If you’ve just installed a new M.2 SSD but it’s not showing up in Windows, don’t panic. There are a few potential reasons why your shiny new solid state drive isn’t being detected, and some simple steps you can take to troubleshoot and fix the issue.
Quick Diagnosis
First things first, let’s run through some quick checks to try and diagnose the problem:
Is the drive properly installed?
This may sound obvious, but double check that the M.2 SSD is fully inserted into the M.2 slot on your motherboard. It needs to click into place properly. Wiggle it gently to see if it’s loose. Also verify both ends of the drive are secure.
Is it enabled in BIOS?
Access your BIOS settings (by pressing the correct key at startup, such as F2, Delete, F10 etc) and find the section related to storage or M.2 drives. Make sure the new drive is enabled and not disabled. You may need to save changes and exit for them to take effect.
Do you need additional drivers?
For some brands or models of M.2 SSD, you may need to install additional manufacturer-provided drivers before Windows will recognize the drive. Check the SSD maker’s website for the latest drivers.
Is it showing in Disk Management?
Open the Disk Management tool in Windows (just search for it or type diskmgmt.msc into Run). This shows all connected drives. If your M.2 drive shows here but not in File Explorer, it likely just needs to be formatted and assigned a drive letter.
Troubleshooting Steps
If those quick checks don’t reveal the issue, here are some steps to try troubleshooting further:
Try a different M.2 slot
If you have multiple M.2 slots on your motherboard, try moving the SSD to a different slot and seeing if it is detected. There may be something wrong with that particular slot.
Update BIOS
An outdated BIOS could cause issues with recognizing new hardware like an M.2 SSD. Go to your motherboard manufacturer’s website and download the latest BIOS update for your model. Follow the instructions to flash the BIOS.
Check for dirt or damage
Carefully examine the gold pins on the M.2 drive and the slot on the motherboard for any dirt, debris or damage. Use compressed air to clean them if needed. Any physical damage could prevent proper electrical contact.
Try a different cable
If your M.2 slot uses a ribbon cable, switch this out and try a different cable in case the original one is faulty.
Reset CMOS
Resetting the CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) will clear any BIOS settings that may be incorrectly configured and interfering with drive detection. Refer to your motherboard manual for the correct CMOS reset procedure.
Make sure it’s compatible
Double check that your selected M.2 SSD is definitely compatible with your motherboard. While M.2 is the form factor, under the hood there are still SATA and NVMe protocol drives which have different compatibility.
Try updating drivers
Visit your motherboard and SSD manufacturer websites and download the latest storage drivers and firmware available. Keeping these up to date can sometimes help resolve detection issues.
Reseat components
As a “hail mary”, you could try reseating components like the RAM and graphics card, clearing CMOS again, and even removing the battery for a few minutes. This may reset any stuck device settings.
Software Troubleshooting
Let’s also run through some software checks in Windows to see if we can get the M.2 drive detected:
Check for errors
Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run “chkdsk /f” to check all drives for errors and fix any file system problems found. Then reboot and check if the M.2 now shows up.
Change drive letters
If you have a lot of drives connected, Windows may be trying to assign the M.2 a drive letter already in use. To manually change drive letters, go to Disk Management, right-click on each volume, and select Change Drive Letter and Paths.
Initialize disk
If the new drive shows as “Unallocated” space in Disk Management, you need to initialize it by right-clicking and selecting Initialize Disk. This prepares it for first use.
Create a partition
After initializing, you need to create a primary partition on the blank drive. Right-click it in Disk Management and select New Simple Volume. Follow the wizard to assign it a drive letter.
Format the volume
With the partition created, right-click it and choose Format. Pick your desired file system (usually NTFS) and label it something recognizable.
Mount in Disk Management
If you can see the drive in Disk Management but it has no drive letter in File Explorer, right-click the volume and select Change Drive Letter and Paths to add one.
Resolutions
If you’ve tried all of the above troubleshooting without success, a few options remain:
Use a different port
If possible, connect the M.2 drive to a different SATA port or M.2 slot on your motherboard to see if it is detected there instead. A port could be damaged.
Test on another PC
Try installing the M.2 drive on a different computer entirely to rule out any issues with your main PC. If it works fine on another system, the problem lies with your original build.
RMA the drive
It’s possible you just received a faulty unit. Contact the M.2 seller or manufacturer and ask about a replacement under RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization). Most SSDs come with at least a 3 year warranty.
Get a new cable
If you’ve tested the M.2 SSD in every port with multiple cables, the ribbon cable connecting them may need to be replaced. Purchase a new one designed for your particular motherboard.
Replace the motherboard
In rare cases, the M.2 slots themselves on the motherboard could be damaged. You may need to replace the motherboard if no other troubleshooting helps and you’ve tested the drive works in another system.
Preventing Future Issues
Once resolved, you hopefully won’t go through this missing drive headache again. Here are some tips to avoid similar issues in future:
Handle with care
M.2 drives are delicate. Always handle them carefully and avoid touching the gold pins. Wear an antistatic wrist strap if possible.
Keep BIOS updated
Make a habit of periodically checking your motherboard support site for the latest BIOS versions. Keeping this firmware updated improves compatibility.
Use recommended slots
Consult your motherboard manual on which M.2 slots support NVMe vs SATA and stick to those. Using the wrong slot could cause detection problems.
Secure the drive
Ensure the small screw is used to secure the M.2 drive in the slot. This prevents it working loose over time, causing errors.
Verify connector type
If your M.2 slot uses a removable ribbon cable, always double check that you have the correct cable for NVMe or SATA drives.
