Is SSD not detected in BIOS? Don't worry if you can't see your SSD on the BIOS configuration screen. There are solutions for your Windows computer's BIOS not detecting SSD issues. In this article, we will discuss the reasons for this error and potential solutions to resolve the error.
If you are in a situation where you enter the system BIOS to change the boot sequence and upon entering BIOS, you realize that the internal SSD is not detected. There are many possible reasons for this to occur, such as a faulty data cable or a faulty SSD.
Here, in this article, we cover the reasons for this error and potential solutions to resolve the same. Before moving ahead, let us first understand the common scenario for the occurrence of this "SSD not detected in BIOS" error.
Below we have added a table of possible reasons and solutions to help you solve the SSD not detected in the BIOS issue quickly:
Reason | Quick Fixes |
Faulty or disconnected data cable | Check cables and connections, and replace them if needed |
Outdated device drivers | Update drivers |
Drive not enabled in the BIOS | Enable drive in BIOS settings |
Faulty SSD drive not detected by a computer | Check if the drive is visible in Disk Management; if not, replace the drive |
Below we have added 12 solutions to help you fix the SSD not detected in the BIOS issue:
Ensure the power and SATA cables connected to the SSD are securely plugged in. Sometimes loose or faulty cables can prevent proper detection.
Ensure that there are no conflicts between the SSD and other hardware components. For example, some SATA controllers have multiple ports that share bandwidth. Try connecting the SSD to a different SATA port to eliminate any conflicts.
The first thing you should do is inspect the motherboard and SSD connections to verify if there are any bent or misaligned pins. If a cable is pinched, creased, or even folded, it might cause breakage internally. Externally your cable might look good, but it will be damaged internally.
If there is a damaged SATA cable or other data cable, you might consider replacing the cable. You can refer to the laptop or SSD manufacturer's website to see the recommended length of the cables. Seagate actually recommends their users for shorter cables that are less than 1 meter.
If your hard disk is not being detected in BIOS, it is possible that the drive has not been set up yet. To set up the drive, follow the steps below.
Note: Different PC manufacturers use different keys to enter the system BIOS. If you have a Dell, then the F2 key is normally used to enter BIOS. Find out the key on your computer to enter BIOS and hit that particular key.
If the drive is still not detected, there is a possibility that your drivers are not updated. To update drivers, go to the next step.
If your SSD is not detected in BIOS, it's possible that other storage devices connected to your computer may be interfering with its proper functioning. In such cases, you can try to disconnect these drives and see if the SSD is recognized by your computer's BIOS or not.
You can follow the below simple steps to find out whether the other drives are the reason behind the SSD not being detected in the BIOS issue:
Now, check if your SSD is now recognized by the BIOS. If it is, then the SSD not appearing in the BIOS issue may have been caused by a conflict with the other drives. And if not, then proceed to the next method.
Also Read: Best Hard Drive Recovery Software
Resetting the BIOS settings to default values can help in case any incorrect settings are causing the SSD detection problem.
If the device drivers in your system are outdated, there are chances that the hard drive may not be detected. To update device drivers, you can follow the steps below.
This will update the device drivers automatically. However, if this doesn’t help, you can also try uninstalling the drivers. To do this, right-click on your hard drive, and click on Uninstall to uninstall drivers. Then restart your system, and this will automatically ‘reinstall’ drivers for you. Now enter BIOS and check if the drive is being detected. If not, proceed to the next step.
If your SSD is not detected in BIOS, it is likely that the SATA controller mode is not set properly. You can configure the SATA controller mode by following the steps below.
Connect the SSD to another computer to see if it gets detected. If it does, it suggests an issue with your original system's configuration or hardware.
Check if there is a BIOS update available for your motherboard. Updating the BIOS can sometimes resolve compatibility issues and improve SSD detection.
If none of the above methods work, it’s possible that your SSD is faulty. Failed, damaged, or dead SSD can be a result of many reasons, such as temperature and ventilation to the drive, a large number of bad sectors, etc. In this case, you may need to examine further to debug the issue.
In most cases, one of the above methodologies will address the SSD that is not detected. If your drive is severely corrupt or has bad sectors, formatting it may resolve the issue in some cases.
Alert: Formatting your SSD drive will erase all your data. So, make sure to back up your computer before formatting your SSD. If you have already formatted your SSD without any backups, don’t worry refer to this article to find out how to recover data from a formatted SSD.
Sometimes, SSD is not detected in BIOS due to a corrupted file or a faulty installation of an application, which prevents it from functioning properly. In such cases, formatting the SSD drive can help resolve the issue.
To recover data from an SSD, you need one of the best SSD recovery software, such as Remo Recover.
Remo Recover is an excellent data recovery solution for SSDs. Its advanced scanning algorithms and powerful features make it effective for recovering data from undetected SSDs.
This tool supports various SSD types and brands, including NVMe M.2 SSDs, along with all major file formats, including photos, videos, music files, and documents.
Download this tool now and follow the below simple steps to start the recovery process from your undetected SSD.
Connect your SSD to another computer, don’t worry about your computer showing the drive on the screen. Download and install Remo Recover on your computer and follow the below-mentioned steps:
Note: If you are unable to find your SSD drive, click on the Can’t find Drive? Option.
All the above-mentioned methods will certainly help you fix SSD not getting detected issues on your computer. However, even after following all the methods mentioned above, if you were not able to detect your SSD in BIOS, then you might have to consider finding a solution offline. In case you were successful in fixing the SSD not detected issue here, do let us know your thoughts below.
The BIOS should recognize any device connected to the motherboard however, if it doesn't, try updating the firmware of the device and changing the boot-mode compatibility options. You can change UEFI mode to Legacy Support mode to make the hard drive visible in BIOS.
When a storage device doesn't show up in the Windows file browser, it's likely because the device doesn't have a partition table or assigned file system. You can fix this issue by using the Disk Management tool to assign a layout for the partition table and format the device.
To enable SATA ports in BIOS, find the "SATA SETTINGS" or "SATA Configuration" option in the "Configuration" or "Advanced" section. Set the "Enabled" value for SATA Controller and ensure that the AHCI protocol is enabled.
To wipe an SSD from BIOS, you need to set a password and use the options available under the Hard Disk Password section of your BIOS. This is a safety measure to prevent accidental data loss.