Microsoft has acknowledged reports of SSD data corruption or failure related to the recent Windows 11 update, KB5063878. The tech giant is collaborating with partners such as Phison to thoroughly investigate the issue.
As confirmed by Microsoft to Windows Latest, “We’re aware of these reports and are investigating with our partners.”
Understanding What’s Happening
The release of Windows 11 KB5063878 on August 12, 2025, intended to enhance system functionality, has been marred by troubling reports from users, particularly in Japan. Users have noted that their SSDs mysteriously disappeared following updates for popular games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Honkai: Star Rail.
A user from Japan, @Necoru_cat, was among the first to highlight the issue, which subsequently gained traction in Japanese media sources.
The core concern involves a flaw in Windows 11 KB5063878 (Build 26100.4946) that can cause SSDs to “vanish”or their partitions to be displayed as “RAW.” This can result in the drives being unrecognizable in Windows File Explorer and even in the BIOS. Users have discovered that stress testing under specific conditions can replicate this issue.
Heavy write operations are often triggered when downloading substantial game updates, revealing a bug in Windows 11 that may lead to data corruption.
A Reassuring Perspective
Despite the severity of the issue, it’s worth noting that SSD failures related to Windows 11 KB5063878 appear to be quite rare. It is estimated that only a few thousand users—likely even fewer than that—are affected. Patterns in user reports indicate that issues arise predominantly when SSDs exceed 60% capacity and undergo continuous writing of 50 GB or more.
Notably, the problem isn’t necessarily about the size or number of files; even a single large file write can provoke the issue. Common indicators of the failure include:
- File Explorer crashes or becomes unresponsive
- SMART data becomes unreadable
- I/O errors occur
- The drive disappears from the system
Reports suggest that SSDs utilizing Phison controllers are mainly affected, though isolated incidents have been recorded in products from InnoGrit and Maxio. In contrast, SSDs from reputable brands like Samsung and Seagate appear unaffected. Thus, this issue does not reflect a variance in brand quality but may stem from various factors at play.
Identifying Affected SSDs
Some testing groups have compiled lists of SSD models reportedly experiencing issues post-update. However, outcomes can vary even within the same product line, hinting at a connection to firmware, controller specifics, and operational demands.
| SSD Model | Status |
|---|---|
| WD Blue SN5000 2TB NVMe | Recovered by rebooting |
| WD Red SA500 2TB SATA | Recovered by rebooting |
| WD Blue SA570 1TB SATA M.2 | Recovered by rebooting |
| WD Blue SA510 2TB SATA | Inaccessible, rebooting does not resolve |
| Corsair MP510 960GB NVMe | Recovered after reboot |
| Corsair MP600 2TB NVMe | Recovers after reboot |
| SK hynix Platinum P41 NVMe | Recovered by rebooting |
| Crucial P3 Plus NVMe | Recovers with reboot |
| ADATA LEGEND 800 2TB NVMe | Recovered by rebooting |
| HP FX7000 2TB NVMe | Recovered by rebooting |
| XPG SX8200 Pro 2TB NVMe | Recovered by rebooting |
| Hanye HE70 2TB NVMe | Recovers after reboot |
The Implications of SSD Failure
Should an SSD failure occur following the installation of Windows 11 KB5063878, the consequences can range from mild to severe. In less critical scenarios, the drive may temporarily become unresponsive during data writing, but can often be restored through a simple reboot. More concerning is the case where Windows loses recognition of the SSD entirely, leading to unreadable SMART data and potential corruption of the partition table. In such instances, recovery might be possible through specialized tools, yet data loss may occur in the process.
Moreover, simply uninstalling the update doesn’t guarantee restoration of functionality, as any damage to the on-disk structure could remain intact.
Localized Issues: Why Japan is Impacted More
This phenomenon appears primarily localized to Japan, raising questions about the factors at play. It could be that specific user workloads common in Japan trigger the issue, such as high-volume game updates occurring during times of limited available storage. This specific usage pattern may not translate into similar user experiences in other regions where storage capacity and gaming habits differ.
Should You Proceed with the Update?
As an advice, unless you engage in the high-stress operations discussed earlier, it may be prudent to maintain the update rather than uninstall it. Those who are concerned can choose to temporarily pause Windows updates for a week.
Microsoft is continuing to monitor reports surrounding Windows 11 KB5063878, and while detailed information is still pending, it is essential to stay informed. For now, there’s no need for widespread panic regarding the update.
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