{"id":4282,"date":"2023-01-24T16:12:33","date_gmt":"2023-01-24T10:42:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/?p=4282"},"modified":"2023-01-24T16:12:37","modified_gmt":"2023-01-24T10:42:37","slug":"m-2-drive-not-showing-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/m-2-drive-not-showing-up\/","title":{"rendered":"[Fixed] M.2 Drive Not Showing Up: Works For All Windows Versions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>If your new SSD is not showing up either in BIOS or Windows, you can try some basic hardware and software troubleshooting steps to fix the issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Check if it's installed correctly in the motherboard, whether the SSD is configured correctly in the BIOS, and whether the storage controller drivers are updated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As someone who relies solely on their computer for their work, I know how concerning this issue can be. That's why I've curated this comprehensive guide that covers all possible causes of this problem and the step-by-step process to fix each one of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Without further ado, here are 10 workable solutions to fix the M.2 SSD not showing problem in your computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_64 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-white ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-66159c12cc429\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-66159c12cc429\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/m-2-drive-not-showing-up\/#How_to_Fix_M2_SSD_Not_Showing_Up_in_BIOS\" title=\"How to Fix M.2 SSD Not Showing Up in BIOS?\">How to Fix M.2 SSD Not Showing Up in BIOS?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/m-2-drive-not-showing-up\/#Check_if_the_Disk_is_Installed_Properly_in_the_Motherboard\" title=\"Check if the Disk is Installed Properly in the Motherboard\">Check if the Disk is Installed Properly in the Motherboard<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/m-2-drive-not-showing-up\/#Enable_M2_SSD\" title=\"Enable M.2 SSD\">Enable M.2 SSD<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/m-2-drive-not-showing-up\/#Disable_Secure_BootEnable_CSM\" title=\"Disable Secure Boot\/Enable CSM\">Disable Secure Boot\/Enable CSM<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/m-2-drive-not-showing-up\/#Configure_Your_BIOS_Settings\" title=\"Configure Your BIOS Settings\">Configure Your BIOS Settings<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/m-2-drive-not-showing-up\/#Update_BIOS\" title=\"Update BIOS\">Update BIOS<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/m-2-drive-not-showing-up\/#How_to_Fix_M2_SSD_Not_Showing_Up_in_Windows\" title=\"How to Fix M.2 SSD Not Showing Up in Windows?\">How to Fix M.2 SSD Not Showing Up in Windows?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/m-2-drive-not-showing-up\/#Update_SSD_Driver\" title=\"Update SSD Driver\">Update SSD Driver<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/m-2-drive-not-showing-up\/#Assign_or_Modify_Drive_Letter\" title=\"Assign or Modify Drive Letter\">Assign or Modify Drive Letter<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/m-2-drive-not-showing-up\/#Initialize_Disk_in_Disk_Management\" title=\"Initialize Disk in Disk Management\">Initialize Disk in Disk Management<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/m-2-drive-not-showing-up\/#Use_the_Windows_Troubleshooter\" title=\"Use the Windows Troubleshooter\">Use the Windows Troubleshooter<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/m-2-drive-not-showing-up\/#Low-Level_Format\" title=\"Low-Level Format\">Low-Level Format<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/m-2-drive-not-showing-up\/#Why_is_My_M2_SSD_Not_Showing_Up\" title=\"Why is My M.2 SSD Not Showing Up?\">Why is My M.2 SSD Not Showing Up?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/m-2-drive-not-showing-up\/#FAQs\" title=\"FAQs\">FAQs<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/m-2-drive-not-showing-up\/#1_How_to_Enable_M2_SSD_in_BIOS\" title=\"1. How to Enable M.2 SSD in BIOS?\">1. How to Enable M.2 SSD in BIOS?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/m-2-drive-not-showing-up\/#2_Why_is_My_M2_SSD_Not_Showing_in_the_Boot_Priority_List\" title=\"2. Why is My M.2 SSD Not Showing in the Boot Priority List?\">2. Why is My M.2 SSD Not Showing in the Boot Priority List?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/m-2-drive-not-showing-up\/#3_How_Do_I_Initialize_a_New_SSD_in_Windows\" title=\"3. How Do I Initialize a New SSD in Windows?\">3. How Do I Initialize a New SSD in Windows?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/m-2-drive-not-showing-up\/#Conclusion\" title=\"Conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Fix_M2_SSD_Not_Showing_Up_in_BIOS\"><\/span>How to Fix M.2 SSD Not Showing Up in BIOS?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If your M.2 SSD is not being detected in the BIOS, then either the firmware settings aren't configured correctly or the disk is damaged. Hopefully, it's not the latter, and you'll be able to get your SSD up again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are the most effective methods that can solve this without risking data loss:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" src=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Man-unpacks-the-newly-purchased-M.2-SSD-drive-over-his-desk-with-a-modern-laptop.jpg\" alt=\"Man unpacks the newly purchased M.2 SSD drive over his desk with a modern laptop\" class=\"wp-image-4287\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Man-unpacks-the-newly-purchased-M.2-SSD-drive-over-his-desk-with-a-modern-laptop.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Man-unpacks-the-newly-purchased-M.2-SSD-drive-over-his-desk-with-a-modern-laptop-300x210.