Resolved: SSD Not Detected in Disk Management on Windows 10/11/8/7

Updated by

Tracy King 

Written by

Sherly 

Updated on April 22, 2024

SSDs represent a significant upgrade over traditional hard disk drives (HDDs), offering faster speeds and enhanced system performance. However, they can also encounter issues at times. Some users have reported that their SSD does not appear in Disk Management. This article will address this problem and present four effective solutions. Keep reading to find out more.

Quick Fixes for SSD Not Displaying in Disk Management

The reason for the SSD not appearing in Disk Management could be due to a hardware or software issue. You can resolve an SSD not detected or not showing up in Windows Disk Management with these quick solutions:

Here are the translations in English:
1. Verify if the SSD is correctly installed in the expansion slot.
2. Inspect for any damage on Connectors, Ports, and Cables.
3. Ensure that the port you're connected to is compatible with the SSD.
4. Check if your motherboard supports the specific SSD type.
5. Connect the SSD to another device to confirm if it's functioning properly (click here to check SSD health on Windows 10/11).

Upon verifying that the issue is unrelated to hardware, we will proceed to explore solutions to address the SSD not appearing in Disk Management on Windows via software configurations.

Aside from the potential hardware issues mentioned above, the fundamental reasons why an SSD is not appearing in Disk Management are as follows:

Here are the translations for the provided language phrases into English: 1.
• ?SSD is not initialized
- "SSD has not been initialized" 2.
• Ⓜ️The drive letter of SSD is missing
- "The drive letter for the SSD is absent" 3.
• ✂️Disk drivers are outdated
- "Disk drivers are out of date" 4.
• ?Wrong BIOS settings
- "Incorrect BIOS settings"

Therefore, we will fix this issue based on these four reasons. Keep reading to learn how to resolve "SSD not showing up in Disk Management on Windows 11/10/8/7."

4 Solutions to Fix SSD Not Showing Up in Disk Management on Windows 10/11/8/7

If your Windows 11/10/7 computer fails to recognize your target SSD and it doesn't appear in Disk Management, the following methods might assist you in resolving this issue:

1. Fix 1. Initialize SSD
2. Fix 2. Assign Drive Letter to SSD
3. Fix 3. Update Disk Driver
4. Fix 4. Change BIOS Settings
Translation:
5. Solution 1. Initialize SSD
6. Solution 2. Assign Drive Letter to SSD
7. Solution 3. Update Disk Drive Firmware
8. Solution 4. Modify BIOS Settings

First of all, if your SSD is a brand new one, then you should check Fix 1 first.

Fix 1: Initialize the SSD

If the drive is not initialized, Windows will also not recognize the drive. Hence, the SSD won't be displayed or detected in Disk Management. The tools Partition Master tool can assist you in initializing your new SSD as MBR or GPT and creating partitions on the SSD. Its user-friendly interface simplifies the process, allowing you to initialize your SSD with just a few clicks. Download the tool now by clicking the button, and then follow the guide to make your SSD appear in Disk Management.

Step 1. Launch tools Partition Master and go to Partition Manager.

Step 2. Right-click the target disk - HDD or SSD and select "Initialize to MBR" or "Initialize to GPT". Click "Execute Task" and "Apply" to save the changes.

0:00-0:18 Initialize to MBR; 0:19-0:44 Initialize to GPT;

Related Article:

How to Fix SSD Not Showing Up in BIOS but Windows

Even though the SSD is correctly connected to the computer and detected by the BIOS, it might still not show up in This PC, File Explorer, or Disk Management. This is the issue that the article aims to address.

Solution 2: Assign a Drive Letter to the SSD

If Windows doesn't assign a letter to the SSD, it won't be recognized by the system. Thankfully, tools like Partition Master are all-in-one solutions that can not only aid in initializing the SSD but also assign a drive letter to your SSD. Throughout the process, there's no need to input any commands; you can easily assign a new drive letter to your SSD.

Now, download Partition Master by clicking the button above and follow the guide to try:

Step 1. Run AOMEI Partition Assistant, right-click the target partition, and choose “Change Drive Letter”.

Step 2. In the new window, click the down arrow and select a drive letter for the partition from the drop-down list, then click "OK".

Step 3. Click the "Execute 1 Task(s)" button in the upper-left corner, review the changes, and then click "Apply" to change the drive letter of the selected partition.

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You may also want to know what other functions Partition Master can perform. Keep reading to learn more about this tool's features:

• Merge SSD partitions
• Test SSD read/write speed
• Check SSD health on Windows 10/11/8/7
• Check SSD temperature on Windows 10
• 4K Alignment to fix slow SSD write speed issue
• And more

If you want to manage your SSD well and ensure it functions properly on your PC, the Partition Master tool can simplify these tasks for you. Download it to give it a try.

Fix 3: Update Disk Driver

Outdated drivers can also contribute to the issues mentioned above. To resolve this, you need to download the latest driver update. Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1. Press Windows + I to open the Windows "Settings" menu.

Step 2. Click the Windows Update option. Navigate to Advanced Options > Optional Updates.

Step 3. This window will show you a list of all available updates for your system, including disk drivers.

Step 4. Install available updates to help the SSD show up in Disk Management.

Update the disk driver:

Updating drivers might help your SSD appear in Windows and Disk Management. Share this article to let more users know about this solution.

Fix 4. Change BIOS Settings

If the SSD doesn't appear in Disk Management, you can try changing the SATA operation mode in the BIOS.

Now try the following:

< strong >Step 1. < /strong >Go to System Configuration.

Step 2. Select SATA Operations and set it to AHCI. Then, click Apply and exit the BIOS.

You may also like the following:

If you encounter any of the issues above, click the relevant link to learn how to resolve it.

Conclusion

By default or typically, Windows and Disk Management should automatically detect any SSD you connect to the system. However, when they fail to do so, actual issues can arise. If you encounter an error where your SSD does not appear in Disk Management, potential reasons may include damaged components, compatibility issues, or driver problems. First, verify if your hardware is functioning correctly. If everything checks out, proceed to attempt the four safe solutions mentioned above.

In most scenarios, the issue arises because the SSD has not been initialized or it hasn't been assigned a drive letter yet. Therefore, your first step should be to initialize the SSD and assign a new drive letter. The Partition Master tool can assist you with this process. Download the tool to give it a try.

"SSD Not Showing Up in Disk Management" FAQs

Has the issue of the SSD not showing up in Disk Management been resolved? Here, we've compiled a list of other related questions. Browse through them for assistance.

< strong >1. Why is the SSD not appearing in Disk Management but showing in BIOS? < /strong >

An SSD may appear in BIOS instead of Disk Management due to an incompatible file system, an uninitialized SSD, outdated drivers, or absent drive letters. This issue can be resolved by formatting the SSD, initializing it, assigning a drive letter, or updating the drivers.

If the data cable is damaged or not connected correctly, the BIOS won't be able to detect the SSD. Specifically, Serial ATA (SATA) cables can sometimes become disconnected, so start by ensuring that your SATA cable is firmly attached to the SATA port. Next, try adjusting the BIOS settings to address the issue.

3. How to resolve the issue of an external SSD not appearing in Disk Management?

When your connected external hard drive isn't detected in Disk Management, it could be due to several reasons: Windows 10/1 manually hiding the drive, an unstable USB interface or cable connection, a damaged external SSD, an outdated disk driver, or an incorrect drive letter assignment for the external drive.