M.2 SSD Not Showing Up? Here’s How To Fix It

M.2 SSDs provide unimaginable switch speeds and likewise include a smaller type issue. However, there are conditions the place it doesn’t present up for some customers—particularly on the methods the place it’s newly put in. It primarily occurs when the SSD isn’t initiated and allotted.  

If you are attempting to make use of the newest M.2 interface on an older and incompatible motherboard, you will note the identical downside in that case as properly. Sometimes the problems with the SSD itself also can make the SSD not present up.

Reconfigure the BIOS Settings

The SSD normally exhibits up within the boot precedence settings of your BIOS. However, if there are some misconfigurations within the BIOS settings, the M.2 SSD won’t present up. If you might be positive that the SSD has no downside, readjust these settings to make the SSD present up within the BIOS and performance as supposed. 

Enable SATA Controller 

If you’ve gotten a SATA M.2 SSD put in in your pc, however the SATA controller has been disabled within the BIOS, it’s possible you’ll not see the SSD even within the Disk Management utility.

SATA controller manages the communication and knowledge movement between the drive and the system. If this will get disabled for some motive, you received’t be capable of entry a SATA SSD or different SATA-based units related to the pc. 

1. Restart the pc and on the preliminary startup display, press the particular BIOS key to your motherboard. On most methods, the secret is  F1, F2, F10, Delete, or Esc. 
2. Find the part for the SATA controller. Generally, this may be discovered within the Chipset or System configuration part on many of the BIOS.
   
3. If the SATA controller configuration is disabled, change it to AHCI or your most popular controller interface.
4. Finally, save the modifications and exit from the BIOS. Then verify for those who can see the M.2 SSD within the Disk Management utility. 

Enable the M.2 Mode

Most methods routinely acknowledge the M.2 drive after it’s put in. However, if the methods fail to take action, you could manually configure the PCI Express Slot Bandwidth to M.2 mode. Here’s how to do it. 

1. Open the BIOS. 
2. Search for choices much like PCI Express Slot Bandwidth. Usually, you can find this selection within the Advanced part of the BIOS. As acknowledged earlier, the placement of those settings can differ from the motherboards. 
   
3. Set the Slot Bandwidth to M.2 mode.
4. Finally, save and exit from BIOS. The system ought to now acknowledge your SSD.  

Allocate the Drive

You merely can not learn or write something over the drive that isn’t allotted. An unallocated disk shall be proven on the Disk Management utility, however you’ll not see it in File explorer. Allocating the drive will configure the scale, label, file system, and different parameters for the drive that can make it usable. 

If you’ve gotten freshly put in a secondary M.2 SSD in your pc, the very first thing you could do is initialize after which allocate it to have the ability to entry the drive. 

Step 1: Initialize the Drive 

1. Press Windows Key + X and Select Disk Management.
    
2. Now, right-click on the drive that has been labeled Not initialized and choose Initialize disk. 
   
3. Then choose a partition model for the unallocated SSD and click on on OK. It is advisable to decide on the GPT partition. 
   

Step 2: Allocate the Drive 

Once the drive is initialized, the SSD turns into obtainable for allocation and shall be labeled unallocated. Here’re the steps so as to add a quantity to your drive.

1. On Disk Management, right-click on the drive and choose New Simple Volume.
   
2. On the Simple Volume Wizard, click on on Next.
   
3. The measurement for the brand new partition is about to its most by default. However, you possibly can assign a desired measurement for it. 
   
4. Now, assign a drive letter for the quantity. 
   
5. Choose the Format this quantity with the next settings choices and choose your most popular File System, Allocation unit measurement, and Volume label. Then click on on Next. 
   
6. Click on Finish to begin formatting the drive. 
   
7. Once finished, the unallocated SSD shall be accessible via the File explorer.

If the Drive is already initialized, however a drive letter hasn’t been assigned—you won’t be capable of entry the M.2 drive. To convey the SSD into use, you could assign it a drive letter. Here’s how to do it.

1. Press Windows Key + R, sort diskmgmt.msc, and hit enter. 
2. Right-click on the drive that isn’t displaying up.
3. Select the Change Drive letter and paths.
   
