M2 NVME SSD not showing up in Windows 11 - 6 Ways to Fix (2024)

M.2 NVMe SSDs have become incredibly popular for their lightning-fast speed and compact form factor, making them a top choice for high-performance computing systems. But it can be downright frustrating when you’ve installed one in your system, and it’s nowhere to be found in Windows 11.

Don’t worry, though – we’ve got you covered! In this blog, we’ll explore why your M.2 NVMe SSD might not show up in Windows 11 and provide practical solutions to help you sort it out. Whether you’re a seasoned computer enthusiast or a newbie, our step-by-step instructions will make it easy for you to troubleshoot and fix the issue. So, let’s dive in and tackle this problem together!

What is M2 NVME SSD?

M.2 NVMe SSDs are the absolute bee’s knees regarding computer storage. These bad boys are compact, lightning-fast, and designed to fit right into a slot on your motherboard. The M.2 form factor is just the cherry on top, making installing it even easier. And don’t even get me started on NVMe – that protocol makes these storage devices so speedy. With NVMe, you can transfer data at lightning-fast speeds, making everything run smoother and faster.

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These speedy little devils can give your computer the boost it needs for those heavy-duty tasks like gaming or video editing. They run circles around traditional SATA-based SSDs regarding read and write speeds. In addition, their compact size is perfect for laptops and other small form-factor devices. So, to take your computing game to the next level, you want to get an M.2 NVMe SSD!

Overall, M.2 NVMe SSDs offer fast and reliable storage in a compact and flexible form.

Why Is M2 NVME SSD Not Showing Up in Windows 11?

There are several reasons why an M2 NVME SSD may not be showing up in Windows 11. Here are a few possible causes:

• BIOS settings: The BIOS on your computer needs to be set up to recognize NVME or M.2 SSDs. The drive may not appear in Windows if this setting is not enabled.
• Driver issues: If the necessary drivers for the NVME SSD are not installed or are outdated, the drive may not be recognized by Windows 11.
• Connection issues: If the NVME SSD is not correctly connected to the motherboard or if the connection is faulty, the drive may not show up in Windows.
• Compatibility issues: Some older motherboards may not support NVME SSDs or may have limited support for newer NVME SSDs. In some cases, a firmware update may be necessary to ensure compatibility.
• Hardware failure: In rare cases, the NVME SSD may have a hardware failure, preventing it from being recognized by Windows 11.

These are some of the most common reasons why an M2 NVME SSD may not appear in Windows 11. By troubleshooting these issues, you can hopefully resolve the problem and get your SSD recognized by Windows.

How to Fix M2 NVME SSD Not Showing Up Windows 11

We have divided the fixes into two parts.

Fixes for NVMe Not Detected in BIOS

NVMe SSD not detected in BIOS, huh? What a drag! But don’t worry; you can try a few solutions to fix this issue.

Fix 1: Reinstall the NVMe SSD

Hold up! Before you even think about trying any of the troubleshooting steps below, you better make sure you didn’t mess up the installation or insertion of that NVMe SSD. Trust us, it wouldn’t be the first time someone’s made that mistake. Okay, here’s what you need to do:

• First, ensure your computer is unplugged and find the M.2 interface module on your motherboard. Then, take out any screws holding it in place and insert the NVMe SSD into the proper slot.
• Once you’ve done that, tighten the screws to keep the drive secure.
• Finally, turn on your computer and follow any prompts on the screen. It’s that easy!

Suppose those steps above didn’t fix your issues with the NVMe SSD. In that case, you can try additional measures to resolve the issue.

Fix 2: Set Up NVMe SSD in BIOS

If your NVMe drive isn’t detected in the BIOS, then there’s a good chance it’s not set up correctly with the correct SATA controller settings. To fix this, you’ll need to make some adjustments to the BIOS settings of your SSD. However, here are some steps you can follow to get it sorted:

• Restart your computer and hit F2 or Del to access the BIOS setup page during booting.
• Once there, go to the “Advanced” section and look for the option that allows you to adjust the bandwidth of your PCI Express X4_3 Slot.
• Choose M.2 mode from the drop-down menu next to this option.

Note: Depending on your motherboard, the exact process for step 2 may differ.