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Check_if_the_Disk_is_Installed_Properly_in_the_Motherboard\"><\/span>Check if the Disk is Installed Properly in the Motherboard<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The first thing you need to do is check whether the drive is properly connected to the correct motherboard slot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You'll have to open your laptop\/CPU case, disconnect the drive, and reinstall it. Make sure the drive is placed firmly into the slot, and the mounting screw is properly fastened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Note that you'll also get the same issue if the drive is not placed in the proper drive slot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are two main types of SSD slots: SATA and PCI-E. Insert your M.2 SSD in the correct slot. You can refer to the motherboard manual provided by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you've followed all the above steps, restart your computer and check if the hard disk is showing up in BIOS. If it's properly installed and still not showing up, you can move on to the next method.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Enable_M2_SSD\"><\/span>Enable M.2 SSD<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes, the motherboard doesn't automatically detect a new SSD after installing it. In this case, we need to enable it manually. The process will vary slightly depending on your motherboard, but here are the usual steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Reboot your computer and access the BIOS menu by pressing the designated key (generally F2, F12, or Delete key).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the BIOS menu, navigate to the <strong>Advanced Settings <\/strong>section, and look for <strong>Onboard Devices Configuration.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now find the <strong>PCI Express X4_3 Slot Bandwidth<\/strong> options. Most motherboards set this to Auto, but if it isn't working, set it to <strong>M.2 Mode<\/strong> instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After that, save changes and exit. Your computer will reboot and hopefully recognize the SSD this time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Disable_Secure_BootEnable_CSM\"><\/span>Disable Secure Boot\/Enable CSM<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes, old disk drives don't work with newer BIOS modes like UEFI or Secure Boot. If your M.2 drive uses an old SATA configuration, you probably need to use legacy BIOS settings on your PC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are two things you can do here. Either disable the Secure boot option or enable CSM mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li>Reboot your computer and access the BIOS menu by pressing the designated key (generally F2, F12, or Delete key).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The first thing you should do is navigate to the <strong>Security tab <\/strong>and turn off <strong>Secure boot<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Exit the BIOS menu and restart your computer to see if the M.2 drive is detected.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If not, reboot once again and enter the BIOS menu.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This time, go to the Boot tab and find the <strong>CSM (Compatibility Support Module)<\/strong> section.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Enable the <strong>Launch CSM<\/strong> option and restart your PC.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>If your disk uses an MBR partition, it should be detected once you've enabled CSM or disabled Secure boot.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" src=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Technician-Connects-an-SSD-Hard-Drive-to-a-Motherboard.jpg\" alt=\"Technician Connects an SSD Hard Drive to a Motherboard\" class=\"wp-image-4289\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Technician-Connects-an-SSD-Hard-Drive-to-a-Motherboard.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Technician-Connects-an-SSD-Hard-Drive-to-a-Motherboard-300x210.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Configure_Your_BIOS_Settings\"><\/span>Configure Your BIOS Settings<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Another reason for the \"M.2 SSD not showing\" issue is that you haven't configured the drive settings in your BIOS correctly. To set up the correct M.2 SSD configuration, follow these steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li>Reboot your PC and enter BIOS by pressing F2 or Delete key.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Navigate to the <strong>Storage Configuration<\/strong> settings menu.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click on <strong>SATA Configuration<\/strong> and then select <strong>Configure SATA as<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Now choose the proper SSD configuration (<strong>IDE<\/strong>, <strong>AHCI<\/strong>, or <strong>RAID<\/strong>) depending on your M.2 SSD. For most operating systems and disk drives, you want to set this to AHCI.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Save and exit BIOS. Restart to see if you're able to fix SSD not showing in your PC.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Update_BIOS\"><\/span>Update BIOS<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If your BIOS firmware is outdated, you might get the M.2 SSD not showing up in the BIOS issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can check whether a newer BIOS version is available on the official website of your motherboard manufacturer. If there is, download the file and transfer it to a flash drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now restart your PC with the flash memory connected and enter the BIOS. In the BIOS menu, select the <strong>Update BIOS from the Drive<\/strong> option. Select the updated file stored on your flash drive and wait for the process to finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Fix_M2_SSD_Not_Showing_Up_in_Windows\"><\/span>How to Fix M.2 SSD Not Showing Up in Windows?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Next, we'll cover the methods that you can perform if your M.2 SSD is showing up in BIOS but not in <strong>Disk Management <\/strong>or <strong>Windows File Explorer<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The good news is that most of these are software-related issues and can be fixed in just a few clicks. Let's look at them now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Update_SSD_Driver\"><\/span>Update SSD Driver<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you haven't updated driver software for your storage device in a while, Windows might not be able to read your M.2 SSD properly. Luckily, it's super easy to update the drivers using the following method:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li>Open the Start menu. Type in <strong>Device Manager<\/strong> and hit Enter.