How to Fix NVMe SSD Not Showing Up in Windows?
If your NVMe SSD is not showing up in Windows 10 or Windows 11 well you are not alone as this is a very common issue faced by many users after they install a new SSD, upgrade their Windows, or change BIOS settings. But the good news is that in most of the cases the SSD is not dead, it is just misconfigured.
In this guide you will learn what this problem is, why it actually has to be faced and what are the proper safe solutions to fix NVME SSD not detected problem without losing your data. Every solution below is based on real troubleshooting cases seen by IT admins and everyday users.
Quick Check: Where Is Your NVMe SSD Visible?
| Scenario | BIOS | Disk Management | Windows Installer | Next Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visible in BIOS only | Yes | No | No | Initialize disk or assign drive letter |
| Not visible anywhere | No | No | No | Check hardware, slot & compatibility |
| Visible in Disk Management | Yes | Yes | No | Assign drive letter or create volume |
| RAW / Unallocated | Yes | Yes | No | Initialize or format the SSD |
| Missing in Windows setup | Yes | No | No | Load NVMe/storage driver |
What Does It Mean If NVMe SSD Is Not Showing Up in Windows?
Before we jump to fix NVME SSD not detected error it is important for you to understand where your NVMe SSD is not appearing so based on what you observed (BIOS/Disk Management/Windows Setup or This PC) as per the cause and solution can be different.
Generally when users say “NVMe SSD is not showing up in Windows” this simply means one of the following situations
- NVMe SSD does not appear in This PC or File Explorer
- NVMe SSD is missing from Disk Management
- NVMe SSD is not visible during Windows installation
- And NVMe SSD shows in BIOS but not in Windows
Above each of these scenarios indicates a different underlying problem which is why blindly formatting your drive or reinstalling Windows can sometimes make the situation more complex to fix.
If NVMe SSD Shows in BIOS but Not in Windows
If your NVMe SSD is visible in BIOS but not detected by Windows – This means the hardware connection is fine but your Windows is unable to read the drive due to missing drivers or incorrect storage mode and also partition issues in some cases.
If NVMe SSD Is Missing from Disk Management
See when the NVME SSD Not Detected in Disk Management it usually points to driver related issues, outdated BIOS firmware or compatibility problems with the motherboard or Windows version.
If NVMe SSD Appears in Disk Management but Not in This PC
If your drive is visible in Disk Management and still missing from File Explorer – it generally means the NVMe SSD is uninitialized or unallocated or does not have a drive letter assigned.
If NVMe SSD Is Not Visible During Windows Installation
If Windows Setup does not detect the NVMe SSD then the most common reasons are missing NVMe storage drivers or incorrect BIOS settings (UEFI/Legacy) or it is unsupported storage controller mode.
So The Important Thing to Understand
If Windows is not detecting your NVMe SSD – it does not automatically mean data loss as in most of the cases it simply means Windows cannot communicate properly with the NVMe SSD and the issue can be resolved by applying the correct fix based on your situation.
Quick NVMe SSD Checkpoints
| Check | What to Look For | Next Step |
|---|---|---|
| 1. BIOS or UEFI Detection | Check if your NVMe SSD is listed in BIOS | Shows → Now go to Disk Management check. Not listed → Check physical installation, PCIe slot or update BIOS. |
| 2. Disk Management | Check if the drive appears here? | Appears → Check drive letter and initialize if unallocated. Missing → Load NVMe or storage drivers. |
| 3. File Explorer / This PC | Can you see partitions or data? | Visible → Normal. Missing → Check partition, RAW file system, or assign drive letter. |
| 4. Windows Installation | Is the SSD visible during setup? | Visible → Continue installation. Not visible → Load NVMe driver, check UEFI and storage mode. |
| 5. Physical Installation or Reseat | Is SSD properly seated in M.2 slot? | Yes → OK. Reseat SSD or try another M.2 slot. |
| 6. Laptop OEM Limitations | HP / Dell / Lenovo whitelist issue? | Compatible → OK. Check OEM firmware, BIOS whitelist or manufacturer support. |
Most Common Reasons Windows Is Not Detecting NVMe SSD
Unlike SATA drives NVMe SSDs connect directly via PCIe lanes this will make them extremely fast but also more susceptible to BIOS configuration, Driver compatibility or Windows installer limitations and Firmware issues. That is the such a reason why NVMe SSD detection problems are more common if you compared this to traditional hard drives.
Not Recognized Due to Missing Drivers
Missing storage drivers is one of the biggest reasons why NVMe SSD not showing up in Windows especially on fresh installs. Windows does not always load the correct NVMe controller driver automatically when you are installing and because of this your SSD stays invisible even though it is working perfectly and this is very common with:
- New motherboards
- AMD chipsets
- OEM laptops
NVMe SSD Shows Up in BIOS but Not in Windows
See If you see NVMe SSD is shows up in BIOS but not in Windows this is actually a good sign. It means:
- The SSD is physically fine
- The motherboard detects it
- The problem is only software related
Usually this happens because:
- The disk is not initialized
- The partition table is corrupted
- The file system is unreadable
- Windows lacks the correct driver
This scenario has a high fix success rate if you handle this correctly.
NVMe SSD Not Initialized or Partitioned
All brand new NVMe SSDs often come as unallocated space so Windows will not show the drive until:
- It is initialized – GPT or MBR
- Partition is created
- Assigned a file system
Many users assume the SSD is faulty when it is simply not set up yet so if the SSD previously had data you do not need to initialize it as this can reduce recovery chances.
You may also love to read:- How to Recover Deleted Files from SSD?
