How to Fix SSD Unallocated Space and Recover Data on Windows 10/11

About Unallocated Space on SSD

Unallocated space refers to areas on a hard drive or storage device that are not assigned to any partition or volume. This space is essentially "RAW" and cannot be used to store files or data until it is partitioned and formatted.

When you open Disk Management and notice a portion of your SSD marked as unallocated, it usually means Windows cannot currently use that space to store data. SSD unallocated space is neither formatted nor assigned a drive letter, so it appears invisible in File Explorer. This situation often causes confusion, especially when the SSD was previously working normally.

Why is My SSD Unallocated?

When you find that your SSD shows unallocated space, don’t panic. This issue can be easily resolved with just a few simple steps. However, before you take any action, it’s important to understand the causes behind why there is unallocated space on your SSD. The common causes include:

• Accidental partition deletion during Disk Management operations,
• Failed Windows installation or upgrade, leaving unused disk segments,
• Partition table corruption caused by power outages or system crashes,
• Improper SSD cloning or migration, where partitions are not copied correctly,
• Formatting errors or interrupted processes,
• Dual-boot or OS removal issues, especially when Linux partitions are removed.

How to Fix SSD Unallocated Space and Recover Data

Now that you understand the causes of unallocated space on your SSD, this section will guide you step-by-step through how to fix the unallocated space on your SSD and recover your important files from it. The top priority of the repair process is to recover data from the unallocated SSD space first. Otherwise, creating or formatting partitions later will result in the deletion of all files on the partition.

Part 1. Recover Data from Unallocated SSD Space

If your SSD contains unallocated space where data was previously stored, recovery data from the SSD is especially important. In this case, unless you have backed up all the files on your SSD, Windows built-in data recovery methods will work. The professional data recovery tool like MyRecover is your best choice.

MyRecover can scan all hard drives on your computer, even if no partitions exist. In addition, it covers more than 500 data loss scenarios, such as recovering data from formatted HDDs, emptied recycle bins, RAW partitions, inaccessible USB drives, and more. It features two scanning modes: Quick Scan and Deep Scan, which not only reduce scanning time for faster data recovery but also retrieve more files for drives with complex situations.

Step 1. Download and install MyRecover on your computer from Microsoft Store, avoid installing it on the SSD with lost files.

Step 2. In MyRecover, unallocated space will be displayed as a "Lost Partition". Open it and select a lost partition based on the size of the unallocated space on your SSD, then click "Scan".

Step 3. After the scan finishes, you can choose the files you attempt to recover from the recoverable lists and click "Recover".

Step 4. Save the recovered files to a safe location (not the original SSD).

Once the process is done, you'll see the message "Files have been recovered successfully". Then, you can view the recovered files by clicking on the destination folder path or "Browse" button.

Part 2. Create a New Partition on the Unallocated Space

Once data is safely recovered, you can make the unallocated space usable again by creating a new partition. Follow these steps:

Step 1. Press "Win" + "X" and select "Disk Management" to open it.

Step 2. Locate the unallocated space on SSD and right click on it, select "New Simple Volume".

Step 3. Assign a new drive letter for the unallocated space and click "Next".

Step 4. Choose whether you want to format the volume.

If you choose not to format this volume, it will not be usable immediately and will show up as "RAW" in Disk Management. However, you can still see it in File Explorer. If you attempt to access it, Windows will ask you to format the drive.

Part 3. Format the New Partition

Formatting is the final step to make the SSD usable. If you chose not to format the volume, you can follow the methods below to format this RAW partition when needed.

Step 1. Locate the RAW partition in Disk Management and right click on it, then choose "Format".

Step 2. Select a desired file system based on your needs and check the "Perform a quick format" option, then click "OK" to start the process.

Additionally, if you prefer using command-line tools, Command Prompt can simplify this process. Open Command Prompt and run it as administrator. Type the following command and press "Enter" after every command:

• diskpart: open diskpart.
• list disk: list all available disks on the computer.
• select disk 1: select the disk 1 to create new partition. (Replace the number "1" with your actual volume number.)
• clean: remove all data on the disk
• create partition primary: create a new partition on the selected volume.
• format fs=fat32 quick: format the selected volume and perform a quick format to FAT32 file system. You can replace "fat32" with any file system if you like.
• assign letter=K: assign a new drive letter. (Replace the drive letter "K" with any available letter.)

Alternative to Creating a New Partition: Extend an Existing Partition

If the unallocated space is adjacent to an existing partition, you can merge it by extending that partition instead of creating a new one. This approach avoids multiple drive letters and is often preferred for system disks. It is a practical alternative when addressing SSD unallocated space Windows 10 scenarios caused by resized or shrunk partitions.

Step 1. Press "Win" + "X" and choose "Disk Management" to open it.

Step 2. Select the SSD unallocated space and right click on it, then choose "Extend Volume".

Step 3. Enter the unallocated space and click "Next" > "Finish" to extend the space.

The End

Unallocated SSD space can look alarming, but it is usually a manageable issue when handled correctly. The key is sequencing: recover data first, then repair the disk structure. Whether you choose to create a new partition or extend an existing one, taking a cautious approach prevents unnecessary data loss.

For users who need advanced recovery capabilities, MyRecover Professional Edition supports to restore data from dead systems, making it a reliable data recovery option when your system run into problems.