If you are unable to access the USB drives, we provide some suggestions for different situations.

Can't recognize my USB drive

Can't find the TP-Link share in the network

Can't access the USB sharing via samba(SMB)

Can't recognize my USB drive

There are many partition formats for USB drives. Our router supports part of them. Some models only support NTFS/FAT32. Some support exFAT/HFS+/NTFS/FAT32. You can check the specification page on our official website. For example https://www.tp-link.com/en/home-networking/wifi-router/archer-ax20/#specifications

NOTE:

We recommend NTFS because this format has better compatibility and performance.

For the macOS systems, you can use exFAT or HFS+.

The router does not guarantee compatibility with external hard drive enclosures, especially multi-bay ones. Compatibility may vary, and performance cannot be assured.

Can't find the TP-Link share in the network

This issue is related to the windows sharing settings. Suggestions:

1. Enable smbv1 in the windows system.

1) Open the control panel.

2) Click Uninstall a program.

3) Click Turn Windows features on or off.

4) Enable SMB 1.0/CIFS Client. Then click OK.

2. Enable Network discovery in the network and sharing center settings.

1) Open the control panel.

2) Click Network and Internet.

3) Click Network and Sharing Center.

4) Click Change advanced sharing settings.

5) Enable Turn on network discovery in the Private and Guest or Public.

6) Open Windows Explorer. Go to Network. Click TP-SHARE(Red) to access the USB drive.

Note: TP-Share(Green) is not USB storage sharing.

7) If you still fail to access USB storage, you can refer to this FAQ to access it: How to access USB storage device on the TP-Link Routers from Windows or Mac OS

Can't access the USB sharing via samba(SMB)

Some windows system has some limits to accessing the samba. Suggestion:

1. Enable smbv1 in the windows system.

1) Open the control panel.

2) Click Uninstall a program.

3) Click Turn Windows features on or off.

4) Enable SMB 1.0/CIFS Client. Then click OK.

2. Enable insecure guest logons

1) Press Win+R. Within the run box, type “gpedit.msc”

2) Within the Local Group Policy Editor, select “Administrative Templates”>>“Network”>> ”Lanman Workstation”.

3) Double-click the “Enable Insecure guest logons” option >> tick the “Enable” option >> OK.