reformat it using Disk Utility, and select HFS+.
That’ll erase everything, and will resolve whatever is happening with the USB storage and its protections.
OK the logic board is not going out. I have 10.13.6 - I have Commander 1 app but how to i re-format the drive in the system u've recommened? With both apps the erase or format buttons r greyed out. I cannot re-format this external drive because it is locked some how under high sierra. What do I do now and next?
Commander One is an analog to Finder. If you’re having issues with that app — and not with Finder — then check with the Commander One support people.
If Disk Utility is not allowing a reformat of the entire device, that may well mean the storage has failed, or maybe some vendor add-on app has failed. See of the storage vendor has diagnostics available.
How do I unlock a 2TB USB drive on macOS High Sierra?
