Otherwise, the operating system may not be able to detect the SSD or display it in File Explorer.

Fortunately, initializing an SSD on Windows is easier than you think.

Here’s how you’re free to go about it.

whats-m2-ssd

Do You Have to Initialize an SSD Before Using It?

Initializing an SSD is a crucial step that prepares the disk for use by Windows.

When you initialize an SSD, you essentially format the drive according to a specific file format.

Initialize SSD Using Disk Management on Windows

Image Credit:Microsoft

This file format determines how your data is organized on your SSD or hard drive.

This will allow Windows to detect the SSD and display it in File Explorer.

you’re free to lose data permanently if you mistakenly choose the wrong SSD or hard drive.

Clean SSD Using Command Prompt

Here’s how:

You have now initialized your SSD and can access it through File Explorer.

The partition style determines how Windows will reach the data on the disk.

There are two main partition styles on Windows:GPT and MBR.

GUID Partition Table (GPT) is the more commonly used partition style for SSDs and hard drives.

By default, Windows will partition disks using the GPT format.

you’re able to alsochoose to convert an MBR disk to a GPT diskor vice-versa.

However, you will first need to format the drive and clear all data.

Fortunately, fixing that is fairly easy and only requires you to run a few commands in Command Prompt.

Here’s how to do it.

bring up the Disk Management app and venture to initialize the disk again.