Retractable guide features for data storage device carriers

Data storage device mounting systems to provide alignment and mounting of data storage devices are provided herein. A carrier 100 is configured to couple to a data storage device 106 and hang the data storage device in a vertical orientation in a data storage assembly 108 from retractable mounting pins 110 coupled to the carrier. The carrier also includes retractable alignment features 114 to guide the data storage device and carrier into the mounting system. Finger grips 112 are coupled to the retractable alignment features and mounting pins and configured to extend retractable alignment features beyond the carrier concurrent with retracting the mounting pins when actuated by a user squeezing the finger grips. The finger grips are configured to extend the mounting pins when de-actuated by the user. The carrier includes device mating features 130 that couple to mounting features 104 of the data storage device.