SSD recovery steps · August 2026

How to Recover Data from an M.2 SSD in 2026?

An M.2 drive can fail quietly, disappear after a reboot, or lose files in seconds. Start with the least destructive method, then stop if the SSD shows physical trouble.

By Pjirc Blog Editorial Team Published · Updated
Quick answer

Stop writing to the M.2 SSD immediately. If it still appears at the correct size, connect it as a secondary drive, scan it with Disk Drill, preview the results, then recover files onto different storage. Use a byte-for-byte image first if the SSD is unstable.

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Do not initialize, format, run CHKDSK, reinstall the operating system, or save recovered files to the affected SSD. Deleted data may already be unavailable if TRIM has cleared its blocks. A clicking noise is not expected from an SSD, so sound usually comes from another component.

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★ Editorial pick ★ 4.4 / 5

Scan a Readable M.2 SSD → Disk Drill

Scans SATA plus NVMe storage · Previews found files before recovery · Available for Windows plus macOS

✓ Free scan plus preview ✓ Byte-to-byte imaging ✓ Windows plus macOS
Scan the SSD →

Top 5 Methods to Recover Data From an M.2 SSD

01

Scan the M.2 SSD With Disk Drill

Best first move when the SSD appears at its correct capacity

~15–60 min
Difficulty Easy
You need Disk Drill plus a second drive
Works for Windows, macOS

Use this route for deleted files, a lost partition, accidental quick formatting, or a volume that became RAW. Disk Drill can scan SATA plus NVMe M.2 drives, though files already purged by SSD TRIM usually cannot be recovered.

  1. Stop using the affected SSD. If it holds your operating system, shut down the computer rather than installing software on it.
  2. Connect the M.2 SSD to another computer with a compatible NVMe or SATA enclosure. Check the enclosure type carefully since the two interfaces are not interchangeable.
  3. Install Disk Drill on a healthy drive, then open it with administrator access.
  4. Select the physical M.2 device rather than only its damaged partition, then click Search for lost data.
  5. Filter the results by file type, date, or name. Preview several important files to check whether their contents are intact.
  6. Select the wanted files, click Recover, then save them to a different physical drive.
Disk Drill Review ↗
i Do not restore recovered files onto the same M.2 SSD since that can overwrite other missing data.
Open the Disk Drill website
02

Restore the Missing Files From a Backup

Safest option when File History, Time Machine, or cloud versioning was active

~5–30 min
Difficulty Easy
You need A usable backup
Works for Windows, macOS, cloud storage

A backup avoids the uncertainty caused by TRIM, controller faults, or overwritten blocks. Check more than one source since an older local backup may contain files missing from the newest cloud copy.

  1. Leave the troubled M.2 SSD powered off while you inspect backup sources from another computer.
  2. Check Windows File History, Windows Backup, Time Machine, OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, or any backup app you previously configured.
  3. Browse to a date from before the deletion, format, corruption event, or system failure.
  4. Restore one small file first, then open it to verify the backup is healthy.
  5. Restore the remaining folders to a healthy internal disk, external drive, or network location.
i Cloud recycle bins plus version history may retain older copies even when the current synchronized file is damaged.
03

Create an Image of the M.2 SSD

Better for an unstable drive that disconnects, freezes, or reports read errors

~1–6 hr
Difficulty Moderate
You need Healthy storage with enough free space
Works for Readable SATA or NVMe M.2 SSDs

Repeated full scans can put extra pressure on a failing SSD. A byte-for-byte image preserves the readable state of the device, letting you run recovery attempts against the image instead of repeatedly touching the original.

  1. Power down the computer, remove the M.2 SSD if practical, then attach it as a secondary device through a compatible enclosure or motherboard slot.
  2. Prepare a healthy destination drive with free space at least equal to the full capacity of the affected SSD.
  3. Open Disk Drill, choose Byte-to-byte Backup, then select the physical M.2 SSD.
  4. Save the image to the healthy destination. Stop if the SSD becomes unusually hot, vanishes repeatedly, or causes the computer to lock up.
  5. Return to Disk Drill’s storage list, attach the completed disk image, then scan that image for lost data.
  6. Preview recoverable files, then restore them to storage other than the original SSD.
i Imaging is not a cure for hardware failure. Skip DIY attempts if every power cycle makes the SSD less stable.
View Disk Drill
04

Reconnect an Undetected M.2 SSD

Useful when the drive is absent because of a slot, enclosure, or interface mismatch

~15–45 min
Difficulty Moderate
You need Compatible slot, enclosure, or adapter
Works for NVMe plus SATA M.2 drives

Recovery software cannot scan a device the operating system cannot see. Before assuming the SSD is dead, rule out poor seating, an incompatible enclosure, disabled storage settings, or a faulty USB cable.

  1. Read the SSD label or model details to identify whether it uses NVMe/PCIe or SATA. Do not rely on the connector shape alone.
  2. Shut down the computer, unplug power, then reseat the M.2 module with the retaining screw fitted correctly.
  3. If using an enclosure, confirm that it supports the SSD’s interface plus key type. Try another cable, USB port, enclosure, or compatible computer.
  4. Check BIOS or UEFI first, followed by Disk Management on Windows or Disk Utility on macOS.
  5. If the SSD appears with its correct capacity, do not initialize, format, partition, or run a repair command. Return to the Disk Drill scan or imaging method.
  6. If the device shows zero capacity, an obviously wrong size, or repeated disconnects, power it down for professional evaluation.
i Initialization writes new disk metadata. It does not safely bring missing files back.
05

Send the M.2 SSD to a Recovery Lab

Last practical route for controller failure, liquid damage, or a completely dead device

~3–14 days
Difficulty Easy to arrange
You need A data recovery lab
Works for Physically failed M.2 SSDs

A specialist may diagnose power circuitry, firmware, controller, or NAND faults that normal software cannot access. Modern SSD recovery is difficult because wear leveling, hardware encryption, TRIM, plus proprietary controllers can limit what a lab can reconstruct.

