Czkawka Does Not Show an External Drive

What to know before you begin

The drive may be offline, lack a drive letter, or be inaccessible to the process. Confirm Windows filesystem access before troubleshooting the app. The project offers several scanning modes and the current version may place controls differently in Krokiet versus the older GTK GUI. Follow the meaning of the option you see, not just a screenshot from a different release.

For Windows, verify that your chosen folder is accessible and that the correct graphical frontend is running. The recommended approach starts with a small test set, especially when an action could rename, move, delete or link files.

Step-by-step: Why can't Czkawka scan my USB or network drive?

1. Open Disk Management or File Explorer to confirm the drive is mounted.
2. Test normal file access with your current user account.
3. Try an explicitly selected folder on that drive.
4. Reconnect or remount the drive and repeat the small scan.

Important limitation

How to verify the result

Verify files are visible in Explorer and the scan contains the chosen path. A scan's estimated savings or the presence of a matching group does not by itself establish which copy should be discarded.

If the procedure does not match your screen, inspect the project's own FAQ and troubleshooting notes and identify the exact release and frontend first.

FAQ

Related Windows guides

• Czkawka Not Finding Duplicates: 7 Checks
• Krokiet Opens a Blank Window on Windows
• Czkawka Won't Open on Windows: Fixes to Try
• Czkawka and Visual C++ Runtime Requirements

Editorial notes reviewed: November 1, 2026. Version-specific facts are based on the developer's release and FAQ. This guide is educational; it is not a guarantee about a third-party download.