• NVMes provide extremely low-latency and higher bandwidth.
• SSDs last significantly longer than HDDs but can sometimes run into compatibility issues or can crash.
• NVMes are not cost-effective as the price-storage ratio doesn't justify them.
• Windows 11's buggy launch has caused several problems, such as not detecting NVMes, but we will help you fix that issue today.

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Windows 11 had a very bumpy launch. Launched in October of 2021, users are reporting several types of issues that they ran into, such as Windows 11 not recognizing NVMe SSD, broken features, compatibility issues, and so on.

All in all, a very unstable and underdeveloped version from Microsoft in a long time.

While Microsoft is hard at work and has been releasing updates addressing the issues slowly, the number of issues present in Windows 11 is overwhelming. 

Here’s where we try to help fix the issues that could be ruining your experience with the latest Windows version, Windows 11.

Keep reading to find out more on how you can make your PC detect your NVMe SSD drive.

What are NVMes and why does Windows 11 fail to detect them?

NVMe, short for Non-Volatile Memory Express, is an advanced new storage access and protocol for the next generation of SSDs and flash devices. It provides a fast response rate and accelerated data transfer speed for all kinds of business workloads.

The NVMe protocol accesses flash storage via the PCI Express (PCIe) bus, which delivers lower latency and provides high bandwidth.

Windows 11 can fail to recognize NVMe SSDs for the following reasons:

• The SSD is not properly installed or plugged in.
• In BIOS, the drive is disabled.
• Drivers are outdated or are not installed.
• The SSD partition’s drive letter is missing.
• The SSD could be damaged or broken.

What are the pros, cons, and use cases of NVMes?

The pros of NVMe:

When compared to SATA, the NVMe provides superior storage because the PCIe socket transfers 25x more data.

NVMe SSDs are super fast as it sends the commands 2x faster than SATA, It directly communicates with the CPU, support all operating systems, offer below 10 microseconds of end-to-end latency, support tunneling protocol, and has higher bandwidth than SATA.

The cons of NVMe:

An NVMe SSD costs more than the standard SSD and they are not cost-effective when it comes to storing large amounts of data. Also, the legacy NVMe is not supported by older systems.

The use cases of NVMe

NVMe’s can provide real-time customer interaction, and NVMe’s are also used for machine learning, artificial intelligence, and to run advanced analytical apps and data.

NVMe’s can significantly reduce the scan time of large databases, and they are also used for high-performance computing for applications where low latency is vital.

How to fix Windows 11 not recognizing NVMe SSD

1. Confirm if the NVMe SSD is properly installed

Confirm that the SSDs’ cables are properly plugged in and make sure they are not damaged. Oftentimes, the connection can have loosened or maybe the wires could have burnt due to a voltage issue or heat.

If the SSD cables are properly plugged in and are also not damaged, try fixing the issue by following the below steps.

2. Configure BIOS settings

Set Configure SATA as to IDE.

3. Repair using Disk Management

Open Disk Management by searching for create and format hard disk portions.

Click on Format to repair the drive.

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Click here to download and start repairing.

By formatting your SSD the corrupted data will be removed and Windows can detect your SSD again. But by formatting, you will lose your data.

4. Update the SSD drivers

Go to Disk Drives.

Right-click on every item and click on the Update driver.

Updating drivers manually can be difficult, but if you don’t update them frequently, you computer cannot run efficiently and suffer from performance problems. 

DriverFix is a great tool that automatically installs all the latest drivers and keep your PC and laptops up-to-date.

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5. Change/Assign SSD drive letter

Go to start menu and search for Create and format hard disk partitions.

Click on Change Drive Letter and Paths.

Click Change to change the drive, and Add to add the drive.

Choose the new drive letter from the list and then click on ok, followed with yes.

How to fix Windows 11’s not recognizing M.2 SSD

1. Confirm if your SSD is installed properly

If your M.2 SSD is not working or being recognized by Windows. The first thing you have to do is confirm if your M.2 SSD is inserted properly into your M.2 slot. If the label on the SSD is facing towards you, then it is installed properly, but if it is not facing towards you, install it properly.

2. Confirm if the BIOS detects your SSD.

Reboot your PC.

Select IDE Compatibility Mode from the drop-down menu.

3. Initialize your SSD

Search for Create and format hard disk partitions.

Right-click on the SSD that is not being identified and select Initialize Disk.

Now, select the SSD disk you want to initialize and select the partition style.

Click on Ok.

4. Update Storage Controller Drivers

Press the Windows key and search for Device Manager.

Locate Storage controllers. 

Expand the group and click on Update Drivers.

5. Detect SSD by fixing memory issues.

Click on Restart now and check for problems (recommended).

The Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool will begin testing and will take several minutes to complete.

Once it is completed, check if your Windows 11 is able to detect your NVMe SSD.

What is M.2 SSD?

An M.2 SSD is a compact SSD that is like an expansion card that is mounted internally. Unlike SDDs or HDDs that are connected to the motherboard via a cable, M.2 SSDs are directly plugged into the motherboard using the dedicated M.2 connector slot.

An M.2 SSD is capable of using both the SATA interface as well as the PCIe interface. 

M.2 drives help keep your PC interior clean and less cluttered because of fewer cables that are used in the set-up process.

NVMe VS M.2 SSD Which is better?

NVMe and M.2 SSDs are almost equivalent in all aspects. M.2 is the more compact version that connects to the motherboard through the M.2 connector. It supports both the SATA interface and the PCIe interface (which NVMe uses).

M.2 SATA is affordable compared to NVMe and M.2 NVMe. But if you are working on AI, ML, or handling huge amounts of data where low-latency and high-bandwidth count, NVMe is the default choice as every second counts in those kinds of operations.

For most consumers, M.2 SATA is generally enough for everyday tasks, gaming, and more.

SSD technology has come a long way, and there are also multiple interfaces that help users with their dedicated usage and operations.

But, SSDs are likely to crash or run into compatibility issues. They are exceptionally superior when compared with HDDs in terms of their life, longevity, speed, and more. But like any product, it can sometimes run into issues.

We hope this guide was useful in resolving your Windows 11 not recognizing your NVMe SSD issue. You can talk to us in the comments to let us know how this guide helped you successfully fix the issue.

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