TerabyteWise
Updated

Free the Drive Inside a Seagate Expansion

Open the enclosure, remove the bridge, and verify the Exos-class drive inside

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Quick answer

To shuck a Seagate Expansion Desktop: power it off, pry the plastic seam open with a plastic tool, release the clips, slide out the drive-and-caddy, and unplug the USB bridge. Seagate drives rarely have the 3.3V pin issue, so the bare drive usually powers straight up. SMART-check and surface-test the Exos or BarraCuda-class drive before adding it to a NAS.

As of September 12, 2026
Best price per TB
$21.94
Products tracked
55
Prices updated
2 hours ago

Shucking a Seagate Expansion, step by step

Seagate cases open like the WD ones, with clips along the seam.

  1. Power down and unplug the Expansion. Rest it on a soft surface.
  2. Work a plastic pry tool or card along the seam to pop the snap clips around the edge.
  3. Lift out the drive-and-caddy assembly and unplug the USB-to-SATA bridge from the drive.
  4. Unscrew the bare 3.5-inch drive from the caddy and remove any rubber mounts.
  5. Install the drive in your NAS or PC. Seagate drives usually power up without the pin fix, but keep a Molex-to-SATA adapter handy just in case.
  6. Open CrystalDiskInfo to confirm the model (Exos, IronWolf or BarraCuda class) and Good health, then run a full surface test before storing data.

What you will find inside

Seagate Expansion Desktop of 12TB and up typically holds a CMR drive in the Exos or IronWolf class, which is excellent for NAS. The 8TB and smaller units can be SMR BarraCuda (ST8000DM004), which is fine for cold storage but poor for RAID; the shucking list flags which capacities are safe.

