If you're working with large files

If you're working with large files or simply want to avoid cluttering your laptop—like in my case, where free space on my Mac is usually limited—an external hard drive is indeed an ideal solution. However, I’ve also faced the issue of my Mac not detecting my external hard drive, even though I hadn’t changed anything and was doing everything the same way as before. While Terminal can help, you might want to start by checking simpler things, like whether the Mac recognizes any connected devices at all. Maybe those easier methods will work for you!