NVMe SSD Keeps Disconnecting? 5 Ways to Fix It Now

Many people choose to move Windows to an NVMe SSD for faster boot and better performance. However, it's frustrating when you're in the middle of something important and your NVMe SSD keeps disconnecting. Whether it's a frequent or random issue, you might suddenly lose access to files, or your system might freeze unexpectedly. Don't worry; this guide will walk you through the possible causes of NVMe disconnecting and 5 effective solutions to fix it.

Why Does My SSD Keep Disconnecting?

Before diving into fixes, it is essential to understand the culprits behind the NVMe drive keeps disconnecting on Windows 11 or 10 issue. When an SSD disconnects randomly, it's often due to several factors, including:

🔸Loose or improperly seated connections: Even a slightly unseated drive can cause NVMe SSD disconnections.
🔸Thermal throttling or overheating: NVMe drives are fast, and they get hot. Without proper cooling, they can overheat, leading to sudden drops in performance or NVMe SSD suddenly not detected.
🔸Driver issues: Outdated or corrupted NVMe controller drivers can interfere with consistent communication between your SSD and system.
🔸Outdated BIOS firmware: Your motherboard firmware may not fully support newer NVMe drives, causing external SSD disconnects randomly issue.

How to Resolve NVMe SSD Keeps Disconnecting in 5 Ways Easily

Fixing the NVMe keeps disconnecting issue doesn't always require professional intervention. You can follow these simple solutions below.

Solution 1. Reconnect Your NVMe SSD

A large number of disk connection issues stem from a simple physical fault. If your NVMe randomly disconnects, start by powering down your system and reconnecting the drive.

• If you are using a USB adapter or enclosure to connect the NVMe SSD, please try plugging the enclosure into your computer again, or try another adapter or enclosure if you have one.
• If you’re installing your NVMe SSD internally, you could try to reinstall it correctly into your computer's M.2 NVMe slot.

Notes:✎...

Not all M.2 slots support NVMe -some older devices may support M.2 SATA only. Check your system's specs.

If installing externally, ensure the enclosure supports NVMe (PCIe), not just M.2 SATA.

Solution 2. Check Environmental Factors

Overheating or unstable power delivery can cause the drive to act erratically. Similarly, dusty environments can lead to the SSD keeps disconnecting on Windows 11/10 problem as well. Consider these steps:

• Monitor your SSD temperatures and ensure fans and cooling systems are functioning optimally. Or after a long run, take a break to run again.
• Install a heatsink or thermal pad for your NVMe SSD if you don’t have one.

This helps especially if your NVMe keeps disappearing during heavy workloads or gaming.

Solution 3. Update Driver

Driver incompatibility can cause various problems, such as Samsung 990 Pro keeps disconnecting, cannot find target disk on Samsung Data Migration, and so on.

Step 1. Open Device Manager by pressing Windows + X, then selecting it.

Step 2. Find Disk drives and locate your NVMe SSD. Right-click it and choose Update driver.

Step 3. Select Search automatically for drivers to get the latest drivers for the drive and install them.

Alternatively, you could download the latest NVMe driver from your SSD manufacturer’s website for more reliable updates.

Solution 4. Disable Hibernation

Sometimes, turning on Windows hibernation mode can unintentionally cause your NVMe SSD to disconnect during periods of inactivity. Try to disable it to fix M.2 SSD keeps disconnecting issue.

Step 1. Type CMD in Windows search box, and select Run as Administrator under Command Prompt.

Step 2. Type powercfg.exe /hibernate off and press Enter.

Step 3. Restart your computer, and see if your NVMe SSD is running correctly.

Solution 5. Update BIOS

An outdated BIOS can lead to incompatibility with some modern NVMe protocols, causing NVMe or SATA SSD disconnects randomly.

Step 1. Visit the official website of your motherboard manufacturer.

Step 2. Locate your motherboard model and download the latest BIOS firmware.

Step 3. Follow their step-by-step flashing instructions to set it up carefully.

Potential Consequences of NVMe SSD Disconnection

Ignoring frequent NVMe disconnections is not wise. These interruptions can have cascading consequences, for example:

❗ System crashes: Sudden drive drops may trigger Blue Screen of Death (BSOD).
❗ Data corruption or loss: Files open during a disconnect can become unreadable, causing them to get corrupted or disappeared.
❗ Reduced SSD lifespan: Frequent power cycling stresses flash memory.
❗ Productivity losses: Interruptions in file transfers or gaming sessions are disruptive.

Best Way to Migrate Everything from NVMe SSD to New Drive

To avoid your SSD being completely disconnected and losing access to all data, we strongly recommend that you transfer everything from NVMe SSD to a new drive. AOMEI Cloner is a professional disk cloning tool that can help you migrate data from one drive to another risk-free.

You could rely on its Disk Clone to copy the entire NVMe SSD, System Clone to migrate only Windows OS, or Partition Clone to migrate a specific individual partition as needed. It ensures a secure boot after disk clone if you are cloning a system drive.

To migrate everything, including the Windows operating system, from your NVMe SSD to a new SSD or HDD, download and run this software, select Clone > Disk Clone to choose your source drive and target drive separately for a quick and seamless data migration now!

FAQs about NVMe SSD Keeping Disconnecting

#1. How to tell if an NVMe drive is bad?

Signs of a failing NVMe SSD include:

• Frequent disconnections even after troubleshooting.
• System freezes or crashes during file operations.
• The drive is not being recognized at boot.
• S.M.A.R.T. errors detected in drive health utilities.

#2. What is the lifespan of an NVMe SSD?

Most NVMe SSDs typically last between 5 to 10 years under average usage. But some factors may influence lifespan like:

• Write frequency and volume.
• Operating temperatures.
• Power fluctuations and system shutdowns.

#3. Are NVMe drives prone to failure?

Not particularly. They are generally reliable, but high temperatures, poor power supply, or driver issues can increase the risk.

Summary

An NVMe SSD keeps disconnecting issue can stem from physical, software, or environmental problems. Whether it's a simple seating issue, driver conflict, or thermal overload, all available fixes are listed above.

Besides, to keep all your data and Windows OS safe, it is suggested to copy all data from the NVMe SSD to a new drive using the reliable disk cloning software AOMEI Cloner. It is capable of cloning SSD to SSD/HDD, as well as replacing laptop HDD with SSD without data loss and Windows reinstalling.