SSD partition lost or inaccessible? Learn four ways to recover it in Windows – whether it's unallocated, RAW, or hidden.
If an SSD partition disappears, becomes inaccessible, or appears as unallocated space, you may be able to recover the partition or retrieve its files. The right method depends on what happened to the partition and how Windows currently displays the SSD.
Before starting SSD partition recovery, follow these precautions:
If you accidentally deleted an SSD partition (marked as Unallocated) or the SSD encounters file system corruption (marked as RAW), you can try a partition recovery tool or TestDisk.
AOMEI FastRecovery provides a partition recovery workflow that can search for lost or deleted partitions. It may help when an SSD partition disappears after accidental deletion or file system corruption.
Learn how to recover SSD partition with AOMEI FastRecovery below:
Step 1. Download and install AOMEI FastRecovery on another drive, then launch the program.
Step 2. Select Disk Data Recovery and click Start Partition Recovery.
Step 3. Select the SSD that contained the lost partition and click Next. Check the disk number, capacity, model, and partition layout to ensure that you choose the correct disk.
Step 4. Choose Fast Search to look for the lost partition and click Next.
Step 5. Review the detected partitions and select the partition you want to recover. Click Proceed to continue.
💡 Note: If the target partition is not detected, go back and try Full Search for a more thorough scan.
Step 6. Check whether the SSD partition and its files are accessible after the process. If you can’t see the recovered partition, please assign a drive letter to the partition or reboot your computer.
💡 Note: Partition recovery is not guaranteed. If the SSD is physically failing or repeatedly disconnecting, stop using it and consider professional data recovery services.
TestDisk is a free, open-source partition recovery utility that can search for lost partitions and help repair partition-table information. It uses a text-based interface, so follow the prompts carefully. Incorrect partition-table changes can make data harder to access.
Step 1. Visit the official TestDisk website and download the version for your operating system. Extract the downloaded archive to a folder.
Step 2. Run testdisk_win.exe with administrator privileges. When it opens, select Create to create a new log file.
Step 3. Select the SSD containing the lost partition. Confirm the disk by checking its capacity and model, then choose Proceed.
Step 4. Select the partition-table type suggested by TestDisk. The program usually detects the appropriate type, but verify it against the disk's actual configuration before continuing.
Step 5. Choose Analyse and run Quick Search to look for missing partitions.
Step 6. If TestDisk identifies the correct partition, select the partition and press P to check whether the expected files can be seen.
Step 7. If the files look correct, press Q to return to the partition list. Then press Enter to continue.
💡 Note: If your only goal is to retrieve files, use the keys shown at the bottom of the window to copy recoverable files to another drive.
Step 8. Select Write and press Y to write the partition structure. Restart Windows if required and check whether the SSD partition is accessible.
💡 Note: If the expected partition is not found, select Deeper Search to conduct a more thorough search.
Sometimes, an SSD partition has not been deleted. It may simply be inaccessible because it has no drive letter or the disk is offline. In these cases, you may be able to restore access through Disk Management without using recovery software.
If a healthy partition is visible in Disk Management but does not appear in File Explorer, assigning a drive letter may make it accessible again.
Step 1. Press Win + X and select Disk Management.
Step 2. Find the SSD and locate the partition that is missing from File Explorer. Right-click the partition and select Change Drive Letter and Paths.
Step 3. Click Add, select an available drive letter, and click OK to apply the change.
Step 4. Open File Explorer and check whether the partition appears.
If the entire SSD is marked Offline in Disk Management, Windows may not make its partitions available. Bringing the disk online can restore access if the disk is otherwise healthy and the offline status is the only issue.
Step 1. Press Win + X and select Disk Management.
Step 2. Locate the SSD marked Offline. Check the disk number, capacity, and model to confirm that you have selected the correct device.
Step 3. Right-click the disk label on the left side and select Online.
Step 4. Wait for Windows to update the disk status. Check whether the partitions appear and whether their contents are accessible in File Explorer.
1. Why did my SSD partition disappear?
An SSD partition may disappear because of accidental deletion, partition-table corruption, file system errors, interrupted disk operations, or hardware and connection problems. Check Disk Management to determine whether the space is unallocated, the volume is RAW, or the disk is offline before choosing a recovery method.
2. Can I recover files from an SSD partition that shows as RAW?
You may be able to recover files if the SSD is readable and the data has not been overwritten. A RAW volume usually means Windows cannot recognize the file system. Avoid formatting it or running repair operations that may modify the volume before recovering important files. Use file recovery software like AOMEI FastRecovery to scan the affected volume when possible.
3. Does SSD partition recovery always work?
No. Recovery is not guaranteed. Deleted data may have been overwritten, the partition structure may be severely damaged, or the SSD may have hardware problems. SSDs also use TRIM, which can make recovery of deleted data more difficult after the operating system has notified the drive that the data blocks are no longer needed.
This page shows you how to recover SSD partition under different situations. To recover SSD lost partition or deleted partition, you can try AOMEI FastRecovery or TestDisk. To recover a hidden partition on SSD, Disk Management can help you out.
To reduce the risk of permanent data loss, you may transfer data from one SSD to another to keep a copy of important files. Better safe than sorry!