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D Drive Missing in Windows 10/11? 6 Ways to Fix It!
Is your D drive missing in Windows 10/11 after an update? Don't worry! Follow these 6 expert solutions to restore missing D drive and recover lost data quickly.
By Lori / Updated on February 11, 2025
"Help! My D Drive Is Missing in Windows 10!"
"Whenever I boot my laptop, my D drive suddenly missing in Windows 10, I tried to fix it via chkdsk but it tells me "Cannot open volume for direct access." So how do I recover my D drive suddenly missing in Windows 10?"
The D drive suddenly missing issue is a common problem for Windows users, often occurring after a system update. Since the D drive stores local data, including software files, personal documents, and system resources, its disappearance can be alarming.
In this guide, we’ll cover the possible causes behind the missing D drive in Windows 11/10 and provide 6 effective solutions to fix it. You can also learn how to recover data from D drive with ease.
How to Fix D Drive Missing in Windows 10/11?
Here are six proven methods to restore the missing D drive in Windows 10/11. Follow them in order for the best results.
Way 1. Restore D Drive Using Partition Recovery Software
One of the quickest ways to recover a missing D drive is by using reliable partition recovery software. AOMEI Partition Assistant is a highly recommended tool for this purpose, thanks to its powerful features and ease of use.
👍 Highlights of AOMEI Partition Assistant
✔ With a user-friendly interface, it simplifies your computer disk partition management task.
✔ Provide users with 2 scanning methods so that they can easily find deleted or lost partitions.
✔ Recovers deleted partitions with their data intact (as long as the data hasn’t been overwritten).
✔ Support NTFS/FAT/Ext2/Ext3/Ext4 partition recovery
✔ Create, resize, move, merge, and split partitions to maximize disk space, convert disk between MBR and GPT, migrate OS to new HDD/SSD, etc.
Now, click the download button to get started.
Step 1. Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant. Then, click on "Recover" > "Partition Recovery" in turn.
Step 2. Choose the disk where the D drive was previously located and click "Next".
Step 3. Select "Fast Search" and click "Next" now. If the drive is not found, then try "Full Search" instead. It will scan every sector of the disk containing D drive to find out the missing partition.
Step 4. Once the missing D drive is found, select it and click "Proceed". When it is completed, click "Finish".
Way 2. Rescan Disks in Disk Management
If your D drive is missing, you can rescanning the disks might bring it back. Here are steps to fix D drive missing from Disk Management.
Step 1. Press “Win + R” to open the Run window. Then, type “diskmgmt.msc” in the window and click “OK” to open Disk Management.
Step 2. Click “Action” > “Rescan Disks”. Wait for Windows to scan and refresh the drives.
Step 3. Check if the D drive reappears in File Explorer. If the drive is still missing, move on to the next fix.
Way 3. Assign a Drive Letter
Sometimes, Windows removes the drive letter, causing the D drive missing in Windows 10/11. You can manually assign it back.
Step 1. Open Disk Management (Win + R > type diskmgmt.msc > Enter). Locate the D drive (it may be listed as "Unallocated" or without a letter). Right-click it and select "Change Drive Letter and Paths".
Step 2. Click the Add button.
Step 3. Then, go to Assign the following drive letter, and select a new drive letter. Restart your PC to apply the changes.
Way 4. Unhide the D Drive in Windows 10
Sometimes, your D drive is not showing up but hidden. If possible, just take the following steps on how to unhide D drive in Windows 10:
Step 1. Double-click "This PC" to access Windows File Explorer.
Step 2. In the File Explorer window, click on "View" and choose "Options > "Change folder and search options".
Step 3. Go to the "View" tab. Under "Advanced settings", select "Show hidden files, folders, and drives" and click "OK".
Way 5. Update the D Drive Driver
Corrupt or outdated drivers can cause the D drive to be unrecognized. Updating the driver may fix the issue.
Step 1. Press Win + X and select Device Manager.
Step 2. Expand Disk Drives and right-click on your D drive, right-click on it, and select Update driver.
Step 3. Choose Search automatically for updated driver software and follow the prompts to install any found updates.
Step 4. If no updates are found, visit the manufacturer’s website to manually install the latest drivers. Select Uninstall device if there is no update and restart your PC. It will reinstall the drivers automatically.