Avoid overheating
Ensure your case cooling is sufficient and air can flow over the M.2 drive and slot area. Overheating can damage drives.
Conclusion
While an M.2 SSD mysteriously not showing up can be frustrating, using the right troubleshooting steps methodically should reveal what’s preventing detection. The most common issues are loose connections, outdated BIOS, drive letter conflicts, or needing to initialize the disk properly in Windows. With patience it can usually be resolved, so don’t give up. Making sure to handle the drive and slot gently, keep firmware updated, use compatible components, and sufficient cooling will help prevent similar problems happening again.
With M.2 being the future for SSD storage, it’s worth learning how to install and maintain them correctly. Following the steps outlined here should get your new high speed M.2 solid state drive up and running in no time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my M.2 SSD not detected?
Common reasons an M.2 SSD is not detected include loose connections, outdated BIOS, incorrect drive initialization in Windows, using incompatible hardware combinations, lack of driver installation, too many allocated drive letters, and physical damage to the slot or drive.
How do I get my M.2 to show up in BIOS?
If your M.2 SSD is not showing up in BIOS, double check it is properly seated in the correct slot. Try moving it to a different slot if available. Update to the latest BIOS version. Reset CMOS to default settings. And make sure you are using a compatible SSD for your motherboard’s slots.
Why is my 2nd M.2 slot not working?
Some motherboards share bandwidth between M.2 slots, so using a 2nd slot may disable SATA ports or the PCIe lanes for other slots. Consult your manual to see if the 2nd slot has any limitations when populated.
How do I enable M.2 slot?
To enable your M.2 slot in BIOS, enter BIOS setup, go to advanced options, find the settings related to SATA or NVMe drives, and make sure the M.2 slot is set to Enabled. Save changes and reboot. The slot may need to be enabled before the drive is recognized.
What are the most common M.2 slot issues?
The most frequent M.2 slot issues include:
- Slot is disabled in BIOS
- Loose drive fitting into the slot properly
- Using the wrong SSD protocol type for the slot
- Shared bandwidth causes other ports to be disabled
- Poor contact with gold pins due to dirt or damage
- Faulty ribbon cable, if applicable
- BIOS needs updating to add support
Troubleshooting M.2 SSD Not Detected
Follow this step-by-step guide below to troubleshoot and fix an M.2 SSD not showing up or not detected issues in Windows:
- Check SSD is clicked firmly into place in the M.2 slot
- Wiggle drive gently to confirm no looseness
- Inspect pins for dirt/debris/damage
- Ensure slot is enabled in BIOS settings
- Try SSD in different compatible M.2 slot if available
- Update motherboard BIOS to latest version
- Reset CMOS to default settings
- Check for new SSD firmware & drivers from maker’s website
- Reseat components like RAM, graphics card etc
- Inspect ribbon cable for damage if applicable
- Make sure SSD protocol matches slot (SATA vs NVMe)
- Check if drive appears in Disk Management
- Scan for errors and attempt drive repairs in Disk Management
- Initialize, partition and format drive in Disk Management
- Change drive letters if there are conflicts
- Try mounting drive in Disk Management
- Test SSD in another PC if possible to isolate issue
Recovering Data from an Undetected M.2 SSD
If your M.2 SSD is not showing up due to corruption or failure, but you need to recover critical data from it, follow these steps:
- Don’t initialize, reformat or overwrite the affected SSD
- Use data recovery software to scan the raw drive
- Select a different SSD or drive to restore recovered files to
- Preview found files before purchasing software or recovering data
- Avoid excessive scanning if corruption is logical – quick scan should find files
- For physical damage, deeper scan may be required
- Delete the damaged SSD partition after recovering data, before reusing
Advanced data recovery firms offer lab clean room services for SSD physical damage, but this is expensive. Try DIY software recovery first if logical corruption only.
Differences Between NVMe and SATA M.2 SSDs
There are two major types of M.2 solid state drives, which use different connectors and protocols but the same physical form factor:
NVMe M.2 SSD
- Uses PCIe bus, not SATA
- Much higher performance – up to 3500+ MB/s
- Uses NVMe communication protocol
- Requires NVMe-compatible M.2 slot
- Typically more expensive per GB
SATA M.2 SSD
- Uses SATA bus, like 2.5″ SSDs
- Max speed around 550 MB/s
- Uses AHCI protocol like hard drives
- Works in either SATA or NVMe slots
- Cheapest per GB
It’s important to check slot and SSD compatibility before buying. Mixing up SATA and NVMe can prevent detection.
M.2 Slot Comparison Table
Here is a comparison of the most common M.2 slot key combinations and their uses:
| Slot Key | Key M | Key B | Key B+M |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | PCIe x4 | PCIe x2 + SATA | PCIe + SATA |
| Length | 110 mm | 110 mm | 110 mm |
| SSD Protocol | NVMe | NVME or SATA | NVMe or SATA |
| Bandwidth | PCIe x4 | PCIe x2 or SATA | PCIe or SATA |
| Data Transfer | 32 Gb/s | 16 Gb/s or 6 Gb/s | 32 Gb/s or 6 Gb/s |
This summarizes the main kinds of M.2 slots you’ll encounter and which SSD protocols they support. Check your motherboard specs for details.
Conclusion
Troubleshooting an M.2 SSD not being detected properly involves systematically working through BIOS settings, slot configurations, physical connections, Windows disk tools, driver updates and component compatibility until the source of the problem is uncovered.
While disheartening when new tech doesn’t work right out the box, the good news is a bit of logical sleuthing can usually get an unrecognized M.2 solid state drive operational in relatively short order. The throughput benefits are well worth the effort.