How to Access My Cloud When Connected Directly to a Computer

The Dashboard and Shares of a My Cloud can be accessed when powered on and connected to a computer with an ethernet cable.

Instructions

1. Disconnect from Internet
2. Connect to the Computer
3. Access Shares On Windows
4. Access Shares On macOS
5. Access Using Storage Icon
6. Access Dashboard In Web Browser
7. My Cloud Not Detected
8. Warranty Replacement and Data Recovery

• Answer ID 27402: How to Reset a My Cloud Device
• Answer ID 27433: How to Set up a My Cloud Device Using the Dashboard
• Answer ID 13943: Steps to Turn On Windows Network Discovery
• Answer ID 31690: Steps to Manually Update from My Cloud OS 3 to OS 5 Without Internet Connection

Disconnect from Internet

Disconnect the My Cloud from the internet.

1. Remove the power cord.
   
2. Remove the ethernet cable from the My Cloud and the router.

Connect to the Computer

Connect the My Cloud to the computer and power on.

Turn off WiFi on the computer.

• Microsoft Article: Turn airplane mode on or off
• Apple Article HT202480: Use network locations on Mac

Access Shares On Windows

Access data on the shares from Windows.

Double-click a share.
Enter a username and password if asked.
Click OK.

Copy files from the My Cloud to the computer or an external drive connected to the computer.

Access Shares On macOS

Access data on the shares from macOS.

Click My Cloud to access the shares.

Double-click a share.
Enter a username and password if asked.
Click OK.

Copy files from the My Cloud to the computer or an external drive connected to the computer.

Access Using Storage Icon

Access Shares and the Dashboard on a My Cloud can be done using the Storage Icon on Windows and macOS.

The example steps refer to Windows.
macOS steps are almost the same.

Access Shares

1. Locate the My Coud Icon in Windows Explorer or macOS Finder.

Right-Click.
Select Open to access My Cloud shares.

Double-click a share.
Enter a username and password if asked.
Click OK.

Copy files from the My Cloud to the computer or an external drive connected to the computer.

Access Dashboard

1. Right-click
   Select View Device Web Page.

Access Dashboard In Web Browser

1. Open a Web Browser.
   
2. Enter the name of the My Cloud in the URL field of the browser.

IMPORTANT:

Use the name of the My Cloud if was changed from the default.
Reset the drive if the name is not known or the dashboard does not appear.

• Answer ID 29445: How to Pin Reset and System Only Restore a My Cloud OS 5
• Answer ID 27402: Pin Reset and System Only Restore a My Cloud OS 3

My Cloud Not Detected

Follow the steps to resolve a My Cloud not detected.

1. Power Off the computer.
   
2. Power Off the My Cloud.
   
3. Double check the ethernet cable connections or replace the ethernet cable.
   
4. Power on the computer and Sign In.
   
5. Power on the Cloud.
   Wait until the LED is Solid Blue.
   If the LED is not Solid Blue it will not be detected.
   

Windows

Get the list of IP addresses from a Windows command prompt.

1. Type cmd in the search bar.
   
2. Click Command Prompt.
   
3. Type arp -a to get the list of connected drives.
   The My Cloud should be at the top of the list with an IP address of 169.254.245.XX.
   

The Physical Address should match the MAC Address of the drive. The label is on the bottom of the My Cloud.

macOS

Get the list of IP addresses from a macOS terminal.

1. Type Terminal in the search bar.
2. Click Terminal.
3. Type arp -a to get the list of connected drives.
4. wdmycloud.local should be at the top of the list with an IP Address of 169.254.xx.xx.
   

The Physical Address should match the MAC Address of the drive. The label is on the bottom of the My Cloud.

IP Address Not Listed

Check the Network Interface Card LED status if the IP Address of the My Cloud is not in the ARP table.
Ensure the cable is tight in the computer and the My Cloud port.
Try replacing the ethernet cable.