What to Do if the SSD Keeps Disappearing

There are few things more horrifying to a PC user than finding out their storage has unexpectedly disappeared. This is not a problem solely limited to solid-state drives, but can affect all storage devices, both internal and external. It’s a common problem with many causes, but, luckily, also many fixes.

In this article, we’ll be looking at what to do if your SSD keeps disappearing.

What Causes This Error

A missing SSD can be tied to both software and hardware issues on your machine. Major ones include:

A faulty connection between the hard drive and the computer.
The disk is missing proper configuration or disk drivers.
A recent update has caused incompatibility.
Infection from malware or a virus.

Let’s take a look at some major fixes to begin the troubleshooting process.

What to Do if Your SSD Keeps Disappearing

If you find SSD gone from “This PC,” we’ve got a few fixes you can try below. Before attempting any large-scale fixes, try restarting your machine first and see if the problem persists. If possible, open up your machine and see that the SATA cable is properly connected. Finally, reboot your machine and enter the UEFI to check if your SSD is detected. If not, then the problem is hardware, not software-related, and the disk may have to be initialized.

Update Your SSD Firmware

Recent Windows 11 updates, like KB5063878, have caused trouble for some users with SSD drives. Updates frequently cause problems between operating systems and their various components. It’s a good idea to update your SSD firmware whenever possible to ensure compatibility. Here’s how:

Step 1. Navigate to “This PC” either on your Desktop or via the search bar.

Step 2. Right-click on any disk icon and select “Properties” for the context menu.

Step 3. Switch to the “Hardware” tab, and you’ll see all drives listed. Find the name of your problematic SSD.

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Step 4. Head to your browser and enter the name of your drive. Navigate to the manufacturer’s site and download the latest firmware updates. Follow the instructions to install them.

Reenable Your Drive

Sometimes Windows will disable a drive on your machine. Reenabling it is a simple matter of using Device Manager:

Step 1. Open the Run Dialog and type in “devmgmt.msc” and hit “Enter.”

Step 2. Open the “Disk Drives” subsection and right-click the problematic drive.

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Step 3. Right-click, select “Properties,” and navigate to the “Driver” tab in the window that pops up.

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Step 4. If disabled, you’ll see “Enable Device” as a button. Click it to start the drive up.

Update the Drivers

While you’re in Device Manager, it’s a good idea to update your SSD drivers. Here’s what to do:

Step 1. Right-click the problematic hard drive and select “Update Drivers” from the context menu.

Step 2. Click “Search automatically for drivers” and wait for any potential new drivers to pop up. When they do, follow the steps to install them.

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Relabel With Disk Management

Another potential fix to ensure your SSD stays visible is to relabel it. This can be done with Microsoft’s own Disk Management Utility:

Step 1. Open up the search bar and type in “Disk Management.”

Step 2. Click the option “Create and format hard disk partitions.”

Step 3. In the Disk Management window, you’ll see all current drives, partitions, and assigned letters. Right-click your SSD and choose “Change Drive Letter and Paths…” from the context menu.