  1. Stop powering the SSD once hardware failure is suspected. Avoid repeated boot attempts or long scans.
  2. Write down the model number, capacity, symptoms, recent events, encryption status, plus the folders that matter most.
  3. Choose a lab that handles NVMe plus SATA SSDs in-house. Ask whether evaluation is free, whether approval is required before work starts, plus how unsuccessful cases are billed.
  4. Place the SSD in an antistatic bag, cushion it inside a rigid box, then use tracked shipping.
  5. Review the diagnosis plus file list before approving recovery. Ask for recovered data on a separate healthy drive.
i Chip-off recovery does not bypass data already erased by TRIM, nor does it guarantee access to controller-encrypted NAND.

When DIY M.2 SSD Recovery Can Make Things Worse

Stop home recovery if the SSD repeatedly disappears, becomes very hot, reports zero capacity, or freezes every computer that reads it. Those symptoms point beyond ordinary file deletion.

Do not open SSD packages, heat the controller, move NAND chips, or copy random firmware fixes from a forum. Modern drives can use controller-level encryption, so a small hardware mistake may remove the only practical route to the data.

Choose the Right M.2 SSD Recovery Method

Match the method to what the drive is doing right now.

Method Best for Time Success rate
1. Scan the M.2 SSD With Disk Drill TRY FIRST Visible drives, deleted files, RAW volumes ~15–60 min ● 65%
2. Restore the Missing Files From a Backup Files covered by a prior backup ~5–30 min ● 95%
3. Create an Image of the M.2 SSD Unstable drives with read errors ~1–6 hr ● 58%
4. Reconnect an Undetected M.2 SSD Interface or connection trouble ~15–45 min ● 55%
5. Send the M.2 SSD to a Recovery Lab Dead controllers or physical damage ~3–14 days ● 40%

Which M.2 SSD Recovery Method Should You Use?

Use Disk Drill first when the M.2 SSD is visible at the correct capacity, stays connected, plus has no signs of physical failure. Restore from a backup when one exists since it avoids the uncertainty of TRIM. Image an unstable but readable SSD before scanning, while a dead or incorrectly sized device belongs with a recovery lab.

Top pick Disk Drill
Keep the original SSD unchanged until every recovered file has been opened, checked, plus copied to a second safe location.

M.2 SSD Data Recovery Questions

Can deleted data be recovered from an M.2 SSD?
Sometimes. Recovery is possible if the relevant blocks remain readable, though TRIM may cause the SSD to return zeros shortly after deletion.
Does M.2 mean the SSD uses NVMe?
No. M.2 describes the physical form factor. An M.2 drive may use NVMe over PCIe or the older SATA interface.
Can Disk Drill recover data from an NVMe SSD?
Disk Drill can scan an NVMe SSD that the operating system recognizes as a storage device. Recovery still depends on TRIM, overwriting, encryption, plus the drive’s physical condition.
Should I install Disk Drill on the affected SSD?
No. Install it on another internal disk, an external drive, or a second computer to avoid overwriting recoverable blocks.
Where should I save files recovered from an M.2 SSD?
Save them to a different physical device. A separate partition on the same SSD is not a safe recovery destination.
What is TRIM on an SSD?
TRIM lets the operating system tell an SSD which data blocks are no longer needed. Once the controller clears those blocks, normal recovery software cannot restore their previous contents.
Does shutting down the computer help after accidental deletion?
Yes, especially when the missing files were on the system SSD. Powering down limits background writes plus may reduce the time available for TRIM processing.
Can a formatted M.2 SSD be recovered?
A quick-formatted SSD may still contain recoverable records if TRIM was not issued or completed. A secure erase, full overwrite, or completed TRIM operation usually leaves nothing usable for software.
Can I recover files if the M.2 SSD is not detected?
Only after the SSD becomes visible to the computer or specialized lab equipment. First check interface compatibility, seating, BIOS detection, the enclosure, plus the cable.
Why does my M.2 SSD appear as RAW?
RAW usually means the operating system cannot recognize the file system. Avoid formatting or repair commands, then image or scan the physical drive.
Should I run CHKDSK before recovery?
No. CHKDSK modifies file-system structures, which can remove useful recovery references or trigger further changes on an SSD. Recover or image the data first.
Can I initialize the SSD in Disk Management?
Do not initialize it before recovery. Initialization writes new metadata, while doing nothing to restore the old partition or files.
Why does the recovered file have the right name but not open?
Its directory record may have survived while some data blocks were overwritten, trimmed, or damaged. A working preview before recovery is a much better sign than a filename alone.
How long does an M.2 SSD scan take?
A healthy 1 TB SSD may scan in under an hour, though USB enclosures, read errors, deep scanning, or thermal throttling can stretch the process much longer.
Can BitLocker-encrypted M.2 data be recovered?
The recovery tool generally needs the BitLocker password, recovery key, or an already unlocked volume. Raw encrypted blocks are not useful without valid decryption information.
Can FileVault data be recovered from a Mac SSD?
Recovery may be possible with valid credentials plus an intact encryption container. Apple hardware, TRIM, or controller failure can make the case better suited to a specialist.
Will moving the SSD to another computer damage it?
Not if you use proper antistatic handling plus a compatible slot or enclosure. Disconnect power first, avoid touching the contacts, plus never force the module into a socket.
When should I use a professional recovery lab?
Use a lab when the SSD shows the wrong capacity, disappears repeatedly, overheats, has liquid or electrical damage, or contains data valuable enough to avoid DIY risk.