MicrosoftWindowsWindows 11

Windows lets users create many disk partitions to store system and user data.

Windows uses the drive letter C for system files.

Other partitions use labels D, E, and so on.

Local Disk D Missing Fix

Users have oftenreportedthat the D drive has suddenly gone missing.

D partition usually stores their personal data, not the OS data.

This data is important for the end user and can no longer be accessed.

Expand Action menu

Expand Action menu

This can also happen after installing Windows Update in Windows 10 or Windows 11.

Theres nothing to worry about.

Table of Contents

Why is the D Drive Missing?

Rescan disks

Rescan disks

Restore Missing D Drive in Windows

Perform the following solutions chronologically to recover your missing disk partition.

Remember to only apply the fix according to the stated circumstances and only if they apply to your situation.

Restart Computer

Sometimes, a simple computer reboot is sufficient to restore the missing D drive.

Open Explorer Options

Open Explorer Options

A computer may not boot correctly and may skip over additional drives without detecting them.

Try restarting your system and peek if the missing partition is now visible again.

Re-scan Disks

you might also manually rescan all connected disks on your system.

Open View tab

Open View tab

Then check to see if you’ve got the option to see the missing disk again.

View Hidden Drives

It may be possible that the drive is hidden, accidentally or intentionally.

If you do find the missing partition now, it means that the drive has been hidden.

Show hidden disks in Explorer

Show hidden disks in Explorer

The next solution shows you how to unhide the hidden drive(s).

initiate the Disk Management Console.

Right-hit the partition with the missing letter and click Change Drive Letter and Paths.

Open Group Policy settings

Open Group Policy settings

The missing drive should now appear inside File Explorer.

Note that this method would only work if the drive is detected by the system andonlythe letter is missing.

Learn how tofix missing hard drive issues.

Disable the policy

Disable the policy

This is because the new computers hard drive only has one partition on it.

You will now see an unallocated disk space inside the Disk Management Console.

Right-punch the unallocated space and click New Simple Volume.Create new volume

The new volume wizard will now open.

Change the drive letter

Change the drive letter

opt for formatting preferences and click Next.Select formatting preferences

Click Finish.

The missing drive will now be created on your new computer.

If it is corrupted or outdated, the corresponding hardware or software may no longer work properly.

Add a drive label

Add a drive label

bring up the equipment Manager.

punch in in devmgmt.msc in the Run Command box.

Once the driver is updated, kill the wizard.

Assign a drive letter

Assign a drive letter

Restoring the Windows OS means reverting it to an earlier state when everything was working perfectly.

Of course, this only works if you have created a restore point earlier.

If you cannot retrieve the missing D drive, tryrestoring your PC to an earlier state.

Change or remove a drive letter

Change or remove a drive letter

If you have multiple hard disk drives, hey ensure the second hard drive is in working condition.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why is my D Drive missing?

How to fix the D drive not being detected?

Shrink volume

Shrink volume

0

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Enter amount of space to shrink

Enter the amount of space to shrink

Create new volume

Create new volume

Proceed to create a new volume

Proceed to create a new volume

Size for new volume

Size for new volume

Assign a drive letter2

Assign a drive letter

Select formatting preferences

Select formatting preferences

Expand Disk drives

Expand Disk drives

Update disk driver

Update disk driver

Automatic driver update

Automatic driver update

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