WD Blue SSD Not Showing up in BIOS? Fix it in 7 Ways

Error report: Did not detect WD Blue SSD

Usually, your computer's BIOS can detect the SSD and show its model and capacity, but sometimes errors occur. As the user case shows, you may consider the root with WD Blue SSD not showing up. Actually, both the SSD and the computer may be the cause. Based on user feedback, the issue is often caused by:

• SSD not enabled in BIOS settings
• Outdated device drivers
• Faulty or loose data cables
• SSD failure

Next, let’s find out the according fixes.

Top 7 fixes to WD Blue 500GB SSD not detected

This part will give you 7 different solutions to ensure that your WD SSD is detected properly by the BIOS.

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Method 1: Check Physical Connections

If WD Blue M 2 SSD not showing up, start by checking physical connections.

• Verify the SSD Connection: Ensure that the SSD is properly connected to the motherboard and power supply. Disconnect and reconnect both the power and data cables (SATA or NVMe, depending on the type).
• Try Different Ports or Cables: Use a different SATA port or cable if available. For NVMe SSDs, ensure the SSD is firmly seated in the M.2 slot.

Method 2: Update BIOS/UEFI

Sometimes, older BIOS versions might not recognize newer SSDs. Visit the motherboard manufacturer's website to check for any available BIOS updates and install them.

If your SSD isn't showing up after a BIOS update, try resetting the BIOS to its default settings. This can often resolve configuration conflicts.

Method 3: Enable AHCI Mode

If your motherboard is set to use IDE or RAID mode, the SSD might not show up. Change the SATA mode to AHCI (Advanced Host Controller Interface) in the BIOS.

1. Restart your computer and press the designated key to enter the BIOS setup (commonly F2, but may vary for different computers).

2. Once you're in BIOS, navigate to the Advanced or Main tab. Find the SATA Configuration or Storage Configuration section.

3. Change the mode from IDE or RAID to AHCI, then press F10 to save and exit.

Method 4: Update Storage Controller Drivers

The most common reason for an SSD not being detected is outdated or missing storage controller drivers. Here’s how to update them:

1. Right-click on the Start button and select Device Manager. Expand the IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers or Storage controllers section.

2. Right-click on each item listed under the storage controllers (such as SATA AHCI Controller or Intel(R) SATA AHCI Controller) and select Update driver.

3. Choose Search automatically for drivers. Windows will check for the latest drivers and install them if available.

Method 5: Use Hardware and Device Troubleshooting

Windows includes a handy tool called the Hardware and Device Troubleshooter, which can automatically fix SSD-related errors, including the issue of SSD not showing up in BIOS. Follow these steps:

1. Click on the Start button and select Settings > Update & Security.

2. Switch to the Troubleshoot tab on the left side of the window. In the right pane, find Hardware and Devices, then click the Run the troubleshooter button and wait for the automatic repair process to complete.

Note: You cannot find Update & Security on Windows 11. To run Hardware Troubleshooter in Windows 11, please go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other Trouble-shooters. Then click the Run button next to the target hardware or device that you have problems with.

Method 6: Check for Drive Health or Damage

WD offers a free diagnostic tool called WD Dashboard that can help identify if there’s a problem with the SSD.

1. Download, install and open WD Dashboard. The software will automatically detect your connected WD drives. Choose the drive you want to check.

2. In the main window, you’ll see the Health Status of your drive (Good, Caution, Bad). For detailed health info, go to the Drive Health or SMART Status tab to see temperature, error rates or reallocated sectors.

Method 7: Format the SSD

Formatting the SSD can be an effective solution to various issues, including the problem of SSD not showing up in BIOS, similar to reinstalling a Windows system. Follow these steps:

1. Right-click the Start button and select Disk Management from the expanded menu.

2. Locate your SSD, right-click on the blank area, and choose Format...from the menu.

Note: Identify the SSD by its capacity. If you have multiple drives with the same capacity, disconnect others to avoid errors.

Step 3. In the formatting window, confirm the information. Choose NTFS format and uncheck the Perform a quick format option. Click OK and wait for the formatting process to complete.

These methods should help resolve the issue of SSD not appearing in BIOS. However, it's crucial to remember that SSDs can face threats like power outages and viruses, potentially risking data security. Hence, it's wise to use reliable backup software to safeguard your data.

Bonus tip: Migrate your system to WD Blue SSD securely

If you are considering transferring data from old drive to a new SSD, you should consider cloning the drive. However, we find SSD not boot after clone issue happens regularly. To have a successful disk migration, secure and reliable cloning software is needed. Here I recommend AOMEI Backupper Professional. It allows you to transfer your system to a new SSD with reinstallation.

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• You can clone all data from the source system partition to the new WD SSD with the System Clone feature, including the OS, software, and all your settings.

• Besides System Clone, you can perform Disk Clone and Partition Clone as per your need.

• The software defaults to the Intelligent Clone mode to copy only used sectors on the source disk/partition.

• You can further improve the read/write speed of the destination SSD with the embedded SSD Alignment feature.

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Before you prompt:

• Connect your WD Blue SSD and make sure it can be detected.
• Backup necessary files on the destination SSD if needed.

Note: The System Clone feature can only be demonstrated in the trial version. If you're satisfied after the demo, upgrade to the full version to perform the operation.

1. Open AOMEI Backupper now and go to the Clone tab in the left window and tap the System Clone button in the right window.

2. In the destination partition interface, select the newly installed WD Blue SSD and tap Next.

3. Check the SSD Alignment checkbox to optimize SSD performance and tap the Start Clone button in the bottom right corner after previewing the operation.

✍Tip: If you wish to create an exact replica of the entire sector, you can enable the "Sector By Sector Clone" option. However, please ensure that the storage capacity of the target disk is equal to or greater than that of the source disk to accommodate this process.

Frequently Asked Questions about WD Blue SSD Not Showing Up

Q: Why did my WD Blue SSD suddenly disappear?

A: The issue could stem from loose connections, driver problems, or faulty cables.

Q: Can a faulty SATA port cause SSD visibility issues?

A: Yes, a damaged SATA port can hinder proper communication with the SSD.

Q: Do I need special drivers for a WD Blue SSD?

A: Generally, Windows uses generic drivers for SSDs, but updating them can resolve compatibility issues.

Q: What should I do if my SSD is not detected after updating drivers?

A: Try reverting to the previous driver version or check for firmware updates for your SSD.

Q: Can a damaged SATA cable affect SSD visibility?

A: Absolutely. Damaged cables can disrupt the connection between the SSD and the motherboard.

Q: Is it possible to recover data from an invisible WD Blue SSD?

A: If the SSD is not physically damaged, data recovery software may help retrieve files.

Summary

Hopefully, you can solve the WD Blue SSD not showing up issue with the previous 7 ways. If you are searching for ways to migrate the entire disk to your new SSD, disk clone is recommended. AOMEI Backupper Professional offers useful and easy cloning utility, avoiding clone failure and other future mistakes. Now you can download this software by yourself.