• Remember to save your changes before restarting your computer, and voila! Check if your NVMe drive appears in the BIOS after the restart.

If you follow these steps, you should be able to reconfigure your SSD’s BIOS settings and solve any pesky problems related to NVMe detection.

Fix 3: Disable Compatibility Support Module

Ah, the Compatibility Support Module (CSM) – a tricky one! If you’re installing an NVMe SSD and want to boot from it, you’ll need to disable the CSM and enable the UEFI option instead. The CSM is responsible for detecting compatibility modes during the boot process. However, it might be causing issues with your NVMe drive not being detected in the BIOS.

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Restart your system and press the F2 key to access the BIOS.
2. Locate the “Launch CSM” option at the bottom of the Boot tab and set it to Disabled.
3. Confirm the changes and exit the BIOS. Restart your computer and check whether the NVMe SSD appears in the BIOS.

By taking these steps, you should be able to resolve any issues related to your NVMe drive not being detected, and you’ll be on your way to a smooth booting experience with your shiny new SSD!

Fixes for NVMe Not Showing Up in Disk Management

Ah, a good old problem. What a classic! Lucky for you, we’ve got a couple of methods to help you with this. Let’s get started!

Fix 1: Update NVMe SSD Driver

If your NVMe SSD isn’t showing up in Disk Management, you might be using outdated drivers. No need to worry, though! You can update your drivers to fix this problem.

Here are the steps to update your NVMe drivers:

1. Let’s take a ride to the “Device Manager”! Right-click the Start button and select that, then find “Disk drives”. Next, locate your NVMe SSD and give it a right-click. Now, choose Update driver from the context menu.
2. Tap on Search automatically for driver and sit tight while the computer does its thing. If any updates are available, you’ll see an Update button – make sure to hit that and then restart your computer for good measure.
3. Restart your computer and check if the NVMe SSD is detected in Disk Management. If not, then jump on to the following troubleshooting method.

Following these steps, you can update your NVMe drivers and potentially fix any issues related to your NVMe SSD not appearing in Disk Management.

Fix 2: Get the Missing Drive Letter Back

You messed up your hard drive, huh? No worries, we got you covered! To fix the issue of a missing drive number in Disk Management, you can assign a drive letter to the partition to see if that resolves the problem.

Here are the measures you need to follow to allocate a drive letter to the partition:

1. Firstly, right-click the Start button and select the Disk Management option from the expanded menu.
2. Now, locate the partition where the drive number is missing, right-click it, and select Change drive letter and paths from the drop-down menu.
3. After that, you need to click on the Add button.
4. Pick “Assign the following drive letter” and select a drive number from the list. Then, click OK to save the changes.
   
5. Finally, restart your system and check whether the SSD is now detected in Disk Management.

These steps will help you assign a drive letter to the partition and fix any problems with a missing drive number in Disk Management.

Fix 3: Format the NVMe SSD

If you’re facing issues such as corrupted files or improper installations that cause your SSD to not appear in the BIOS, fret not! Formatting your NVMe SSD can be a great solution.

1. First, you need to right-click on the Start button and select Disk Management from the list.
2. Then, choose the partition that you want to format and right-click on it.
3. From there, select the Format option, and a pop-up window will appear with formatting information. I suggest you choose NTFS and uncheck the “Perform a quick format” option, as this is the best way to repair the drive.
   
4. Finally, click OK and wait for the formatting process to complete. That’s it!

There is no other way to get rid of the corrupted data in your NVMe SSD than to format it. This will help your Windows detect it again. But be warned, formatting your SSD means losing all your data. So, better back up all your important files before trying to fix them. Backup software can make it easy for you to save your important files regularly.

There is another possibility where External Disk gets detected but doesn’t open up and its solution has been covered already.

Conclusion

So, in conclusion, an M.2 NVMe SSD is a crucial component for modern computers, providing lightning-fast data transfer speeds and quicker boot times. However, it can be frustrating when your M.2 NVMe SSD doesn’t appear in Windows 11. But fear not! This blog covered several troubleshooting methods, including checking the physical installation, reconfiguring BIOS settings, updating NVMe drivers, assigning a drive letter, and formatting the SSD. Following these simple steps, you can efficiently resolve the issue and have your M.2 NVMe SSD up and running quickly! Happy computing!