Although it may seem techy and complicated, initializing an SSD is easier than you think. Read on to learn how to initialize an SSD in Windows 10.
Do You Have to Initialize an SSD Before Using It?
Initializing an SSD is a crucial step, and not doing so can prevent the SSD from working properly with your PC. Initializing a storage device means formatting the drive according to a specific file format. The file format determines how your data is organized on your SSD or hard drive.
For a brand new SSD, initializing it is often the first step to configuring it with your PC. Sometimes Windows 10 fails to detect the SSD, and the SSD does not show up on the File Explorer. Initializing the SSD and assigning it a drive letter can fix this issue.
How to Initialize an SSD in Windows 10
Initialization is an irreversible process, so you need to make sure that you initialize the correct SSD. You can lose data permanently if you mistakenly choose the wrong SSD or hard drive. Once you have verified the name of your primary and active storage device (SSD or hard drive), you can begin the initialization process.
Disk Management is a powerful utility tool that allows you to manage the different storage devices connected by allocating drive letters and configuring disk partitions.
To initialize an SSD on your Windows 10 through Disk Management:
Search for Disk Management in the Start menu search bar, right-click Create and format hard disk partitions, and select Run as administrator. Make sure the disk you want to initialize is Online. If it is listed Offline, right-click on the disk and click Online. Right-click the SSD that you want to initialize and select Initialize Disk. In the Initialize Disk dialogue box, select the SSD disk you want to initialize and choose the partition style (partition styles are detailed in the next section). Click Ok to begin the disk initialization process. After you have initialized the disk, right-click on your SSD drive and select New Simple Volume. Complete the New Simple Volume Wizard to allocate volume to your SSD.
You have now initialized your SSD and can access it through File Explorer.
How to Choose a Partition Style for Your SSD
Each storage device connected to your computer has a specific partition style. The partition style determines how Windows will access the data on the disk. There are two main partition styles on Windows 10: GPT and MBR.
GUID Partition Table (GPT) is the more commonly used partition style for SSDs and hard drives. By default Windows 10 will partition disks using the GPT format. GPT is the preferred format as it supports volumes bigger than 2 TB and is compatible with the latest UEFI-based systems. Master Boot Record (MBR) is the traditional partition style used by older PCs and removable drives such as memory cards.
We recommend using the GPT partition style for your SSD as it is better supported, provides more security, and allows larger volumes.
You can also choose to convert an MBR disk to a GPT disk or vice-versa. However, you will first need to format the drive and clear all data.
How to Setup an SSD in Windows 10
Initialization is a critical step in setting up an SSD for use on your Windows PC. It can also fix SSD detection issues on Windows 10. It only takes a few moments and can make the difference between Windows 10 detecting your SSD and working properly or a frustrating experience.
