When you store your Eagle library on mobile devices (such as external hard drives or USB drives), you may sometimes encounter issues like missing files or files not displaying. This article provides multiple solutions to help you troubleshoot and fix these problems.

Check Hard Drive Read/Write Permissions

When the software has insufficient permissions on the hard drive, several important issues may arise. For example, the software may not be able to smoothly import, download, and save data. Additionally, the inability to read or write executable files on the hard drive may also cause the software to malfunction.

For detailed steps, please refer to this article: /support/article/how-to-check-disk-readwrite-permissions

Use Built-in System Tools to Scan and Repair Hard Drive

Common causes of hard drive bad sectors include improper ejection of the hard drive, unstable voltage or current, or physical damage to the hard drive due to improper use. In such cases, you can try using the repair tools provided by the operating system to fix the issues.

For detailed steps, please refer to this article: /support/article/how-to-scan-and-repair-hard-drives-using-built-in-system-tools

Replace the USB Port or Cable for Your External Hard Drive

When encountering problems, trying to replace the USB port or cable may resolve the issue.

For detailed steps, please refer to this article: /support/article/troubleshooting-switching-usb-portscables-for-external-hard-drives

Avoid Using USB Hubs to Connect External Hard Drives

The connection quality of USB hubs directly affects data transfer speed and stability. Maintaining proper and stable hard drive connections can prevent many common issues, thereby ensuring optimal performance of Eagle software and other applications.

For detailed steps, please refer to this article: /support/article/avoid-using-usb-hubs-for-external-hard-drives

Refer to the "Data Loss" Troubleshooting Guide

If you find that files in your library are missing, you can refer to the dedicated troubleshooting guide.

For detailed steps, please refer to this article: /support/article/diskread-the-data-loss-troubleshooting-guide

NTFS Format Not Recommended for macOS Users

The Eagle team has conducted extensive testing on plugins like Tuxera NTFS / Paragon NTFS, and the results show that regardless of which NTFS plugin is used, they cannot achieve even half of the hard drive's original performance, causing the system to become severely slow.

For detailed steps, please refer to this article: /support/article/why-we-dont-recommend-using-tuxera-ntfs-paragon-ntfs-on-macos

Confirm Whether the Hard Drive Format is Natively Supported by the System

Native formats refer to the hard drive formats that the operating system uses by default, such as NTFS for Windows and APFS and HFS+ for macOS. When the hard drive's file system is inconsistent with the operating system's native format, it may cause files to be unreadable or unwritable, or result in slower file read/write speeds.

For detailed steps, please refer to this article: /support/article/how-to-determine-if-your-disk-format-is-natively-supported-by-your-operating-system

Check if the Hard Drive is in FAT32 Format

FAT32 is an older file system that has limitations on individual file sizes and the number of files in folders, and its performance is not as good as modern file systems. If you need to store large files or use more advanced features, it is recommended to choose other file systems, such as NTFS (Windows), APFS or HFS+ (macOS).

For detailed steps, please refer to this article: /support/article/how-to-check-if-your-drive-is-formatted-as-fat32

Force Clear Cache and Reload Library

If you confirm that all data and original files in your library are completely saved on the local hard drive, but the folder categories, file thumbnails in lists, or tags are not displaying correctly in the software, you can try using the "Clear Cache and Reload" function. This operation will generate new cache files and rescan all data in the entire library, which may resolve display issues.

For detailed steps, please refer to this article: /support/article/how-to-clear-cache-and-reload-your-library

Solution for Missing Files or Display Issues When Using Library on Mobile Devices (USB)