Issues of File System or Partition Table
If you have used the SSD before Windows may fail to mount it due to:
- RAW file system
- Corrupted partition table
- Interrupted Windows update
- Or Improper shutdown
In such cases Windows will not detect the NVMe SSD this is a more logical issue not the hardware failure. Now if you have a issues based on your different operating system you can check below some common scenarios.
NVMe SSD Not Showing Up in Windows 10
So the one such issue facing while NVMe SSD is Not Showing Up while installing in Windows 10 and this is a very common issue that one is facing. You can figure out during Windows 10 installation, the setup screen may say:
“No drives were found.”
This happens because of the following reasons
- NVMe drivers are missing
- Storage controller is set to RAID
- Secure Boot conflicts exist
Usually loading the correct storage driver manually fixes the issue instantly.
NVMe SSD is Not Detected After Windows 10 Update
Here we find that some Windows updates overwrite storage drivers and what are the symptoms we can notice
- SSD disappearing after restart
- System booting slower
- Disk Management freezing
And this is the fact that In most of the cases reinstalling the chipset and NVMe drivers will fix the issue.
NVMe SSD Not Showing Up in Windows 11
Because of the stricter requirements of Windows 11 which makes NVMe detection issues more common.
NVMe SSD Not detected in Windows 11 during Installation process as Windows 11 enforces the following:
- UEFI mode
- Secure Boot
- TPM requirements
The most important If your BIOS is misconfigured the Windows 11 installer will not detect the NVMe SSD at all.
If the NVMe SSD Not Showing Up in Windows 11 Install on AMD Systems in such scenario we can say that the AMD systems are especially affected and you can find some common reasons why it is affected:
- Missing AMD RAID/NVMe drivers
- Outdated BIOS firmware
- Unsupported installer configuration
Hardware Level Issues M.2 NVMe SSD Not Detected in BIOS
If the M.2 NVMe SSD is not detected in BIOS and software fixes won’t help you out the possible reasons are listed below
- Incompatible motherboard slot
- Shared PCIe lanes disabled by SATA ports
- BIOS too old to support NVMe
- Improper seating of the SSD
Motherboard Not Detecting NVMe SSD
Do you know that many motherboards disable NVMe slots when certain SATA ports are used so here you just need to check the following:
- Motherboard manual
- PCIe lane sharing rules
- BIOS update history
Now let’s figure out Laptop Specific NVMe Issues as many users have reported that they have specific brand laptops that are experiencing the same issue.
HP Laptop NVMe SSD Not Detected
- BIOS whitelist restrictions
- OEM firmware limitations
Dell NVMe SSD Not Detected
- Secure Boot conflicts
- Storage controller mode issues
If I compare with the desktop system I can confidently say that the Laptop NVMe issues are more restrictive.
Quick Comparison Where Is NVMe SSD Visible?
| Scenario | BIOS | Disk Management | Windows Installer | Likely Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shows in BIOS only | Yes | No | No | Driver or partition issue |
| Not detected in BIOS | No | No | No | Hardware or slot issue |
| Shows in Disk Management | Yes | Yes | No | Missing install driver |
| RAW Partition | Yes | Yes | No | File system corruption |
Step by Step Fixes for NVMe SSD Not Showing Up in Windows
Step 1- Check Disk Management Carefully
You can start checking carefully If the SSD appears as:
- Unallocated – need to create partition
- RAW – quickly stop and evaluate recovery
- Offline – bring it first online
Step 2- Update or Load NVMe Drivers
Here need your action during the installation and after installation so during Windows installation perform the following:
- Click Load Driver
- Use motherboard or SSD manufacturer drivers
Things to do after Windows installed
- Update chipset drivers
- Update NVMe controller driver
Step 3- Check BIOS Settings
I just suggest you to avoid random BIOS changes
- Boot mode – UEFI
- Storage mode – AHCI (unless RAID is required)
- Secure Boot – correctly configured
Step 4- Recheck Physical Installation
- Remove and reseat SSD
- Try a different M.2 slot
- Avoid cheap adapters
You will see many dead SSDs start working after reseating.
Can You Lose Data When NVMe SSD Is Not Detected?
The clear answer is Not always If SSD shows in BIOS and SSD shows in Disk Management Your data is usually still there the real data loss occurs happen when:
- SSD controller fails
- Firmware is corrupted
- NAND chips are damaged
Common Mistakes That Kill NVMe Restoration Chances
- Initializing the disk without backup
- Reinstalling Windows repeatedly
- Using cracked tools
- Formatting the SSD again and again
Once TRIM wipes data chances the chance of your restoration of your important files becomes impossible.
The Role of Software in NVMe Issues
The trusted software like SysTools SSD Recovery Software can help you when your partition is lost, file system becomes RAW, or SSD is visible in Disk Management then you can Download and install our software.
When The Software Can Not Help
The following limitation is important to understand when software can not help you out:
- SSD not detected in BIOS
- Controller is dead
- Firmware failure exists
NVMe Recovery and Success Rate – Reality Check
Our expert analysis says NVMe recovery is harder than HDD recovery because of encryption and TRIM behavior (SSD TRIM Function) check the data below.
| Issue Type | Recovery Chance |
|---|---|
| Partition Loss | High |
| File System Corruption | Medium to High |
| Firmware Failure | Low |
| Controller Failure | Very Low |
Future Tips – Prevent NVMe SSD Detection Problems
- Keep BIOS updated
- Avoid sudden power loss
- Don’t overfill SSD
- Always maintain backups
NVMe SSDs are fast but backups are faster than recovery.
My Final Thoughts
This is quite stressful when an NVMe SSD is not showing up in Windows but in most of the cases the problem is fixable just the key is to:
- Understand where detection fails
- Avoid panic actions
- Fix the root cause step by step
Your SSD is often fine but here Windows just needs the right instructions. And remember when it comes to NVMe SSDs act wisely and slow careful troubleshooting saves your data.