How to Install NVMe for Windows 10: A Comprehensive Guide

If you’re curious about how to format an NVMe drive in Windows 10, look no further. The process is straightforward and supported natively by the operating system. NVMe SSDs can be formatted easily using Disk Management. This lets you prepare the drive for storage or set it up as a boot drive. Once the drive is installed, your system will detect it automatically, and with just a few clicks, you’ll have it ready to go.

Is It Possible to Format an NVMe Drive for Windows 10?

Yes, you can format an NVMe drive for Windows 10, just as you would with any other storage drive. Windows 10 natively supports NVMe SSDs, so the formatting process is pretty straightforward via Disk Management. Once you install the drive and boot up your system, Windows will recognize the new NVMe. From there, you can open Disk Management, locate the drive, and format it as either NTFS or exFAT (the choice is yours).

Formatting clears any existing data on the drive, so it’s important to back up any important files if the NVMe is already in use. After formatting, the drive is ready to use for either storage, or as a boot drive.

Set Yourself Up for Success: The NVMe SSD Formatting Checklist

Before you get started, consider the following to help you prepare, and to avoid issues while formatting your new NVMe drive in Windows 10:

• Back Up Your Data: All files you deem essential should be backed up to an external drive or cloud storage service before proceeding.
• Verify Compatibility: Confirm that your motherboard supports the SSD model, and check for any recommended firmware updates.
• Check Power Supply and Connections: Make sure there’s a stable power supply and that the SSD is properly seated to avoid corruption during formatting.
• Disable Write Protection: If necessary, turn off any write protection that may prevent formatting.

Tip: Are you sure your drive is NVMe? Here’s how to check if it’s SSD or NVMe.

Step-by-step: How to Format Your NVMe SSD for Windows 10

Disk Management is built into Windows, so it’s the easiest and fastest way to format an NVMe drive in Windows 10:

1. Open Disk Management by pressing Win + X (or right-clicking the Start button) and then choosing Disk Management from the list.

2. Find your NVMe drive in the lower section of the window. It’s called Disk 2 in our example.

3. If next to your NVMe SSD you see Not Initialized, a window should pop up asking you to initialize it. Select GPT as the partition style (GPT is recommended over MBR for modern SSDs, due to larger capacity and better data management). Then, select OK to initialize the drive.

4. Right-click the Unallocated space of the NVMe SSD and select New Simple Volume, and then click Next.

5. Specify the volume size (use the default if you want to use the entire drive) and then select Next.

6. Pick a drive letter from the list or keep the default option, then select Next.

7. Select NTFS as the file system and choose the Default allocation unit size. 

8. Enter a Volume Label if you want (for example, SSD).

9. Check the box to Perform a quick format for faster processing.

10. Click Next, and then Finish, to complete the process. After a moment, your SSD should appear in the list of drives in File Explorer, formatted and ready to use.

Setting Up the NVMe Drive for Main Boot and Backup Storage

Once initialized and formatted, your NVMe drive is ready for action. So, how does installation work?

Most modern motherboards have an M.2 slot specifically for these drives. Check your computer’s manual for slot location, and compatibility details. Power off your computer (please, don’t skip this!), unplug it, and ground yourself to prevent static discharge. Open the case and locate the M.2 slot. It’s typically near the CPU socket or other storage interfaces. Insert the NVMe drive at a slight angle into the slot and make sure it’s properly aligned. Gently press it down until it sits flat, then secure it with the provided screw.

After physically installing the drive, reassemble your computer and power it on. If you’re installing Windows 10 from scratch on this drive, you’ll need a USB installation media, with the Windows 10 setup files. Boot from the USB drive and follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows on your new NVMe drive. During installation, select this drive as the target drive for the OS.

If you’re adding the NVMe drive as additional storage rather than as the main boot drive, you can initialize it directly through Windows. Once Windows boots up, open Disk Management and follow the steps we’ve included above.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why do I need to format an NVMe drive? You need to format an NVMe drive to prepare it for use, clear existing data, or change the file system.
• Can I format an NVMe drive without losing data? Formatting an NVMe drive will erase all data, so be sure to back up anything important first.
• What should I do if Windows 10 doesn’t recognize my NVMe drive? If Windows 10 doesn’t recognize your NVMe drive, check BIOS settings for NVMe support, update the drivers, or troubleshoot with the Disk Management tool.