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In the Windows Device Manager, expand the <strong>Storage controllers<\/strong> section.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Right-click on your M.2 SSD and click on <strong>Update driver<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Choose <strong>Search automatically for drivers<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Windows will automatically search and update drivers if available.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Restart your computer after the process finishes and check if the M.2 SSD is recognized now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Assign_or_Modify_Drive_Letter\"><\/span>Assign or Modify Drive Letter<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes, Windows fails to recognize hard drives because of a missing or conflicting drive letter. You can change or assign a new letter to fix this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li>Open the <strong>Start <\/strong>menu and search for <strong>Disk Management<\/strong>. Right-click it and select Run as administrator.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Right-click on your SSD and choose <strong>Change Drive Letter and Paths<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If the drive letter doesn't exist, click <strong>Add<\/strong>. Otherwise, click <strong>Change<\/strong> to assign a new one.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Select a new letter from the dropdown menu. Press <strong>OK<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Restart your PC after you make the changes. Check if you can now access your SSD through <strong>File Explorer<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" src=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Person-Working-on-the-Desktop-Computer.jpg\" alt=\"Person Working on the Desktop Computer\" class=\"wp-image-4288\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Person-Working-on-the-Desktop-Computer.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Person-Working-on-the-Desktop-Computer-300x210.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Initialize_Disk_in_Disk_Management\"><\/span>Initialize Disk in Disk Management<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If your M.2 SSD is showing as an \"Unknown\" disk in Windows Disk Management, you haven't initialized it yet. Follow the steps below to do that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li>Open the Start menu, type <strong>Disk Management, <\/strong>and press <strong>Enter<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Now find your M.2 SSD that is marked \"Not Initialized.\"<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Right-click on it and choose the <strong>Initialize Disk<\/strong> option.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Select the correct partition table (between MBR or GPT) as per your Windows version and BIOS configuration. Click OK.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Right-click on the hard disk again and click on <strong>New Simple Volume<\/strong>. Follow the on-screen instructions shown in the New Simple Volume wizard and assign a drive letter for your solid-state drive.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Use_the_Windows_Troubleshooter\"><\/span>Use the Windows Troubleshooter<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Windows operating system comes with a built-in troubleshooter for almost any hardware issue that can arise in your PC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are the steps to troubleshoot your M.2 SSD:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li>Right-click on the <strong>Start <\/strong>icon.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Select <strong>Windows PowerShell (Admin)<\/strong> [or Windows Terminal (Admin) in some computers].<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Once the Windows PowerShell opens with admin permissions, type in <strong>msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic <\/strong>and press Enter. This will launch the Hardware and Device Troubleshooter.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click <strong>Next<\/strong>. This will automatically begin the scanning process and diagnose any errors related to your hard drive.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Apply the desired fixes and restart your PC. Open Disk Management and see if your M.2 SSD is correctly detected now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Low-Level_Format\"><\/span>Low-Level Format<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If none of the above solutions worked, a low-level format might be your last bet before visiting a technician.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is different from the usual \"Quick Format\" option in Windows and is more intensive. As opposed to just setting up an empty file system, it completely wipes off the data and writes a zero to each cell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Note: This method is not suggested if you are a beginner! Also, the process will wipe out your hard drive so it's not recommended if you don't have a backup of your SSD.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can use third-party tools like the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.intel.com\/content\/www\/us\/en\/download\/19543\/intel-memory-and-storage-tool-gui.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong>Intel Memory and Storage tool<\/strong><\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aomeitech.com\/aomei-partition-assistant.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong>AOMEI Partition Assistant<\/strong><\/a><strong>, <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hdat2.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong>HDAT2<\/strong><\/a><strong>, <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.killdisk.com\/eraser.