[SOLVED] Can’t Install Windows 11 on SSD - 3 Cases in Focus

Installing Windows 11 on an SSD significantly boosts performance with faster boot times, quicker app launches, smoother multitasking, etc., compared to traditional HDDs. But you'll need to make sure your computer meets Windows 11 minimum system requirements in case you run into issues during installation.

• CPU: 64-bit, 1 GHz+, 2+ cores (Intel 8th-gen+/AMD Ryzen 2000+ or newer)
• RAM: 4GB (8GB+ recommended)
• Storage: 64GB+ SSD (128GB+ for comfortable use)
• Firmware: UEFI (not Legacy BIOS) with Secure Boot
• TPM: Version 2.0 
• Graphics: DirectX 12+ compatible

Some users report that they can’t install Windows on SSD, and we’ll discuss the possible causes and solutions for it, focusing on 3 scenarios as well as an easier way.

Case 1: Windows 11 Installer Not Detecting SSD

Some users have found the Windows 11 installer is not detecting SSD as only 1 diskis listed in the Windows installation window, and it is the installation drive.The possible reasons may be:

• loose or improper connection
• misconfigured BIOS settings - wrong SATA mode or CSM enabled
• missing NVMe drivers, especially older motherboards, e.g., Intel 6th/7th-gen or AMD 300-series
• unsupported file system
• corrupted partition tables

Solution 1: Configure the BIOS Settings Properly

To install Windows 11 on a new SSD, it’s crucial to configure the following BIOS settings properly.

Step 1. Restart your computer and press the BIOS key, usually F2/F10/ESC/Del, etc., to access the UEFI/BIOS window.

Step 2. Make these key adjustments in the UEFI/BIOS window.

• AHCI Mode: 

Navigate to Storage Configuration and set SATA Mode to AHCI.

• Disable CSM:

Go to the Boot section, locate Launch CSM and set it as Disabled (forces UEFI mode).

• Enable NVMe Support: 

Some older BIOSes hide this under Advanced and then PCI Express Configuration.

⚠️Warning: Changing SATA mode after OS installation may cause boot failures. Only adjust this before installing Windows.

Solution 2: Switch to UEFI Boot Mode

The boot mode can be a significant cause of the “can’t install Windows 11 on SSD” error. You can change this in UEFI/BIOS settings window.

Step 1. Restart your computer to BIOS and navigate to the Boot menu.

Step 2. Scroll down to UEFI/BIOS Boot Mode and select UEFI.

Step 3. Press F10 to save changes and exit.

Solution 3: Manually Load Drivers During Installation

Receiving “We couldn’t find any drives”during installation? This is most likely a missing driver. You need to download the latest storage controller driver from your motherboard manufacturer (Intel RST/VMD or AMD Chipset) or NVMe drivers from the SSD manufacturer, e.g., Samsung, especially for OEM SSDs.

After getting disk drivers, start the process of installing Windows 11 and click Load driver at the Where do you want to install Windows? screen. Then, browse to the downloaded .inf file and install.

✅Pro Tip: Extract driver files to a FAT32-formatted USB beforehand - NTFS drives won’t be readable during installation.

Solution 4: Update SSD Disk Driver

If the SSD is missing disk driver or it’s corrupted, Windows can’t recognize it aswell because it's the bridge between the SSD and the computer.

Step 1. Press Win + X to open Start menu and select Device Manager.

Step 2. Expand Disk drives, right-click on the SSD drive, and then click Update driver.

Step 3. Select Search automatically for drivers to install them.

Solution 5: Completely Clean SSD Drive

Completely clean the SSD drive helps Windows installer to recognize it and you can use Diskpart tool to make it.

Step 1. Press Shift + F10 on Windows Setup to open the Command Prompt window.

Step 2. Then, type the following commands and press Enter to clean the SSD drive completely.

• diskpart
• list disk
• select disk X (replace X with the SSD disk number)
• clean all

Step 3. Then, press F5 to refresh. You’ll see the SSD in the Windows Setup window.

Solution 6: Update the BIOS

Outdated or damaged BIOS can also be a cause of Windows 11 install not detecting SSD issue. Try to download BIOS file from your motherboard manufacturer, usually on the support or downloads page, and be sure to unzip it to a USB drive with FAT32 file system. You can also directly copy and paste the single file (if it is) into your USB drive.

Then, restart your computer to the BIOS and switch to the Advanced section. Press Enter and select the BIOS files from USB to update.

Case 2: SSD Not Recognized by BIOS

Still Not Detected? SSDs not recognized by BIOS is one of the main reasons behind won’t install Windows 11 on SSD. You can try:

• Check if the SSD is physically damaged. Remove the SSD and connect it to another PC to rule out hardware failure.
• Switch to another SATA cable or connect the SSD using it externally to see if it works properly.
• Be sure the SATA port is enabled, especially after connecting a new SSD drive.

Case 3: Windows Cannot Be Installed to This Disk

The full error is “Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk has an MBR partition table. On EFI systems, Windows can only be installed to GPT disks”. It means your disk is using an MBR partition table, but Windows 11 only supports UEFI boot mode, which requires a disk using a GPT partition table.

Thus, you need to convert MBR and GPT and then continue the installation process. Press F10 to access the Command Prompt window and type the following commands:

• diskpart
• list disk
• select disk X (replace X with the SSD disk number)
• clean 
• convert gpt
• exit

Easier Way to Install Windows 11 on SSD [in One Go]

Installing Windows on SSD is a process of a fresh install that does not include your preferred settings and configuration, installed programs, and saved data, leaving users annoyed. Is there any easier way to migrate OS and data in one go?

In fact, there are many reliable cloning software that can clone entire disk or system partition for quick upgrade.

Click the download button to get started! Please note that the destination disk will be overwritten or deleted during cloning. Be sure to backup important data (if any) on it to prevent permanent loss.

Step 1. Connect the new SSD to your computer and be sure it’s recognized. Then, open AOMEI Cloner, click Clone > Disk Clone.

Step 2. Then, select the hard drive (with Windows 11 installed) as the source disk and new SSD as the destination disk. Click Next to continue.

Step 3. Be sure to check SSD Alignment to improve SSD disk performance. Optionally, click Edit Partitions to resize partitions and convert disk partition styles (one MBR, on GPT). Then, click Start Clone to clone Windows 11 to SSD.

⚠️By default, this software uses Intelligent clone mode, which clones only the used sectors of a drive, greatly saving time and effort. Don’t check the Sector by sector clone mode as it clones all sectors of a drive, including empty and bad sectors.

Step 4. Disconnect the new SSD and install it on the computer where you want to install Windows 11. Then, restart the computer and press the BIOS key (e.g., F2, F10, ESC, Del, etc) to access the BIOS window.

Step 5. Go to the Boot section and set the new SSD as the boot drive. Then, press F10 to save changes and reboot.

Click cloned SSD wont boot if you have any questions.

Conclusion

You can’t install Windows 11 on SSD if the computer does not meet Windows 11 minimum system requirements, so first check your computer for support, and then proceed to the troubleshooting methods in 3 scenarios.

Also, you can try reliable cloning software - AOMEI Cloner to clone the entire disk or system partition, including the operating system, system files, installed programs, individual data, etc., on a Windows 11 system. So you don’t need to reinstall Windows, programs, and transfer data one by one.