Buzz
Make your solid-state drive appear in the BIOS or Disk Management menu
If you're assembling a PC or adding a new storage device, it can be frustrating when your SSD doesn't show up in the BIOS or File Explorer. We'll break down potential solutions to help you get your SSD working without delay.
SSD Not Showing? Here Are Fast Fixes
Launch the Disk Management tool and right-click on your new drive. Choose “New Simple Volume” and follow the instructions to format it. If your SSD is missing from the BIOS, double-check the PSU connections and ensure your motherboard’s firmware is up-to-date.
Instructions
SSD Not Showing in Windows
Launch the Disk Management tool. Press ⊞ Win+R or search for “Run” in the Start menu to open the Run dialog. Type diskmgmt.msc and hit Enter to open the Disk Management tool.
- Alternatively, right-click on the Start menu and choose “Disk Management” from the options.
Right-click the new drive and select New Simple Volume. All disks connected to your PC are listed in the Disk Management tool. Find the unallocated disk (which will show as unnamed and empty), right-click it, and select New Simple Volume.
- Do not modify the disk where Windows is installed. On Windows 11, this is labeled as “Disk 0.” For Windows 10, it’s typically the “Local Disk” partition, often the C: drive.
- What if my SSD isn’t visible? Try expanding the Disk Management window. Sometimes, Windows doesn’t automatically adjust the tool to show all available drives.
Finish the partition wizard to format and use your SSD. The New Simple Volume Wizard will appear. Complete the following steps to format your SSD:
- Click Next to begin.
- Set the Simple Volume size to match the Maximum Disk Space. For example, on a 10 GB drive, it will show something like “10,020” for Maximum Disk Space. You’ll want to set your simple volume to “10,020.”
- Choose a drive letter. It doesn’t matter which one.
- Keep the file system as NTFS and leave the Allocation Unit Size set to Default.
- Give the drive a name (whatever you prefer).
- Make sure Perform a quick format is checked.
- Click Next and Finish, and your SSD will be ready for use.
Try changing the disk letter. If the drive still doesn’t appear on your PC, open Disk Management and right-click on the drive, if visible. Then, assign it a new letter. If the drive isn’t listed in the Disk Management menu, run the Simple Volume tool again and assign the drive a new letter. This can help your PC recognize the SSD.
- Occasionally, Windows has trouble detecting new drives. Changing the drive letter might help it recognize the SSD.
Activate (or reinstall) the SSD driver. Search for Device Manager in the Start menu and launch the program. Expand the “Disk Drives” section and right-click on the SSD not showing up on your PC. If you see Enable Device, select it and check if the drive reappears. If the “Enable Device” option is greyed out, uninstall the device and restart your computer.
- Windows will automatically reinstall the SSD drivers after you restart the system. If the drive still doesn’t show, check if it appears in the BIOS.
SSD Missing from BIOS
Ensure cables are securely connected and the card is installed properly. For SATA drives, verify the connection at the SATA cable end. Make sure the pins are properly aligned and the cable is fully inserted. Also, check that the cable is connected properly to the power supply.
- What if I’m using an M.2 NVME drive? If you installed your SSD on the motherboard, make sure it’s correctly inserted into the motherboard slot at the right angle. If the heat shield isn’t installed yet, add it now, as most motherboards won’t recognize a drive without it.
Test the SSD on a different computer to rule out a faulty cable. If you have access to another PC, try installing the SSD there. If it shows up in Disk Management, it’s likely that your PSU cable is faulty.
- Alternative solution: If you have an old PSU that you know is functional, swap it into your new build and check if the SSD works.
- What if I don’t have a modular PSU? If your power supply has built-in cables, it’s likely defective. In this case, replacing the PSU should solve the issue and get your SSD working.
Replace the SSD to check for a faulty drive. If you have another SSD that has worked in the past, swap it with the one that’s not showing up. If the replacement SSD appears without issue, your original drive may be defective.
- Consider returning your SSD. If your SSD is new, contact the seller and explain the problem. Some SSDs may arrive defective, and they should offer a free replacement.
Update your BIOS to ensure the system can detect your SSD. If your SSD and PSU are working fine but the drive isn’t appearing in the BIOS, it’s likely your BIOS requires an update. Follow the instructions from your motherboard manufacturer to update it. Usually, you’ll need to flash the BIOS using the buttons on the back of your motherboard.
- Updating an older BIOS is common. Motherboards often don’t come with the latest version pre-installed.