Way 6. Restore Windows to a Previous State
If the D drive missing after a Windows update, restoring your system to a previous point may fix the issue. The System Restore feature allows you to revert your system to a prior state without affecting your personal files.
Step 1. Press the Windows key and type Create a restore point in the search bar. Then click the Open button.
Step 2. In the System Properties window, click System Restore. Select a restore point created before the D drive went missing and click Next. Confirm the restore point and click Finish to start the restore process.
How to Recover Files from the D Drive Easily
If you need to recover files from your missing D drive, data recovery software like MyRecover can help. It’s specifically designed for scenarios like this, where you need to recover lost files from various drives.
🏆 Why Choose MyRecover?
- Recovers over 1,000 file formats (documents, photos, videos, audio, emails, and more).
- Allow you to search, filter, and preview files to ensure you’re recovering the correct data.
- Support recover files from formatted hard drive, or other data loss scenarios due to virus attack, system or disk failure, etc.
- Compatible with multiple file systems like NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, and ReFS in Windows 7, 8, 10, 11, and Windows Server.
- Free version available to recover up to 500 MB of data.
All users can use this app to recover data from D drive without any challenges. Have a try!
Step 1. Scan your drive
Launch this Windows data recovery software - MyRecover on your Windows PC. Hover the mouse over the D drive and click Scan.
Step 2. Search for recoverable data
MyRecover can automatically scan this selected disk to find all recoverable files. The Quick Scan searches for recently deleted files while Deep Scan searches for other missing files.
Here are 2 ways to locate your wanted quickly:
- Search files: First specify the lost file type, such as "Documents". Then, enter the name or extension in the search box.
- Filter files: You can also set the date (today, yesterday, past 7/30 days, etc.) and size (<128KB, 128KB~1MB, 1MB~512MB, etc.).
- From the sidebar directory: Expand the "Deleted Files/Recycle Bin" "Other Missing Files" folders, and go to the original location to find the lost data on the selected drive.
Step 3. Start data recovery
Select the files you want to restore and click Recover. Save them to a new location to avoid overwriting data.
- To enjoy unlimited data recovery, upgrade to MyRecover Pro or Technician. The Lifetime version is more cost-effective, meaning you can enjoy all features with a one-time payment without time limits.
- It supports data recovery from almost all data storage devices, including computer internal hard disk, external hard disk, SSD, USB flash drive, memory card, etc.
Why Is My D Drive Missing in Windows 11/10?
Before jumping into solutions, let’s understand why the D drive disappears in the first place. Here are some common reasons:
🔹 Windows Update Issue – Some updates modify disk settings, causing the D drive to vanish.
🔹 Drive Letter Conflict – The drive may have lost its letter assignment, making it invisible.
🔹 Corrupt Disk Drivers – Outdated or faulty drivers can prevent Windows from detecting the drive.
🔹 Partition Becomes Unallocated – If the partition is accidentally deleted, it won’t appear in File Explorer.
🔹 Hidden Drive – System settings might hide the D drive.
🔹 Hardware or Connection Issues – A faulty connection or damaged hard drive can also cause this issue.
Final Thoughts
If your D drive has disappeared in Windows 11/10, don’t worry! Simply follow the 6 methods outlined above to get it back. Additionally, you can use data recovery software like MyRecover to recover files directly from the D drive without any data loss. MyRecover is still can recover deleted files from Windows Server 2025, 2022, 2019, 2016, 2012, etc. Give it a try!
FAQs on D Drive Missing in Windows 11/10
1. Why did my D drive disappear?
Your D drive might be missing due to Windows updates, driver issues, hidden partitions, or conflicts with drive letters.
2. How do I restore my missing D drive?
Try rescanning disks, assigning a drive letter, updating drivers, unhiding the drive, or restoring your system to a previous point.
3. Can a virus cause the D drive to disappear?
Yes, malware or viruses can corrupt system files and cause drives to go missing. Running an antivirus scan can help.
4. Can I recover lost data from a missing D drive?
Yes, using data recovery software like MyRecover can help you recover files from a missing drive.
5. Will formatting my PC bring back the D drive?
Formatting is not guaranteed to bring back the D drive. It should be your last resort, as it can erase all your data.
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