How to Check Your SSD Health

Solid-state drives (SSDs) provide high speed and reliability, but like any computer component, they can wear out over time. To ensure your SSD serves you well and remains stable, it’s essential to periodically check its health. This guide covers key methods to monitor SSD status, making it accessible for any user.

Why is SSD Health Monitoring Important?

Unlike hard drives (HDDs), SSDs use flash memory to store data. These memory cells have a limited number of write cycles, and over time, their capacity to hold data can degrade. Regular monitoring helps to:

  • Prevent data loss by allowing you to back up data in advance;
  • Avoid performance drops and potential failures;
  • Extend the lifespan of your drive.

Methods to Check SSD Health

1. Using SMART Attributes

Most SSDs support SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology), which tracks drive health metrics. With SMART, you can access information such as write cycle counts, temperature, overall health, and other parameters.

You can retrieve SMART data using built-in utilities on your operating system or specialized programs, which we’ll discuss below.

2. Specialized Programs for SSD Diagnostics

Several applications provide detailed insights into your SSD’s health. Here are some of the most popular ones:

  • CrystalDiskInfo — a free program that displays SMART data for SSDs, showing essential metrics like "Remaining Life" and "Overall Health."
  • SSD Life — a tool that estimates the remaining lifespan of an SSD based on SMART data and usage statistics.
  • Samsung Magician — if you have a Samsung SSD, this software offers precise health checks and drive optimization tools.

3. Checking with Built-in Tools on Windows and macOS

Operating systems also offer basic information about SSD health:

  • Windows: Open the command prompt and type wmic diskdrive get status for a general health overview. For more detailed data, specialized programs are recommended.
  • macOS: Press Option and click on the Apple icon in the top-left corner, select “System Information,” then go to “Storage.” You’ll find basic SSD info there.

4. Monitoring the Write Endurance

Each SSD has a defined data write limit, measured in terabytes (TBW) or write cycles (DWPD). For example, if your SSD has a 600 TBW limit, it’s designed to handle up to 600 terabytes of data written over its lifespan. Modern monitoring tools allow you to track the amount of data written to your SSD, helping to gauge remaining endurance.

What to Do if Your SSD Shows Signs of Wear?

If SMART attributes or diagnostic tools indicate potential issues with your SSD, consider the following:

  • Back up all important data;
  • Plan to replace the drive if significant wear is detected;
  • Check your system settings for updates that may improve SSD performance.