Seagate Expansion externals, by price per TB

Price per
55 products
ProductCapacityPrice$ / TBTypePrimeBuy
Seagate Expansion 18TB External Hard Drive HDD - USB 3.0, with Rescue Data Recovery Services (STKP18000402)18 TB$395.00$21.94EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon
Seagate FireCuda X Vault 20TB External Hard Drive (HDD) - USB-C, RGB Lighting, Certified for Xbox on PC, Includes One-Month Xbox Ultimate Game Pass and Rescue Services (STNL20000400)20 TB$521.48$26.07EXTERNAL · USBPrimeBuy on Amazon
Seagate Expansion 28TB External Hard Drive HDD - USB 3.0, with Rescue Data Recovery Services (STKP28000400)28 TB$802.40$28.66EXTERNAL · USBPrimeBuy on Amazon
Seagate Expansion 20TB External Hard Drive HDD - USB 3.0, with Rescue Data Recovery Services (STKP20000400)Used20 TB$579.99$29.00EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon
Seagate Expansion Desktop 16TB External Hard Drive – USB 3.0, 3.5" HDD for Windows & Mac, Plug-and-Play Backup Storage - STKP1600040016 TB$468.15$29.26EXTERNAL · USBPrimeBuy on Amazon
Seagate Expansion 12TB External Hard Drive HDD - USB 3.0, with Rescue Data Recovery Services (STKP12000400)12 TB$365.62$30.47EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon
Seagate STEL8000100 Backup Plus Hub 8TB External Desktop Hard Drive StorageUsed8 TB$249.97$31.25EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon
Seagate Expansion 20TB External Hard Drive HDD - USB 3.0, with Rescue Data Recovery Services (STKP20000400)20 TB$629.99$31.50EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon
Seagate One Touch 20TB External Hard Drive Desktop HDD - USB-C Compatible with Most Windows and macOS, Rescue Recovery (STNB20000400)20 TB$649.99$32.50EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon
Seagate Expansion 24TB External Hard Drive HDD - USB 3.0, with Rescue Data Recovery Services (STKP24000400)24 TB$782.33$32.60EXTERNAL · USBPrimeBuy on Amazon
Seagate Expansion 14TB External Hard Drive HDD - USB 3.0, with Rescue Data Recovery Services (STKP14000402)14 TB$463.27$33.09EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon
Seagate Expansion 6TB External Hard Drive HDD - USB 3.0, with Rescue Data Recovery Services (STKP6000400)Used6 TB$199.99$33.33EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon
Seagate FireCuda Gaming Hub External Hard Drive HDD 8TB - USB 3.2, Customizable RGB LED lighting, Dual forward-facing USB for Desktop PC with Rescue Services (STKK8000400)8 TB$268.00$33.50EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon
(OLD MODEL) Seagate Expansion USB 3.0 5TB Desktop External Hard Drive (STBV5000100)Used5 TB$171.36$34.27EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon
LaCie d2 Professional 20TB External Hard Drive Desktop HDD – USB-C USB 3.1 Gen 2, 7200 RPM Enterprise Class Drives, for Mac and PC Desktop, 1mo Adobe CC All Apps Plan, Rescue Services (STHA20000800)20 TB$685.57$34.28EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon
Seagate Expansion 12TB External Hard Drive HDD - USB 3.0, with Rescue Data Recovery Services (STKP12000402)12 TB$416.92$34.74EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon
Seagate One Touch, 5TB, Password Activated Hardware encryption, Portable External Hard Drive, Portable External Hard Drive, PC, Notebook & Mac, USB 3.0, Space Gray (STKZ5000404)5 TB$174.40$34.88EXTERNAL · USBPrimeBuy on Amazon
Seagate Expansion Desktop 10TB, External Hard Drive, USB 3.0, Data Rescue Services (STKP10000400)10 TB$352.68$35.27EXTERNAL · USBPrimeBuy on Amazon
Seagate Desktop Drive 8000 GB 8TB external Hard Drive, 3.5 Inch, USB 3.0, PC & Notebook, Xbox & PS4, Modellnr.: STGY80004008 TB$288.63$36.08EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon
Seagate Expansion 18TB External Hard Drive HDD - USB 3.0, with Rescue Data Recovery Services (STKP18000400)18 TB$649.95$36.11EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon
Seagate Expansion Desktop 10TB External Hard Drive HDD - USB 3.0 for PC & Laptop, 1-Year Rescue Service (STEB10000400), BlackUsed10 TB$369.99$37.00EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon
Seagate Expansion 24TB External Hard Drive HDD - USB 3.0, with Rescue Data Recovery Services (STKP24000400)24 TB$899.00$37.46EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon
Seagate Expansion 6TB External Hard Drive HDD - USB 3.0, with Rescue Data Recovery Services (STKP6000400)6 TB$225.00$37.50EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon
Seagate Backup Plus Hub 8TB Desktop Hard Drive w/Rescue Data Recovery Services8 TB$305.57$38.20EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon
Seagate Expansion Portable, 5TB, External Hard Drive, 2.5 Inch, USB 3.0, for Mac and PC (STKM5000400)5 TB$197.13$39.43EXTERNAL · USBPrimeBuy on Amazon
Seagate Portable 5TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, PS4, & Xbox - 1-Year Rescue Service (STGX5000400), BlackUsed5 TB$198.14$39.63EXTERNAL · USBPrimeBuy on Amazon
Seagate Expansion 16TB External Hard Drive HDD - USB 3.0, with Rescue Data Recovery Services (STKP16000400)16 TB$649.99$40.62EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon
Seagate Game Drive for Xbox 4 TB External Hard Drive Portable HDD - USB 3.2 Gen 1, Black with built-in green LED bar, Xbox Certified, 3 year Rescue Services(STKX4000402)4 TB$162.52$40.63EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon
Seagate Portable 5TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, PS4, & Xbox - 1-Year Rescue Service (STGX5000400), Black5 TB$208.84$41.77EXTERNAL · USBPrimeBuy on Amazon
Seagate (STEB8000100) Expansion Desktop 8TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC Laptop8 TB$349.99$43.75EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon
Seagate Expansion Desktop, 4TB, External Hard Drive, USB 3.0 (STKP4000400)4 TB$177.87$44.47EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon
