WD My Passport for Mac Portable External Hard Drive User Manual

1. Introduction

The WD My Passport for Mac is a portable external hard drive designed for seamless integration with macOS environments. It offers reliable storage for your digital content, including photos, videos, music, and documents. This drive is pre-formatted for Mac and compatible with Apple's Time Machine backup software, providing a secure and convenient solution for data management and protection.

A black WD My Passport for Mac portable external hard drive, showcasing its sleek design with a textured bottom half and a smooth top half featuring the WD logo.

2. Package Contents

Verify that all items listed below are included in your product package:

• WD My Passport for Mac Portable External Hard Drive
• USB-C to USB Micro-B cable
• USB-A to USB Micro-B cable (compatible with USB 2.0)
• WD Discovery software (pre-loaded on drive)
• Quick Start Guide

The retail packaging for the WD My Passport for Mac portable external hard drive, displaying product features such as USB-C/USB-A compatibility, 4TB capacity, 3-year warranty, and WD Security.

3. Setup

The WD My Passport for Mac is designed for straightforward setup. It comes pre-formatted for macOS, eliminating the need for initial formatting before use.

3.1 Connecting the Drive

1. Locate an available USB port on your Mac computer.
2. Select the appropriate cable: use the USB-C to USB Micro-B cable for USB-C ports, or the USB-A to USB Micro-B cable for standard USB-A ports.
3. Connect the Micro-B end of the cable to the port on the WD My Passport drive.
4. Connect the other end of the cable (USB-C or USB-A) to your Mac's USB port.
5. The drive will power on automatically via the USB connection and should appear on your desktop or in Finder.

A side view of the WD My Passport for Mac portable external hard drive, highlighting the USB Micro-B port and a small LED indicator light on its edge.

3.2 Initial Software Installation (Optional)

The drive includes WD Discovery software. While not strictly necessary for basic storage, it can be used to manage drive settings, including password protection and diagnostics. You can choose to install this software from the drive's contents if desired. For optimal performance with Time Machine, some users prefer to disable the drive's internal sleep timer via WD Drive Utilities (available through WD Discovery) to prevent backup interruptions.

4. Operating Instructions

4.1 Using with Apple Time Machine

The WD My Passport for Mac is fully compatible with Apple's Time Machine for automatic backups.

1. Connect the WD My Passport drive to your Mac.
2. When prompted, select the drive as your Time Machine backup disk. If not prompted, go to System Settings (or System Preferences) > General > Time Machine.
3. Click 'Add Backup Disk' and select your WD My Passport drive.
4. Time Machine will begin backing up your Mac automatically.

4.2 Data Transfer

To transfer files, simply drag and drop them to and from the My Passport drive icon on your desktop or within Finder, similar to any other folder or drive.

The WD My Passport for Mac portable external hard drive connected via a USB cable to a MacBook, placed on a wooden desk alongside a cup of tea and notebooks, demonstrating its use in a typical workspace.

4.3 Password Protection and Hardware Encryption

The drive supports password protection with hardware encryption for enhanced data security. This feature can be enabled and managed using the WD Security software, which is part of the WD Discovery suite. Follow the on-screen instructions within the software to set up and manage your password.

5. Maintenance

Proper maintenance ensures the longevity and reliability of your WD My Passport drive.

• Safe Disconnection: Always eject the drive from your Mac's desktop or Finder before physically disconnecting the USB cable to prevent data corruption.
• Physical Care: Keep the drive in a clean, dry environment. Avoid extreme temperatures, direct sunlight, and physical shocks.
• Software Updates: Periodically check the Western Digital support website for firmware or software updates for your drive.
• Sleep Timer Management: If experiencing issues with Time Machine backups, consider using the WD Drive Utilities software (via WD Discovery) to disable the drive's internal sleep timer. This can prevent the drive from entering a low-power state during critical operations.

6. Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues with your WD My Passport for Mac, consider the following:

• Drive Not Recognized:
  • Ensure the USB cable is securely connected to both the drive and your Mac.
  • Try a different USB port on your Mac.
  • Try a different USB cable.
  • Restart your Mac.
  • Check Disk Utility (Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility) to see if the drive is detected but not mounted.
• Time Machine Backup Issues:
  • Verify that the drive's sleep timer is not interfering with backups. Consider disabling it via WD Drive Utilities.
  • Ensure your Mac's Time Machine settings are correctly configured to use the WD My Passport drive.
• Slow Performance:
  • Ensure you are using a USB 3.0 or USB-C port for optimal transfer speeds.
  • Avoid running multiple demanding applications during large data transfers.

For further assistance, refer to the WD support website or contact customer service.

7. Specifications

An image illustrating the physical dimensions of the WD My Passport for Mac portable external hard drive, showing its length, width, and thickness in both millimeters and inches.

8. Warranty and Support

The WD My Passport for Mac Portable External Hard Drive comes with a 3-year manufacturer's limited warranty. For detailed warranty terms and conditions, please refer to the documentation included with your product or visit the official Western Digital support website.

For technical support, product registration, and access to drivers or software updates, please visit the Western Digital support portal. You can find contact information and frequently asked questions on their website.