How to Fix Second Hard Drive Not Showing on Windows 10

Got a second hard drive that’s not showing up after a Windows update? It happens.

Whether it’s a connection issue, driver problem, or something else, we’ll walk you through the quick fixes to get it working again. Let’s get started.

How can I fix the secondary hard drive if it’s not showing up on Windows 10?

1. Check for the driver updates

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Type device manager and open it.
3. Expand Disk drives.
4. Find the second disk drive, right-click on it and select Update driver software.
5. If there are any updates, follow further instructions, and your hard disk drive will be updated.
6. You can also go to Settings.
7. Select Windows Update from the left pane, and check for updates that will allow you to see if overall updates offer something for your hard drive.

If your computer could recognize the second hard disk before the Windows 10 upgrade, there’s a possibility that your current hard disk drivers are not compatible with Windows 10.

However, downloading drivers manually can be a long and tedious process that might affect your PC (if you hit the wrong button). Using specific software to keep drivers up to date is the most efficient method.

One cutting-edge solution is PC Helpsoft, which will scan your Windows PC and warn you of any device drivers that are outdated, damaged, or missing.

Outbyte Driver Updater updates are released regularly to fix errors, enhance communication, and provide new features and stability to the PC.

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Drivers will no longer create problems if you download and use this powerful software.

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2. Change driver letter and path

1. Right-click on This PC.
2. Click on Manage.
3. The Computer Management window will show up.
4. Go to Disk Management.
5. Find your second hard disk drive, right-click on it and go to Change Drive Letter and Paths.
6. Go to Change and choose the letter for your partition from Assign the following drive letter:.
7. Click OK.
8. Restart your computer.

Maybe your hard disk is connected correctly and works well, but if it doesn’t have a letter by its name, you won’t be able to access it from This PC.

So, we’ll change the drive letter, and hopefully, the hard disk will reappear.

Read more about this topic

• FIX: Secondary hard drive freezes PC [7 solutions]
• Windows 10/11 won’t boot with 2nd hard drive [Solved]
• Fix: Second hard drive not detected in Windows 10/11
• What to do if you can’t initialize disk in Windows 10/11

3. Recover damaged Windows hard drive

Users often need their second hard drive to recover their data from it. If it is not detected, we recommend you use data recovery software.

Stellar Data Recovery is an advanced backup and recovery software that allows users to perform complex recovery tasks efficiently.

With cross-platform compatibility to match all storage devices, a convenient Scan & Resume Recovery option for extra flexibility, and all the features you could dream of, this tool does more than your average app.

And we mean it – the stellar recovery power spreads beyond easy file recovery. With unparalleled accuracy, it retrieves your data from the most unfortunate scenarios, including formatted, corrupted, and encrypted drives.

⇒ Get Stellar Data Recovery

Try one of these tools if you have some necessary data on your external HDD.

How do I activate my second hard drive?

1. Right-click on the Start menu.
2. Select Disk Management.
3. The unactivated hard drive will show up at the bottom of the window with a black bar on top of it. Notably, a blue bar indicates that the hard drive is activated.
4. Right-click on your hard drive and select New Simple Volume.
5. Follow the on-screen prompts in the New Simple Volume Wizard window to activate your hard drive.
6. You will be asked to allocate the maximum space you would like the second hard drive to use.
7. After confirming the size, select the Drive Letter for the second hard drive.
8. Press Next.
9. Click Finish.
10. The computer will format your drive.

We also have a useful guide on what to do if the ATA/SATA hard drive is not detected in BIOS.

Besides, if you can’t change the hard disk serial number, our solutions will help!

Alternatively, if your hard drive is missing after a Windows 11 update, you can follow the detailed steps in this fix for missing hard drives.

Lastly, if your external hard drive keeps disconnecting on Windows 8.1, take a look at this guide for fixing frequent disconnections.

That would be all. Feel free to reach out in the comments section below if you have any comments or suggestions.