4.  Click on Add. 
   
5. Select the Assign the next drive letter possibility and assign it a most popular drive letter from the drop-down.
   
6. Finally, click on on OK to save lots of the modifications. 
7. You should now see the M.2 SSD drive within the File explorer. 

Update Storage Controller Driver

The storage controller drivers are important in relation to making the NVMe and SATA interfaces operate. If these drivers are outdated, the newer M.2 SSDs might fail to work correctly—though they might be appropriate along with your {hardware}. Therefore, updating these drivers will help you resolve the SSD points. 

1. Press Windows key + X and choose Device Manager. 
   
2. Double-click on Storage Controller to verify the checklist of device drivers underneath it. 
   
3. Right-click on the device and choose Update driver.
4. Choose the Search Automatically for drivers possibility and observe the on-screen prompts. 
   
5. Repeat the steps for the opposite drivers.
6. Restart the pc when the update course of will get accomplished. 

Additionally, if there are some pending Windows updates, set up them too—together with the non-obligatory ones. 

1. Press the Windows key + I to open Settings. 
2. Go to Windows Update Section.
3. Click on Check for Updates. If Windows finds some just lately launched updates click on on Download & set up. 
   
4. Now, go to Advanced choices > Optional updates. 
5. Click on Driver updates and choose any related pending updates.
   
6. Again, click on on Download and set up. 

Check for Motherboard Compatibility 

The M.2 SSDs can be found with two completely different storage interfaces — NVMe and SATA. Not all motherboards help each of those interfaces. Some include devoted NVMe or SATA M.2 slots, whereas some function slots that help each. 

You might have related the M.2 SATA SSD into the slot that solely helps NVMe storage. The drive might match properly on this scenario however is not going to work except the slot helps each interfaces. However, it is not going to be attainable to essentially match the NVMe SSD right into a SATA-supported M.2 slot.

You might must discuss with your motherboard’s consumer guide to get the specs for the M.2 to know if the slot helps the SSD you’ve gotten. If the drive isn’t appropriate along with your motherboard, it’s apparent that you simply received’t be capable of entry it. 

For instance, on an MSI PRO Z790-A collection motherboard, it’s possible you’ll discover 4 M.2 slots. However, not all of those slots provide SATA SSD help. The first and second M.2 slots solely help PCIe NVMe drives, whereas the third and fourth M.2 slots are appropriate with SATA mode and PCIe NVMe.

If you occur to make use of a SATA M.2 SSD within the first and second slots, it received’t present up.

Besides, the motherboard’s compatibility right here is a few key issues which may have an effect on the functioning of your M.2 SSD.

Reseat the SSD

If not one of the above-suggested strategies work, there are some possibilities that the M.2 SSD isn’t appropriately put in. Follow these steps fastidiously to reseat the SSD in its slot.

1. Turn off the pc or your Laptop and disconnect each peripheral (Including the ability twine) related to it. If the laptop computer has a removable battery, disconnect it as properly.
2. Press and maintain the ability button of the device for 20-30 seconds to power-drain it.
3. Open the CPU case or the laptop computer’s back panel to entry the interior parts. 
4. Locate the SSD that isn’t displaying up. 
   
5. Depending upon the mannequin of the motherboard, there could be a warmth sink that it’s essential to take away first to entry the M.2 SSD. Remove the screws which can be holding the warmth sink in place.
6. Remove the warmth sink after which unscrew the SSD from its place.
   
7. The drive will then raise off from its place. If the warmth sink’s thermal pad is connected to the drive, gently take it off. 
   
8. Pull the SSD out of the slot. 
9. Now, correctly align the notch of the SATA or NVMe SSD to the slot and insert it. If there’s one other vacant M.2 slot, it’s possible you’ll even strive putting the SSD in it. 
10. Align the SSD with the screw gap by gently urgent it and place the screw back to safe it to the slot.
11. Reassemble the pc/laptop computer and switch it on. 
12. Now, confirm if the M.2 SSD works nice via the file explorer or Disk Management Utility. 
    

If reseating doesn’t repair the problem, this means some downside with the SSD or the motherboard. The M.2 SSDs are fragile items of storage units that may get simply broken if dealt with correctly.

However, it’s attainable that the device was lifeless on arrival (DOA) to begin with. You should search technical assist to get your device repaired or changed in that scenario.