Your external SSD is connected over USB 3.0 through a USB-A port, USB 3.anything else over USB-C, USB 2, through a hub or more than one condition applies.

Unplug the drive, plug it back in and see if that fixes you up. You may have to reboot after doing so but usually not.

If your Mac has TB3/4 ports, a USB 4 drive connected directly or over a USB 4 hub will not give you this grief and will run anywhere from 3x to 15x faster depending on the original connection.


BIAB 2025 Audiophile Mac
24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP
Digital Performer11, LogicPro, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScorePro64/Notion6 /Overture5