- Networks
- NAS storage
Red Flashing LED
Western Digital Red Flashing LED (NAS): degraded RAID volume
Risk level
High
Professional inspection is recommended.
Urgency
High
Quick answer
On a Western Digital My Cloud EX2 Ultra NAS, a Red Flashing Front Panel Power LED indicates the Power Up (degraded) state: the device is powered up but the volume is degraded, requiring you to check Storage > RAID and Settings > Utilities.
Safety first
Stop and check this first
- Do not use Change RAID Mode or Format Disk to troubleshoot a degraded volume: the manual warns that both options permanently delete all user data and shares.
Safe checks you can perform
- Distinguish the Front Panel Power LED from the lower HDD LEDs
- Check RAID Health and Auto-Rebuild status under Storage > RAID
- Run Scan Disk and System Diagnostics under Settings > Utilities
Leave these tasks to a qualified professional
- Do not attempt this professional task: Enable RAID Auto-Rebuild and run Scan Disk on the degraded volume
- Do not attempt this professional task: Execute System Test and Full Test in Utilities to isolate hardware or sector faults
What a technician must be able to justify
Technician visit
These are the steps they must carry out and show you. Tick them as they work: if steps are skipped, do not accept a part swap.
These are not instructions for opening or handling the equipment yourself. They are the checks that should support a technical conclusion.
Enable RAID Auto-Rebuild and run Scan Disk on the degraded volume
What they doThe technician checks Storage > RAID to review RAID Health and enables the Auto-Rebuild toggle button, then runs Scan Disk under Settings > Utilities on the affected volume without touching Change RAID Mode or Format Disk.
They must show youthe enabled Auto-Rebuild toggle under Storage > RAID and the completed Scan Disk results.
In writingRAID Health status, Scan Disk outcome, and verification that the Front Panel Power LED returns to solid blue.
Execute System Test and Full Test in Utilities to isolate hardware or sector faults
What they doUnder Settings > Utilities > System Diagnostics, the technician runs System Test (reviewing hard drives, fan, system clock, and device temperature) and Full Test (methodically testing every sector of the hard drives).
They must show youthe progress bar and pass/fail evaluation screen for System Test and Full Test.
In writingdiagnostic pass/fail result for each drive, hardware health check outcome, and whether drive replacement is required.
Before accepting a part or repair
Nothing has been shown yet. Do not accept a part swap based on the code alone.
Follow these steps
Note: Follow the documented order. An error code identifies the affected system, but it does not prove by itself which part has failed.
Distinguish the Front Panel Power LED from the lower HDD LEDs
- Who:
- you, inspecting the front panel LEDs on the My Cloud EX2 Ultra.
- How:
- verify whether the top Front Panel Power LED is Red Flashing (Power Up (degraded)), Yellow Flashing (Action required, such as an unplugged network cable), or whether one of the lower HDD LEDs is flashing red.
- Result that matters:
- confirm that the indicator is the Power Up (degraded) state on the Front Panel Power LED.
- If the Power LED is flashing yellow because a network cable became unplugged:
- reconnect the Ethernet cable and check the rear Link LED.
- If the Power LED is flashing red:
- open the web dashboard to inspect Storage > RAID.
- Evidence to keep:
- exact front panel LED position, color, and flashing behavior observed on the unit.
Evidence: My Cloud EX2 Ultra Private Cloud Storage User Manual
Check RAID Health and Auto-Rebuild status under Storage > RAID
- Who:
- you, logged in to the My Cloud EX2 Ultra web dashboard.
- How:
- click Storage on the navigation bar, click RAID, and review the RAID Profile fields: RAID Health, Auto-Rebuild status, and RAID Volume.
- Result that matters:
- see the current health of the degraded volume and whether Auto-Rebuild is enabled.
- If Auto-Rebuild is off:
- click the toggle button to enable Auto-Rebuild.
- If RAID Health remains degraded due to a disk issue:
- check Disk Status and run Utilities diagnostics.
- Evidence to keep:
- recorded values for RAID Health, Auto-Rebuild status, and RAID Volume in the dashboard.
Evidence: My Cloud EX2 Ultra Private Cloud Storage User Manual
Run Scan Disk and System Diagnostics under Settings > Utilities
- Who:
- you, accessing the Utilities page from the Settings icon in the dashboard.
- How:
- in the Scan Disk area, select the volume from the drop-down menu and click Scan Disk > OK; in System Diagnostics, run Quick Test or System Test.
- Result that matters:
- scan the hard disks for errors and review the pass or fail evaluation of the hardware.
- If Scan Disk and the diagnostic test pass and the volume returns to solid blue Power Up state:
- keep the test log.
- If the device fails the diagnostic test:
- click the help icon and Support, or replace any drive listed as Bad or Failed.
- Evidence to keep:
- Scan Disk completion result and pass/fail status from System Diagnostics.
Evidence: My Cloud EX2 Ultra Private Cloud Storage User Manual
Still not solved
If the error persists, stop here. See what the technician must do and show you.
Where this code applies
A code is meaningful only inside the right product and version context.
Primary scope
- System
- Networks
- Brand
- Western Digital
- Product type
- NAS storage
Known code variants
- Blinking Red Power LED
- Encendido (degradado)
- Front Panel Power LED Red Flashing
- LED de encendido rojo intermitente
- My Cloud volume is degraded
- Power Up (degraded)
- Red Flashing LED
- Volumen degradado My Cloud
What it means
The Western Digital My Cloud EX2 Ultra User Manual specifies that when the Front Panel Power LED is Red and Flashing, the device is in the Power Up (degraded) state, meaning the device is powered up but the volume is degraded. By contrast, a Yellow Flashing Front Panel Power LED indicates Action required (such as an unplugged network cable, or non-compatible drives during power-up). A red flashing Power LED alone never proves the NAS enclosure hardware has failed; you must check RAID Health, Auto-Rebuild status, and System Diagnostics in the dashboard.
Warnings and stop conditions
- Highsource verified
Do not use Change RAID Mode or Format Disk to troubleshoot a degraded volume: the manual warns that both options permanently delete all user data and shares.
Evidence: My Cloud EX2 Ultra Private Cloud Storage User Manual
Symptoms and causes
Probable causes · in order
- Storage volume degraded while the device is powered upCommon
The My Cloud EX2 Ultra is powered on, but its RAID storage volume has entered a degraded state due to drive corruption or a member fault.
Evidence: My Cloud EX2 Ultra Private Cloud Storage User Manual
- Auto-Rebuild option turned off under Storage > RAIDPossible
The Auto-Rebuild toggle in the RAID Profile is off, preventing the My Cloud EX2 Ultra from automatically rebuilding the RAID in case of drive corruption.
Evidence: My Cloud EX2 Ultra Private Cloud Storage User Manual
- Disk or volume errors requiring Scan Disk and System DiagnosticsPossible
The volume has disk errors or hardware health issues that need to be evaluated with Scan Disk, Quick Test, Full Test, or System Test under Utilities.
Evidence: My Cloud EX2 Ultra Private Cloud Storage User Manual
Virtual technician
Does Red Flashing LED still appear after these checks?
Answer a few questions to narrow down the likely cause and the safest next action. Guidance only - it never replaces a professional.
Sources and technical references
- 1
My Cloud EX2 Ultra Private Cloud Storage User Manual
Western Digital · 2026 · official_doc
- 2
Almacenamiento en la nube privada My Cloud EX2 Ultra Manual del usuario
Western Digital · 2026 · official_doc
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