QUICK FIX: Internal SATA SSD showing as Removable Device on Windows 11/10.
Are you seeing your internal SATA SSD drive listed as a removable device in Windows 11/10? Don’t worry — you’re not alone! This issue can be confusing, but it’s easy to fix it by reading the instructions below.
Why Is My Internal SATA Drive Showing as Removable?
Windows sometimes treats internal SATA drives as removable due to the configuration of the motherboard's SATA port in the BIOS settings. Specifically, some motherboards (especially of "GIGABYTE") have a "SATA hot plug" feature that allows you to easily eject a SATA drive directly from within Windows as if it were any other USB device such as a flash drive or printer.
But although the "SATA hot plug/unplug"is useful when you have additional SATA drives in your computer, it is annoying and dangerous when you only have one SATA drive, which is the primary drive in your computer!
In this guide, we’ll show you how to stop Windows 11/10 to recognize internal hard drives as USB removable devices by modifying BIOS settings.
How to FIX: Internal SSD or NVMe disk showing as Removable Device in Windows 11/10.*
* Note: For this tutorial I am using BIOS screenshots from a GIGABYTE motherboard.
1. Reboot your computer and when you see your motherboard's LOGO press the corresponding key (usually the Del, F2, or F10) to enter in BIOS/UEFI settings.
2. In BIOS, try to locate the SATA configuration settings and then see if there is a setting named "Hot Plug" or "Hot Swap".
For example, In GIGABYTE motherboards:
a. Go to Settings tab and then open the IO Ports settings.
b. Then open the SATA Configuration settings.
3. Locate the Chipset SATA Port Hot Plug setting and press Enter.
4. Here select Disabled and press Enter to disable the Hot Plug feature on the SATA ports.
5. When done, Save and Exit from BIOS setting and boot to Windows.
6. That's it. From now on, the internal SATA drive will no longer appear as a removable device!
That's it! Which method worked for you?
Let me know if this guide has helped you by leaving your comment about your experience. Please like and share this guide to help others.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my internal SATA SSD recognized as a removable device in Windows 11/10?
Windows sometimes recognizes internal SATA drives as removable because the motherboard's SATA port in the BIOS settings may be configured for hot plugging, especially on some GIGABYTE motherboards.
How can I fix my internal SATA drive showing as removable in Windows?
You can fix this by accessing the BIOS settings of your motherboard, locating the 'Hot Plug' or 'Hot Swap' option under the SATA configuration, and disabling it. This will stop Windows from recognizing the drive as removable.
What steps should I follow in BIOS to resolve the removable SATA drive issue?
To resolve the issue, reboot your computer, enter the BIOS settings by pressing the appropriate key (such as Del, F2, or F10), navigate to the SATA configuration settings, and disable the 'Hot Plug' feature.
