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You installed a new SSD but it doesn't show in File Explorer. Here's how to format it and make it usable in 5 minutes.
Before formatting: Backup everything
If new drive is external: formatting erases all existing data. If new drive is internal fresh: nothing to backup. But if replacing old drive: back up to external first.
Windows: Format via Disk Management
Win+X, select 'Disk Management'. New drive appears unallocated. Right-click → 'Initialize Disk' (GPT recommended). Right-click unallocated space → 'New Simple Volume'. Choose size (usually max), assign drive letter, format NTFS. Takes 2 minutes.
Windows: Format via File Explorer (simpler)
Plug in drive. If 'Initialize Disk' dialog pops up: click 'Initialize'. Drive appears in File Explorer as 'Local Disk'. Right-click → Format → NTFS, Quick Format. Done.
Mac: Format via Disk Utility
Plug in external SSD. Spotlight (Cmd+Space) → 'Disk Utility'. Select drive on left. Click 'Erase' button. Choose APFS (Mac native, faster) or NTFS (Windows compatible). Enter name. Click 'Erase'. Takes 1 minute.
After formatting: Verify in OS
Windows: should appear in 'This PC' with full capacity. Mac: should appear on Desktop. Open and create test file to confirm write permissions.
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