How to Fix Storage Drive Not Showing in File Explorer on Windows 11

As a Windows 11 user, you might encounter situations where your storage drive (such as an external hard drive or USB) doesn’t appear in File Explorer. This issue can be frustrating, but fear not—I’ve got you covered! In this blog post, I’ll share effective solutions to resolve the “drive not showing up” problem.

1. Use Disk Management

1. Open File Explorer and check if the missing drive (let’s call it Drive E) is visible under “Devices and drives.”

2. Right-click the Start button on your taskbar and select Disk Management.

3. Look for the partition associated with the missing drive (e.g., “Documents”).

4. Right-click the partition and choose Change Drive Letters and Paths….

5. Click Add, assign a drive letter (e.g., E), and click OK.

6. Now open File Explorer again—you should see the E drive reappear.

2. Use Command Prompt (CMD)

1. Search for CMD in the Windows search bar and run it as an administrator.

2. In the Command Prompt window, type: diskpart and press Enter.

3. Type: list volume and press Enter to view all volumes on your disk.

4. Note the volume number associated with the missing drive (e.g., Volume 1).

5. Type: select volume 1 (replace 1 with the correct volume number) and press Enter.

6. Assign a drive letter (e.g., D) using: assign letter=D.

7. Type: list volume again to verify that the drive now has a letter assigned.

8. Exit DiskPart by typing: exit.

Now, check File Explorer—the missing drive (D) should be back!

Bonus Tip: Change View Type

Sometimes the issue isn’t with the drive itself but how it’s displayed. If you see the drive space bar missing in File Explorer, try this:

Open File Explorer.

Click the drop-down icon next to View.

Choose Tiles from the context menu.

Remember to check both internal and external drives. If the problem persists, consider updating drivers or checking for hardware issues.