How to Initialize an SSD in Windows 11
When you have just installed a brand new SSD, and not for cloning Windows but to use as a secondary storage device, you will soon notice that it is not usable by Windows in its current state. This is not because it’s broken, but rather because it’s in pristine condition and lacks a file system. To get it to work in Windows 11 (or any version of Windows), any new SSD must first be initialized and formatted.
The good news is that this is a straightforward process and you can have your new drive up and running within minutes. All you need is the Disk Management tool built into Windows. If you prefer an even easier method, it can also be done via the Settings app in Windows 11.
Method #1: Disk Management Tool
Note that we are using Windows 11 here, but these steps will look virtually identical in Windows 10.
Step 1: Open Disk Management
With the new drive freshly installed, open up the Disk Management tool, which is built into Windows. There are several ways to reach it, but the easiest is probably to press the Windows key and start typing “disk management”. Then click on the best match, which should be ‘Create and format hard disk partitions’.
Step 2: Identify Your New SSD
When it detects a new uninitialized disk, Disk Management typically asks you automatically if you want to initialize, which brings you directly to Step 4. In that case, you can skip this step and the next. This isn’t always the case, however, meaning that you have to identify your new SSD in the interface. In any event, Disk Management will all of your currently connected storage devices. Your latest addition will show up as unknown, not initialized, and unallocated.
Step 3: Click on Initialize Disk
Right-click on the area corresponding to the new disk. This will bring up a menu where you can proceed to left-click on the Initialize disk option.
Step 4: Choose Partition Style
In the pop-up dialog, you have to choose between the MBR (Master Boot Record) and GPT (GUID Partition Table) partition styles. MBR is older and more limited, so in all likelihood you will want to choose GPT here. One of the very few exceptions would be if you are also going to use the drive with a very old 32-bit OS.
Step 5: Create a Partition
Congratulations! Your new SSD is now initialized and “online” in Windows. To actually use it, however, you must first create and format a partition. Without leaving Disk Management, right-click on the now striped bar showing as Unallocated. Then left-click on New Simple Volume.
Step 6: New Simple Volume Wizard
This will bring up the New Simple Volume Wizard and the first thing to do here is to click on Next to continue.
Step 7: Specify Volume Size
The next step is to specify the volume size. But if you are not going to set up multiple partitions for some reason, this will default to the maximum value (recommended), in which case you don’t have to do anything and can just click Next.
Step 8: Assign a Drive Letter
Now you get to choose a drive letter that will map the drive to Windows and show up in File Explorer. Again, the wizard will automatically assign the first available letter and this is typically the most practical option so you can just click Next. You can theoretically choose any letter as long as it doesn’t conflict with other local or network drives, but it makes more sense to keep them ordered.
Step 9: Format Settings
In the formatting options, the NTFS file system is preselected and likely the one you want to use. There is also no need to touch the allocation unit size (another name for the smallest unit of data that can be stored). The same goes for the preselected Perform a quick format check box, just leave it selected. You may, however, want to type in a new volume label instead of the rather uninspiring “New Volume”. This is essentially just a name for the drive/partition, and how it will show up in File Explorer and various storage-related dialogs. It is possible to change it later. Either way, click Next when you are ready to finish the process.
Step 10 – Finalize
All that remains to be done at this point is to confirm your choices by clicking Finish. If your new drive is a fast SSD, it will be ready to use in a few seconds.
Method #2: Windows Settings
If you are uncomfortable with using the Disk Management tool, another option is to initialize the disk via the Windows Settings app. This is even easier as it hides most of the alternatives found in Disk Management, but also less powerful and flexible for the same reason. You can bring up this app by typing settings on the Start menu (see above).
Step 1: Storage Settings
In the Settings app, stay on the System tab and select Storage in the menu.
Step 2: Select ‘Disks & Volumes’
Now scroll down to the Advanced storage settings submenu and expand it, then click on Disks & volumes.
Step 3: Find New SSD
The Disks & volumes listing corresponds to the one found in Disk Management but with a less cluttered interface (and far fewer alternatives). Your newly installed SSD should show up as ‘Not initialized’ at the bottom of the list. Just click on Initialize to get started.
Step 4: Choose Partition Style
A pop-up will prompt you to select a partition style. For the reasons mentioned previously, you will most likely want to choose GPT and again click on Initialize.
Step 5: Format Your SSD
Your drive is now initialized but needs to be formatted before you can use it. Click on Create volume in the drive listing.
This will bring up another pop-up with prepopulated options and default settings. That means that it will use the maximum space available on the disk, the NTFS file system, and a 4KB allocation unit size, which should be fine for most users. Type in a personal label (name) for the disk and click Format.
That’s it! Your new drive will now show up in File Explorer and all storage-related dialogs in Windows 11.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to initialize a Samsung/WD/[Other brand] SSD in WIndows 11?
To Windows, the SSD manufacturer is irrelevant. Any SSD can be initialized using the same built-in functionality as is described in detail on this page.
How do I know if my SSD is working in Windows 11?
Once it has been initialized and formatted, your SSD shows up in all storage-related dialogs (like when installing a new app or game). You can also view and browse the contents of the SSD in Windows File Explorer. To access File Explorer, click on the taskbar shortcut. If you con't find the shortcut, click the start menu button and start typing 'file explorer', then click on File Explorer.
Should I initialize (partition) using MBR or GPT?
Most users can safely opt for GPT when initializing and formatting a new SSD. The only real downside is the lack of compatibility with old PC hardware and operating systems (such as Windows XP and earlier.)
MBR, short for Master Boot Record, is an old partition table format that is unable to handle large SSD and hard drive partitions (above 2TB). GPT is short for GUID (Globally Unique Identifier) Partition Table. It is a more modern GPT format that solves the 2TB problem along with a number of others.
If you have a hard drive that you would like to boot from and it is larger than 2 TB, you can select GPT (GUID), but you will also need to be running a supported operating system and the system's firmware must be UEFI, not BIOS.
If you need to switch from MBR to GPT, or GPT to MBR, you need to back up your data ahead of time to avoid losing all of the data on the hard drive when you format it.
Do I need to initialize my new SSD before cloning Windows 11?
You do not have to do it separately. When cloning an existing drive to a new one (or installing Windows 11 from scratch), this will be handled by the cloning/installation process.
Thanks for this. It helped me a lot.