Acer Swift X 14 AMD Radeon Driver Install Error Windows 11

The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 SSD not recognized on Windows 11 happens when the NVMe SSD driver is missing, the SSD is not initialised in Disk Management, or the PCIe slot power management has disabled the SSD to save battery. I have resolved an SSD recognition issue on a TUF Gaming A15 FA506IC where a second NVMe SSD installed in the empty M.2 slot was not showing in Windows until I disabled PCIe link power management in the advanced power settings.

Why ASUS TUF Gaming A15 SSD Is Not Recognized

SSD Not Initialised in Disk Management

A new NVMe SSD installed in the second M.2 slot appears in Disk Management as Unknown, Not Initialised. Windows does not automatically initialise or format new drives – you must do this manually before the SSD appears in File Explorer. This is the most common reason a newly installed SSD is not visible even though it is physically detected.

PCIe Link Power Management Disabling SSD

Windows power management can put the PCIe slot into a low-power link state that causes the NVMe SSD to become unresponsive. On battery power especially, the SSD may disappear from Device Manager and Windows entirely. Disabling PCIe Link State Power Management in Power Options keeps the SSD active at all times.

NVMe Driver Outdated or Missing

The TUF Gaming A15 uses AMD or Intel platform NVMe controllers. An outdated NVMe driver can cause intermittent SSD recognition issues. Check Device Manager under Disk drives – the SSD should appear with its full model name. A yellow warning indicates a driver issue.

Fix 1 – Initialise SSD in Disk Management

1. Press Win + X and select Disk Management.
2. Look for a disk listed as Unknown, Not Initialized at the bottom of the disk list.
3. Right-click the disk (not the volume) and select Initialize Disk.
4. Choose GPT (GUID Partition Table) partition style and click OK.
5. After initialisation, right-click the unallocated space on the disk and select New Simple Volume.
6. Follow the wizard to format and assign a drive letter.

Fix 2 – Disable PCIe Link State Power Management

1. Open Control Panel, Power Options. Click Change plan settings for your active power plan.
2. Click Change advanced power settings.
3. Expand PCI Express, Link State Power Management.
4. Set both On battery and Plugged in to Off.
5. Click OK and restart.
6. Check if the SSD now appears in File Explorer and Device Manager.

Fix 3 – Update NVMe Driver

1. Go to ASUS Support and search for TUF Gaming A15 with your model number.
2. Select Windows 11 64-bit.
3. Download the AMD or Intel AHCI/NVMe driver from the Storage section.
4. Install the driver and restart.
5. Check Device Manager under Disk drives to verify the SSD is now detected without warnings.

Per Yusof bin Hamid, who upgraded his ASUS TUF Gaming A15 with a second NVMe SSD for game storage, the new SSD only became visible after he opened Disk Management and initialised it – it had been detected by the system all along but required manual initialisation before Windows would create the drive letter.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many M.2 slots does ASUS TUF Gaming A15 have?

The TUF Gaming A15 FA506 series has two M.2 PCIe NVMe slots. The primary slot is occupied by the factory SSD. The secondary slot is empty and available for a second NVMe SSD upgrade. Both slots support PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe drives.

What SSD is compatible with ASUS TUF Gaming A15?

The TUF Gaming A15 M.2 slots accept M.2 2280 form factor PCIe NVMe SSDs. SATA M.2 drives may also work in some configurations. Recommended brands include Samsung 970 EVO Plus, Western Digital Black SN850, and Kingston KC3000. Check the ASUS compatibility list for your specific model.

Why does ASUS TUF Gaming A15 SSD disappear after sleep?

PCIe Link State Power Management is putting the NVMe SSD into a low-power state during sleep and failing to restore it on wake. Disable PCIe Link State Power Management in Power Options advanced settings to prevent this.

Can I replace the boot SSD in ASUS TUF Gaming A15?

Yes. The factory NVMe SSD can be replaced with a larger or faster drive. Clone the existing drive using Macrium Reflect or Samsung Data Migration before swapping drives to transfer your Windows installation. Always back up important data before replacing the boot drive.

Conclusion

ASUS TUF Gaming A15 SSD not recognized on Windows 11 is fixed by initialising a new SSD in Disk Management, disabling PCIe Link State Power Management to prevent the SSD from being powered off, and updating the NVMe driver from ASUS Support. The Disk Management initialisation step is essential for any newly installed second SSD and is the most overlooked step in SSD upgrades. After initialisation and driver updates, the SSD should appear reliably in File Explorer across all power states.