How to Fix SSD Not Showing Up Error? [Solved]
Are you facing a problem where your SSD not showing up in Disk Management? Do not worry! Whether your SSD is new or old, there are two ways to fix Windows not recognizing it: either you can fix it yourself.
This article describes all the possible problems that could cause your SSD not recognized, along with illustrated step-by-step solutions. By carefully examining each section, you can identify and fix the problem of external SSD not appearing in Windows 11 and 10.
Many users have experienced this issue of SSD not visible in windows 11, 10, 8, and 7. You must be going through the same issue, which is why we are here with all the known solutions to help you out. Sometimes, SSD are not visible even when they are plugged into Windows 11, 10, 8, or 7, and you might not be able to see them in folders like My Computer, Disk Management, or File Explorer. The data in a data storage device cannot be accessed if it is SSD not recognized by the computer.
What is SSD Drive?
Solid-State Drive use flash-based memory to store the data, which is significantly faster than the old technology. Hard-disk Technology runs slower, which makes the computer work slower as well. The solid-state drive is fast, and it speeds up the computer due to its low read-access times and fast throughputs.
But what if you are not able to see the Solid-State Drive in your computer? Here you will learn how to fix this problem using five methods, but before that, let us find out what is causing it.
What is the Reason SSD Not Showing?
It can be frustrating not to see your Solid-State drive in Windows 10 or 11. This issue can be caused by a variety of factors, from simple connectivity issues to more complex firmware or hardware issues. The main reasons why Windows does not recognize your Solid-State drive are:
- Connection Error: The Solid-State Drive may not be properly connected to the motherboard or power supply of the computer.
- Driver Problems: The driver may be outdated or corrupted, preventing the system from detecting the Solid-State Drive.
- Incorrect BIOS Settings: Your computer’s BIOS settings may not be configured correctly to recognize SSD.
- Problems with Disk Initialization or Partitioning: If your new solid-state drive has not been initialized or partitioned, it may not show up in Windows.
- Outdated Firmware: Outdated firmware can cause compatibility issues with the operating system and cause the SSD to go undetected.
- Physical Damage: If the SSD has been physically damaged, the system may not detect it.
Methods to Solve the SSD Not Appearing Issue
It is a fact that all devices are prone to getting damaged or corrupted, and Solid-State drive are no exception. Find out how you can solve the issue with the help of these methods.
1# SSD Initialization
If you have an SSD that is new and has not been used yet, you need to initialize it first. After that, it will become usable and accessible, and to do that, follow the steps as below:
- Firstly, you have to connect your Solid-State drive and open it in the Disk Management tool in Windows.
- You will see a pop-up appear that will ask you to initialize the SSD.
- Choose MBR or GUID and select OK to initialize the drive so that you can solve the SSD not visible in windows 10, 8, and 7 issue.
- Now, you have to right–click on the solid-state drive volume and select the option – New Simple Volume.
- Here, keep following the tool and giving a Drive Letter, entering a Volume Name, and defining the system of the file to be either NTFS or exFAT.
- Hit the Next button, and you will be able to access the drive in File Explorer.
2# Inspecting the Connection
Make sure that the wiring doesn’t have any issues. Check if there is a faulty or loose connection. You can try a SATA or M.2 enclosure for connecting the Solid-State Drive to the Windows OS to fix the SSD not appearing error. If the SSD is fit, it will show in the File Explorer; if not, move forward to the next solution.
3# Disk Management
Go to the Disk Management Tool on your computer and check for the SSD Volume. There is a possibility that the Solid-State drive volume is free, unallocated, or has turned RAW. The Solid-State Drive Volume is not shown in the File Explorer in all these cases. You will have to format the drive volume to fix this issue.
Although formatting an SSD will also damage the data, you should first use a tool to recover the data before you format the drive volume.
4# Assigning the Drive Letter
You can fix the SSD not recognized Windows 11, 10, 8, or 7 error by assigning a drive letter. There are cases where the computer is not capable of assigning a drive letter to the drive partition. Although you can do that manually with the help of Disk management,
Follow the steps as discussed in the section below to assign a drive letter:
- Go to the SSD Volume and right-click on it.
- Here, you will find an option to Change the drive letter and path; click on it.
- Now, select the Change option, and from the drop-down menu, choose a letter.
- Lastly, save the changes by clicking on the OK button.
Now, you will see the same drive letter each time you connect the drive to your computer. But the drive letter will change if connected to another computer.
Alternative Solution to Fix SSD Not Showing Up Issue
If you are not able to fix the error using any of the methods mentioned above, your SSD may be highly corrupted. To solve this, you need to use a tool that can easily recover your corrupted data. Here, we have the SSD Data Recovery Tool, which will scan your system and recover the data that has been corrupted from the Solid-State Drive with simple steps.
With a user-friendly interface, it is easier for users to use the software without any hassle. The tool is capable of recovering data from both internal and external Solid-State drive. Also, recover the data from both types of Solid-State Drive, i.e., M.2 and NVMe. The software will automatically detect the connected Solid-State drive and recover the data.
Let’s find out how this tool works.
Resolve SSD Not Visible in Windows 11, 10, 8, 7 with Software
Following steps will help you fix the issue:
- Download and Launch the software on Your Windows Machine.
- Click on the “partition” you want to recover and press the “Scan or Scan Formatted” button.
- Choose the File or folder to view completed recovered data.
- Select the files to Preview and Save Options to the desired location
Final Words
Solid-State drives are gaining over the old Hard Drives at a fast pace. Even though it is fast and a better option to store data in, it can still get corrupted, which is why we have mentioned all the solutions for you. Use these solutions to solve the SSD not showing up error.
If the methods do not work, your drive is severely corrupted, and you need to use a tool that can help you solve the issue easily. The tool can help you do so and offers various features for users to take full advantage of. It is compatible with Windows 11, 10, 8, and below.
FAQ: SSD Not Showing or Detected?
Q: How to fix SSD not detected in Windows OS?
- Download the SSD File Recovery Tool.
- Select SSD partition to view basic information”
- Click on the Scan or Formatted Scan” option.
- Preview all Recovered Files into software preview panel.
- Now all recovered files can be easily “saved” to the computer’s SSD.
Q: How do I resolve the “SSD not detected” error when installing Windows?
If your solid-state drive is detected during Windows installation but does not appear in my computer, you will need to reinstall the SSD driver.
Q: What are the possible reasons why the SSD does not show up in Windows 11 after installing a new SSD?
Common causes include an incorrect connection, a missing drive letter, an Solid-State drive in an uninitialized state, or file system compatibility issues.