Seagate Portable 2TB External Hard Drive HDD — USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, PlayStation, & Xbox -1-Year Rescue Service (STGX2000400)Used2 TB$90.11$45.06EXTERNAL · USBPrimeBuy on Amazon
Seagate STEL8000100 Backup Plus Hub 8TB External Desktop Hard Drive Storage8 TB$364.97$45.62EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon
Seagate Expansion 10TB External Hard Drive HDD - USB 3.0, with Rescue Data Recovery Services (STKP10000400), 7" x 1.6" x 4.9"10 TB$457.74$45.77EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon
Seagate Expansion Desktop 4TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC Laptop (STEB4000100)4 TB$188.00$47.00EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon
Seagate Portable 4TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, Xbox, & PlayStation - 1-Year Rescue Service (SRD0NF1)4 TB$189.99$47.50EXTERNAL · USBPrimeBuy on Amazon
Seagate Expansion STKP4000400 4 TB Desktop Hard Drive - External - Black - Desktop PC, MAC Device Supported - USB 3.0-1 Year Warranty - Retail4 TB$199.99$50.00EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon
Seagate Backup Plus Portable 5TB External Hard Drive HDD – Black USB 3.0 for PC Laptop and Mac, 2 Months Adobe CC Photography (STDR5000100)5 TB$249.99$50.00EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon
Seagate Expansion Desktop, 16TB, External Hard Drive, USB 3.0, for PC Laptop, Amazon Exclusive (STEB16000402)16 TB$870.09$54.38EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon
Seagate 4 TB Expansion Amazon Special Edition USB 3.0 Portable External Hard Drive for PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 (STGX4000400)4 TB$218.90$54.73EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon
YOTUO 750GB External Hard Drive, Portable Storage Expansion HDD, USB 3.0 & USB-C for PC, Mac, Desktop, Laptop, Smartphone, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Office & Game, Black750 GB$42.74$56.99EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon
Seagate Expansion 3TB Desktop External Hard Drive USB 3.0 (STEB3000100)Used3 TB$174.12$58.04EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon
SEAGATE Expansion 3 TB USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive STAY3000100 Black3 TB$184.00$61.33EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon
Seagate Expansion Portable 4TB External Hard Drive Desktop HDD – USB 3.0 for PC Laptop (STEA4000400)4 TB$249.99$62.50EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon
Seagate Expansion 3TB Desktop External Hard Drive USB 3.0 (STEB3000100)3 TB$198.89$66.30EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon
Seagate Portable 2TB External Hard Drive HDD — USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, PlayStation, & Xbox -1-Year Rescue Service (STGX2000400)2 TB$149.99$75.00EXTERNAL · USBPrimeBuy on Amazon
Seagate Expansion Portable, 2TB, External Hard Drive, 2.5 Inch, USB 3.0, for Mac and PC (STKM2000400)2 TB$149.99$75.00EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon
YOTUO 1TB External Hard Drive, Portable Storage Expansion HDD, USB 3.0 & USB-C for PC, Mac, Desktop, Laptop, Smartphone, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Office & Game1 TB$79.99$79.99EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon
Seagate Portable 1TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, PlayStation, & Xbox, 1-Year Rescue Service (STGX1000400) , BlackUsed1 TB$91.07$91.07EXTERNAL · USBPrimeBuy on Amazon
Seagate Expansion Portable 1TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC Laptop (STEA1000400)Used1 TB$98.00$98.00EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon
Seagate Expansion Portable 1TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC Laptop (STEA1000400)1 TB$109.99$109.99EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon
Seagate Portable 1TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, PlayStation, & Xbox, 1-Year Rescue Service (STGX1000400) , Black1 TB$112.82$112.82EXTERNAL · USBPrimeBuy on Amazon
Seagate Expansion Portable 1TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC Laptop (STEA1000400)1 TB$121.95$121.95EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon
Seagate Expansion Portable, 1TB, External Hard Drive, 2.5 Inch, USB 3.0, for Mac and PC (STKM1000400)1 TB$144.54$144.54EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon
Seagate Basic, 1TB, Portable External Hard Drive, USB 3.0, for PC Laptop (STJL1000400)1 TB$149.00$149.00EXTERNAL · USB-Buy on Amazon

Frequently asked questions

Does a Seagate Expansion need the 3.3V pin fix?

Rarely. Unlike many WD drives, Seagate Expansion drives usually power up normally after shucking. If one does not, a Molex-to-SATA adapter without a 3.3V line or the pin-3 tape fix will solve it.

Is a shucked Seagate Expansion CMR?

At 12TB and above, almost always: they hold Exos or IronWolf-class CMR drives that are ideal for NAS. The 8TB and smaller units are often SMR (BarraCuda ST8000DM004), so stick to the higher capacities for RAID.

Seagate Expansion or WD Elements to shuck?

Both are strong. Seagate avoids the 3.3V pin hassle and its high-capacity units are Exos-class; WD Elements and easystore hold Red Plus or Ultrastar-class drives. Let the live tracker's price per terabyte decide on the day.

Independent US storage-value site: NAS drives, DIY/TrueNAS build parts, and hard-drive shucking, ranked by live $/TB. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Synology, UGREEN, QNAP, TerraMaster, Seagate, Western Digital or Toshiba. All trademarks belong to their owners.

Last updated: 2026-09-12 06:02:12 UTC. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date indicated on Amazon.com and are subject to change. Any price displayed at the time of purchase will apply. CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED AS IS AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.