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong>KillDisk<\/strong><\/a><strong>, and <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/dban.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong>DBAN<\/strong><\/a>. The exact steps can be found in the documentation of these tools, and we won't go into them here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, the complete how-to instructions to run a low-level format using the Intel Memory and Storage tool can be found <a href=\"https:\/\/www.intel.in\/content\/www\/in\/en\/support\/articles\/000057452\/memory-and-storage.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_is_My_M2_SSD_Not_Showing_Up\"><\/span>Why is My M.2 SSD Not Showing Up?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The reasons why your M.2 SSD is not showing in Windows can be both hardware or software-related. Some of the most common issues are listed below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Loose cables or connections:<\/strong> Your SSD is not properly connected to the motherboard, or placed in the wrong slot.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Motherboard limitations:<\/strong> Many motherboards share PCIe\/SATA lanes between multiple components, so if you have too many drives installed, your motherboard might disable the M.2 slot temporarily.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Secured boot enabled: <\/strong>Disable Secure boot or try using CSM mode.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>SSD is not enabled or configured incorrectly in BIOS settings<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Obsolete drivers: <\/strong>Update SSD drivers using Windows Device Manager<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Contradictory or missing drive numbers:<\/strong> Assign or change the drive letter using Disk Management.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Drive not initialized: <\/strong>Initialize M.2 SSD using Disk Management.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Windows version is not compatible with the M.2 SSD file system.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Faulty or broken M.2 SSD:<\/strong> Check if it works on another computer and if not, the SSD is likely dead.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" src=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Technician-Working-on-the-PC.jpg\" alt=\"Technician Working on the PC\" class=\"wp-image-4290\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Technician-Working-on-the-PC.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Technician-Working-on-the-PC-300x210.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQs\"><\/span>FAQs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_How_to_Enable_M2_SSD_in_BIOS\"><\/span>1. How to Enable M.2 SSD in BIOS?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In the BIOS, navigate to <strong>Advanced settings &gt; Onboard Devices Configuration<\/strong>. Now find the <strong>PCI Express Slot Bandwidth<\/strong> option and change it to <strong>M.2 Mode<\/strong>. Save and exit to manually enable the M.2 SSD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Why_is_My_M2_SSD_Not_Showing_in_the_Boot_Priority_List\"><\/span>2. Why is My M.2 SSD Not Showing in the Boot Priority List?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The primary reason why your drive is not appearing under Boot Priority is the incorrect partition format. If you have a UEFI system and your disk uses an MBR partition, it won't be recognized by the OS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this case, you can try disabling Secure boot and Fast boot or use the CSM compatibility mode. If that doesn't work, you can reformat the M.2 SSD to the GPT partition format.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_How_Do_I_Initialize_a_New_SSD_in_Windows\"><\/span>3. How Do I Initialize a New SSD in Windows?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Before using a newly installed SSD, you need to initialize and partition it. To do that, right-click Start and select Disk management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now right-click on your new hard disk and select Initialize. Choose the correct partition format (MBR or GPT). After that, right-click on the unallocated space and click on New Simple Volume. Follow the on-screen instructions to create a new partition on your SSD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Read more resources<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>SSDs are a wonderful upgrade to mechanical hard drives, but they do come with certain issues. If your newly installed SSD is not detected in Windows, it can be either a software or hardware issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whatever the case, we have provided the best solutions that can fix this problem and prevent dreadful data loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I hope you were able to fix the issue of M.2 SSD not showing in BIOS or Disk Management system utility. If not, I suggest that you don't DIY anymore and visit an authorized technician to look it up.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If your new SSD is not showing up either in BIOS or Windows, you can try some basic hardware and software troubleshooting steps to fix the issue. Check if it's installed correctly in the motherboard, whether the SSD is configured correctly in the BIOS, and whether the storage controller drivers are updated. As someone who [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":4297,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[24],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4282"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4282"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4282\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4310,"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4282\/revisions\/4310"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4297"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4282"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4282"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4282"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}