How to Access My Cloud When Connected Directly to a Computer (2024)

How to Access My Cloud When Connected Directly to a Computer

Learn how to easily access your Western Digital My Cloud when having it directly connected to a computer.*END

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

IMPORTANT:

  • An ethernet cross-over cable is not needed.
  • The My Cloud and computer must be set to DHCP.
    Windows Network Discovery must be turned on.
    Perform a 4 second reset if the IP Address settings are unknown.

    Need more help?

    • 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: My Cloud OS 5: Manually Update From OS 3 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.

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Connect to the Computer

Connect the My Cloud to the computer and power on.

  1. Turn off WiFi on the computer.

    Need more help?


  2. Insert one end of the cable into the network port of a My Cloud.

  3. Insert the other end of the cable into the network port of a computer.
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    If the computer DOES NOT have an ethernet port:

    • Use a USB to Ethernet adapter.

    • Use a different computer.

    • Connect the My Book Live and computer to a router without an Internet connection.


  4. Power On or Reboot the computer.

  5. Log In as Admin user.

  6. Power On the My Cloud.
    Wait for a Solid Blue LED.

    Need more help?
    Answer ID 17203: LED Status, Alert Codes, Descriptions, and Email Notifications for WD My Cloud

Access Shares On Windows

Access data on the shares from Windows.

  1. Open File Explorer.

  2. Click Network.
    Double-click My Cloud to access the shares.

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

    How to Access My Cloud When Connected Directly to a Computer (4)
    How to Access My Cloud When Connected Directly to a Computer (5)


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

    Need more help?
    Answer ID 18911: Steps to Backup, Copy or Move Data Between Drives on Windows or macOS

Access Shares On macOS

Access data on the shares from macOS.

  1. Open Finder.

  2. Click Network.

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  3. Click My Cloud to access the shares.

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

    How to Access My Cloud When Connected Directly to a Computer (8)


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

    Need more help?
    Answer ID 18911: Steps to Backup, Copy or Move Data Between Drives on Windows or macOS

Access Using Storage Icon

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


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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.

    How to Access My Cloud When Connected Directly to a Computer (10)


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

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

    How to Access My Cloud When Connected Directly to a Computer (12)

    How to Access My Cloud When Connected Directly to a Computer (13)


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

    Need more help?
    Answer ID 18911: Steps to Backup, Copy or Move Data Between Drives on Windows or macOS

Access Dashboard

  1. Right-click
    Select View Device Web Page.

    How to Access My Cloud When Connected Directly to a Computer (14)

    How to Access My Cloud When Connected Directly to a Computer (15)

Access Dashboard In Web Browser

Use a web browser to access the dashboard.

  1. Open a Web Browser.

  2. Enter the name of the My Book Live in the URL field of the browser.
  3. My Cloud (Single Bay)My Cloud EX2100
    Windowshttp://wdmycloudWindowshttps://wdmycloudex2100
    MacOShttp://wdmycloud.localMacOShttp://wdmycloudex2100.local
    My Cloud MirrorMy Cloud EX4100
    Windowshttp://wdmycloudmirrorWindowshttp://wdmycloudex4100
    MacOShttp://wdmycloudmirror.localMacOShttp://wdmycloudex4100.local
    My Cloud Mirror Gen 2My Cloud DL2100
    Windowshttp://wdmycloudmirrorWindowshttp://wdmyclouddl2100
    MacOShttp://wdmycloudmirror.localMacOShttp://wdmyclouddl2100.local
    My Cloud EX2My Cloud DL4100
    Windowshttp://wdmycloudex2Windowshttp://wdmyclouddl4100
    MacOShttp://wdmycloudex2.localMacOShttp://wdmyclouddl4100.local
    My Cloud EX4My Cloud PR2100
    Windowshttp://wdmycloudex4Windowshttp://mycloudpr2100
    MacOShttp://wdmycloudex4.localMacOShttp://mycloudpr2100.local
    My Cloud EX2 UltraMy Cloud PR4100
    Windowshttp://mycloudex2ultraWindowshttp://mycloudpr4100
    MacOShttp://mycloudex2ultra.localMacOShttp://mycloudpr4100.local

    How to Access My Cloud When Connected Directly to a Computer (16)
    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.

    Need more help?

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

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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.
    How to Access My Cloud When Connected Directly to a Computer (19)

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

    How to Access My Cloud When Connected Directly to a Computer (20)

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.

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How to Access My Cloud When Connected Directly to a Computer (2024)
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