7 Effective Ways to Fix SSD Not Showing Up in Windows 11

Help! My SSD is not showing up on my Windows 11 computer!

If your SSD is not showing up in Windows 11, there's no need to panic. We have identified four common scenarios and provided corresponding solutions to help you effortlessly overcome this issue. Whether you have internal or external hard drives, new or old, that are not visible in File Explorer or Disk Management, follow along to discover how to fix the problem in Windows 11, 10, 8, or 7 without losing any data.

New SSD not showing up in Windows 11 is a common issue, leaving users frustrated. The same concern arises when connecting a new Intel M.2 SSD that doesn't show up. This situation prevents users from adding files to the SSD or accessing existing data.

Consequently, resolving the 'SSD not showing up' problem quickly and easily becomes a top priority. In this article, we present 7 practical fixes of SSDs not showing up in Windows 11/10.

If necessary, you can also download data recovery software to recover inaccessible or formatted SSD data.

Part 1. Recover Data from SSD with MyRecover

Before you try these 7 ways to fix SSD not showing up in Windows 11, be aware that some of these solutions may result in data loss. If you haven’t backed up your data before, you can download MyRecover for free to recover data from a formatted SSD.

MyRecover is an experienced data recovery tool that works on Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, and Windows Server. Whatever the situation, you can recover your SSD data with MyRecover.

Now, let’s see how to recover data from SSD with MyRecover easily.

1. Run MyRecover, then hover the mouse over your SSD here. Click Scan to let MyRecover scan it.

2. Both Quick Scan and Deep Scan will be performed on your SSD. All the deleted files and missing files will show up then.

3. Choose the files you need to recover, and press Recover x files. You need to select a new safe location for your recovered files.

Part 2. Fix SSD not showing up in Windows 11

Encountering the Windows 11 SSD not showing upissue? Rest assured, we have compiled some effective solutions to help you regain access to your SSD and its data. Whether you are facing a problem in Windows 11, 10, 8, or 7, follow these steps to resolve the issue if your SSD is not appearing in File Explorer or Disk Management.

Solution 1. Assign a new drive letter to SSD

In some cases, an SSD may fail to appear because computer drive letter is missing or conflicts with another disk, causing the Windows OS to be unable to recognize it. You can rectify this situation by manually assigning a new drive letter to the SSD using Windows Disk Management. Follow the steps below to assign a new drive letter to the SSD:

1. Right-click on "This PC" and select "Manage." Navigate to the Storage section and click on "Disk Management."

2. Right-click on the partition corresponding to the SSD and select Change Drive Letter and Paths...

3. Click on the "Change" button among the options of Add, Change, and Remove. From the provided list, select a drive letter for the SSD. Finally, press "OK".

Solution 2. Initialize your SSD

When your new SSD fails to appear in Windows Explorer, it is likely in an "uninitialized" state. Similarly, if an old SSD displays the error message "disk unknown not initialized," the cause is the same. To resolve these issues, you can try connecting the SSD to another working computer to check if the error persists. If it does, you will need to initialize the SSD in Windows 11. Follow these steps to initialize an SSD:

1. Open Disk Management on your computer.

2. Locate and right-click on the SSD you wish to initialize, then click on "Initialize Disk."

3. In the Initialize Disk dialog box, select the disk(s) you want to initialize. You will need to choose between using the master boot record (MBR) or the GUID partition table (GPT) partition style.

Solution 3. Uninstall disk drive

Another possible scenario is when Windows 11 install not detecting SSD in "My Computer." This can occur due to incorrect installation of the disk drive. To check if reinstalling the SSD driver resolves the issue, follow these steps:

1. Right-click on "This PC" and select "Manage." Under the System Tools section, click on "Device Manager."

2. Go to Disk drives, where you will find a list of the storage devices connected to your PC.

3. Right-click on the SSD and choose "Uninstall device."

4. Remove the SSD and restart your system. Reconnect the SSD and check if Windows 10 detects it correctly.

Solution 4: Run Windows troubleshooter

Windows comes with a built-in troubleshooter designed to automatically detect and fix hardware-related issues, including problems with SSDs. This tool scans for potential errors and suggests solutions to resolve them. It’s an easy and quick method to fix your SSD not showing up.

Step 1. Press “Win + I” to open Windows Settings > Update and Security.

Step 2. Click “Additional troubleshooters” under the “Troubleshoot”.

Step 3. Go to Windows Update and click “Run the troubleshooter” . Then, restart your Windows PC and try to run Windows Update again.

Solution 5: Adjust BIOS settings

If the Windows troubleshooter doesn’t fix the issue, it’s possible that the SSD is not recognized due to incorrect BIOS settings. BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) is the firmware that controls how your computer’s hardware is configured. Adjusting these settings can often help resolve SSD detection issues.

Steps to Fix BIOS Settings:

Step 1. Restart your computer and press the designated key to enter BIOS setup (usually F2, F10, Del, or Esc) to enter the BIOS setup.

Step 2. Look for the Storage Configuration within BIOS.

Step 3. Ensure that the SATA mode is set to AHCI or IDE. Save the settings and restart your computer.

Solution 6: Format the SSD

If the above methods do not resolve the issue, it is worth considering that the file system may be corrupted or not supported by Windows. Issues related to the file system are typically indicated by "RAW," "Free space," or "Unallocated space" error messages. In such cases, reformatting the disk is often sufficient to fix the file system issues.

Follow the steps below to format your SSD:

1. Right-click on the start menu and run "Disk Management".

2. Make sure your SSD is connected to the computer. In the Disk Management window, locate your SSD, right-click on it, and choose Format. 

Solution 7: Use professional data recovery services

In some cases, especially if your SSD is failing or the issue is severe, you may risk losing critical data. Before attempting more invasive fixes or troubleshooting steps, it might be a good idea to recover your data first.

You can reach out to a professional data recovery service, which might not be free, but it’s the most reliable way to retrieve your lost files if the SSD is failing.

FAQs on SSD not showing up in Windows 11

✍ 1. What should I do if my SSD is not detected in File Explorer or Disk Management in Windows 11?

Start by checking if the SSD is properly connected and recognized by the system. If not, follow the recommended troubleshooting steps to resolve the issue.

✍ 2. Will initializing my SSD erase all the data on it?

Yes, initializing the SSD will erase all data stored on it. Therefore, it's crucial to create a backup of your data before proceeding with the initialization process.

✍ 3. Is it possible to recover data from an uninitialized disk?

If the SSD is uninitialized, data recovery becomes challenging. It's recommended to initialize the SSD first and then consider using data recovery software to retrieve any lost data.

✍ 4. What are the potential causes for an SSD not showing up in Windows 11 after installing a new one?

Common causes include improper connections, missing drive letters, the SSD being in an uninitialized state, or compatibility issues with the file system.

Conclusion

Mechanical failures and physical damage can pose errors to any storage media, including SSD now showing up in Windows 11. It is essential to implement proactive measures to safeguard the data stored on these drives. Creating regular backups is a prudent decision that should not be delayed. It's never too late to take action to protect your SSD data by using tools such as MyRecover, which can help you recover all data from SSD directly.